Is it really possible for your brain to understand how good of a bass player Les Claypool really is?

#21
I've never been a big Primus fan, but I think Claypool is pretty great and I really dig a lot of his other projects. Check out the DVD 5 Gallons of Diesel for a sampler of his various side projects (up to its 2005 release date). And if you haven't checked out his latest project with Sean Lennon, The Claypool-Lennon Delirium, you're missing out. His playing is (mostly) much more conventional with this lineup than most of his other stuff, for better or worse.
 
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#27
serch777 said:
Les is awesome - his style is definitely an acquired taste, but the man has tons of talent. And yes, The Claypool-Lennon Delirium is just great.
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in my case, it wasn't an acquired taste - the first primus i heard was tommy the cat, and it took me about 10 seconds go go "wow, this is awesome!" to myself.
 
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#28
pcake said:
in my case, it wasn't an acquired taste - the first primus i heard was tommy the cat, and it took me about 10 seconds go go "wow, this is awesome!" to myself.
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I get you, I have friends who became huge fans instantly. In my case, it took some time to "understand" Les's vision; but once it clicked, I became a follower for life.
 
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#29
My favorite Les is when he's not doing the vocals (except my name is mud) he's fun to listen to and different. I look at him as a great change of pace when I realize I've been listening to too many people all trying to sound like each other, all the while only sounding generic as hell. I won't put him in the same group as Fieldy but he's got his own distinct tone and groove that is instantly recognized.
 
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#31
Following up on my earlier post, I saw this posted on YouTube.



I was surprised at how average Claypool is on this. He doesn't play the song anywhere remotely near correct (all the fills, the main riff, and the groove are completely wrong), and even though he's playing a Rickenbacker, he has the blandest most non-descript tone I've ever heard Claypool use in any recording. It doesn't sound anything like him, for better or worse. I thought he would know this song forward and backward in his sleep; I can excuse him not knowing how to play Geezer Butler style, but Geddy seemed to be right up his alley. But, for such an iconic bassline, he failed miserably on this one. He could have taken 10 minutes to learn it properly and get a decent tone. Instead he spent more time finding a mask.
 
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#33
WI Short Scaler said:
He definitely has some advanced chops. People know his name, no one knows mine. For those reasons I say hats off to him, I respect him for those things. But their music does nothing for me. YMMV
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same here...the cat can play...the band just doesn't really move in my direction. ;) but it's all good!
 
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#35
Danny E said:
I have recently started listening to Primus, and they're great, but I never knew for one second how complicated and near impossible the basslines are in Primus. I knew that Les Claypool was one helluva bassist, but my god, I never knew he was that good. He can basically play ever technique there is on bass like finger plucking, tapping, slapping, strumming. I don't think he ever uses a pick, but I'd imagine he could use one if he needed to.

Listening to basslines like Tommy the Cat have me going how on earth can he play that and how on earth did he come up with that bassline. Not to mention he sings while playing these basslines.

He seriously is one of the best if not the best IMO. And, it got me thinking, is it even possible for our brains to fathom how good he really is, it's certainly really hard to because i'm struggling to.

If you haven't heard any Primus stuff I highly recommend that you give them a listen, and really listen to the basslines

Thanks for reading
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I hate to say this but you set yourself up but yeah, I appreciate his playing and he's funny at the same time, I think he's a parody of himself sometimes if that makes any sense, but he knows it and does it purposely which to me takes a hell of a sense of humor.


.
 
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#38
HearNoStevil said:
Following up on my earlier post, I saw this posted on YouTube.



I was surprised at how average Claypool is on this. He doesn't play the song anywhere remotely near correct (all the fills, the main riff, and the groove are completely wrong), and even though he's playing a Rickenbacker, he has the blandest most non-descript tone I've ever heard Claypool use in any recording. It doesn't sound anything like him, for better or worse. I thought he would know this song forward and backward in his sleep; I can excuse him not knowing how to play Geezer Butler style, but Geddy seemed to be right up his alley. But, for such an iconic bassline, he failed miserably on this one. He could have taken 10 minutes to learn it properly and get a decent tone. Instead he spent more time finding a mask.
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bobyoung53 said:
For all the abuse.
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I wasnt aware of any abuse
 
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