1973

This song, bassline included, sounds like it was released in the year-title. However, it's a recent recording by James Blunt.
I like the way the bass sounds low and deep on this one.

Song: 1973
Artist / Band: James Blunt
Album: All the Lost Sould
Bass: Malcom Moore
Year: 2007

bass tab (external link)

Seven Nation Army

Ok, this is the most controversial post so far. Yes, I know that The White Stripes are Vocal + Guitar + Drums. No bass nor bassists. Everytime a bass player says he has been playing "the bass intro" of this song on the bass, another one will claim that this song hasn't got one. And I beg to differ.

The sound range of bass and guitar (specially one using an octave pedal) might overlap (see http://www.integracoustics.com/MUG/MUG/bbs/musrange.gif), so it's not a complete absurd to call that intro a "bassline". In fact it is a bassline, played on guitar. What if it was arranged on a keyboard, or as VST, wouldn't it be called "bass line" as well?

Performed on a bass or not, this is a bassline, I say!

Song: Seven Nation Army
Artist / Band: The White Stripes
Album: Elephant
Bass(well, guitar actually): Jack White
Year: 2003

guitar tab (external link)

New Fang

This one is new material from a legend: John Paul Jones (from Led Zeppelin) is now playing with Dave Grohl and Josh Homme. The name of the supergoup is Them Crooked Vultures.

JPJ really deserves a post here - he made history with Zeppelin, and his work on TCV is as solid as ever.

Song: New Fang
Artist / Band: Them Crooked Vultures
Album: Them Crooked Vultures
Bass: John Paul Jones
Year: 2009

If anyone knows where the bass tabs for this song can be found, comment!

Power

It was about time to have some Marcus Miller around here. This is one of the most complete musicians around (clarinet, sax, keyboards and guitar). He has played with giants such as Miles Davis - in fact he has produced an Davis album (and won a Grammy for it).

Power is one of my favourite Miller songs.

Song: Power
Artist / Band: Marcus Miller
Album: M2
Bass: Marcus Miller
Year: 2001

bass tab (external link)

Fake Tales of San Francisco

The Arctic Monkeys seem to like to lock in their instruments - in fact that probably is one of their trademarks. But even with guitars, bass and drums accentuating the same beats, there is still space to Andy Nicholson do their fills. Great energy!

Song: Fake Tales of San Francisco
Artist / Band: Arctic Monkeys
Album: Whatever People Say I Am, That's What I'm Not
Bass: Andy Nicholson
Year: 2006

bass tab (external link)

No You Girls

(A question has been bugging me all week: why do record labels prevent people from embedding their YouTube official videos?)

Closing our 2000s week, here is a band who has become extremely popular lately. Franz Ferdinand has in Bob Hardy a perfect player for their style. His bass line for No You Girls is a lesson on how dancing pop-rock lines should be.

Song: No You Girls
Artist / Band: Franz Ferdinand
Album: Tonight: Franz Ferdinand
Bass: Bob Hardy
Year: 2009

bass tab (external link)

Cannibal's Hymn

If Nick Cave and The Bad Seeds can be groovy, Martyn P Casey is the main reason for that. It doesn't matter how dark the subject of the song is, Casey adds a playfulness to every creation of this amazing band. In that aspect, It's amazing how he balances the energy of the group.

Song: Cannibal's Hymn
Artist / Band: Nick Cave and The Bad Seeds
Album: Abattoir Blues/The Lyre of Orpheus
Bass: Martin P. Casey
Year: 2004

bass tab (external link)

Trouble

Coldplay is a band who, I guess, suffered a bit from being over-exposed. Yet, they gave (give) us some great songs (and albums).

Guy Berryman, on the other hand, is an example of the low-profile-bass-player-who-plays-for-the-song, but that doesn't mean his work shouldn't be heard and acknowledged more often. His bass line for Trouble is melodic, smooth, and perfectly integrated to the song.

Song: Trouble
Artist / Band: Coldplay
Album: Parachutes
Bass: Guy Berryman
Year: 2000

bass tab (external link)

The National Anthem

This memorable bass riff from Radiohead's The National Anthem belongs to the album Kid A. Released in 2000, it really set the tone for the decade, in a way, don't you think? Colin Greenwood was really inspired - from melody to distortion. Fun and very simple to play.

Song: The National Anthem
Artist / Band: Radiohead
Album: Kid A
Bass: Colin Greenwood
Year: 2000

bass tab (external link)

Torture Me

I'll dedicate this week to the 2000s.
Not just because they're ending in a couple of months, but because there is lack of balance here: They've had only seven posts so far.

The first one is from a band that is more associated with the 1990s, but which has released some of their greatest work (and hits) during the 2000s.

The bass line for this song is not that complicated (specially compared to other ones by Flea). Still, I really like how it sounds in the context of the song.

Song: Torture Me
Artist / Band: Red Hot Chilli Peppers
Album: Stadium Arcadium
Bass: Flea
Year: 2005

bass tab (external link)

Você Me Faz Continuar

Remember our post on The Beatles' Baby You're a Rich Man? This bassline for Cachorro Grande's song is, to me, a direct descendant of McCartney`s - and still a highly original line by Rodolfo Krieger.

Song: Você Me Faz Continuar
Artist / Band: Cachorro Grande
Album: Todos os Tempos
Bass: Todos os Tempos
Year: 2007

If you know where to find the bass tabs, please let us know! :)

Prophet 15

This song can instantly throw the listener into a dreamy state of mind - of course the lyrics help, but the bassline is anohter strong reason, I think.

Another good Supergrass bassline is in Evening of the Day. Let's save that for another post.

Song: Prophet 15
Artist / Band: Supergrass
Album: Life on Other Planets
Bass: Mick Quinn
Year: 2002

There There. (The Boney King of Nowhere.)

Another Radiohead song with a killer rhythmic section. Percussion/Drums and Bass creating the perfect atmosphere for a song (and a videoclip) like this one.

Song: There There. (The Boney King of Nowhere.)
Artist / Band: Radiohead
Album: Hail to the Thief
Bass: Colin Greenwood
Year: 2003

Bass tab (external link)

Dreaming of You

Lovely tune, great bassline.

Song: Dreaming of You
Artist / Band: The Coral
Album: The Coral
Bass: Paul Duffy
Year: 2002

Bass tab (external link)

Feel Good Inc

That Murdoc Niccals is quite good for a fictional bassist! Actually, the bassist behind the charatcer is Morgan Nicholls, and this is a very effective bass line: simple, cathcy, punchy and very fun to play and/or listen to.

Song: Feel Good Inc
Artist / Band: Gorillaz
Album: Demon Days
Bass: Murdoc Niccals (Morgan Nicholls)
Year: 2005

Jenny Was a Friend of Mine

The opening track for The Killers debut album has a really powerful bass that sounds just perfect, specially during the intro. Mark Stoermer, the bassist, is a co-author for that song. I wonder if the bass riff was the starting point of the composition process.

Song:Jenny Was A Friend Of Mine
Artist / Band: The Killers
Album:Hot Fuss
Bass: Mark Stoermer
Year: 2004

Bass tab (external link)

Hysteria

Many years ago, a friend introduced me to Muse, a band that he was really into, back then. Although I could never share all of his enthusiasm, I must admit that this bassline from Hysteria really impressed me. Not just because of its speed, but for creating an interesting melody and using distortion with a purpose.

Song: Hysteria
Artist / Band: Muse
Album: Absolution
Bass: Christopher Wolstenholme
Year: 2003

Bass tab (external link)