Dirty Bass Lines Are The New Love Language

 

It’s all about the bass. 


Like all music enthusiasts, we all have our favourite sounds and instruments that we are drawn to when listening to a song. The bass guitar offers a resurgence of life and energy to a song. When an artist or producer chooses to have the bass line stand in the foreground of a song, it adds so much character that is usually in the background of a melody. When listening to a song with a gritty bassline, it’s like the narrator is coming alive. The sound of a ‘dirty’ bass, doesn’t refer to it being the most awful sound you’ve ever heard. ‘Dirty’ revolves around the sound of the bass line being the funkiest sound you’ve ever heard. The ‘dirtiness’ of the bass is essentially exaggerated tones that are brightened harmonics over others. A driving bass line may sound like an overdriven electric guitar with lots of feedback.


What makes the bass line so attractive to listen to? The best songs have the best bass lines, I don’t make the rules. I say dirty bass lines are a new love language because I’ve never listened to any other instrument that made me feel so alive. There are few musicians who shape the warm tone of a funky bass line, whether it’s from the hands of Motowns’ James Jamerson or John Paul Jones’ early days in Led Zeppelin or through the “thunder thumbs” of Louis Johnson — they all produce a killer tone. As we know, music is used to express emotion — sometimes lyrics don’t say enough, so there must be reliance on the instruments themselves. The new love language is expressive through a filthy bass line as it sometimes has the most confidence and appealing noise. The use of groove and sophistication is implied as the listener is set in a romanticized style of music where the bass is the voice of lust and attraction. Anyone who knows me, knows I’m a sucker for a strong intimate bass line.


Enjoy the playlist we have curated below for a taste into the world of bad-ass bass lines:

  1. “The Lovecats” - The Cure

  2. “Come On, Come Over” - Jacob Pastorius

  3. “HIT EM WHERE IT HURTS” - PawPaw Rod

  4. “Who’s Your Money On? (Plastic House)” - Inhaler

  5. “You Know I’m No Good” - Amy Winehouse

  6. “Girls and Boys” - Blur

  7. “Thank You (Falattinme Be Mice Elf Agin)” - Sly and the Family Stone

  8. “Money” - Pink Floyd

  9. “Talking In Your Sleep” - The Romantics

  10. “Alrighty Aphrodite” - Peach Pit

  11. “Evil” - Interpol

  12. “Move” - Jany Green

  13. “Peaches” - The Stranglers

  14. “What’s The Use?” - Mac Miller

  15. “Good Times” - The Stone Roses

  16. “I Know You Know” - Esperanza Spalding

  17. “Case For You” - Early Eyes, Dizzy Fae

  18. “Come a Little Closer” - Cage the Elephant

  19.  “Totally” - Inhaler

  20. “Spanish Moon” - Robert Palmer

  21. “Sledgehammer” - Peter Gabriel

You can listen to the playlist here!

 
Regan Charterisbatch 8