[kj] Youth/bass

Alexander Smith vassifer at earthlink.net
Tue Jun 28 13:07:46 EDT 2005


In many cases, I think learning how to play whatever instrument "on 
your own" (i.e. without formal lessons/training/instruction etc.) 
probably paves the way for more individual style. I remember reading 
how Gerry Casale of Devo taught himself how to play bas, but taught 
himself on a right-handed bass (despite him being left handed), so he 
now plays bass unlike anyone else (the strings in the wrong order, 
etc.) And, it should be noted, he plays a mean bass (or at least did, 
before Devo seemingly forsook guitars for synths).

I'm always struck by how "rubbery" Youth's bass sounds, whereas Raven 
is more about thickly pronounced notes.

Alex in NYC



On Tuesday, June 28, 2005, at 01:03 PM, melinda grant wrote:

> ooooooooooooooooo,very cutting"youth sounds like he taught himself to 
> play,wrong", ;-D but as u said,he was original at least,i carnt help 
> being fond of youth,i knew him,i still dont know raven,we just do not 
> meet on any level--infact,i kinda feel uncomfortable around him,where 
> as with jaz--gordie,i feel very at ease,as if i have known them 
> 4ever......
> n when paul n youth were around,the same,but raven!!!!!!! i carnt 
> understand it either.
>
> mel ldn uk.
>
>> From: Alex Smith <vassifer at earthlink.net>
>> Reply-To: Alex Smith <vassifer at earthlink.net>,"A list about all 
>> things Killing Joke (the band!)" <gathering at misera.net>
>> To: "A list about all things Killing Joke (the band!)" 
>> <gathering at misera.net>,"A list about all things Killing Joke (the 
>> band!)" <gathering at misera.net>
>> Subject: Re: [kj] Youth
>> Date: Tue, 28 Jun 2005 11:09:14 -0400 (GMT-04:00)
>>
>>
>> I think Raven is "technically" the better player, but Youth had more 
>> definable style (I can't think of another bass player who sounds like 
>> he does on the first three records). Youth sounds more like he taught 
>> himself to play (i.e. "wrong" but cultivating an inimitable style). 
>> That said, I can't hear any of that style on PANDY through KJ2003, 
>> suggesting that his time away from the instrument may have have cost 
>> him that style.
>>
>> Raven, by contrast, is a dependably competent player, and seemingly 
>> always has been.
>>
>> ALex in NYC
>>
>>
>> -----Original Message-----
>> From: Tim Bucknall <tim.bucknall at btinternet.com>
>> Sent: Dec 31, 2000 9:02 PM
>> To: "A list about all things Killing Joke (the band!)" 
>> <gathering at misera.net>
>> Subject: Re: [kj] Youth
>>
>> should have read "in tune" when comparing raven's playing to youth's 
>> post 92
>> playing
>> ----- Original Message -----
>> From: "Tim Bucknall" <tim.bucknall at btinternet.com>
>> To: "A list about all things Killing Joke (the band!)"
>> <gathering at misera.net>
>> Sent: Monday, January 01, 2001 1:00 AM
>> Subject: Re: [kj] Youth
>>
>>
>> > i think the reason you can hardly hear raven is more down to the 
>> mixing
>> that
>> > his actual playing,
>> > the mixing on his first prong album, makes me want to trash the 
>> speakers
>> >
>> > i agree that youth was better than good on the first 3 albums, he 
>> was
>> > extraordinary,
>> >
>> > as for the Bass on KJ 03 the ones i can actually really hear is 
>> "House
>> that
>> > pain built" which is obviously raven and implant which is apparently
>> Geordie
>> > according to the people that know this stuff
>> > and apparently some of it is programmed,
>> > It's so brilliant Having Raven back, because it basically means 
>> that they
>> > can play anything they want live, any songs from any period, can be
>> > performed tightly and tune
>> >
>> > i'll prob be on the chat for a bit if anyone else is bored, if i 
>> vanish
>> its
>> > because i've being forced to talk to my relatives :-)
>> >
>> >
>> > ----- Original Message -----
>> > From: "melinda grant" <hollytree1961 at hotmail.com>
>> > To: <gathering at misera.net>
>> > Sent: Tuesday, June 28, 2005 2:34 PM
>> > Subject: RE: [kj] Youth
>> >
>> >
>> > > youth was a better more choppy--melodic and even funky twang bass 
>> player
>> > > than raven--u can hear his lv of and 4 the bass in any early 
>> works--just
>> > > compare the difference to raven---half the time,i can hardly hear 
>> ravens
>> > > bass--thats now bland it is,n yes youth did write those bass 
>> lines --his
>> > > bass lines in the early days--of course he  n  gordie would 
>> improvise
>> > > ect--chuk idears bak n 4th,but youth knew his stuff,he was no 
>> slakker-n
>> > > gordie knows his stuff,they complimented each other beautifully n
>> > > intensly---as 4 k.j.o3 the bass is pritty heavy on that,n really 
>> rather
>> > > good,at last after all these yrs,raven is catching up with 
>> youth,but its
>> > > taken bloody yrs,n in the end,youth is the better of the 2.
>> > >
>> > > mel ldn uk.    ps get youth bak full time jaz,u know it makes 
>> sense.
>> > >
>> > > >From: bluce ree <bluceree2003 at yahoo.co.uk>
>> > > >Reply-To: "A list about all things Killing Joke (the band!)"
>> > > ><gathering at misera.net>
>> > > >To: "A list about all things Killing Joke (the band!)"
>> > > ><gathering at misera.net>
>> > > >Subject: [kj] Youth
>> > > >Date: Mon, 27 Jun 2005 20:39:19 +0100 (BST)
>> > > >
>> > > >This has probably been discussed before but anyway...
>> > > >
>> > > >Did Youth actually write the basslines on KJ, WTF and
>> > > >revs?  Things like Exit, Empire Song and Chop Chop
>> > > >have such brilliant basslines that manage to be subtle
>> > > >but amazing.  It compliments the guitar work rather
>> > > >than attempting to double it.
>> > > >
>> > > >It makes you wonder if Geordie showed him what to
>> > > >play.  Especially when you consider how rubbish he was
>> > > >on Pand on Democ (as the big shot producer I'm sure he
>> > > >wouldnt let Geordie tell him what to play that time).
>> > > >
>> > > >For me KJ have never matched those early albums and I
>> > > >think the bassplaying is a major reason.  Raven is
>> > > >great but tends to go with the obvious bassline.
>> > > >
>> > > >Thoughts?
>> > > >
>> > > >
>> > > >
>> > > >
>> > > >
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