Blow my house down.
December 20, 2007 5:29 PM Subscribe
New home sound system, and now I've got more bass than I know what to do with! Help me take advantage of this with music recommendations that will make my house shudder and boom as I harness the power-- THE POWER.
I know I could rock out with pretty much anything, but I'm looking for tracks or albums that are especially breathtaking, beautiful, and bootylicious when the bass is boosted.
A friend sent me some deep, mellow Indian music that fit the bill perfectly, and inspired this question. What have you got?
I know I could rock out with pretty much anything, but I'm looking for tracks or albums that are especially breathtaking, beautiful, and bootylicious when the bass is boosted.
A friend sent me some deep, mellow Indian music that fit the bill perfectly, and inspired this question. What have you got?
There are at least two canonical answers to the "What records will show off my new bass-heavy system?" question:
1) Compilations of music from the aptly-named Miami Bass genre. I particularly recommend the "00Bass" compilation if you can find it. As you might guess, all the songs and titles are spy-themed.
2) Anything on the Telarc or Chesky labels, particularly the recording of Tchaikovsky's 1812 Overture, which includes ridiculous canons that will make your house shake. Telarc and Chesky are labels that exist just to help people show off their stereos.
None of this is particularly good music to my ears, but when your friends come over, they'll be like "HOLY CRAP!" After 45 seconds you can put on music you actually like.
posted by jeb at 5:42 PM on December 20, 2007
1) Compilations of music from the aptly-named Miami Bass genre. I particularly recommend the "00Bass" compilation if you can find it. As you might guess, all the songs and titles are spy-themed.
2) Anything on the Telarc or Chesky labels, particularly the recording of Tchaikovsky's 1812 Overture, which includes ridiculous canons that will make your house shake. Telarc and Chesky are labels that exist just to help people show off their stereos.
None of this is particularly good music to my ears, but when your friends come over, they'll be like "HOLY CRAP!" After 45 seconds you can put on music you actually like.
posted by jeb at 5:42 PM on December 20, 2007
Most of the PJ Harvey album Is This Desire could be amazing and spine-chilling with serious bass -- especially "Electric Light" "Joy" and "Perfect Day Elise."
posted by allterrainbrain at 5:50 PM on December 20, 2007
posted by allterrainbrain at 5:50 PM on December 20, 2007
(And would you mind saying what the deep, mellow Indian music was...?)
posted by allterrainbrain at 5:53 PM on December 20, 2007
posted by allterrainbrain at 5:53 PM on December 20, 2007
Response by poster: It was "Indian Stomp", which I just noticed is from the Children of Men soundtrack.
Also he sent two other tracks from that soundtrack, "In the Court of the Crimson King" and "Witness (1 Hope)", both also completely great examples of good bass.
posted by hermitosis at 5:57 PM on December 20, 2007
Also he sent two other tracks from that soundtrack, "In the Court of the Crimson King" and "Witness (1 Hope)", both also completely great examples of good bass.
posted by hermitosis at 5:57 PM on December 20, 2007
Daft Punk's Discovery has some great low end and some timeless music.
posted by porn in the woods at 6:28 PM on December 20, 2007
posted by porn in the woods at 6:28 PM on December 20, 2007
A lot of west coast rap from the late 80's / 90's had deep, sustained bass hits, here's a few examples...
Dr. Dre - The Chronic
Too Short - In the Trunk
NWA - Approach to Danger
Here are some others that stick out in my mind.
Crystal Method - High Roller
Beastie Boys - A lot of stuff from License to Ill and Paul's Boutique
The Beatles - Come Together
posted by doowod at 7:07 PM on December 20, 2007
Dr. Dre - The Chronic
Too Short - In the Trunk
NWA - Approach to Danger
Here are some others that stick out in my mind.
Crystal Method - High Roller
Beastie Boys - A lot of stuff from License to Ill and Paul's Boutique
The Beatles - Come Together
posted by doowod at 7:07 PM on December 20, 2007
There's a whole 'nother bassline to The Orb's Little Fluffy Clouds that I never heard, playing it on the stereo I had when I bought the album. Then I listened to it on my mate's fancy system and there it was*.
Having said that, though, now is the time to put on DJ Krust's Warhead and the version of the Cure's Pictures of You that they put on Mixed Up.
/showing his age.
* Actually, that's so long ago, that it may actually have been Perpetual Dawn, but they're both on the same, utterly unmissable, album, so this answer still works.
posted by pompomtom at 7:42 PM on December 20, 2007
Having said that, though, now is the time to put on DJ Krust's Warhead and the version of the Cure's Pictures of You that they put on Mixed Up.
/showing his age.
* Actually, that's so long ago, that it may actually have been Perpetual Dawn, but they're both on the same, utterly unmissable, album, so this answer still works.
posted by pompomtom at 7:42 PM on December 20, 2007
The original pressing of Sarah McLachlan's Solace has deep, powerful bass, particularly near the beginning of "Back Door Man". It takes a monster subwoofer to even hear (well, feel, really) the notes in question.
It's been remixed, and the remix totally wrecked the bass. You have to get the original CD. The lossless version on mp3sparks.com should be the correct one; it was when the site was allofmp3.com. If you go that route, be sure to buy it in lossless form, because MP3 is likely to compress the deepest bass out.
Pipe organ music is generally considered the deepest bass in anything approaching mainstream music; some of those notes get down to 15hz. And, of course, there's always the 1812 Overture, when they actually fire real cannon. Telarc is likely to have both.... I know for sure they have a real-cannon version of the Overture.
posted by Malor at 8:05 PM on December 20, 2007
It's been remixed, and the remix totally wrecked the bass. You have to get the original CD. The lossless version on mp3sparks.com should be the correct one; it was when the site was allofmp3.com. If you go that route, be sure to buy it in lossless form, because MP3 is likely to compress the deepest bass out.
Pipe organ music is generally considered the deepest bass in anything approaching mainstream music; some of those notes get down to 15hz. And, of course, there's always the 1812 Overture, when they actually fire real cannon. Telarc is likely to have both.... I know for sure they have a real-cannon version of the Overture.
posted by Malor at 8:05 PM on December 20, 2007
But actually, if you want that "wow" feeling inside your own head (abdomen?) nothing works as well as those THX test sounds from the cinema. Not a song, but it's hard not to grin when your windows shake to that so-familiar sound.
Do you dig idm, hermitosis?
That's what appealed to me about Autechre when I first heard 'em. It sounded like they were making songs out of THX-like sounds.
My favorite albums are Tri Repetae++, Chiclisuite, Peel Session 1, Incunabula. They aren't all bass heavy, but there are definitely a fair smattering of songs that benefit from good bass. Let me know if you want particular song recommendations.
posted by juv3nal at 8:45 PM on December 20, 2007
You need dubstep. In rough order of paint-peeling potential:
Loefah - Mud VIP
Shackleton - Blood on my Hands
Kode9 - 9 Samurai
Massive Music - Find My Way (Kode9 Remix)
The Bug ft. Warrior Queen - Poison Dart
The Bug ft. Flow Dan - Jah War (Loefah Remix)
Loefah - The Goat Stare
Shackleton - Hypno Angel
Digital Mystikz - Lean Forward
King Midas Sound - Surround Me
Skream - Midnight Request Line
posted by moift at 8:49 PM on December 20, 2007 [1 favorite]
Loefah - Mud VIP
Shackleton - Blood on my Hands
Kode9 - 9 Samurai
Massive Music - Find My Way (Kode9 Remix)
The Bug ft. Warrior Queen - Poison Dart
The Bug ft. Flow Dan - Jah War (Loefah Remix)
Loefah - The Goat Stare
Shackleton - Hypno Angel
Digital Mystikz - Lean Forward
King Midas Sound - Surround Me
Skream - Midnight Request Line
posted by moift at 8:49 PM on December 20, 2007 [1 favorite]
Either version of Maynard Ferguson's take on Birdland
i like version #2
posted by Salvatorparadise at 9:30 PM on December 20, 2007
i like version #2
posted by Salvatorparadise at 9:30 PM on December 20, 2007
Bjork
Beck
"Just Kissed My Baby" by The Meters
So by Peter Gabriel ( Tony Levin is awesome ).
Ill Communication by The Beastie Boys
"De Profundis" by Dead Can Dance on Spleen and Ideal
"For Those About to Rock" by AC/DC
posted by popechunk at 10:07 PM on December 20, 2007
Beck
"Just Kissed My Baby" by The Meters
So by Peter Gabriel ( Tony Levin is awesome ).
Ill Communication by The Beastie Boys
"De Profundis" by Dead Can Dance on Spleen and Ideal
"For Those About to Rock" by AC/DC
posted by popechunk at 10:07 PM on December 20, 2007
Dark Side of the Moon is better with lots of bass because of the heart beats/random engineered stuff, and I'm seconding The Chronic.
Also, the EBM band Covenant has some good tracks for bass- in particular, Call The Ships To Port.
Fabolous - Keepin it Gansta was infamous for blowing fuses in one of my friends' cars. It's an absolutely inane and ridiculous song, but the bass hits rock.
posted by devilsbrigade at 12:00 AM on December 21, 2007
Also, the EBM band Covenant has some good tracks for bass- in particular, Call The Ships To Port.
Fabolous - Keepin it Gansta was infamous for blowing fuses in one of my friends' cars. It's an absolutely inane and ridiculous song, but the bass hits rock.
posted by devilsbrigade at 12:00 AM on December 21, 2007
Oh, almost forgot. Leonard Cohen sounds much better with lots of bass and little treble. Famous Blue Raincoat in particular. Rock on.
posted by devilsbrigade at 12:02 AM on December 21, 2007
posted by devilsbrigade at 12:02 AM on December 21, 2007
In the Dead of Night by UK.
http://www.amazon.com/U-K/dp/B000003S12/ref=pd_bbs_1?ie=UTF8&s=music&qid=1198224228&sr=1-1
John Wetton on base guitar and bass pedals, Bill Bruford on drums.
If you like progressive rock.
I use this song to ring out sound systems. It has pretty much the entire frequency and dynamic range, plus lots of stereo effects.
Second to pretty much anything by Tony Levin.
posted by tbird at 12:09 AM on December 21, 2007
http://www.amazon.com/U-K/dp/B000003S12/ref=pd_bbs_1?ie=UTF8&s=music&qid=1198224228&sr=1-1
John Wetton on base guitar and bass pedals, Bill Bruford on drums.
If you like progressive rock.
I use this song to ring out sound systems. It has pretty much the entire frequency and dynamic range, plus lots of stereo effects.
Second to pretty much anything by Tony Levin.
posted by tbird at 12:09 AM on December 21, 2007
I just blew my speakers playing ruff ryders: world war III - be warned
posted by FidelDonson at 12:50 AM on December 21, 2007
posted by FidelDonson at 12:50 AM on December 21, 2007
(Fourthing Tony Levin) the bass that kicks in on Peter Gabriel's "San Jacinto" from the "Security" album midway through is just awe inspiring. It's there to rattle your core and it works.
The "On Air" album from Alan Parsons, remastered in DTS 5.1 is almost a different work than the original. Play "Apollo" or feel the cellos and double basses kick in as "Blue Blue Sky II" winds up its climax. Just amazing on a good system. If there is a better 5.1 mix of an album, I'd eat my copy of "On Air."
posted by OneOliveShort at 2:30 AM on December 21, 2007
The "On Air" album from Alan Parsons, remastered in DTS 5.1 is almost a different work than the original. Play "Apollo" or feel the cellos and double basses kick in as "Blue Blue Sky II" winds up its climax. Just amazing on a good system. If there is a better 5.1 mix of an album, I'd eat my copy of "On Air."
posted by OneOliveShort at 2:30 AM on December 21, 2007
E. Power Biggs recordings, if you can find them. Also Sprach Zarathustra. Cactus' first album. If you like Jack Bruce, Disraeli Gears. Pentangle's The Pentangle. Pat Metheny with Dave Holland and Roy Haynes, Question and Answer, is well engineered and has some very good, low frequency musicality. Arturo Toscanini's version of Ferd Grofe's Grand Canyon Suite has some pretty impressive moments.
These are all recommendations that reward flat, deep, clean bass reproduction. A lot of records "thump" more, because they actually have more music energy in "beats" in the 100 to 200 Hz frequency range. It takes good speakers and amplifiers in very large rooms to reproduce the 16 Hz fundamental waves, nearly 71 feet long, in an E. Power Biggs pipe organ recording of Bach. In smaller rooms, you generally just get a truncated, reflected wave with some phase cancellation, depending on where you stand. But if you've got the system and the space, go for it.
And don't waste your time with .mp3 or other compression file formats, even high bit rate ones. One of the first things the compression formats do to save bandwidth is de-emphasize the 20-40 Hz octave.
posted by paulsc at 3:22 AM on December 21, 2007
These are all recommendations that reward flat, deep, clean bass reproduction. A lot of records "thump" more, because they actually have more music energy in "beats" in the 100 to 200 Hz frequency range. It takes good speakers and amplifiers in very large rooms to reproduce the 16 Hz fundamental waves, nearly 71 feet long, in an E. Power Biggs pipe organ recording of Bach. In smaller rooms, you generally just get a truncated, reflected wave with some phase cancellation, depending on where you stand. But if you've got the system and the space, go for it.
And don't waste your time with .mp3 or other compression file formats, even high bit rate ones. One of the first things the compression formats do to save bandwidth is de-emphasize the 20-40 Hz octave.
posted by paulsc at 3:22 AM on December 21, 2007
Emerson Lake and Palmer - Brain Salad Surgery
With the right speakers you can even watch the cones moving to the cycles in the bass notes on this...its the B-side of Fanfare for the Common Man - and whilst I'm not an ELP fan, this is great music for testing speakers out.
You could also look for one of the 'tuning' CDs that people who install In Car Entertainment systems use - they feature (normally crap) music but with awsome frequency coverage...including 'earthquaking bass' - as I believe the 'kids' call it these days.
posted by mattr at 3:40 AM on December 21, 2007
With the right speakers you can even watch the cones moving to the cycles in the bass notes on this...its the B-side of Fanfare for the Common Man - and whilst I'm not an ELP fan, this is great music for testing speakers out.
You could also look for one of the 'tuning' CDs that people who install In Car Entertainment systems use - they feature (normally crap) music but with awsome frequency coverage...including 'earthquaking bass' - as I believe the 'kids' call it these days.
posted by mattr at 3:40 AM on December 21, 2007
Massive Attack have absolutely delicious bass. Mogwai, Godspeed and similar artists will also give you that swimming in sound sensation.
I suspect you'll appreciate dub music, where the basis is central. Lee "Scratch" Perry is a great place to start, suggestions: Super Ape, Megatron Dub, Kung Fu Meets the Dragon. A good King Tubby compilation will also work wonders
Venetian Snares is nothing if not breathtaking, and may well blow your socks off with frenetic bassful IDM, suggest Rossz Csillig Allat Szuletett, Higgins Ultra Low Track Glue Funks Hits, 2370894
Lightning Bolt is made of pure power, though not everyone may agree on it's beauty. Magic Mountain should do the trick.
posted by MetaMonkey at 4:00 AM on December 21, 2007
I suspect you'll appreciate dub music, where the basis is central. Lee "Scratch" Perry is a great place to start, suggestions: Super Ape, Megatron Dub, Kung Fu Meets the Dragon. A good King Tubby compilation will also work wonders
Venetian Snares is nothing if not breathtaking, and may well blow your socks off with frenetic bassful IDM, suggest Rossz Csillig Allat Szuletett, Higgins Ultra Low Track Glue Funks Hits, 2370894
Lightning Bolt is made of pure power, though not everyone may agree on it's beauty. Magic Mountain should do the trick.
posted by MetaMonkey at 4:00 AM on December 21, 2007
Two Words: Electric Wizard. They tune down past D to, like, R....
posted by mundy at 5:38 AM on December 21, 2007
posted by mundy at 5:38 AM on December 21, 2007
Cake has some pretty rockin' bass lines. IMO, of course.
posted by owtytrof at 7:45 AM on December 21, 2007
posted by owtytrof at 7:45 AM on December 21, 2007
Sarah McLachlan - Elsewhere
Anything at all by The Crystal Method
posted by dirtynumbangelboy at 4:13 PM on December 21, 2007
Anything at all by The Crystal Method
posted by dirtynumbangelboy at 4:13 PM on December 21, 2007
Track 5, Never Get Out of These Blues Alive, from John Lee Hooker's "The Best of John Lee Hooker 1965-1974". A duet with Van Morrison.
So sweet!!!
posted by Gooberoo at 9:07 AM on January 3, 2008
So sweet!!!
posted by Gooberoo at 9:07 AM on January 3, 2008
This thread is closed to new comments.
But actually, if you want that "wow" feeling inside your own head (abdomen?) nothing works as well as those THX test sounds from the cinema. Not a song, but it's hard not to grin when your windows shake to that so-familiar sound.
posted by rokusan at 5:41 PM on December 20, 2007