Why I don’t like John Myung.

After the shocking announcement of Mike Portnoy’s departure from Dream Theater I went and had a look at the DT website. One of the more recent news articles was a link to a poll where the ‘best bassists of all time’ are being ranked. Of course there were firm instructions to go and vote for DTs all-but-mute bass player, John Myung. I didn’t vote for him, actually my vote went to Chris Squire. Looking at the list of bass players assembled I realised the John Myung wouldn’t even come close to my personal top ten, even twenty.

Now, any average person, thinking that I play the 6-string bass in a prog metal band that can on occasionally sound like DT, would probably quite rightly think that I love Mr Myung.  After all Petrucci, Portnoy and Rudess are such inspirations to guitarists, drummers and keyboard players out there, but John Myung (or ‘JMX’ as they refer to him) doesn’t do it for me.

Whilst I respect his technical ability and stamina, I honestly feel a lack of humanity and personality from the bass lines in the majority of DTs catalogue. The guy’s a machine! Think about other well regarded bass players from the prog genres, they tend to be identifiable by their sound, style, stage presence and so on. For example, when you hear Chris Squire, Geddy Lee, or Trey Gunn you know it’s them. You hear the personality come through. Now, describe John Myung’s playing, try to articulate his sound and style. I bet you fell for words like precise and complex.

It may seem that I don’t wish to embrace the traditional supporting role a bassist has, and to steal the limelight. Well that’s not quite the case – this is prog after all, so why not have a bit of both.

On the majority of DTs tracks you have to listen hard to pick out the bassline. More often than not it’s sitting low in the mix following the guitar line. I have to question Myung’s ever changing choice of bass guitar as well, as neither has a distinct quality or sound, but maybe that’s the point?

Oh, and don’t throw the Metropolis ‘bass solo’ at me, its octaves (and a forth/eleventh) played at speed. Solo my arse, might as well just play a scale.

Metropolis solo explained

That reminds me, long ago I tracked done and purchased Myung’s one and only video - ‘progressive bass concepts’. It’s about an hour long, the vast majority of which is him playing arpeggios of 7^th chords. Here are a few rifs using harmonics and tapping, a bizarre explanation of how to use his ‘backwards modal approach’ to play a C major scale... and a truly awful jam.

Just to reiterate, I do like Dream Theater, but the only song I play semi-regularly (Root Of All Evil) is part of my exercise/practice repertoire. I think that pretty much sums up my opinion on JMX.

   

Pre-Bloodstock Interview

Whilst preparing for Bloodstock, Clare Hardy from the Waltham Forest Guardian dropped in to see us...

"A ROCK band based in Walthamstow will face their biggest audience so far when they play at the metal festival Bloodstock this weekend.

Core Project, who practice at Pulse Studios in Blackhorse Lane, have struggled to find an audience for their epic, flowing progressive rock so far, playing wherever they can.

Keyboard player Dan Jones, from Buckhurst Hill, said: “We've slogged around London, playing in front of a wide variety of audiences.

“I think people in European countries are more geared to the music we play than people are in the UK.

“That's why Bloodstock is a great opportunity, because it's the right audience for us and that has not necessarily been there so far.”

The festival takes place in Derbyshire and is the largest independent metal festival in the country, with more than 80 bands playing.

The band has had a few changes of line-up, the most recent being when their lead singer failed to turn up to an ill-fated gig in Huddersfield, claiming he was stuck in Europe, under a cloud of volcanic ash.

Jones said that was one of his most memorable gigs. “By 11am on the morning of the gig, there were only four people in the band,” he said. “There were about six people in the student union bar we played in, but we carried on anyway.”

New singer Dom Giles has since joined the band and they agree that the current members will form the final five-piece.

Bassist Alex McElhinney said that the way their progressive rock, which so far includes their first album, Singularities Part One, was composed was more like classical music than pop songs.

“It's not the sort of thing you would see on music or hear on Kerrang Radio, or if you did, it would be on late at night,” he added.

But the band are hoping to change that by opening up their music to a wider audience."

http://www.guardian-series.co.uk/your_local_areas/8324605.WALTHAMSTOW_BUCKHURST_HILL__Band_prepares_for_first_major_gig/

Singularities Part 1 Review

Singularities Part 1 was recently reviewed over on Planet Mosh...

"Upon receiving Core Project’s Singularities Part 1 CD, I didn’t know what to expect, having never heard the band before and getting no insights from the albums artwork. This boosted my curiosity and I could no longer wait to find out what Core Project was about.

In went the CD and out came a pleasant surprise! The technicality of guitar work is phenomenal and blew me away. With ever-changing tempos and amazing melodies, the music left me astonished to say the least. At first I wasn’t so sure about the vocals but after 4 lengthy songs and no half measures, the uniqueness grew on me. In the end I decided that the vocal style fit with the music and what singles Core Project out from other bands.

If you ever wondered what a combination of Dream Theater, Zakk Wylde and Symphony X sounded like, Core Project is the answer. Don’t just take our word for it; check the CD out for yourself because this is a band that shouldn’t be ignored. Enter The Crypt is definitely the signature track that sums Core Project up in 4 minutes. Unafraid to explore beyond the boundaries, Core Project takes you on an unexpected journey into a fresh approach of modern metal."

http://www.planetmosh.com/2010/09/core-project-singularities-part-1-review-cd/

Core Project

Core Project marry the elements of classic and modern Progressive music, striking a balance that will appeal to the head banging metal heads whilst keeping true die-hard Prog fans happy. 

The band's first album, Singularities Part 1 which was recorded and mastered in the United States, was released in 2009 and showcases their talent to unite old with new. Their classic Progressive roots are on display utilizing melodic song writing with passages which vary in sound and intensity to give the music a dynamic quality. This is realised in a modern context whereby power is delivered through the use of heavy guitar motifs, pumping bass and thumping drums which cater for all but the most extreme of metal fans.

Core Project are currently working on their second album, the first to be released under AC Records. The expected release date is Winter 2010.