Wednesday, July 21, 2010

072110

What's It Called?

What's The Story?
The Sinister Minister was from the first of many Bela Fleck albums, released in 1990.

Who's To Blame?
An IT specialist who has a massive hard-on for Mike Portnoy.

Why ♥ It?
Come for the bassline, stay for the fact that you're listening to banjo jazz.
The name Victor Wooten will ring a bell to anyone who likes to watch men do things to a bass guitar that I would otherwise deem physically impossible. The grooving bassline intro to the song does complete justice to a funky & cheeky name like The Sinister Minister. Throughout the song, this main line is a solid foundation for everything else to come, although it morphs by the minute, adding slaps & pops & general Victor Wooten-esque wankery. I legitimately think that if the entire 4:36 was just the bassline, I'd still love the song. It is that good.
But, since it's not the whole song, let's talk about what else happens: Fleck's banjo creates a neat pensive atmosphere that will let you forget the funk if you try hard enough. Also included are some neat guiro sounds and a very hummable harmonica (I think?) lead that helps direct the flow and the pace of the song.
The result is something that you're unlikely to find anywhere else, and I would imagine that that was somewhat the intent.
Also, if you don't get the same awesome vibe that I do right away, try and listen to the track while imagining a sinister minister, and it might make considerably more sense.

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