Interludes I - Basslines That Slap

Wed, 24 Jun 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Hey folks, trying something different today. Video games might be one of my primary hobbies, but I’d say music (the listening to and playing of) is something that has been ever-present in my life since a young age. I played about 4 different instruments between high school concert, marching, and jazz bands and also picked up playing the bass guitar in the last several years. I did so because I really missed making music, and I seem to be naturally drawn to songs with great bass parts. I’m also just constantly listening to music whether I’m at work, in the car, mowing the lawn, etc. I listen to a pretty wide variety of stuff too and always strive to add new songs to my master playlist (2,852 songs and counting).

So today, I’m starting a new mini-series on this blog where I pick a theme, build a small playlist of about five songs around that theme, and talk about why I think they’re worth a listen. These will be a lot shorter than my usual game-based entries, but I hope they’re enjoyable regardless. I will say that I’m not quite as comfortable talking about music as I am about videogames but the only way to grow is to struggle a bit, right?

Today’s theme : Basslines That Slap. All of these are high-energy, upbeat songs with excellent, prominent basslines. I’ll provide links to them all, but you can also find a youtube playlist of all these songs here.

M83 - Reunion

Hurry Up, We’re Dreaming is one of those albums that was an indie darling and got tons of critical acclaim upon its release in 2011. I think the single that everyone thinks of when you mention it has got to be the unique and unforgettable Midnight City, but for me personally, the top spot has to go to the second single, Reunion. This song is driven by the bass guitar from the first measure; unlike a lot of modern rock and pop where the bass simply doubles and supports the guitar part, the bass instead takes the lead here with the guitar slamming chords to accent the bassline.

This song is so goddamn fun to play. It’s got a ton of cheeky little slides and it’s a joy to hit the accents along with the drums and guitar parts. It hops along during the main chorus and keeps the energy going up to the bridge where the bass drops out for a while, before sliding back in and hammering it home for the last chorus. Just fantastic, and I adore it.

Remi Wolf - Toro

What’s that, you say? A swanky, playful bassline along with an infectious rhythm, fun raunchy lyrics, and soaring vocals from one (criminally underrated imo) Remi Wolf? Sign me the hell up. Her whole album Big Ideas is great, if you like this one you should also check out the lead track Cinderella as well. I would not be shocked to see her really pop off with her next album; her music is funky and fun and rarely takes itself overly seriously.

311 - Feels So Good

I think I first became aware of 311 through their cover of The Cure’s Lovesong, a pretty good cover that’s only mildly blemished by the fact that it was featured in an Adam Sandler movie. I didn’t revisit their older stuff until much, much later — at which point I was surprised to find a lot of songs of theirs that I really liked. Maybe putting bassist Aaron “P-Nut” Wills on this list is cheating, but there’s no denying his skill. Listen for “Yo P-Nut, beat that thang!” late in the song as a cue that you’re about to hear some primo slap bass.

Muse - Plug In Baby

Yeah, sue me, it’s another band with a critically-acclaimed bassist. There’s a reason that Chris Wolstenholme’s bassline from Hysteria is one of those things that people gravitate toward in Guitar Centers nationwide when they want to show off. I absolutely loved Muse in college; I’d go as far as to say they were my favorite band at the time. Unfortunately, I think they’ve fallen off in their later works to the point where they’re almost a parody of themselves, but man they were on a tear up through Black Holes and Revelations.

Origin of Symmetry is probably their most interesting and experimental album, and from that release comes Plug In Baby. Wolstenholme’s bass is heavily effected here with an electronic, nasally growl to it and is a crucial piece of why this song rocks so hard. There’s a bevy of great basslines throughout Muse’s catalog but this is one I keep coming back to over and over.

Miki Matsubara - 真夜中のドア ~ stay with me

One of the things I find so fascinating about Japanese music trends is the ubiquity of the jazz bass. This specific variation of the bass guitar shows up in so many different genres whether that’s jazz, j-rock, or j-pop. But there’s no genre where it’s more centered than in city pop, a Japan-pioneered genre of jazzy pop fusion that evokes the glitz of skyscrapers at night and the hum of neon signs.

One of the most well-known tracks in this subgenre is Miki Matsubara’s 真夜中のドア (Mayonaka no Door) ~ stay with me. This song blew up on TikTok and got really popular during the Covid-19 pandemic and for good reason. It’s an almost-frustratingly perfect pop song, with lyrics that evoke nostalgia for a love lost set against a deceptively-upbeat melody. The bassline here isn’t complex but it doesn’t need to be, it’s just an essential part of a fantastic ensemble performance here (including a bitchin’ saxophone solo in the bridge). I love this genre so don’t be surprised to see similar tracks recommended in the future.

Playlists on Mike's Musings

Interludes I - Basslines That Slap

M83 - Reunion

Remi Wolf - Toro

311 - Feels So Good

Muse - Plug In Baby

Miki Matsubara - 真夜中のドア ~ stay with me