Bud Summers – Hard Lessons EP Review: A True Ace of the Bass

It takes a special sort of ear to tap into the potential of the electric bass guitar. While notable bassists such as Victor Wooten and Flea push the Bass into the forefront wherever they are able, Bud Summers prefers to keep it in its natural habitat. Hard Lessons is an EP that does just this and it pays off in spades. The composition of every track on the album is centered around the bass and its many personalities as the focal point of the EP.

The track Bad Fish has an incredible bass groove which takes center stage. It is so good that the instrumental alone may be enough to treat your ears. If you only listened to that, however, you would miss the clever wordplay of the lyrics. The chorus is catchy and it may take you a listen or two to know why Johnny’s Speckled Trout was a Bad Fish. Taking in everything at work in one listen will no doubt leave you vulnerable to the first of many fantastic guitar solos on the EP as each track houses one. 

The next track, Endless Fantasy, is different in tone and evokes more of a 70’s club aesthetic over the smooth jazz of Bad Fish. The bouncy beat is delivered alongside another bass groove that you would be hard pressed not to dance to. The lyrics revolve around the story of a girl obsessed with celebrity culture. Her “ignorance is bliss, she’ll succumb to happiness” is a stand out line that really encompasses the song as a whole, but after a listen you’ll likely be humming another catchy chorus.

The closing track, So Deep, tells of his history of women and how he has been wronged by them. That is until he meets a woman “whose love is going to last right on through eternity” who supports and encourages him. The track gives off a jazz bar aesthetic as it puts the bass firmly within the jazz band itself, which is front and center in the track. It makes for an amazing closing track that feels like the last two tracks built up to a jazz band finale. The aesthetic is so palpable I can almost see the cigarette smoke in the air.

Hard Lessons is an EP for those who are seeking something truly different. With a dash of musical nostalgia and an ear for a groovy bassline, Bud Summers has delivered a heartfelt and beautifully composed EP that is sure to delight from start to finish. There are so many aspects about the EP to enjoy. Whether it be the amazing composition, the clever lyrical wordplay, or the catchiness of it all there is something here for everyone.