To be honest, I think you are being unfair towards Chris and Ben.
In the older version, the guitar merely played some power chords and let them ring for a while.
Chris has been using an E-bow on Never Land on the 2014 tour, and it sounds a lot like he did so on Romeo Down as well there.
So other than just let one chord ring, you get a playing with harmonics and tones like never before from the tune, which creates an atmosphere like in a murder murder scene in some mystery thriller thingy of the past decade. And that´s what I think this song is all about.
It only is much more demanding on the guitarist than merely holding a chord for some time.
It´s a matter of taste which you prefer. No argument about that. But it´s tres mucho simpler to grab three strings and keep your fingers where they were. From the point of view of the playing, Chris does the more demanding part, and does it wellest!
I think I saw Ben use the
Wal Midi Bass you still see on the tech boys section here. If I am right there, that plank probably was used before that as well. So what you hear on the old recordings probably is not really a bass sound, but midi modulated by a bass.
I have no idea what instrument was used on that 2014 recording. I only hear a much more naturally sounding bass like tone there, with a lively attack and moderate growl. No idea if it´s still midi or authentic steel string through Pickup to effects box nowadays. I agree, it would be nice if the bass growled a bit more ferociously there, but I can´t agree with the playing or timing or anything about Ben´s part being any low quality musicianship. I hear the exact opposite.
The difference probably is that all of a sudden, you hear all the notes that are being played.
Which, in turn, means a compliment to Ben´s playing.
So, yes, it´s a matter of taste which version you prefer. But I guess that after all the song as played on the last tour is much closer to what it was meant to be from the start. It sounds very right to me, straight to that point and intense.
Not the least bit to be desired about the boys´ playing. I think they sounded all round amazingly well in 2014.
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