1047307219_096985d990_small
Reputation: 10
Follow 0
Follow 1

Where did all the good drums go?

Except for metal, which itself has an issue letting drummers get all syncopated, it seems like the only things that people are listening to now have a pretty regular dance beat. This includes pop, dance.. even the local hip-hop and independent music seems to adhere to pretty straightforward and un-embellished beats. Now, I'm not saying it's a necessary component of good music, just that I hear more rhythmic diversity in pop-rap than in independent music anymore. Where did all the good drummers go? Perhaps more importantly, how come the intricate stuff is relegated to wanky prog, jazz, and metal? Haven't plenty of bands proven that you can be mellow/folky/spacey/diverse while still including some interesting drumming. Is there a place for fast/syncopated/complex drumming in a successful band? (assuming success mets your own reasonable definition) Is intricate drumming a liability to band who wants to sell records?

Michael Duggan asked in Music Panel over 2 years ago | Report
New answers are not being accepted at this time.
Latest Greatest

7 Answers

  • 9322_151180428236_520658236_2889047_3298246_n_small
    Reputation: 20
    Follow 0

    Great Seattle drummers, off the top of my head: Nat Damm, the guy in Wah Wah Exit Wound, Trent Moorman (Head Like a Kite, Fresh Espresso, Gabriel Mintz), Tyler Swan (Foscil, Linda and Ron's Dad, Flexions), Barrett Wilke (Kinski), Matthew Ford (Love Tan, many other projects), Chris Pollina (Midday Veil). I'm sure I'm forgetting some, but that's a start.

    Dave Segal answered in Music Panel over 2 years ago | Report
    8 comments by Dave Segal, Emily Pothast, and Emily Pothast…
    Share this answer with a friend:
  • N772425112_9204_small
    Reputation: 3
    Follow 0

    By and large, pop music is about melody, not rhythm. If you want to listen to great drumming check out Fusion (terrible to listen to unless you're a musician), Gospel, or go see a pop star live. However, I think good drumming is more about having fantastic groove and taste than about how many flashy fills or complex rhythms you can play. To oversimplify: John Bonham is the greatest rock drummer of all time because of When The Levee Breaks, not Moby Dick.

    Some other awesome Seattle drummers:
    Jason McGerr of Death Cab for Cutie (best indie rock drummer out there today, period.)
    Bradyn Krueger of The Lonely Forest (BEAST!)
    Davey Brozowski of Black Whales (so good at writing interesting, original and tasteful drum parts without being overbearing)
    Saba Samakar of Dyno Jamz (killer groove)

    Ryan Sprute answered in Music Panel over 2 years ago | Report
    2 comments by Rev.Enant and Michael Duggan…
    Share this answer with a friend:
  • Ben_phone_small
    Reputation: 42
    Follow 0
    Ben London

    I don't think I have a good answer for you other than to say that it seems like when it come to music it seems like there is a pendulum constantly swinging back in forth. Sometimes the music that is popular is really intricate and technical and other times it is really simple and raw. Every generation needs their own sound (or their new version of an old sound) and thus they must rebel against what came before them. If you think about the indie pop that is popular now, it has more in common with the 60-70's hit makers like Fleetwood Mac, CSNY and the Beach Boys than with punk rock. Give it time as the music gets more precious and the beards get longer a new generation is going to come along and want something more aggressive whether it is metal, hip hop, electronic music or whatever. It always happens.

    As for the drummers, there is always a place for good music, so if someone or some band does something great with technical drumming, people will like it. If it’s just complicated for the sake of complicated, then people who read Modern Drummer will like it.

    Ben London answered in Music Panel over 2 years ago | Report
    Comment on this answer
    Share this answer with a friend:
  • Gogogophers_small
    Reputation: 864
    Follow 0

    Have you ever heard Planets? http://www.myspace.com/planetsplanetsplanets

    Why I Must Be Careful?
    http://www.myspace.com/whyimustbecareful

    Hood use a lot of effects, and have some slower songs, so it may be hard to tell on albums, but their drummer is pretty fuckin decent live.
    http://www.myspace.com/hooduk

    But this sounds like a rhetorical question to me. What you're basically saying is "why aren't there more bands with good drummers that fit into a particular narrow category that I'm looking for, since everything else is totally wanky and gay?"

    LMNOP answered in Music Panel over 2 years ago | Report
    2 comments by Michael Duggan and Ryan Sprute…
    Share this answer with a friend:
  • Tony_randall_small
    Reputation: 70
    Follow 0

    Outside of the metal/prog/psych worlds, I think Mark Pickerel (Tripwires) and Faustine Hudson (Demon Rind, Whalebones, Chain & the Gang) both have a loose, syncopated style that works really well for their bands, even if not particularly intricate.

    Mr_Friendly answered in Music Panel over 2 years ago | Report
    1 comment by Michael Duggan…
    Share this answer with a friend:
  • Avatar_default
    Reputation: 1
    Follow 0

    Don't forget Dave Abramson (Diminished Men, Master Musicians of Bukkake, Spider Trio) EDIT: ... whoops, Emily just posted this in response to Dave Segal's answer above.

    davidg answered in Music Panel over 2 years ago | Report
    1 comment by Michael Duggan…
    Share this answer with a friend:
  • Avatar_default
    Reputation: 87
    Follow 0

    I second by again mentioning Davey Brozowski of "Black Whales" who play Chop Suey on June 11th.

    I'll add Ethan Jacobsen of the new two-piece "My Goodness".

    You can find and listen to both these bands on their Myspace page.

    Randal answered in Music Panel over 2 years ago | Report
    Comment on this answer
    Share this answer with a friend: