Hmmm. I like the drummers I like for varying reasons. I lean toward rock, with a leaning towards a dark kind of sound. One of the bands that fits the bill perfectly is Tool.
Now, I thought (I know) that in some ways, Lateralus was a letdown drumwise. I thought he could do so much more. And he still does some tricky stuff. He is the master at making some incredibly tough hi-hat work sound mainstream simple like its any joeblow drummer.
I am going to have to go with the 1st Tool full length. Try playing the 4 of the 1st 5 songs through. They will make your head hurt if you are independently challenged, and what is so cool is that they are SLOW songs for the most part. Its not speed or even flash that makes him. Its the time he spends developing his drum parts and how difficult/interesting they are to play. Its the hi-hat work that gets ya everytime.
One of my second favorites is Dave Lombardos work on Slayers Reign in Blood and South of Heaven albums. To this day, no drummer (nor band)has ever been more aggressive, more brutal. A lot of bands have tried to be the heaviest most brutal thing around, but none have ever taken the crown from the orginal Slayer lineup. Those are the only two albums I can still throw in and want to chew drywall screws and bounce of the walls.
Now given those two bands, styles, my other favorite to watch and listen to is Neal Peart. I dont ahve a particular Rush album that I like more than others (though some of the newer ones kinda suck, music-wise) I do like the Live one that I have though, its really pretty old, its on tape, and it has damn near every great song they ever did on it. And its live and really lets you appreaciate what a great drummer (great band for that matter) he/they are.
Few drummers really grab me these days. Few bands do. Music is at a suck right now. Hope it changes soon.
New Tool due out in January. Lets hope its a return to the earlier days, or that its darker than the last one.
Peace
Paul
