You are not logged in. Please register or login.
- Topics: Active | Unanswered
Re: The drumming on "Slash"
The first stand out disappointment I heard was the drumming. Seems alot of rock artists are going that route of enjoying that "drum machine" sound these days, and not in a good prog-metal sort of way.
It just feels weak.
Listen to Sorum on YCBM. That's drumming that caves your brain in. Or the funky sleaze of Popcorn on Mr. B. These are good examples.
The best drumming I heard on CD, was Frank Ferrer (the shock). I don't get the love affair for Brain's work at all, and the weakest part of Slash's new album is also his drumming. It's becoming a bit common.
Dave Grohl's drumming on Watch This was by far the only standout.
- Mikkamakka
- Rep: 217
Re: The drumming on "Slash"
I agree, Axlin. The poor drumming hurts the overall product. Jimmy wrote that
The producer did comment that he wanted simple arrangements to let Slash's subtleties come to the fore and I think thi is perhaps what we are hearing.
It could have been their aim, but if it was, they failed. Quality drumming makes a groove that takes the whole production to a different level. Listen AFD. Listen YCBM or Locomotive. Listen Bonham with Zeppelin. It's not true that even a 'monkey' can play the drums and there is no difference. Both CD and Slash's solo album are suffering from sub-standard rhythm work.
Re: The drumming on "Slash"
Good rock REQUIRES good drumming and bass imo.
If you find that groove, the guitar and vocals ADD.
But a good "band-oriented" rock song, has never been built on just vocals or guitar. I say band oriented, because instrumental is a whole different bag.
- jimmythegent
- Rep: 30
Re: The drumming on "Slash"
I agree, Axlin. The poor drumming hurts the overall product. Jimmy wrote that
The producer did comment that he wanted simple arrangements to let Slash's subtleties come to the fore and I think thi is perhaps what we are hearing.
It could have been their aim, but if it was, they failed. Quality drumming makes a groove that takes the whole production to a different level. Listen AFD. Listen YCBM or Locomotive. Listen Bonham with Zeppelin. It's not true that even a 'monkey' can play the drums and there is no difference. Both CD and Slash's solo album are suffering from sub-standard rhythm work.
oh I agree and i am the last person who would say any monkey can drum. If you were getting that you were taking me all wrong
- monkeychow
- Rep: 661
Re: The drumming on "Slash"
TListen to Sorum on YCBM. That's drumming that caves your brain in.
Fuck yeah...I love the drumming on that track. I know sorum doesn't have a lot of fans around here, but whatever else he says and does he drums like a motherfucker at times...and that's a great example.
The best drumming I heard on CD, was Frank Ferrer (the shock). I don't get the love affair for Brain's work at all,
Yeah I'm a bit the same way. I'm told he's very very technically adept but I never understood brain after I saw him play YCBM and the feel just wasn't there on that track. When frank was added I think most people started up with the "replacement of a replacement of a replacment of a replacement" stuff and questioned the need to re-do the drums *again* , but I was quite happy as I thought that live frank really gave the songs back more of a rock feel and less of a programed nature. And his style is sort of a nice hybrid of Adler and Sorum...he's a good all rounder for the job IMO.
Re: The drumming on "Slash"
When I talked to him on the phone a year ago, I asked him a lot about the studio gigs he does for acts he doesn't care for. He said he's only heard about half of the recordings he's on, and only listens to maybe a quarter of them. And when I asked about working with Slash, he gave me a "yeah it's a good paying gig and it's just a straight rock/pop thing" and also said "I wouldn't go tour on a group like that."
When did you talk to him?? (Sry, I didn't know anything about that)
Re: The drumming on "Slash"
Last year or so, Freese sold himself for dinner, phonecalls, that kind of stuff in these fan packs. Don't remember what it was for, but that might've been when CC got to talk to him. I thought someone on this board said they were gonna go for the phonecall, maybe it was CC.
Re: The drumming on "Slash"
On Brain / Freese;
You might remember Freese worked as the original session drummer on Chinese Democracy in '98-'00 and recorded the original backing tracks to most songs, even co-writing the title track. Having said that, his sentiments towards the project as a whole might've been similar to those of Slash's solo album. Freese, like many others, had a problem with Axl's timekeeping and the incessant jamming / re-recording. You can't blame the guy for walking out after his contract expired to hang out with Maynard James Keenan.
Brain was never really allowed to rework the drum tracks as such. Axl and then-producer Roy Thomas Baker went for his 'feel', whatever the hell that means, and Brain had to learn all the existing drum tracks and adapt himself to Freese's style, which could be loosely described as more compact and 'punk'. Hence, the older CD tracks with original Freese drum arrangements are actually Brain trying to emulate Freese the best he can, with the occassional quip thrown into it. Inspiring for someone like Brain? Guess again.
No surprise you get the stories of Brain recording at the attic of Village Recording Studios in a former Freemason lodge. The dude was just trying to make the best out of the situation, which obviously meant spending a good deal of Universal money to gain some level of inspiration. This is not meant to lessen Brain, as many other people involved in the project did the same thing, and worse. He simply had resources in his disposal and he took them up.
But that's mainly why you get uninspired Brain drumming based on uninspired Freese arrangements.
- monkeychow
- Rep: 661
Re: The drumming on "Slash"
^ Which is maybe why the two best GNR drummers are the guys who actually really want to be in the band: Frank and Adler!! just my 2c 
