What the hell is going on around here?

[Lee Jones]

Well, this is interesting. I've been in and out of this group for about 16
years now. For the last 10 or so, this place has been polluted by some
fairly childish behavior. Maybe it's the fact that usenet isn't as active
as it used to be, some of the children grew up or just went away but I may
have to just catch up on a few posts.

Lee

[Steve Turner]

Post by Lee Jones
Well, this is interesting. I've been in and out of this group for about 16
years now. For the last 10 or so, this place has been polluted by some
fairly childish behavior. Maybe it's the fact that usenet isn't as active
as it used to be, some of the children grew up or just went away but I may
have to just catch up on a few posts.
Lee

I think it's a combination of those things you mentioned, and probably some others as well.
ISPs aren't making it any easier to connect to Usenet these days, and most of them have
shut down their NNTP servers, forcing people to seek out (and possibly pay extra for)
alternate methods of participating. It's remarkably easy to remain connected even if your
ISP cancels your news service, but I'd bet a remarkable number of people just cut the cord
when that happens.

Unfortunately, the Rob and Dennis saga probably did a lot to foster continued participation,
but that's all but dried up now (Rob indicated his health problems had returned, and Dennis
would have us believe he's already succumbed). It's sad to think that without the childish
behavior we have nothing left to talk about...

For me, it may just be that I'm an old fart. I don't find anything in today's musical
landscape that I want to talk about, and most all of my interest in music involves delving
into the past of all my old heroes and discovering new information or previously unheard
recorded performances. A musical archaeologist, you might say. There's so much from the
past that I *haven't* heard, and I naturally gravitate towards history anyway so that's
where I spend *my* energy, but I have my doubts as to whether it would interest anybody here
so I don't usually bother sharing...

[mike]

On Feb 8, 8:38 am, Steve Turner <***@swtacobell.net> wrote:
most all of my interest in music involves delving

Post by Steve Turner
into the past of all my old heroes and discovering new information or previously unheard
recorded performances.  A musical archaeologist, you might say.  There's so much from the
past that I *haven't* heard, and I naturally gravitate towards history anyway so that's
where I spend *my* energy, but I have my doubts as to whether it would interest anybody here
so I don't usually bother sharing...

i was surprised the recent death of ed thigpen did not generate some
discussion. he was a great musician.

[d***@nowhere.invalid]

On Mon, 08 Feb 2010 08:38:47 -0600, Steve Turner

Post by Steve Turner
For me, it may just be that I'm an old fart. I don't find anything in today's musical
landscape that I want to talk about, and most all of my interest in music involves delving
into the past of all my old heroes and discovering new information or previously unheard
recorded performances.

IMO: There has never been a larger selection of truely great drummers
to listen to then today. And the drums, cymbals, misc. equipment, and
recording techniques have never been better.

Although, one certainly must search a bit for what is artistically
relevent. The signal to noise ratio is very low.

Here's a good example:

Totally great catchy song writing with a good hook, solid as a rock
studio production, etc.

But in the end it's just a pop tune aimed at a market segment. Just a
business fabrication. No real insight into the body politic, state of
religious revelation, or whatever nutrition you might wish to glean
from musical art.

But still, there are real musicians doing real art out there. These
guys for instance:

Dave

[Steve Turner]

Post by d***@nowhere.invalid
On Mon, 08 Feb 2010 08:38:47 -0600, Steve Turner

Post by Steve Turner
For me, it may just be that I'm an old fart. I don't find anything in today's musical
landscape that I want to talk about, and most all of my interest in music involves delving
into the past of all my old heroes and discovering new information or previously unheard
recorded performances.

IMO: There has never been a larger selection of truely great drummers
to listen to then today.

Not sure that matters to me. If you measure "truly great" by their technical
prowess, I agree there are plenty of drummers today whose abilities boggle the
mind, and are doing things perhaps even Buddy Rich never achieved. But they
have to be making *music* or I'm not interested in listening to them.

Post by d***@nowhere.invalid
And the drums, cymbals, misc. equipment, and
recording techniques have never been better.

Agreed.

Post by d***@nowhere.invalid
Although, one certainly must search a bit for what is artistically
relevent. The signal to noise ratio is very low.
http://youtu.be/hc9k3-fwwYM
Totally great catchy song writing with a good hook, solid as a rock
studio production, etc.
But in the end it's just a pop tune aimed at a market segment. Just a
business fabrication. No real insight into the body politic, state of
religious revelation, or whatever nutrition you might wish to glean
from musical art.

Agreed again. Yawn.

Post by d***@nowhere.invalid
But still, there are real musicians doing real art out there. These
http://youtu.be/4PDIAWIfW-4

Ok. I respect your definition of art, but I listened to several of their clips
and they really didn't do anything for me.

When I hear some new bands doing anything remotely close to this:

Then I'll be interested...

[Brandon Paluzzi]

Post by Steve Turner
Not sure that matters to me. If you measure "truly great" by their technical
prowess, I agree there are plenty of drummers today whose abilities boggle the
mind, and are doing things perhaps even Buddy Rich never achieved. But they
have to be making *music* or I'm not interested in listening to them.

Agreed. Lang, Pridgen, Mangini et al don't do anything for me. I
respect what they're doing, but it just never encourages me to move or
to feel. It's like watching someone do a difficult calculus
equation. You recognize the difficulty, but is it really
entertainment?

I do think there are some _supremely_ talented modern drummers out, in
bands that are making tons of great music, though...

Check out:
Kurt Dahle (New Pornographers)
Steven Drozd (Flaming Lips)
Darren Jessee (former Ben Folds Five)
Matt Chamberlain
Abe Laboriel Jr.

For some guys that come up from the Clem Burke / Ringo Starr / John
Bonham school -- it doesn't have to be flashy, it just have to serve
the song.

Post by Steve Turner
Ok. I respect your definition of art, but I listened to several of their clips
and they really didn't do anything for me.
http://youtu.be/KU2bOYiBX28
Then I'll be interested...

Horses for courses, I guess =)

Genesis has always been a 70s version of the Mars Volta for me. I
appreciate the technical prowess involved, but it absolutely leaves me
cold, and I can listen to about 30 seconds before I need to turn it
off.

Here's something new that I've been listening to a ton -- technically
impressive, but IMO, this has a lot more soul, swagger, and just
general "listenability"

b

PS - It's great to have some actual drumming discussion going on
again! Keep it up! =)

[d***@nowhere.invalid]

On Wed, 10 Feb 2010 06:00:01 -0800 (PST), Brandon Paluzzi

Post by Brandon Paluzzi
Here's something new that I've been listening to a ton -- technically
impressive, but IMO, this has a lot more soul, swagger, and just
general "listenability"
http://youtu.be/Ws25EyTGdTg

That guy on the drums (I don't recognise him) has a giant rock tuning
on those drums. But yet it fits with that jazz combo.
Dave

[Frisbieinstein]

Not sure that matters to me.  If you measure "truly great" by their technical
prowess, I agree there are plenty of drummers today whose abilities boggle the
mind, and are doing things perhaps even Buddy Rich never achieved.  But they
have to be making *music* or I'm not interested in listening to them.

Agreed.  Lang, Pridgen, Mangini et al don't do anything for me.  I
respect what they're doing, but it just never encourages me to move or
to feel.  It's like watching someone do a difficult calculus
equation.  You recognize the difficulty, but is it really
entertainment?
I do think there are some _supremely_ talented modern drummers out, in
bands that are making tons of great music, though...
Kurt Dahle (New Pornographers)
Steven Drozd (Flaming Lips)
Darren Jessee (former Ben Folds Five)
Matt Chamberlain
Abe Laboriel Jr.
For some guys that come up from the Clem Burke / Ringo Starr / John
Bonham school -- it doesn't have to be flashy, it just have to serve
the song.

Ok.  I respect your definition of art, but I listened to several of their clips
and they really didn't do anything for me.
http://youtu.be/KU2bOYiBX28
Then I'll be interested...

Horses for courses, I guess =)
Genesis has always been a 70s version of the Mars Volta for me.  I
appreciate the technical prowess involved, but it absolutely leaves me
cold, and I can listen to about 30 seconds before I need to turn it
off.
Here's something new that I've been listening to a ton -- technically
impressive, but IMO, this has a lot more soul, swagger, and just
general http://youtu.be/Ws25EyTGdTg
b
PS - It's great to have some actual drumming discussion going on
again!   Keep it up! =)

Wild

I think Zach Hill is a genius. He's made a ton of recordings.

It takes them a while to
get going, so stick with it.

If you want to hear simpler stuff behind singing, it's just as
bizarre.

---
Rock

In a whole 'nuther vein, there are also a ton of hot pop/rock drummers
in Japan. For some reason they like butt-kicking drums over there,
even behind pop acts. It's hard to choose.

I love
this stuff.

A trio of women.

RAW.
It's like being beaten up by some little kids.

---
Jazz

If this stuff is too racous, here's some smoother funk stuff. I like
the way they get some odd times in there and keep the groove.

This band is popular in
Japan, they've been around for decades. Everybody knows these tunes.

Some subtle, tasteful, musical, highly skilled, STRONG drumming on
Chick's Spain

[boardjunkie]

Post by Brandon Paluzzi
Kurt Dahle (New Pornographers)
Steven Drozd (Flaming Lips)
Darren Jessee (former Ben Folds Five)
Matt Chamberlain
Abe Laboriel Jr.

+1 on Darren Jessee.....always loved his work with BFF. Whats he doing
these days?

[oldschool]

Yeah, Ed Thigpen!

These guys also do it for me.

Papa Jo

Brian Blade

Al Foster

Gimme a pocket, Ndugu!

This cat's pretty fly for a white guy....

Sorry to hear Rob's not doing well.

[oldschool]

The guy in the "doing it for the song" tradition that I really like is
Jay Bellerose. Great ideas, great sound, great time, great feel.
What the hell is not to like?

Another guy like that is Dave Mattacks. Beautiful, musical drummer.

[d***@nowhere.invalid]

On Tue, 09 Feb 2010 19:47:20 -0600, Steve Turner

Post by Steve Turner
http://youtu.be/KU2bOYiBX28
Then I'll be interested...

Yeah. I saw Genesis a whole bunch of times back in the late 70's early
80's. Saw them on the "Seconds Out" tour (Chester Thomson drumming
while Phil C. was singing) and it was probably the single greatest
concert I've ever seen. I came out of that show just stunned.
Dave