I got the new Explosions in the Sky album and can’t stop listening to the first track, Last Known Surroundings. The drumming knocks my socks off.
Link to their myspace: http://www.myspace.com/explosionsinthesky
It’s the second song in the player.
I want more! Can you recommend me other songs with prominent drumming that’s not relegated to background beat maintenance? I’m not looking so much for drum solos as I am looking for drumming that takes a more active role in a song.
Tusk - Fleetwood Mac
I love the drums in Time to Pretend by MGMT.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B9dSYgd5Elk&feature=fvsr
I don’t know if this really counts per the OP, but I’ve always thought it interesting that I can immediately identify a song that I’ve never heard before as being a Van Halen song, not by the sound of Eddie’s guitar, but by the way Alex’s high-hat is so forward in the mix. Seriously, it’s right out in front of everything on just about every song.
You should listen to Tortoise, it’s a real “drummer’s band.” Very centered around the percussion. John MacIntire is one of the best.
“Would?” by Alice in Chains has some good drumming, although no solos.
The National
“Wipeout.”
Just about anything by Rush.
In My Tree by Pearl Jam.
I don’t know if it’s “forefront” enough for you, but Jimmy Chamberlain’s drumming in Jellybelly is fucking epic.
As for other songs with great drumming, man, I don’t even know where to start. Good Times Bad Times by Zeppelin has some of my favorite drumming, especially with those triplet stutters on the kick. It may be a little less “in your face” than some other drumming, but Bonzo’s drumming on this song always gets me. Tasty, powerful, with a healthy dose of ass-shaking swing. For me, that is the quintessential rock drum performance.
Word. The Sea and Cake songs always feature top notch drumming.
When I read the thread title, it made me think of songs that open with a drum solo, and that brought to mind
Tarzan’s Nuts by Madness
Sidetracked by Richard X. Heyman
and 50 Ways to Leave Your Lover by Paul Simon
“One”-U2
There’s the old Adam and the Ants stuff (the band, not solo), if you can get past the craziness (which I loved as a teen) the double drum set and Marco’s guitar is pretty great music. There’s Sheila E’s stuff, too, she’s an amazing percussionist.
None of it’s near what you linked in the OP, though, style-wise, so it may all be hateable just for the style. Dang, I’m old!
By the way, you’re not alone. I’ve been listening to the album at work all week via Spotify (which, annoyingly, doesn’t have the last track as all EITS tracks over ten minutes are missing) and that track is just fucking stunning.
Mogwai. They have two drummers (sometimes), and if you like EitS, you’ll like Mogwai. They were one of the first and most influential post-rock bands.
Try this: Mogwai Fear Satan pt 1
Followed by: Mogwai Fear Satan pt 2
It’s too long (17 minutes) for a single You Tube clip. Great track, and I particularly like the drum part.
Sing sing sing (with a swing) by Benny Goodman.
I think that the Who’s “The Kids are alright” is classic example of a drum driven song. Moon basically is the lead instrumentalist on this (of course, what makes many Who songs so great is the permanent battle between Townshend, Entwhistle and Moon for the lead, but in this case Keith clearly wins).