# Drums at the forefront of a song **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [May 26, 2011, 9:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/drums-at-the-forefront-of-a-song/583361 "2011-05-26T21:50:17Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![With\_Rye](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/838e76/32.png) [@With\_Rye](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/With_Rye)\ **Post date:** [May 26, 2011, 9:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/drums-at-the-forefront-of-a-song/583361/1 "2011-05-26T21:50:17Z")
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](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. ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [May 26, 2011, 10:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/drums-at-the-forefront-of-a-song/583361/2 "2011-05-26T22:04:22Z")
_Tusk_ - Fleetwood Mac ---
**Author:** ![Arrendajo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e0b2c6/32.png) [@Arrendajo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Arrendajo)\ **Post date:** [May 26, 2011, 10:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/drums-at-the-forefront-of-a-song/583361/3 "2011-05-26T22:12:03Z")
I love the drums in Time to Pretend by MGMT. [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B9dSYgd5Elk&feature=fvsr](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B9dSYgd5Elk&feature=fvsr) ---
**Author:** ![ExTank](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/35a633/32.png) [@ExTank](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ExTank)\ **Post date:** [May 26, 2011, 10:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/drums-at-the-forefront-of-a-song/583361/4 "2011-05-26T22:37:38Z")
[Icicle Works - Birds Fly (Whisper To A Scream)](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NVQCpI4GbKQ) ---
**Author:** ![ultrafilter](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/3d9bf3/32.png) [@ultrafilter](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ultrafilter)\ **Post date:** [May 26, 2011, 10:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/drums-at-the-forefront-of-a-song/583361/5 "2011-05-26T22:41:21Z")
[Arcturus - Collapse Generation](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LY54HIENlNA). ---
**Author:** ![Mister\_Rik](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mister_rik/32/491_2.png) [@Mister\_Rik](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mister_Rik)\ **Post date:** [May 26, 2011, 10:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/drums-at-the-forefront-of-a-song/583361/6 "2011-05-26T22:44:01Z")
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. ---
**Author:** ![Argent\_Towers](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e8c25b/32.png) [@Argent\_Towers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Argent_Towers)\ **Post date:** [May 26, 2011, 10:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/drums-at-the-forefront-of-a-song/583361/7 "2011-05-26T22:48:35Z")
You should listen to Tortoise, it’s a real “drummer’s band.” Very centered around the percussion. John MacIntire is one of the best. ---
**Author:** ![Drain\_Bead](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e47774/32.png) [@Drain\_Bead](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Drain_Bead)\ **Post date:** [May 26, 2011, 11:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/drums-at-the-forefront-of-a-song/583361/8 "2011-05-26T23:04:54Z")
“Would?” by Alice in Chains has some good drumming, although no solos. ---
**Author:** ![Mister\_Cheech](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/c5a1d2/32.png) [@Mister\_Cheech](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mister_Cheech)\ **Post date:** [May 27, 2011, 3:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/drums-at-the-forefront-of-a-song/583361/9 "2011-05-27T03:54:50Z")
The National [![](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/YbFWAtFb18k/hqdefault.jpg "The National - Squalor Victoria") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YbFWAtFb18k) ---
**Author:** ![Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e99b99/32.png) [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diogenes_the_Cynic)\ **Post date:** [May 27, 2011, 3:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/drums-at-the-forefront-of-a-song/583361/10 "2011-05-27T03:56:59Z")
“Wipeout.” Just about anything by Rush. ---
**Author:** ![Euryphaessa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/c5a1d2/32.png) [@Euryphaessa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Euryphaessa)\ **Post date:** [May 27, 2011, 3:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/drums-at-the-forefront-of-a-song/583361/11 "2011-05-27T03:59:28Z")
In My Tree by Pearl Jam. ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [May 27, 2011, 4:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/drums-at-the-forefront-of-a-song/583361/12 "2011-05-27T04:20:42Z")
I don’t know if it’s “forefront” enough for you, but Jimmy Chamberlain’s drumming in [Jellybelly](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b-pkDd5epgk) is fucking epic. As for other songs with great drumming, man, I don’t even know where to start. [Good Times Bad Times](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cm2-K6ttHYs) 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. ---
**Author:** ![Arrendajo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e0b2c6/32.png) [@Arrendajo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Arrendajo)\ **Post date:** [May 27, 2011, 5:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/drums-at-the-forefront-of-a-song/583361/13 "2011-05-27T05:28:54Z")
> [@Argent\_Towers](#): > > You should listen to Tortoise, it’s a real “drummer’s band.” Very centered around the percussion. John MacIntire is one of the best. Word. The Sea and Cake songs always feature top notch drumming. ---
**Author:** ![Thudlow\_Boink](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thudlow_boink/32/320_2.png) [@Thudlow\_Boink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thudlow_Boink)\ **Post date:** [May 27, 2011, 6:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/drums-at-the-forefront-of-a-song/583361/14 "2011-05-27T06:10:16Z")
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](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fANHwVqL30I) by Madness Sidetracked by Richard X. Heyman and [50 Ways to Leave Your Lover](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MG-0BWLybIQ) by Paul Simon ---
**Author:** ![etv78](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/d78d45/32.png) [@etv78](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/etv78)\ **Post date:** [May 27, 2011, 7:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/drums-at-the-forefront-of-a-song/583361/15 "2011-05-27T07:14:19Z")
“One”-U2 ---
**Author:** ![SeaDragonTattoo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/df705f/32.png) [@SeaDragonTattoo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SeaDragonTattoo)\ **Post date:** [May 27, 2011, 8:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/drums-at-the-forefront-of-a-song/583361/16 "2011-05-27T08:26:40Z")
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! ---
**Author:** ![amanset](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/8dc957/32.png) [@amanset](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/amanset)\ **Post date:** [May 27, 2011, 8:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/drums-at-the-forefront-of-a-song/583361/17 "2011-05-27T08:38:59Z")
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. ---
**Author:** ![Shakester](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/shakester/32/437_2.png) [@Shakester](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shakester)\ **Post date:** [May 27, 2011, 8:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/drums-at-the-forefront-of-a-song/583361/18 "2011-05-27T08:56:15Z")
[Mogwai](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/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](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OwDbJXRjvUg&feature=related) Followed by: [Mogwai Fear Satan pt 2](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uutz5vZSmEU&feature=related) It’s too long (17 minutes) for a single You Tube clip. Great track, and I particularly like the drum part. ---
**Author:** ![EvilTOJ](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/ee59a6/32.png) [@EvilTOJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EvilTOJ)\ **Post date:** [May 27, 2011, 9:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/drums-at-the-forefront-of-a-song/583361/19 "2011-05-27T09:47:59Z")
Sing sing sing (with a swing) by Benny Goodman. ---
**Author:** ![EinsteinsHund](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/einsteinshund/32/8400_2.png) [@EinsteinsHund](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EinsteinsHund)\ **Post date:** [May 27, 2011, 10:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/drums-at-the-forefront-of-a-song/583361/20 "2011-05-27T10:32:46Z")
I think that the Who’s [“The Kids are alright”](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pF99m4wGgqw) 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). [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/drums-at-the-forefront-of-a-song/583361.md?page=2)