Danny Carey. There simply aren't enough superlatives for this guy. Having learned his 'chops' in drum corps, Danny went on to study Jazz for a number of years before hooking up with Maynard James Keenan and guitarist Adam Jones and forming Tool. His drumming on albums such as Ænima, Lateralus and 10,000 Days has continued to push the drumming envelope, and made him the hero of lesser drummers all over the world (such as myself).
Lateralus in particular is a drumming tour de force. Admittedly, it does take a while to get your head around the various time signature changes, polyrhythms and complex rhythmic structures - but once you do you realise you're listening to a special album. And yes, at some points i did think the CD was skipping (During the middle part of The Grudge, for example). But this doesn't stop this album being, in my humble opinion, the best of the past 20 years.
I've been playing drums for getting on ten years now, so it's rare for me to listen to a song and think 'What the hell is the drummer playing there?' (because my ears have got used to hearing out the drums, not because i'm like the equivalent of the 'horse whisperer'...for drumming). Yet when i listen to Parabola (6:56 - 7:16) it makes my jaw drop [insert jaw-dropped emoticon here].
Annoyingly, there aren't many good quality videos on Youtube of Danny's playing. In the early days (before Youtube, if you can imagine that a world such as that once existed) the only place you could find videos of Tool were on torrent sites, when people uploaded shaky cam footage from gigs they'd been to. As if it wasn't bad enough that it made you feel like you were downloading pornography, these videos were also very poor quality, with people screaming 'Dude, this part fucking rocks...watch Maynard. Seriously, duuuuude, watch Maynard!'. All this 'watch Maynard' talk inevitably meant that the camera rarely focused on Danny. There was a rumour that there would be a dvd of the Lateralus tour - though that was 10 years ago, so i'll stop holding my breath for that.
The best you'll get is the attached video from some kind of promotion for Paiste cymbals. It's worth watching for the 'gong hit' pay-off alone.
What are you favourite Tool songs? Do you like any parts of a song in particular? If so, leave a comment underneath.
I love most of the Tool songs; can't really pick a favourite, it all depends on the mood I'm in.
ReplyDeleteBut there are a few moments that I can listen to over and over:
- The climax of Stinkfist: epic harmony with an epic build-up. (around 3:25)
- Mellow part of Schism: (starting around 4:00) once again, awesome harmony, layered guitars bass and synth.
- Ænima: pretty much the whole song. I really think it's a masterpiece. When it comes to drums, I just love his hi-hat work on the second verse (starting around 1:20)
- Eulogy: The intro build-up and verses are almost hypnotizing while choruses explode in your face creating awesome intensity; once again, when it comes to drums I just love that beat at around 5:20. And the polyrhytm at 6:20.
- Jimmy: simply love the dark feeling it gives. That snare fill at 3:03 is not even remotely impressive on its own but they fit so damn perfectly in there.
- Intention: from 3:52; the way guitar and bass intervenes is brilliant.
Of course, those are just a few things that I noticed in Tool's songs. And that's what I love about their music: you can listen their songs over and over and find new things every time.
best regards,
Helod
i Agree on 'Ænima'. That song is a mission to learn. I remember reading once that Danny wasn't that happy with his double basswork; an amazing statement when you actually hear his double bass! I think Tool is one of the only bands i've heard where the drums lead the band (Blink 182 is the same). Without the drums the songs wouldn't be half as good in my opinion.
ReplyDeleteWhat are your favorite songs? Anything special you noticed Danny doing on drums?
ReplyDeleteHelod
Obviously the solo at the end of 'The Grudge' and i love 'Right In Two' just before the anthemic last part when he builds it up using the whole kit. There are too many parts to mention!
ReplyDeletehttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IpYAidhPO2M
ReplyDeleteThis is a SICK vid of the extended version of Stinkfist.
All of Danny's work is out of this world. Parts of The Patient, Reflection, Jambi, and the breakdown in Rosetta Stoned is one of my fav drum parts ever.
I recently got a drum set and have screwed around with it and I've been playing guitar for eight years and spent hours on hours learning the guitar which is MUCH easier than drums.
I really dig your APC vids. Especially Vanishing, Orestes, and Brena.
Keep it up.
Awesome video! I must say the Patient is one of my favourites too.
ReplyDeleteIt's funny that you mention how drums are harder than guitar. Most people think drums are easier because all you do is 'hit things'. Personally, i didn't 'get' guitar. I tried it, but couldn't get m hands to do what i wanted them too.
Why this is Tom (also known as thepot23, long time subscriber and commenter)
ReplyDeleteI've listened to all of the albums a countless amount of times and marveled at all of the ridiculous drum sections for about half a decade now. However, my favourite part has to be the electronic drum break in Intension. I realize that it isn't the best example of his playing on a kit, in terms of technicality stamina or groove. But that is, in my opinion, what separates Danny from other renowned drummers (peart, bozzio, etc.)It's his ability to blow my fucking mind with one of the most creative pieces of live drumming ever.
"Yet when i listen to Parabola (6:56 - 7:16) it makes my jaw drop [insert jaw-dropped emoticon here]."
ReplyDeleteI'm assuming you're referring to Lateralus. Parabola is only 6:03 and Lateralus has a very, very nice drum part around 6:56 - 7:16.