Bang on the drum all day

July 25, 2005 1:03 PM

Help me find some great percussion-heavy music.

I have always been a great fan of music with a strong percussive element, for example the taiko music of Soh Daiko or Mickey Hart's Planet Drum. However, I'm wondering what recommendations other MeFites have on the subject. I'm particularly fond of rock and classical music, but am willing to try just about anything.

posted by nightengine to Media & Arts (40 answers total)

If you like Mickey Hart's stuff, you should check out Diga Rhythm Band if you haven't already. Tabla Beat Science is also wonderful, wonderful percussion music.
posted by nixxon at 1:10 PM on July 25, 2005

For a bit of performance with your percussion, why not try Stomp?
posted by xvs22 at 1:23 PM on July 25, 2005

Kodo? You can't get more Taiko drum then them.
posted by drezdn at 1:25 PM on July 25, 2005

glen velez?
posted by juv3nal at 1:39 PM on July 25, 2005

Einsturzende Neubauten? The Creatures' "Hai!"?
posted by kuperman at 1:44 PM on July 25, 2005

doug scharin's HiM might interest you (not to be confused with the metally band) Its a percussion led post-rock, dub, jazz, experimental project founded and led by an excellent drummer. Each album explorers several different sounds but all with a percussion-focused rock-and-roll-drummer edge.
posted by yeahyeahyeahwhoo at 1:45 PM on July 25, 2005

Steve Reich’s Drumming?
posted by hilker at 1:46 PM on July 25, 2005

Ethiopiques Vol. 1

Check out a couple of the samples (I like the Sèyfu Yohannès stuff a whole lot) to see if it's up your alley/percussive enough for you.
posted by Espy Gillespie at 1:47 PM on July 25, 2005

You can always go Afro-Cuban/Mambo.

Tito Puente, Irakere, the list goes on and on...
posted by Pollomacho at 1:49 PM on July 25, 2005

How about Chico Science e Nação Zumbi? They mixed rock with various drum heavy rhythms from the Northeast of Brazil.
posted by dmo at 1:50 PM on July 25, 2005

Bartok's Sonata for Two Pianos & Percussion is a favorite of mine.
posted by Wolfdog at 2:10 PM on July 25, 2005

The Dresden Dolls. They're a piano/drum duo...can't get more percussive than that.
posted by amandaudoff at 2:17 PM on July 25, 2005

I like Max Roach's percussion ensemble, M'Boom, quite a bit. And as long as we're talking about jazz, I think the 'drum battle' albums that people like Gene Krupa, Buddy Rich and the aforementioned Roach recorded are a good time

Also: Olatunji, Tony Allen, Ginger Baker's solo stuff, Aiyb Dieng, Trilok Gurtu... I'm not sure if it's to your taste, but a great many Bill Laswell-associated projects (including Tabla Beat Science, which an above poster recommended) are heavy on the percussion.
posted by box at 2:22 PM on July 25, 2005

Crash Worship? Indonesian Gamelan music?
posted by jtron at 2:22 PM on July 25, 2005

I'm going to go out on a limb and suggest that you sample some tracks by Meshuggah. Now, before you continue reading, please keep in mind that this band has a very unique and unconventional sound that really pushes the definition of what rhythm is. Most people will think it's crap when they first hear it, especially if you're not into the harder forms of metal. But their style is something that grows on you, and you will find more and more appreciation for it the more you listen to it -- unless you just don't like metal at all. It's certainly not something you'd ever find on a pop/rock radio station, that's for sure, so if you're looking for something soothing and accessible, don't bother. But you did say you were willing to try anything. I suggest tracks from Destroy Erase Improve or Chaosphere.
posted by Rhomboid at 2:31 PM on July 25, 2005

Blue Man Group is very drum heavy. Techno with non-tech drums. The Afrocelts are also known for their drum work.
posted by frykitty at 2:40 PM on July 25, 2005

How about a little Rusted Root, When I Woke.
posted by szg8 at 2:49 PM on July 25, 2005

box: I'm glad to see someone recommend Olatunji.

I wholeheartedly second that recommendation. Babatunde Olatunji was an amazing drummer and one of the most amazing people I ever met. For a good intro to Baba's music start here.

Also Rusted Root is excellent drum based music. When I Woke is a wonderful starting point for their stuff.
posted by smash at 2:56 PM on July 25, 2005

Zakir Hussain, Tabla master, played with many "Western" musicians but his classical Indian stuff is "the shit".
posted by DelusionsofGrandeur at 3:07 PM on July 25, 2005

Classical-wise, Edgard Varese is awesome.

Rock-wise, Oingo Boingo did some interesting things with percussion instruments, and The Residents have done quite a bit of interesting/cool Gamlean stuff in the recent past.
posted by Rev. Syung Myung Me at 3:17 PM on July 25, 2005

Also, the soundtrack to Akira should be right up your alley. Pretty much the entire thing. It's SO awesome. I love that disc.
posted by Rev. Syung Myung Me at 3:18 PM on July 25, 2005

There was an Australian group in the late '80s called Big Pig that had three or four drummers/percussionists in the band; they did sort of poppy industrial stuff. I have no idea how their music has held up, but it might be worth Napstering up, or whatever it is you kids do these days.
posted by kindall at 3:45 PM on July 25, 2005

Keith Flint's solo act had two drummers. pretty heavy stuff. I don't remember the album name, but his band was called, simply, "Flint"
posted by angry modem at 4:07 PM on July 25, 2005

Seconding Can. I'd also suggest Test Dept., if you're willing to wander towards the more experimental/industrial end of things.
posted by Jairus at 4:13 PM on July 25, 2005

Another fan of Olatunji. You might also enjoy the sounds of Youssou N'Dour, Touré Kunda and other examples of the Senegalese/Afro-Cuban pop hybrid style called m'balax that originated in the 50s and 60s.
posted by trip and a half at 4:16 PM on July 25, 2005

Try the Boredom's Seadrum EP. My record of the year for 2004!
posted by .kobayashi. at 4:22 PM on July 25, 2005

Three more from Brazil:

Oludum. You've heard them on Paul Simon's "Rythm of the Saints." Follow the "purchase a CD link for audio samples
Timbalada (if you're looking for CD's, they have an NSFW album cover)
Ilê Aiyê

And there are tons of batucada compilation CD's.
posted by hydrophonic at 4:54 PM on July 25, 2005

Neurosis. Sort of like post-rock, sort of like metal, very unique. They also release other stuff that's more tribal and ambient under the moniker Tribes of Neurot. Industrial, along the lines of Einstürzende Neubauten, would also be worth checking out.

In a different genre entirely, you may want to check out bands like Corvus Corax, Cornix Maledictum, Saltatio Mortis, Wolfenmond, etc. They play mostly secular medieval music on the original instruments - lots of bagpipes and huge drums. Other European folk music can have some pretty interesting percussion. I can't think of a band that focuses on it, but the Irish bodhran, for example, is a lot of fun.
posted by ubersturm at 5:02 PM on July 25, 2005

On the contemporary classical side, you could check out Norwegian composer Rolf Wallin. I've only heard his Stonewave (1990), which is quite great, but he's apparently written a good deal of other percussion-based stuff.
posted by Sonny Jim at 5:24 PM on July 25, 2005

Airto Moreira is one of Brasil's most prolific percussionists. His music is great. "Encounter" is my favorite. You can't go wrong with Brasilian percussion :-)
posted by wackybrit at 5:43 PM on July 25, 2005

I'm not sure if metal is your cup of tea, but since someone has already suggested Meshuggah and Neurosis, I would have to suggest you try out Mastodon. Brann Dailor is one of the greatest metal drummers these days and does some things that can make your jaw drop.
posted by punkrockrat at 8:07 PM on July 25, 2005

If you like rock n'roll, pull some old RUSH albums. Chronicles is a good CD set that has some great drum solos. (click on the discography link on the left sidebar)
posted by aedra at 8:24 PM on July 25, 2005

cymande english 70's band made up of people from the west indies ... kind of between reggae, calypso, latin and funk ... they had 5 or 6 percussionists in the band and everything they did just bounced .... these guys were just excellent
posted by pyramid termite at 9:18 PM on July 25, 2005

Herbie Hancock's Dis Is Da Drum, perhaps?
posted by kindall at 9:38 PM on July 25, 2005

Second the Dresden Dolls. The indie duos are heavy on the drums: The White Stripes, The Kills, Death From Above 1979. Then there's the ork end of things, with The Arcade Fire, The Go! Team, and some others that have two drummers.

There's a taiko group from Canada called Fubuki Daiko that's also pretty interesting.

Paul Simon's Graceland also has a lot of African drumming in it.
posted by dhartung at 12:49 AM on July 26, 2005

Behemoth - Demigod
The Dillinger Escape Plan - Calculating Infinity
Death - Individual Thought Patterns, The Sound of Perseverence

That should get you started.
posted by baphomet at 6:57 AM on July 26, 2005

Percussion, huh? Here are some you might like from a WIDE variety of genres:
Cop Shoot Cop: Two drummers, big, rollicking sound along with post-hardcore.
Bonk: From Australia, think Eurythmics with 50-gallon drums.
The Dirtbombs: Again, two drummers, only this time with two bassists as well. They play backbeat heavy power-pop (like Cheap Trick only with a huge bottom end).
Stabbing Westward's Ungod: They got rid of their drummer after this album, but it had huge industrial drumming.
Lightning Bolt: Drums and bass sent to the ultimate end. Great stuff.
Black Dice: Similar to Lightning Bolt, only with a whole band.
Skeleton Key: Two drummers, one of which plays a constructed junk kit with all sorts of wild percussion.
Squarepusher: His Big Loada album uses the beat as the "melodic," variable element and the melody as the rhythm.
Cherry Valence: Another great two-drummer band, this one sounding like southern glam rock. Which it is. "Lose That Smile" has one of the best beats evah!
Hamid Drake and Pharoah Sanders' Spirits: A drum and "exhaled instruments" duo (flute, saxophone, clarinet, sometimes all at once) doing a song cycle. Beautiful and subtle.
Gerald Cleaver's Veil of Names: Gerald Cleaver's one of the best drummers in modern music.
Nomo: Go to nomomusic.com and pick up their album. They've got an afrobeat meets late-'60s-ensemble jazz vibe that's fantastic.
Smashing Pumpkins' Siamese Dream: Believe it or not, this is their one great album, and Jimmy Chamberlin's drumming is fantastic for a rock drummer (maybe because he was jazz trained).
Gang of Four: Post-punk ur-type for drum 'n' bass.
Bush Tetras: Also post-punk, girls who rock the low end.
ESG: What, you need more post-punk funkiness with the drumming and the bass? Pick up these girls. They're like Menudo's awesome opposites, a bunch of rotating sisters who play together.
Sepultura's Roots: The finest album, with a lot of indigenous percussion, from Brazil's metal masters. The only Sepultura album worth owning.
Hella: A lot of people like this drums and guitar duo, but I'm not wild about 'em. If you're looking for percussion, though, you might want to give them a listen.

There's also plenty of rap out there, if you want me to list some... That's really where the most innovative percussion is going on today...
Email's in my profile if you want more.
posted by klangklangston at 9:05 AM on July 26, 2005

"Death - Individual Thought Patterns, The Sound of Perseverence"

YES YES YES. You have to hear Gene Hoglan to believe him. (And RIP Schuldinger...)
posted by Rhomboid at 5:25 PM on July 27, 2005

Yes. Lightning Bolt. How on earth did I neglect to mention them?! Many of the other bands on the Load Records label will be worth checking out too, though some of them may head further into "noise rock" territory than you may want to journey.
posted by ubersturm at 7:47 PM on July 27, 2005

How about Swell Maps? They're an experimental/noisy post-punk british band that released two albums then broke up in 1980. The two main dudes Epic Soundtracks and Nikki Sudden, were brothers. Not sure which of the two played the drums but check out the album, Jane From Occupied Europe, its original and pretty spectacular (and totally unheard of!).

Also, Sam Fogarino of Interpol is pretty good...he sneaks counter-rhythms into alot of Interpol's songs, which can start out slow and plodding, but ultimately become much more interesting due to the rhythm section of Sam and Carlos D. (bass).

For upbeat, non-tribal rhythms, post-punk is the way to go...Gang of Four, very early Cure, Joy Division. Even U2's Larry Mullen Jr. is fairly interesting on early albums War, The Unforgettable Fire, Boy, etc.

Just avoid the recycled hi-hat dance-rock that is "in" right now (The Killers, VHS or Beta, The Bravery); these duran-duran ripoffs are terrible IMO.

For more of a tribal sound I would recommend Paul Simon's The Rhythm of the Saints album.

I am a drums/rhythm freak myself.
posted by roan22 at 3:43 PM on October 14, 2005