Welcome guest! Please login or create an account.
Aug 30, 2008
COMMENTS
The Pumpkin's Skin King
July 4, 2007, 7:15 am - jimmy_drevpile
Jimmy Chamberlin Complex "Life Begins Again"
Jimmy Chamberlin is one of the most influential and inspiring drummers of the past 15 years. With the massive critical and commercial success, Chamberlin's name will always be synonymous with the alt-rocker's [The] Smashing Pumpkins.
Amalgamating Jazz with Rock like no other drummer before him - the secret to his distinct style and popularity lies in the sheer variation of beat. Combining technical “wizardry” with impeccable feeling - it is not often that you hear a drummer fit so perfectly between layers of Vocals, Guitars and "other sounds" quite like Chamberlin does. He is both a “drummers drummer” and a “band player”.
To my ears at least, what makes Chamberlin so exciting as a musician - is that he is exactly that - a musician. He uses the drums as a voice, an instrument. He is not like a casio keyboard stuck on pre-progrmaed "rock" mode. He is unlike so many other drummers seem to be happy sat behind the music. This is not to say at all that Chamberlin is abrasive as Keith Moon more a fusion of Bonham, Paice, Powell, Rich, Krupa and Webb.
In his first ‘solo’ album Chamberlin showcases his chops, his inventiveness (see particularly Loki-Cat) and his dynamism (Streetcrawler) and gives the listener a tantalising glimpse into his influences, not necessarily apparent in his previous works. “Life Begins Again” languishes in it's heritage - it fits perfectly into the continuum of progressive jazz rock records with drummer led bands pioneered by (amongst others) Cobham and [Tony] Williams. Life Begins Again – is an album loosely based on the concept of cycles. The notion becomes clear in the tracks with lyrics (penned by Chamberlin), most obviously in the title track. The cyclical nature of life, is echoed in the instrumental pieces both thru their tone and form.
Through listening to this album it becomes apparent just how much influence Chamberlin had in the nu-prog-rockers [The] Smashing Pumpkins. It becomes clear when reflecting on the vast body of the work that both Chamberlin and Corgan have been involved in making, that within the idea that is "The Smashing Pumpkins - Corgan's musical visions were shared and made possible only thru collaboration with Chamberlin.
[Now I may be repeating myself a little here (but if a points worth making – it’s worth making twice)] >>> In retrospect [and with the new 'Pumpkins record release imminent] if nothing else "Life Begins Again" will give it’s listener an insight into a notoriously ('scuse the pun) complex musical group and come to appreciate that [The] Smashing Pumpkins were never just the realisation of one mans’ vast musical vision – but at the very least two.
Drevpile
Jimmy Chamberlin is one of the most influential and inspiring drummers of the past 15 years. With the massive critical and commercial success, Chamberlin's name will always be synonymous with the alt-rocker's [The] Smashing Pumpkins.
Amalgamating Jazz with Rock like no other drummer before him - the secret to his distinct style and popularity lies in the sheer variation of beat. Combining technical “wizardry” with impeccable feeling - it is not often that you hear a drummer fit so perfectly between layers of Vocals, Guitars and "other sounds" quite like Chamberlin does. He is both a “drummers drummer” and a “band player”.
To my ears at least, what makes Chamberlin so exciting as a musician - is that he is exactly that - a musician. He uses the drums as a voice, an instrument. He is not like a casio keyboard stuck on pre-progrmaed "rock" mode. He is unlike so many other drummers seem to be happy sat behind the music. This is not to say at all that Chamberlin is abrasive as Keith Moon more a fusion of Bonham, Paice, Powell, Rich, Krupa and Webb.
In his first ‘solo’ album Chamberlin showcases his chops, his inventiveness (see particularly Loki-Cat) and his dynamism (Streetcrawler) and gives the listener a tantalising glimpse into his influences, not necessarily apparent in his previous works. “Life Begins Again” languishes in it's heritage - it fits perfectly into the continuum of progressive jazz rock records with drummer led bands pioneered by (amongst others) Cobham and [Tony] Williams. Life Begins Again – is an album loosely based on the concept of cycles. The notion becomes clear in the tracks with lyrics (penned by Chamberlin), most obviously in the title track. The cyclical nature of life, is echoed in the instrumental pieces both thru their tone and form.
Through listening to this album it becomes apparent just how much influence Chamberlin had in the nu-prog-rockers [The] Smashing Pumpkins. It becomes clear when reflecting on the vast body of the work that both Chamberlin and Corgan have been involved in making, that within the idea that is "The Smashing Pumpkins - Corgan's musical visions were shared and made possible only thru collaboration with Chamberlin.
[Now I may be repeating myself a little here (but if a points worth making – it’s worth making twice)] >>> In retrospect [and with the new 'Pumpkins record release imminent] if nothing else "Life Begins Again" will give it’s listener an insight into a notoriously ('scuse the pun) complex musical group and come to appreciate that [The] Smashing Pumpkins were never just the realisation of one mans’ vast musical vision – but at the very least two.
Drevpile