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Will's Drumming in AHFOD


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Has anyone noticed Will's tremendous drumming on this album? There are some compression issues limiting the dynamics somewhat, but his fingerprints are all over this album, often leading the way and breathing life into the songs.

 

Each and every song has its unique percussive sound (and beat), and quite a few often have at least two or three... As a piano player who also learned some general percussion in school, to me, his percussive work has always struck me as very musical / atypical for a rock drummer - he really looks to be expressive with his drumming and convey texture and colour rather than just hold down an interesting rhythm / driving beat... However on this album, he's taken it to a whole new level - there's almost a whole percussive track for each song, like he's composed every bar of every song and deliberately created every sound in there (including the silences), rather than just devise the beats and colour in the rest. I think some of the so-called production issues are probably a result of him changing his percussive sounds in the songs rather than pure production decisions per se.

 

Outstanding percussion tracks are Birds, HFTW, AoAL, XTMS, parts of Fun and Up&Up, although every song is really well-constructed and played from a drumming / percussion point-of-view. I am so thoroughly impressed by his work on this album, well done Will!

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I agree Will has a great style of drumming. He never overuses fill-ins (which would not fit their musical style) and is really good at coming up with beats that fit the song well.

He is definetly a very musical drummer. A good example of this is 42 and Strawberry Swing. The complex drumming on 42 is just perfect for that song. In Strawberry Swing, the African-inspired smooth beat just fits the song and its mood. I don't remember who said it, but this reminds me of a quote:

"When playing the drums, you have to remind yourself that you're not the only one playing. It doesn't matter what complicated rudiments you play or how fast you play, if it doesn't fit the song that's bad drumming. Good drumming is when you are able to understand the music and be able to compliment it"

(It's probably a bit different from what I wrote but you get the point lol)

I think Will demonstrates this idea perfectly in each song that he's featured. And that is why he is one of my favourite drummers in the world.

Oh wait I'm off topic. Yeah Will's drumming in AHFOD is great too! :D

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Has anyone noticed Will's tremendous drumming on this album? There are some compression issues limiting the dynamics somewhat, but his fingerprints are all over this album, often leading the way and breathing life into the songs.

 

Each and every song has its unique percussive sound (and beat), and quite a few often have at least two or three... As a piano player who also learned some general percussion in school, to me, his percussive work has always struck me as very musical / atypical for a rock drummer - he really looks to be expressive with his drumming and convey texture and colour rather than just hold down an interesting rhythm / driving beat... However on this album, he's taken it to a whole new level - there's almost a whole percussive track for each song, like he's composed every bar of every song and deliberately created every sound in there (including the silences), rather than just devise the beats and colour in the rest. I think some of the so-called production issues are probably a result of him changing his percussive sounds in the songs rather than pure production decisions per se.

 

Outstanding percussion tracks are Birds, HFTW, AoAL, XTMS, parts of Fun and Up&Up, although every song is really well-constructed and played from a drumming / percussion point-of-view. I am so thoroughly impressed by his work on this album, well done Will!

 

I so definitely agree with u !

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Very good post and thoughts, gentleparachute! Makes me want to re-listen to the album and only focus on the drums. :)

I really like the rhythm section of this album - Will and Guy both have their moments to shine and heavily influence the overall sound.

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I totally agree with this thread, however a similar argument could be done for Jonny hehe I think they all just played very well together on AHFOD, the prime example to me being Adventure of a Lifetime. They keep stating in interviews that they´ve had the best time working on this and with fewer squabbles and I must say it can be a heard in the music too. They are super cohesive

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Very good post and thoughts, gentleparachute! Makes me want to re-listen to the album and only focus on the drums. :)

I really like the rhythm section of this album - Will and Guy both have their moments to shine and heavily influence the overall sound.

 

That is one of my favourite geeky things to do with this band... Break down the parts and listen to them by themselves, before stringing it back together and listening to the whole... I only noticed his drumming more partly because previously it wasn't as interesting to just listen out for the drums / percussion but with this album, I find I can literally just focus on the percussion (the same way I usually do for Jonny's guitar and lately Guy's bass) and it has its own life. I love how the whole band has grown (or maybe my listening is just better :P) - there only used to be sections to focus on, but now everyone has a proper part most of the time that is actually interesting to listen to.

The rhythm section has always been tight - in this album, they really, really shine! I just thought I'd make a thread on Will just because his work is usually the least appreciated, and with this album, I have really noticed it! :D

 

I totally agree with this thread, however a similar argument could be done for Jonny hehe I think they all just played very well together on AHFOD, the prime example to me being Adventure of a Lifetime. They keep stating in interviews that they´ve had the best time working on this and with fewer squabbles and I must say it can be a heard in the music too. They are super cohesive

 

Defo for Jonny... I could just go on, and on about that guy (and his guitar) - it's one of the things that really made me fall in love with this band, and it has been so fun, beautiful and great to watch his guitar parts (and artistry) just grow with each subsequent album - I remember initially squealing with joy when I first started hearing a prominent proper guitar line back in In My Place, then progress to actual riffs in Square One / Talk in X&Y... Since then he has just gone from strength-to-strength and hasn't looked back - one my my favs of his is his numerous hooks on HLH - I think I counted something like at least 6-7 different guitar riffs in there - I almost died! :P As usual, he is spectacular on AHFOD! You want to start a thread dedicated to Jonny's work on AHFOD so we can geek out there? Same goes for Guy as well... Someone start a thread!

They really are so tight in this album and yes, it is evident in the music - I've mentioned somewhere else - everyone is bouncing off and interacting with every one else on this album, I love it!

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That is one of my favourite geeky things to do with this band... Break down the parts and listen to them by themselves, before stringing it back together and listening to the whole...

 

That sounds really geeky yes and I love it ! haha However I cant say Ive ever done specifically this the way you describe it. I notice the details but not individually.

 

But Ill never break the songs apart to then take them together and Ill tell you why. I used to have to do that with my own songs and also with the songs I would have to learnt to then cover when I played for people and I tell you....those songs become ruined for me forever! LOL I totally get why Coldplay dont listen to their own songs after pulling them apart and together so many times. To this day the wonderful "Nothing else matters" by Metallica I cant listen to it, I can only play it: I dont have fun listening to that anymore because I spent so many hours years ago on training playing the guitar while singing that my ears have had it! haha

 

 

- everyone is bouncing off and interacting with every one else on this album, I love it!

 

And may I edit this to a Christmas wish if you will for all of us here hehe

 

"everyone is bouncing off and interacting with every one else on this forum, I love it!"

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But Ill never break the songs apart to then take them together and Ill tell you why. I used to have to do that with my own songs and also with the songs I would have to learnt to then cover when I played for people and I tell you....those songs become ruined for me forever! LOL I totally get why Coldplay dont listen to their own songs after pulling them apart and together so many times. To this day the wonderful "Nothing else matters" by Metallica I cant listen to it, I can only play it: I dont have fun listening to that anymore because I spent so many hours years ago on training playing the guitar while singing that my ears have had it! haha

 

Haha, that does sound too much like work! I on the other hand... I would dislike doing it if that was my day job and I actually had notes and sounds I had to hit and perfect (and remember) every time, but as it is a band with no actual sheet music that lists every note etc I like doing it (for this band anyway) because it gives me insight into their musical thoughts / emotions through the feel of the music :) I certainly totally understand why they don't listen to their own music after finishing an album - it'd feel too much like work for them, they'd be sick of it.

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I totally agree with this thread, however a similar argument could be done for Jonny hehe I think they all just played very well together on AHFOD, the prime example to me being Adventure of a Lifetime. They keep stating in interviews that they´ve had the best time working on this and with fewer squabbles and I must say it can be a heard in the music too. They are super cohesive

 

I totally agree. Everyones all over AOAL. It isn't my favorite song although I do enjoy it and everyone has such a well written part and it all just works so well together! Very well-crafted song you have to admit, even if you aren't the biggest fan of it.

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Defo for Jonny... I could just go on, and on about that guy (and his guitar) - it's one of the things that really made me fall in love with this band, and it has been so fun, beautiful and great to watch his guitar parts (and artistry) just grow with each subsequent album - I remember initially squealing with joy when I first started hearing a prominent proper guitar line back in In My Place, then progress to actual riffs in Square One / Talk in X&Y... Since then he has just gone from strength-to-strength and hasn't looked back - one my my favs of his is his numerous hooks on HLH - I think I counted something like at least 6-7 different guitar riffs in there - I almost died! :P As usual, he is spectacular on AHFOD! You want to start a thread dedicated to Jonny's work on AHFOD so we can geek out there? Same goes for Guy as well... Someone start a thread!

They really are so tight in this album and yes, it is evident in the music - I've mentioned somewhere else - everyone is bouncing off and interacting with every one else on this album, I love it!

 

I totally agree with this. His riffs are some of the best guitar work out there. They're not super complex but they are extremely effective and fit the style of the song very well. They're also very memorable. He knows what kind of riff would suit a particular song. And that's what matters, just like your paraphrasing on the thing about drumming. He doesn't overdo anything. If your one of those guitarists that would throw a super complex all over the place riff on every single song you just don't get it, just like with drumming you have got to make your part work, if you know what I mean. And that sometimes means that you just leave it simple, maybe a few notes, but less is more in some cases; just do enough to give it the feel it needs to. The second you overcomplicate things is the second you make your part a distraction more than something that would aid the song. Simple as that. Completely agree with you. :)

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I will be the devil's advocate here, well sort of.

As an album that demanded more of a rhythm, I think Will and Guy really stepped up to the plate...but they didn't necessarily hit it out of the park (sorry for the lame baseball metaphors).

 

Coldplay has never been an impressive percussive or bass band... Usually Guy and Will just set a nice, fitting backdrop onto which Chris and Jonny can put down an award winning melody. So AHFOD is really refreshing in that it attempts to have a more pop/rhythm driven feel, and for the most part, it really works: Birds, AOAL, HFTW, Up&Up X-marks the spot

 

But would I call Will's drumming and Guy's bass amazing? No. Diverse? Yes. But amazing? No. I love the intro to the album, but the song just doesn't come full circle with that great funky opening. The bass is way to dull and heavy on Everglow--it doesn't captivate me. HFTW turns into a literal 4x4 kick drum with a clap. Army Of One has no dynamism and gets old quickly. Amazing Day and Up&Up is mixed so poorly that the bass STILL hurts my ears on the final mixes.

 

I don't blame the mixing on Guy and Will. AHFOD is a great Jonny album too but he gets really drowned out on tons of tracks too.... I don't know. I guess to end this rant I will pose another question: is the mixing of the drums a problem for anyone? And if so why? Or am I crazy?

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Agreed with all points....everyone has really shone. Even the piano part on Everglow is one of the most interesting to date.

I will be the devil's advocate here, well sort of.

As an album that demanded more of a rhythm, I think Will and Guy really stepped up to the plate...but they didn't necessarily hit it out of the park (sorry for the lame baseball metaphors).

 

Coldplay has never been an impressive percussive or bass band... Usually Guy and Will just set a nice, fitting backdrop onto which Chris and Jonny can put down an award winning melody. So AHFOD is really refreshing in that it attempts to have a more pop/rhythm driven feel, and for the most part, it really works: Birds, AOAL, HFTW, Up&Up X-marks the spot

 

But would I call Will's drumming and Guy's bass amazing? No. Diverse? Yes. But amazing? No. I love the intro to the album, but the song just doesn't come full circle with that great funky opening. The bass is way to dull and heavy on Everglow--it doesn't captivate me. HFTW turns into a literal 4x4 kick drum with a clap. Army Of One has no dynamism and gets old quickly. Amazing Day and Up&Up is mixed so poorly that the bass STILL hurts my ears on the final mixes.

 

I don't blame the mixing on Guy and Will. AHFOD is a great Jonny album too but he gets really drowned out on tons of tracks too.... I don't know. I guess to end this rant I will pose another question: is the mixing of the drums a problem for anyone? And if so why? Or am I crazy?

 

You're not crazy about what you're noticing but I frame/enjoy those things positively in the following ways:

-AHFOD. I used to think it ended abruptly but now I actually enjoy the ohhh's at the end and all that. The bass part gets a bit boring at the end, but that's not the point. That's just an opinion though.

-Everglow...there are actually bits in the choruses and the guitar solo where Guy does play some extra notes but you have to really listen for it. :/ I'd call that suboptimal mixing.

-HFTW...yes it does become 4x4 kick with a clap, but what other Coldplay song really does that? Definitely gives me a bit of the vibe from Do I Wanna Know by Arctic Monkeys. I think the closest they've come in tempo and feel might be Violet Hill. Also the percussion during the verses (with the skrrrrrrrl shaker-tambourine-jingle thing ) is pretty cool. And the sparse toms during the "drink from me" part is interesting too.

-Army of One: I agree in one way, in that the bit where it gets quiet in the middle is kind of poorly placed. I wish it had gotten either super loud or super quiet or super fast at that point instead of laying off the energy (or cut the vocal sample briefly). However, I really like Will's fills before the choruses. It reminds me of some of Muse's not-that-guitarry songs like Madness or Undisclosed Desires or Guiding Light.

-Amazing Day: really? I think the mixing is actually way better on the album than life. But that's because the guitar is mixed higher and with a lot of treble-effect that Jonny doesn't seem to use live. The bass and drums are at a nice volume for me. *shrug*

-Up&Up: the only issue I can think of is that the kick in the first verse is a bit loud. But I like the effect it gives. It has an intentionally huge amount of compression so it's a bit wooshy...which I just kinda like but maybe some don't?

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I will be the devil's advocate here, well sort of.

As an album that demanded more of a rhythm, I think Will and Guy really stepped up to the plate...but they didn't necessarily hit it out of the park (sorry for the lame baseball metaphors).

 

Coldplay has never been an impressive percussive or bass band... Usually Guy and Will just set a nice, fitting backdrop onto which Chris and Jonny can put down an award winning melody. So AHFOD is really refreshing in that it attempts to have a more pop/rhythm driven feel, and for the most part, it really works: Birds, AOAL, HFTW, Up&Up X-marks the spot

 

But would I call Will's drumming and Guy's bass amazing? No. Diverse? Yes. But amazing? No. I love the intro to the album, but the song just doesn't come full circle with that great funky opening. The bass is way to dull and heavy on Everglow--it doesn't captivate me. HFTW turns into a literal 4x4 kick drum with a clap. Army Of One has no dynamism and gets old quickly. Amazing Day and Up&Up is mixed so poorly that the bass STILL hurts my ears on the final mixes.

 

I don't blame the mixing on Guy and Will. AHFOD is a great Jonny album too but he gets really drowned out on tons of tracks too.... I don't know. I guess to end this rant I will pose another question: is the mixing of the drums a problem for anyone? And if so why? Or am I crazy?

 

One thing about your opinion on amazing day and Up&Up, I agree with Up&Up but Amazing Day has one of the richest sounds I've ever heard. That's the one song where they actually made it sound nicer than it would have otherwise.

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