Mick and John

Tom · #1 03-21-2005, 09:37 PM

I'm not sure where to go with this because FLEETWOOD and MAC don't have main forums of thier own here. I just want to say that these two men have to be one of the greatest rhythm sections of all time. Everything, from "Driftin" during the great Peter Green era, to "Dreams". The rest of the players have a rock-solid base to let the song ride on. I happen to be a drummer myself, and always enjoy Mick's groove. You can tell by his classic facial expressions while playing that he's "in the song".
I'm looking to snap up a copy of Mick's African album he did way back when. I'm curious if anyone has any thoughts on this record - and also the CD he put out recently. Thanks.

David · #2 03-21-2005, 09:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tom

I'm not sure where to go with this because FLEETWOOD and MAC don't have main forums of thier own here. I just want to say that these two men have to be one of the greatest rhythm sections of all time. Everything, from "Driftin" during the great Peter Green era, to "Dreams". The rest of the players have a rock-solid base to let the song ride on. I happen to be a drummer myself, and always enjoy Mick's groove. You can tell by his classic facial expressions while playing that he's "in the song".

I think Mick & John are a pleasure to listen to. They get a lot of grief for not being particularly savvy technicians, but they both have so much style that they show up just how pointless & empty splashy technique really is -- & how little it has to do with genuine artistry (in situations when technique is all there is). Mick & John altered the face of a popular art form. That 'Dreams' sound has been all over the map for twenty-five years, thanks to the conceptual brilliance & style of those two. I'd venture to say that Mick has (or had) a better feel for his music than, say, Neal Pert has for his. Pert, for all his wunderkind technical mastery, has yet to create a drum lick that pop culture remembers.

Quote:

I'm looking to snap up a copy of Mick's African album he did way back when. I'm curious if anyone has any thoughts on this record - and also the CD he put out recently. Thanks.

That first solo album of Mick's is "The Visitor," & I think it's a bold foray into world music before world music was world music. As is typical of Mick, he was just following his sniffer, doing what he wanted to do, not mapping it out much beforehand in terms of "statements" & what-all, & he gets this great world music album out of it. That's so like Mick, if you think about it. He probably just sat there in the studio during the recording of "Dreams" or "Hypnotized" & stumbled on these amazing ideas.

Mick is truly one of the great drummers, as evidenced by the fact that so many boneheaded people criticize his playing for being simple -- as if that were an aesthetic fault.

SteveMacD · #3 03-21-2005, 10:37 PM

John is by far my favorite bass player. He's not the best, but he can sure make a so-so song very interesting. I was listening to "Hold Me," which isn't one of the greatest Mac tunes, but he does some really interesting stuff there. I'm also digging "Smile At You." He just has the right bassline for the lyric.

shackin'up · #4 03-22-2005, 03:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SteveMacD

I'm also digging "Smile At You." He just has the right bassline for the lyric.

Touché! And nicely put. Even that isn't the greatest of tunes. But his bass just makes it something I will NEVER skip. Oh and everybody's always rambling about what Mick did during "hypnotized"; ...brilliant it is.... but also listen to his buddy. That's an ode to simplicity...

chiliD · #5 03-22-2005, 09:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by David

I say, Neal Pert

Peart. P-e-a-r-t. Peart.

Yeah, he may be a flashy, but forgetable drummer, but ya gotta remember, he writes ALL of Rush's lyrics, too.

David · #6 03-22-2005, 11:47 AM

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Originally Posted by chiliD

Peart. P-e-a-r-t. Peart.

Oh, I just did a quick Google & grabbed the first spelling at the top of the page.

Quote:

Yeah, he may be a flashy, but forgetable drummer, but ya gotta remember, he writes ALL of Rush's lyrics, too.

Another point against him. Rush song lyrics are a turgid, vapid mess, devoid of any deftness or feel for language.

chiliD · #7 03-22-2005, 12:38 PM

I was BEING facetious!!

**jbrownsjr** · #8 03-22-2005, 12:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by David

Oh, I just did a quick Google & grabbed the first spelling at the top of the page.
Another point against him. Rush song lyrics are a turgid, vapid mess, devoid of any deftness or feel for language.

I'm guessing you don't know much about Rush. While they are supreme technically speaking, they have much more "feel" to their music then you may realize. Geddy Lee sometimes reminds me of Christine they way he vocalizes and leaves a feel of sadness to their songs. Alex Lifeson composes right brain as well. Listen to the song Subdivisions for Mick like drumming with feel and emotion. It's there, but I do agree there music is more left brain than not.

As far as comparing Mick to Neil all I can say is:

shackin'up · #9 03-22-2005, 12:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by David

Oh, I just did a quick Google & grabbed the first spelling at the top of the page.
Another point against him. Rush song lyrics are a turgid, vapid mess, devoid of any deftness or feel for language.

Nice metaphoric stories, in my view. But very non-poetic.
I saw them last october. 3-hour show. I was on the side of the stage and could look at the first 40 rows, nonseated, of thge audience. Nearly wet my pants because 50% of those people were mimicking Neil Pearts arm-movements. PERFECTLY IN SYNC!!!! with the unbelievable tempochanges! They all had some lessons i presume

Quite an impressive concert though, although Peart did not leave 1/250th second of open space in those three hours.

**jbrownsjr** · #10 03-22-2005, 01:14 PM

To me Mick is a very talented drummer that after 1977, did not take time to improve on his craft very much. If you look at all the styles he had to accomplish thru Green/Welch/McVie/Nicks/Buckingham he is amazing. There are a lot of different styles from those composers.

But to me around Tusk and after, he was just a timekeeper and his drumming left me cold.

I love his recruitment of solo players

"I'm Not Me" is great and the Visitor is good too.

Mick will never be over the top but very solid.

I just think imo he's better than he puts out.

shackin'up · #11 03-22-2005, 06:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jbrownsjr

But to me around Tusk and after, he was just a timekeeper and his drumming left me cold.

How can you say that about Tusk? I think he did some of his finest/most original drumtracks.....

**jbrownsjr** · #12 03-22-2005, 07:06 PM

You know, you are right, I agree some of the Tusk songs have that great MF feel to them, but then some are just so basic and rigid. But then again some of those might be LB.