Matt Cameron Appreciation Thread

[LikeLukin]

Matt's drumming in 2000 was really awesome as well. '98 gets all the love, but 2000 was just as good I think. Not for You from TB2K always comes to my mind, really cool stuff going on toward the end.

[Yeddie Yedder]

But it really boggles the mind how anyone can debate Matt in PJ. I feel bad for them, you just do not understand what amazing quality is. His playing is hard yet can go into these loose jazzy rolls then just explode right on the one. The feel of all the songs is just spot on with him, he defines all the PJ songs perfectly, yet keeps them fresh show to show. He really mixes it up if you listen closely, his playing is never the same on any given song from show to show, a genius. I listen to shows and just focus on the drumming, he is just too good. A true legend. Made PJ perfect.

loose jazzy rolls?! Not in the last 10 years....I mean...Metronomes play to Matt.

I am not a fan of Matt (since RA), but I don't place my lack of enjoyment squarely on him. In the last 10 years, live and on record...the band seems to have one volume....loud...and one tempo...fast. Evenflow and Rearview sound like they are being played in double-time. It really takes the heaviness out of the tracks. Again, not sure it is cameron, but his style seems to be conducive to what I am hearing.

[littlecomment]

Personally I think it must be Ed's loss of vocal power driving the change there.

[Strat]

I think part of the reason his voice isn't as powerful ils because they play too damn fast. he's out of breath, cant get the words out nor think on time.

[littlecomment]

That is certainly possible, but there must be a reason for it. More songs per night? Less space in them for Ed to fill out? And the rogue drummer theory that a lot of people throw out there is not very plausible to me.

[Strat]

I think its a group effort to speed shit up. maybe they are bored of the songs? Most likely they probably think they have to play 35 songs a night so speed it the fuck up.

[Yeddie Yedder]

My (wild) theory is…as they get older…they reaching back to their teenage years and are channeling their inner idols…the who..ramones….etc.

But, my more plausible theory is this is what they think the fans want. Faster.

[littlecomment]

Ed's comments starting after the 8:30 mark kind of go along with your wild theory.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8OBjS_18x8o&app=desktop

[tragabigzanda]

pearl jam sucks now

[evenslow]

Since I'm often less than excited by his drumming in Pearl Jam and I harp on that (and the lack of Jack Irons) too much, I will use this space to say two positive things:

1. He is the perfect drummer for Soundgarden and does inspiring work in that neck of the woods. A metranomic monster of the highest order.
2. "You Are" and "Cropduster" are fucking awesome.

[Leatherhead]

Binaural and Riot Act easily have the best drumming out of every PJ album.

[littlecomment]

Binaural and Riot Act easily have the best drumming out of every PJ album.

As well as song structures with more opportunities for interesting drumming, I think. I remember Ed saying around the time of Binaural that he was writing specific things with Matt in mind.

[Yeddie Yedder]

2. "You Are" and "Cropduster" are fucking awesome.

[stip]

I think its a group effort to speed shit up. maybe they are bored of the songs? Most likely they probably think they have to play 35 songs a night so speed it the fuck up.

[VinylGuy]

Man i love his drumming. period. I mean...hater? Wwc? Fuckin soundgarden? Temple of the dog for christ sake...

And all of his pj albums contain great stuff. Specially binaural and st.

[McParadigm]

I agree that the speed and precision aesthetic are sourced beyond Matt. Also, the songs he writes for the band tend to have an internal groove to them, which doesn't fit with the soulless metronome theory of Matt Cameron.

[Wendy Carlos's Twin]

Sometimes when you play something too fast, a lot of the nuance of what made it great in the first place is completely lost.

For example, I never liked the Nirvana song "Mexican Seafood" much. Then I heard an early demo version of the song with a different drummer and a slower tempo, and it made total sense. The studio version on "Incesticide" completely loses the nuances of the original guitar riff and rhythm because it's played fast and indifferently, like they just wanted to get it over with, so it comes off as a sloppy mess. This is definitely the case with the current state of many a Pearl Jam song.

[ridleybradout]

Sometimes when you play something too fast, a lot of the nuance of what made it great in the first place is completely lost.

For example, I never liked the Nirvana song "Mexican Seafood" much. Then I heard an early demo version of the song with a different drummer and a slower tempo, and it made total sense. The studio version on "Incesticide" completely loses the nuances of the original guitar riff and rhythm because it's played fast and indifferently, like they just wanted to get it over with, so it comes off as a sloppy mess. This is definitely the case with the current state of many a Pearl Jam song.

Totally. I think Given To Fly is the best(worst?) example of this.

[VinylGuy]

Yeah gtf its so fast its dont even close to the original mood.

Although im tired of the studio version too.

[Norah]

Sometimes when you play something too fast, a lot of the nuance of what made it great in the first place is completely lost.

For example, I never liked the Nirvana song "Mexican Seafood" much. Then I heard an early demo version of the song with a different drummer and a slower tempo, and it made total sense. The studio version on "Incesticide" completely loses the nuances of the original guitar riff and rhythm because it's played fast and indifferently, like they just wanted to get it over with, so it comes off as a sloppy mess. This is definitely the case with the current state of many a Pearl Jam song.

Totally. I think Given To Fly is the best(worst?) example of this.

Corduroy too.