I agree that this isn't casual music. This is music that requires active listening. I will say, though, that it takes a few listens to enjoy. When you become familiar with the transitions in the song, you can appreciate it more because you aren't as preoccupied trying to decipher wtf is going on. And, that doesn't necessarily mean you have to understand it from a technical standpoint. Just that you can anticipate and feel the grooves more.
I love that you said how do you write this haha. Matt transcribes every single note for every song he's played, including every one of those ghost notes. He's an absolute legend.
We become square. Music is round. Thats why it hurt the brain when someone like AAL come along and spank us for being simple and basic. Love it. Im going to force myself to listen to it on a more regular basis. Force my useless brain to not be a fucking triangle
About the groove thing: AFL is certainly not something anyone can wrap their head around at a first listen. After say ten listens, though, I started to get accustomed and as I kinda learned the building blocks by heart. The sensation I get out of then giving it a go on my headphones cannot be compared to anything any groove could ever trigger in me. It's like playing a fast and hard computer game. Once you get trained, it gives you an incomparable rush. At the same time it gives me the calm of watching a genious mandala or some elaborated masterpiece painting. AFL challenge the listener, but they have so much to deliver.
Matt Garstka is hands down one of the best drummers around at the moment. Insane levels of control and accuracy, you should see the wear pattern on his snare...but totally understand your point. AaL is often quite hit and miss for me from a musical POV
Great reaction to this particular video, and fair comment. However, it does all make sense (sort of) in the proper context of the official video. Thanks Steve.
I just love this your first reaction on Matt Garstka...😂..Makes me smile everytime...I have seende it more than 5 times 4 shore..😜❣️👍 Peace&Love from Sweden 🥰🎶
For a "fun" song of theirs, I'd try "Physical Education". A little more digestable as far as AAL songs go. Definitely try to check out live versions of their songs as they let Matt Garstka go off on a lot of songs.
God I have such mixed feelings about AAL. They're ridiculously talented - unbelievably skilled in their craft and absolute legends when it comes to performing these insane songs in a live setting. It takes undeniable talent to do that. Talent on a level that few artists achieve. But man... It's so hard to actually vibe with them sometimes 🤣 It's almost stressful to follow along. I can totally watch them live and be mesmerized or watch a playthrough and be blown away. But casual listening this is not. I feel like I need to sit down with a notebook and reading glasses and a calculator when I'm listening to them. I think we're on the same page. It's funny, because I feel like I'm supposed to like AAL a lot more than I do because I love me some Tool, Meshuggah, Isis etc... They're just like.. two rungs too high on the musical ladder for my simple ape brain. But that doesn't mean they aren't some of the best musicians alive today, either.
You Have to react to larnell Lewis listens to a song foe the first time then plays it. This is the drummer from snarky puppy lingus you reacted to abit ago.
they write it by feel its about challenging yourself oft there's a muse like a drill Seargent pounding ideas into your head only to lead you to a higher idea and once you let that drill Seargent chip away all mediocracy then honest music comes out you see they play that way not to show off but it was the only way to truly express the idea they held when writing it so it simply blunt honesty and it come off as brash some time but that's the appeal of blunt honesty
He breaks down how he plays in a couple master class videos that are out there. I just saw him live. He's nuts. But I think he plays with a modular time signature. Like he just swaps it out over and over with different stuff. It's banana's.
@@SteveOGRock If you're legit interested in how the song was born, check out Matt's composition breakdown on his channel. ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-1z3R5DgigLA.html
Recommendation in a similar vein: JP Kaukonen of Circle of Contempt, "Perceive The Mendacity" ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-nBG30jtLc7A.html
No, it is in fact not in 4, however the main sections are much simpler than this guy seemed to think. The main time signatures the song revolves around are 7/4, 5/4, and 6/4. In the first real groove on the double base, matts hands are outlining a 6/4 feel, if either you or the reactor bothered to count it that would be extremely obvious. However, his feet are playing bursts of triplets that follow a pattern of 5/4, 7/4, 7/4, 5/4, 5/4, 7/4, this creates a structure much like an inverted paradiddle-diddle. This creates a polyrhythm that at first glance seems complex, but with a bit of thought is quit comprehensible, and certainly not in 4/4 LOL.
@@daro6867 it is indeed! i've been learning the first double base part for the last several weeks. glad to hear you were joking tho LOL, (i had a feeling)
you kind of have to ease into animals as leaders. once you get an ear for what they do it all makes sense and it's amazing. joy of motion is the gateway album into them. physical education and tooth and claw are probably the gateway songs. they are my least favorite songs because i find them to be very boring. my favorite song is probably cognitive contortions and from the newest album gordian naught. once you get hooked on animals as leaders i find it difficult to listen to non progressive music.
