Jimmy's infamous hats

[fooman]

Whenever I hear the older Pumpkins stuff, the thing that sticks out is Jimmy's hats are always on the go. I don't hear that much in todays productions, often you hear a shaker or tamborine instead. As a drummer, I know that my left foot is always going, but it's often not in focus as much as Jimmy's was on his earlier recordings.

Were you going for this constant hi-hat time-keeping from the start, or did you just find that it sounded cool when it was constantly audible in the mix?

[darryl2112]

this too has perplexed me....its definitely a jazz move (no surprise coming jimmy's jazz upbringing)... What I would like to know is how you got the hats so isolated and upfront without bleed from the snare and other drums

[ButchVig]

Originally Posted by fooman

Whenever I hear the older Pumpkins stuff, the thing that sticks out is Jimmy's hats are always on the go. I don't hear that much in todays productions, often you hear a shaker or tamborine instead. As a drummer, I know that my left foot is always going, but it's often not in focus as much as Jimmy's was on his earlier recordings.

Were you going for this constant hi-hat time-keeping from the start, or did you just find that it sounded cool when it was constantly audible in the mix?

Your right, Jimmy has an awesome left foot...and it does sound like a shaker.
I wish I could keep time the same way he does!
When a drummer can keep their hi hat foot happening like that, it really helps smooth out the groove!

Some drummers have it, some don't...no matter how hard I practiced I could never get that kind of feel!

[fooman]

Any special micing or mixing techniques that were used to help isolate the hats in the tunes?? Or just kinda fell into place as we hear it?

I saw the pumpkins once this past fall, and ur seats were front row in a smaller hall... right in front of a GIANT set of speakers. I didn't see a single drum hit from JC!! DAMMIT! e
They did play Soma tho, and that made me happy