Musical Style and Influences
Cameron was described by Greg Prato of Allmusic as "unquestionably one of rock's finest and most versatile drummers." Cameron's style is one that seeks not to dominate a song but rather tease out a groove that will complement and support its atmosphere. Despite a career in rock music, Cameron stated in a 1989 radio interview that growing up he "wasn't a big rock fan..." and that his musical tastes during his youth were "more into jazz." Cameron has professed that his primary musical interests lie in progressive rock and various jazz subgenres, including hard bop, both of which are characterized by a much busier playing style than Cameron exhibits. Cameron has cited Tony Williams, Keith Moon, Steve Gadd, Stewart Copeland, and Kiss as influences.
Cameron tends to revisit the paradiddle for effect. Examples include the spreading of the RLRR-LRLL pattern amongst the toms on Soundgarden's "Never the Machine Forever" (from Down on the Upside); between ride and snare on "Unemployable" (from Pearl Jam), creating a driving shuffle; and "You Are" (from Riot Act). This pattern can also be heard on the ride cymbal during the bridge of "Bleed Together" (from the "Burden in My Hand" single).
Read more about this topic: Matt Cameron
Famous quotes containing the words musical, style and/or influences:
“I was with Hercules and Cadmus once,
When in a wood of Crete they bayed the bear
With hounds of Sparta: never did I hear
Such gallant chiding; for besides the groves,
The skies, the fountains, every region near
Seemed all one mutual cry. I never heard
So musical a discord, such sweet thunder.”
—William Shakespeare (1564–1616)
“To me style is just the outside of content, and content the inside of style, like the outside and the inside of the human body—both go together, they can’t be separated.”
—Jean-Luc Godard (b. 1930)
“Leadership does not always wear the harness of compromise. Once and again one of those great influences which we call a Cause arises in the midst of a nation. Men of strenuous minds and high ideals come forward.... The attacks they sustain are more cruel than the collision of arms.... Friends desert and despise them.... They stand alone and oftentimes are made bitter by their isolation.... They are doing nothing less than defy public opinion, and shall they convert it by blows. Yes.”
—Woodrow Wilson (1856–1924)