Big Fat Five: Ray Brown's (Snail Mail) Top 5 Influential Records

Drummers on Drumming

This week’s guest is Ray Brown...drummer for the band Snail Mail. I’ve been a big fan of Ray's drumming since I first heard him on Snail Mail’s debut album, Lush, in 2017. His upbringing in the DC area music scene gives him authority on a lot of music I've never heard before...and I'm assuming maybe some of you as well? He’s got a lot of energy and it was so enjoyable getting to sit back, relax, and learn a lot from a guitarist / bassist turned fabulous drummer. If you’re unfamiliar with Snail Mail, I’m excited for you to find one of your new favorite bands! Also, we play a lot more than 5 tracks today, so buckle up. Here are some of the records that helped shape Ray Brown into the musician he is today. Cheers!

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Drummers on Drumming (the book) takes you inside the stories, records, and moments that shaped some of the world’s greatest drummers. Built on the Big Fat Five format of digging into top influences, it’s packed with candid interviews and personal insights. Whether you’re just starting out or have been playing for years, this book is here to inspire you to sharpen your skills and find your own voice behind the kit.

RAY’S BIG FAT FIVE👇🏻

Album - The Smiths

Artist - The Smiths

Release Year - 1984

Key Track(s) - Still Ill (Live on the Tube version 1:28 verse/chorus transition)

Drummer - Mike Joyce

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Album - Red Medicine

Artist - Fugazi

Release Year - 1995

Key Track(s) - Birthday Pony (fill at 1:01)

Drummer - Brendan Canty

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Album - Floral Green

Artist - Title Fight

Release Year - 2012

Key Track(s) - Like A Ritual (chorus fill 1:02)

Drummer - Ben Russin

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Album - S/T

Artist - Clique

Release Year - 2014

Key Track(s) - Lil T

Drummer - Tom Anthony

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Album - Tesseract

Artist - Warehouse

Release Year - 2015

Key Track(s) - Promethean Gaze

Drummer - Doug Bleichner

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HONORABLE MENTIONS

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Album - Am

Artist - Ovlov

Release Year - 2013

Key Track(s) - The Well

Drummer - Theo Hartlett

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Album - Hoodwink'd

Artist - LVL Up

Release Year - 2014

Key Track(s) - Angel from Space

Drummer - Greg Rutkin

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Album - In Utero

Artist - Nirvana

Release Year - 1993

Key Track(s) - Serve the Servants

Drummer - Dave Grohl

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Album - Drop

Artist - Turnstile

Release Year - 2016

Key Track(s) - Nonstop Feeling

Drummer - Daniel Fang

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Album - Lonesome Crowded West

Artist - Modest Mouse

Release Year - 1997

Key Track(s) - Truckers Atlas

Drummer - Jeremiah Green

Album - DSU

Artist - Alex G

Release Year - 2014

Key Track(s) - Harvey

Drummer - Alex G

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