Thomas Lang-Creative Control DVD (A 2-disc set)

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Summary: Musical drummers, beware of this DVD
Review: Do not buy it if you want to learn about being a musical drummer. No groove what so ever. Very basic lessons for independence. Not worth the $$$.

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Summary: Give credit where credit is due!
Review: Great production and playing but I can't help but think that Thomas bascically presented ALL of Marco Minnemann's ideas from his book Extreme Interdependence.

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Summary: Control? Definitely. Creative? Not sure.
Review: In reading the reviews that have already been posted I can't help but agree with all of them, the positive and the negative. Certainly the DVD production values are first-rate, and Thomas is extraordinarily good at what he does. On the other hand, there is a definite deficiency in the musicality of the songs he chooses as examples; with the exception of two tracks from Gianna Nannini's amazing album "Aria," everything is very cheesy, rudimentary, and unmusical. Thomas does not demonstrate or seem interested in jazz music (which is fine by me; I'm a metal/rock drummer anyway), so syncopation does not get a lot of air time. Instead Thomas's style seems to be based almost on translating Philip Glass minimalism into percussion -- he assigns repetitive groups of notes to his off-limbs (right hand, left foot) and layers over them a very standard-sounding 4/4 groove with his remaining limbs. Granted, the technique can be very impressive and sound really cool (especially with contrasting odd-meter patterns in the off-limbs), but it starts to feel limited after a while.

This is the first drumming DVD I have purchased, so I don't have a lot to compare it against. I'm certainly glad I bought it, and have not only enjoyed watching it, but also seen my own playing benefit by attempting to incorporate some of the exercises into my practicing. I'm almost certain you will be able to say the same things about it if you bought it (unless of course you're a jazz/blues drummer).

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Summary: Nice work, but Thomas Lang is not a musical drummer.
Review: Speed, Power, and corny play-a-long tracks are all here, but where is the music? Mind you, I'm not apposed to extreme technique, but I don't hear any music coming out of Mr. Lang; it's like we have become machines to beat the drum machine.
I can't wait until JoJo Mayers 3 vol instructional set comes out, it will put weight lifting muzak DVD's like this to shame. O, and those two players are miles apart- JoJo is a musician, Thomas is a machine ( a crude one at that ). Sorry for all the insluts, but time will reveal these passing extreme fads for what they are- a fad. jb

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Summary: athletics vs. musicality...
Review: This is a great dvd for a youngster learning about technique and chops and how to "smoke" other drummers with your licks. But if you are an older 21+ musician who believes in the music first, you might not be too impressed. There is nothing wrong with the approach Lang has; he's creative and original in many of his ideas, I just wouldn't recommend too many of these licks while you're playing onstage. The guitar player might turn around and say "what the F#@% are you doing!"

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Summary: A CREDIT TO THE ART OF DRUMMING! ! !
Review: Thomas is a truly talented musician who manages to share his immense skill and techniques. I would HIGHLY RECOMMEND this dvd if you want to dramatically improve your drum skills. He manages to explain the most difficult techniques very simply. The dvd has plenty tips for musical situations WITH PLENTY OF GROOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOVE. Well worth the money. Cheers Tom! ! !

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Summary: Very technical
Review: Thomas lang can break down everything into simplest form. He can do everything that he does with his hands with his feet and vis - versa. Very good to learn technical finger manuvers. Also very good for technical foot manuvers. I DEFINETLY recomend getting this dvd for people a little on the advanced side, it really helps.

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Summary: Incredible !!!
Review: Thomas Lang is a traditional grip drumset player who is technically the most advanced drummer I've ever heard. His command over the drumset is impressive and his playing impeccable. He is a combination of Virgil Donati, Dennis Chambers and Buddy Rich in one.
This double DVD production has tons of exercices for hands and feet and invaluable ideas for today's drummers. It covers everything form rudiments to cross-sticking. His last solo is memorable. Five stars, no doubt!

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Summary: "Marco"-ish?? I don't think so...
Review: Thomas Lang is probably the most talk-about drummer on the planet right now, and in "Creative Control", he show some of the most useful excerises for all the drummer, no matter what style of drummer you are, what he provide seems to be very difficult to learn at the first sight, but with a few practices, i'm sure everyone will find his excerise make sense and very benefical on building independence and speed, i'd say what his excerises show is "the least to do with the greatest reward", just imagine this guy spend 15 something years on modifying his daily pratice rountine, and Creative Control is what it is about.

people always compare Marco, Thomas and Virgil on how "alike" they are, but to me they are totally different, Marco represent the more classical-oriented melodic appoach and his dual-ostinato thing is just exceptional, and Thomas repersent the live drum'n'bass, dance beat era of drumming, his multi-hats and the eye-catchy-performance-friendly setup make him one of the most visually excited drummer nowadays, and for Virgil, like his nickname "the thunder from down under", is really a thunder, the way he rock and dynamic his give will blow everyone away.

and i really don't see how Creative Control is related to Extreme Drumming concept. Ostinato playing and is one of the most advanced topic in drumming community, Terry Bozzio seems to be the MAN who already dig ostinato back to more than 10 years ago, so maybe we should say that all of this guy "copy" Bozzio?! not really.....

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Summary: The Buddy Rich of our Generation
Review: Thomas Lang is the Buddy Rich of our generation. This DVD blew away any other instructional DVD I have ever seen -- much less purchased. Not only is Thomas incredibly, mind-bogglingly talented (I've heard him referred to as a drumming alien with a a brain in each of his four limbs -- OR as the "David Beckham" of drumming -- I assure you BOTH are correct!) but the Acid Pro software that allows you to slow down the DVD without changing the pitch so even beginners can play along is the coolest! With 5 hours of material plus downloadable transcriptions -- you will be busy with this one for a while! BUY IT!!