Compelling Percussion is in many respects the definitive
Sandy Nelson record. Eschewing the cover material and thematic conceits of earlier efforts, the album instead channels its energies into long, original compositions that serve solely to showcase
Nelson's monster drumming, with an absolute minimum of frills. In a sense
Compelling Percussion is more a primer on the savage art of rhythm than a conventional rock & roll LP, and it's easy to imagine a generation of aspiring drummers squirreled away in their parents' garages and basements with the album cranked up to full volume, bashing away at their own kits in emulation of
Nelson's aggressive style and monolithic sound. Highlights include the dramatic opener "Civilization" and the climactic "Drums (For Drummers Only)," which distills the
Nelson aesthetic into 12 minutes of absolute frenzy. ~ Jason Ankeny