It's not because you can play all of Lateralus that you're as good as Danny Carey. Far from it actually. There are loads of drummers who are technically way better than Portnoy, Carey or Peart. However,most of those guys do nothing but practice polyrhythms and complex patterns, and never understand what it's like to write a good song or a good drum pattern.
For example: Virgil Donati. This guy can do anything you ask him to on the drums, anything. He also wrote an album, called "Into The Virge". It's packed with 17/16 pattern, ostinato's etc. The songs however, suck ass. I'm not saying technical writing is wrong (eg: Spastic Ink is almost as technical, but it sounds great!), but the quality of the song has to be the primary focus.
I'm just saying that drummers like Virgil, Marco Minneman, Dennis Chambers, Thomas Lang, are primarily drummer's drummers. They have flawless techique, but when it comes to actually making songs, these guys have a lot to learn.
My list:
- Jeff Porcaro (Toto, Michael Jackson, Dire Straits, Bruce Springsteen)
- Jack DeJohnette (Keith Jarrett, Steve Coleman)
- Stéphane Galland (Aka Moon, Axelle Red, Zap Mama)
- Danny Carey (Tool offcourse)
- Rod Morgenstein (Dixie Dregs, Morgenstein/Rudess, Platopus).
- Bobby Jarzombek (Halford, Spastic Ink, Iced Earth, Demons and Wizards)