Tool | ||
| Allmusic Biography : Tools greatest breakthrough was to meld dark underground metal with the ambition of art rock. Although Metallica wrote their multi-sectioned, layered songs as if they were composers, they kept their musical attack ferociously at street level. Tool didnt. They embraced the artsy, bohemian preoccupations of Janes Addiction while they simultaneously paid musical homage to the relentlessly bleak visions of grindcore, death metal, and thrash. Even with their post-punk influences, they executed their music with the aesthetic of prog rock, alternating between long, detailed instrumental interludes and lyrical rants in their songs. Tool had a knack for conveying the strangled, oppressive angst that the alternative nation of the early 90s claimed as its own. So, Tool were able to slip into the definition of alternative rock during the post-Nirvana era, landing a slot on the third Lollapalooza tour in 1993, which helped their first full-length debut album, Undertow, rocket to platinum status. By the time the band delivered its belated follow-up, Ænima, in 1996, alternative rock had lost its grip on the mainstream of America, and Tools audience had shaped up as essentially metal-oriented, which meant that the group and the record didnt capture as big an audience as their first album, despite debuting at number two on the charts. After a co-headlining slot with Korn on Lollapalooza 97 wrapped up, Tool remained on the road, supporting Ænima until well into the next year. During the bands usual extended hiatus between albums, Maynard James Keenan decided to use his downtime productively by forming a side project, dubbed A Perfect Circle. The bands 2000 debut, Mer de Noms, was a surprise hit, while the ensuing tour was a sold-out success as well. With Tool breakup rumors swirling, the band put the speculation to rest by re-entering the recording studio and issuing the stopgap B-sides/DVD set Salival late the same year. Finally, May 2001 saw the release of Tools third full-length release, Lateralus, which debuted at the number one position on the Billboard album chart and became the bands biggest hit. After the obligatory several-year sabbatical to pursue other projects, the group returned with another chart-topper, 10,000 Days, in 2006. | ||
 | Album: 1 of 5 Title: Undertow Released: 1993-04-06 Tracks: 10 Duration: 1:08:11 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% TrackSamples Wikipedia Allmusic AlbumCover | 1 Intolerance (04:54) 2 Prison Sex (04:56) 3 Sober (05:07) 4 Bottom (07:14) 5 Crawl Away (05:30) 6 Swamp Song (05:32) 7 Undertow (05:22) 8 4° (06:03) 9 Flood (07:46) 10 Disgustipated (15:47) |
| Undertow : Allmusic album Review : Just as grunge was reaching its boiling point and radio-friendly punk-pop loomed on the horizon, Tool released Undertow, which firmly reinforced metals prominence as a musical style -- but, for once, it had something worthwhile to say. At the forefront of Tools commercial explosion were striking, haunting visuals that complemented the albums nihilistic yet wistful mood. Drawing equal inspiration from Black Sabbath, alternative theories of science, and Eastern religions, Tools abrasive sonic assault begins from the opening notes and continues through the final moments of the last composition, an open mockery of organized religion and its incapacity for original thought. With its technical brilliance, musical complexities, and aggressive overtones, Undertow not only paved the way for several bands to break through to the mainstream adolescent mall-rage demographic, it also proved that metal could be simultaneously intelligent, emotional, and brutal. | ||
 | Album: 2 of 5 Title: Ænima Released: 1996-09-17 Tracks: 15 Duration: 1:17:23 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% TrackSamples Wikipedia Allmusic AlbumCover | 1 Stinkfist (05:11) 2 Eulogy (08:28) 3 H. (06:07) 4 Useful Idiot (00:38) 5 Forty Six & 2 (06:04) 6 Message to Harry Manback (01:53) 7 Hooker With a Penis (04:33) 8 Intermission (00:56) 9 jimmy (05:24) 10 Die Eier von Satan (02:17) 11 Pushit (09:55) 12 Cesaro Summability (01:26) 13 Ænema (06:39) 14 (-) Ions (04:00) 15 Third Eye (13:47) |
| Ænima : Allmusic album Review : For their second release, Tool explore the progressive rock territory previously forged by such bands as King Crimson. However, Tool are conceptually innovative with every minute detail of their art, which sets them apart from most bands. Make no mistake, this isnt your fathers rock record. Sonically, the band has never sounded tighter. Long exploratory passages are unleashed with amazing precision, detail, and clarity, which only complements the aggressive, abrasive shorter pieces on the album. There is no compromise from any member of the band, with each of them discovering the dynamics of his respective instrument and pushing the physical capabilities to the limit. Topics such as the philosophies of Bill Hicks (eloquently eulogized in the packaging), evolution and genetics, and false martyrdom will fly over the heads of casual listeners. But those listening closely will discover a special treat: a catalyst encouraging them to discover a world around them to which they otherwise might have been blind. If these arent good enough reasons to listen to Ænima, then just trust the simple fact that Tool deliver the hard rock goods every time the band chooses to release something. | ||
 | Album: 3 of 5 Title: Salival Released: 2000-12-12 Tracks: 8 Duration: 1:13:59 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Wikipedia AlbumCover | 1 Third Eye (live) (14:05) 2 Part of Me (live) (03:32) 3 Pushit (live) (13:56) 4 Message to Harry Manback II (01:14) 5 You Lied (live) (09:17) 6 Merkaba (live) (09:48) 7 No Quarter (11:12) 8 LAMC / Maynards Dick (10:53) |
 | Album: 4 of 5 Title: Lateralus Released: 2001-05-14 Tracks: 13 Duration: 1:19:02 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Spotify TrackSamples Wikipedia Allmusic AlbumCover | 1 The Grudge (08:36) 2 Eon Blue Apocalypse (01:06) 3 The Patient (07:12) 4 Mantra (01:13) 5 Schism (06:45) 6 Parabol (03:06) 7 Parabola (06:04) 8 Disposition (04:48) 1 Ticks & Leeches (08:08) 2 Lateralus (09:24) 3 Reflection (11:09) 4 Triad (08:46) 5 Faaip de Oiad (02:40) |
| Lateralus : Allmusic album Review : After an exhaustive five-year litigation battle between the band and their label management, Tool offer up the latest chapter in their musical self-discovery in Lateralus. Make no mistake, this is a prog rock record, reminiscent of King Crimson and Meddle-era Pink Floyd, with a hint of Rush mutated with Tools signature sonic assault on the ears. Lateralus demands close listening from the first piece onward, as it becomes quickly apparent that this is not going to be an album one can listen to and accept at face value. Complex rhythm changes, haunting vocals, and an onslaught of changes in dynamics make this an album other so-called metal groups could learn from. While some compositions seem out of place, others fit together seamlessly, such as the 23-minute song cycle serving as the climax and resolution of the album. However, the albums most disturbing moment arrives at the end, with dissonant electronic noises placed randomly with a drum solo over a phone call to a talk show discussing the secrets behind Area 51, once again serving as a symbolic gesture from the band encouraging people not to take things at face value and to think for themselves. Overall, a solid, well-produced album from a band that never fails to deliver with each release. | ||
 | Album: 5 of 5 Title: 10,000 Days Released: 2006-04-28 Tracks: 11 Duration: 1:15:50 Scroll: Up Down Top Bottom 25% 50% 75% Wikipedia Allmusic AlbumCover | 1 Vicarious (07:06) 2 Jambi (07:28) 3 Wings for Marie, Pt 1 (06:11) 4 10,000 Days (Wings, Pt 2) (11:13) 5 The Pot (06:21) 6 Lipan Conjuring (01:11) 7 Lost Keys (Blame Hofmann) (03:46) 8 Rosetta Stoned (11:11) 9 Intension (07:21) 10 Right in Two (08:55) 11 Viginti Tres (05:02) |
| 10,000 Days : Allmusic album Review : In an age where major labels dictate that new releases from bands appear on record store shelves every 18 months or so, rare is the artist given freedom and ability to reflect and stretch out to explore creative evolution and release music as an artist, rather than the prepackaged predictability of an entertainer. Thankfully, Tool has somehow managed to circumvent these rituals, releasing a record every four to five years as they so feel the need. This ability to patiently craft their musical direction has paid off for not only the band, but for listeners, as theyve been able to expand their musical vocabulary from album to album with great precision, all the while remaining true to the foundations that built such a loyal, if not cult-like, following. But with this absence comes changes to the popular music landscape, as new bands and sounds (as well as a new generation of heavy metal fans to entertain) replace and stimulate the charts. Namely: a lot can happen in five years, especially with a fickle rock audience that is overinundated with constant new bands songs. The group defied expectations (and even got radio airplay) with Lateralus, but would fans stick with them during the hiatus? There were moments when Maynard James Keenan would emerge courtesy of A Perfect Circle, and there were also several stunning video DVDs to pacify while 10,000 Days was being written, along with cryptic messages via their website, but that was about it. Thankfully, 10,000 Days was worth the labor pains and wait to deliver. Its not only a step forward for the band, but a re-embracing of the epic-length rock songs found at the roots of early heavy metal. The album starts out with "Vicarious," which features some of Maynards most straightforward lyrics since Ænemas "Hooker with a Penis." Essentially a biting commentary on reality television, information stimulus overload, and living through others experiences, its only a brief glimpse of whats to come, as 10,000 Days also offers some of Keenans most confessional lyrics. The 17-minute epic "Wings for Marie/10,000 Days" is an ode to his mother, who passed away during the bands hiatus after dealing with paralysis from a stroke for 27 years. In a way, its voyeuristic to listen to someone working out family issues on disc, but Keenan does it in a way thats sensitive and honest without ever treading the careful line between melodrama and sincerity. Most of the songs are a bit long in the tooth when compared to most metal songs these days, but then again, Tool isnt exactly just another band, either. With most songs clocking in over six minutes, the exercises in songwriting wouldnt work as well with any other band. But when you have such high-caliber musicianship as Danny Carey and Adam Jones anchoring drums and guitar, respectively, its hard to make a wrong turn. The anger that served as fuel for some of their greatest works has been replaced with calmer and more introspective moments as they patiently work out rhythm and melodic passages from one theme to the next. Thats not to say the anger isnt still there; it does check in from song to song, but like most of Tools fan base that has stuck with them through their first recordings, the group has evolved beyond that stage and has moved on to new concepts to explore. So depending upon which Tool you are looking for, youre either going to love or hate 10,000 Days. If its the hard-driving band with an intellectually driven existential anger and fits of Hot Topic-laden angst, theyve fled for other pastures (probably to Arizona Bay). But if youre looking for the Tool whose passion and introspection is complemented by intense emotion, brutal honesty, and musical maturity, youll be hard-pressed to find a better metal album in 2006. | ||