So up next I thought I’d calm things down and go with a band who’s as mysterious as they are weird. The band I’m talking about is Tool. Now I will say that even though they have 5 albums, they seem to all be long albums. So let’s take a look…..
Opiate- now normally I don’t review many EP’s but this one I feel needs to be reviewed. It’s definitely a preview of things to come at least for their first album Undertow. This one is pretty straightforward in terms of their music. No weird songs and no 2 minutes of noise or other weird sounds. Its also got a couple live songs which give you a feeling of some of those first shows. It’s actually a really good EP and a great start if you are just getting into this band. I give it 9/10
Standouts: Sweat, Part of Me, Jerk-Off (Live)
Undertow- well here we are the one that started it all. I feel like with this album, it tends to get overlooked when compared to albums like Aenima or Lateralus. It seems to be the only album that doesn’t have long songs or even weird 2 minute songs. It’s a straight forward rock/metal record and for me it’s a great debut album. The songs seem to be the most “normal” for this band. I give it 9/10
Standouts- Prison Sex, Bottom, Undertow
Aenima- I must say that the riff to the opening song Stinkfist is a badass riff. There’s just something that is so catchy about it. I love it. Here’s where things start to take a weird turn. Yes this has its fair share of bangers such as Stinkfist and Forty Six and 2 but then you have some slower songs such as Jimmy. This album is a little all over the place in a weird out there kind of way but it’s so good. This is a classic Tool record and it’s easy to see why. I give this 8/10
Standouts: Forty Six & 2, Hooker With a Penis, Eulogy
Lateralus- their third album really takes a softer more experimental turn. If you thought the last album was had slowed down, then this one is slower. This album almost has a haunting feel to it. I don’t know you just have to hear it. Tool have never really made the same album twice which is kind of what separates them from other bands. The songs on here seem longer but overall, it’s a pretty consistent record. The last one seemed more out there than this one but this one is just as good as the last one. I’ve always felt that this was the perfect follow up to Aenima. The sort of yin to the last albums yang. Again this is another classic Tool album. Usually when people talk about their favorite Tool album it’s either this or Aenima. I give it 8/10
Standouts: The Grudge, The Patient, Parabola
10,000 Days- what makes Tool great is their weirdness and their great songwriting. This one I had such high hopes for but I found myself getting bored with this album. I remember when this album was released and KROQ was always playing the song The Pot so much so that I got sick of it. I don’t know I tried to listen to it back when it came out and couldn’t really get into it. Listening to it now, not much has changed. This album get boring real quick. I mean there are some potential songs here and there are some decent riffs but I was listening to it and was wondering when is this album going to end. A lot of the songs and vocals are just so repetitive that it gets boring. I honestly couldn’t wait for this album to be over. I give it 1/10
Standouts: nothing really stands out or is worth noting
Fear Inoculum- ok so 10,000 Days wasn’t their best and after that one which was released in 2006, their next album wouldn’t be released until 2019 so we have a 13 year gap. Now I must say that I was curious to see how they would sound after waiting so long to release a new album. Would it be a let down or would it be one of the greatest albums ever made? Then they put up a couple live songs on YouTube and I thought well it sounds like Tool but let’s see how the rest of the album is. Then the day came, it was finally released and when I heard it, I was stoked. New music from Tool!! Now that is exciting. So how’s the album? Well I’m going to say that it’s so BORING. I mean I’m going against popular opinion by saying this. It is such a boring piece “album.” The songs are so long with some going on for like 15 minutes. I’m not interested in 15 minute long songs. Just write a normal song for crying out loud. Is that so hard? I mean seriously this album is so boring that it came out around the time I went to Big Bear for a bachelor party and at night I’d listen to it and fall asleep. I tried this three times and all three times I was put to sleep. The songs just seem to go on and on and on. Seriously just write a normal song please! I honestly just don’t get the hype for this album. After 13 years I’d expect greatness but instead we get complete and total crap. That and when they played in LA they charged over $200 a ticket? Get the fuck out of here with that. I have no choice but to give this the very rare -0/10. Seriously 13 years and they give us this? Come on
Well what can I say, that was Tool. Now don’t get me wrong they are not a bad band but their hardcore fans are super annoying. Like seriously they are the worst fans. I’d say along with Pantera, Slayer, and Arch Enemy fans, Tool fans are the worst. I think even Maynard would even agree and has said so. Either way, the first three albums are brilliant albums and the rest of the band are super talented but that last album is just so bad. Anyway, I have heard that their live shows are some of the best and one day I hope to see them live. Just not for $200.
Final Grade: C-
Album Rankings:
- Undertow
- Opiate
- Aenima
- Lateralus
- 10,000 Days
- Fear Inoculum
Sinister Reviews 