Tool - 10,000 Days
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Free Music Notes for 10,000 Days
Free Music Review: Solid Tool Release
Hit: 5 Stars
As a long-time Tool fan I was hyping up 10,000 Days and expecting an amazing follow up to Lateralus. I heard that Tool was going back to their Aenima roots which pleased me since that is my favorite album by any band. I was mistaken, though. It is a departure from any record released in their fifteen years together. And it's amazing to boot.
Musically, Tool is tighter than ever. One of the excellent successes of 10,000 Days is the unity between band members. Justin really shows what he can do on the bass this record after being vicariously (heheh) scrutinized by fans on Lateralus. Adam leads the powerhouse of a band with his guitar, which is one of the focuses of the new album. Of course, we received what we all expected from Danny with his demonic drum riffs.
Maynard delivers as usual with the more variation in his vocals on any album previously released. His voice is as sharp as a knife on the opener, Vicarious, especially when he sings "Part vampire/Part warrior/Carnivore and voyeur." In Jambi his voice travels from soothing to chaotic in seven glorious minutes. The Wings (Wings for Marie and 10,000 Days) together highlight the album. In a side we've never seen of Maynard James Keenan in Tool, he sings compassionately and opens up to his fans to reveal personal lyrics. The Wings are epic, clocking together as 17 minutes and 24 seconds, and probably my favorite part of the album. Anyone who doubted Tool's anti-mainstream position on music when looking at the album title "10,000 Days" will be blown away once they find the meaning to be about MJK's mother, Judith Marie Keenan, who spent 10,000 Days in pain as a paralyzed patient. The Pot shows how much MJK can change his voice in a shocking high pitch beginning. That song is so addictingly fun to listen to and, politcally, the lyrics are superb. The second epic on the disc, Lost Keys/Rosetta Stoned, displays the classic odd Tool and is a direct sequel to Lateralus's Faaip De Oaid. The song, which is an alien experience told from the perspective of a drug-induced man, is one of the craziest songs on 10,000 Days and probably the finest musically--if one can get past the odd lyrics. Intension and Right In Two are calming, beautiful pieces with the former being very similar to Reflection from the previous cd. The outro, Viginti Tres is an odd song which involves the sounds of wings and buzzing with the simple words of "The System" being said in a demonic voice.
Overall, the cd is a solid release. Tool generally cut back on the filler, aside from Lipan Conjuring (which I really enjoy) and Viginti Tres, and focused more on music this time around. The artwork is as amazing as ever and features my favorite artist, Alex Grey, who did the cd booklet for Lateralus. The stereo-optic glasses are not a gimmick either--Adam Jones has been noting the effect of stereo-optic vision on the human mind for the past few years and hoped that it would provide more interaction between 10,000 Days and the listener. I really enjoy the whole package and though it took me several listens to get into, it is a must buy for any rock fan.
5 stars.
Free Music Review: Phenomenal.
Hit: 5 Stars
Listening to it as I type this, just as I listen to it in just about any other circumstance one could think of (during a professor's lecture, while playing poker at a casino that prohibits portable music players, while golfing (weather-permitting), while driving, plus all the places that people might normally listen to music). I think I've listened to it every day since I bought it, a few days after its early May release. Jambi has been played close to 1,000 times. It's not even my favorite song on the album, just so addictive that I find myself pressing the repeat buttong 3-4 times before moving on to what actually is my favorite song, the two-part Wings for Marie masterpiece. To all the critics of this album, of whom there are surprisingly many given the loyalty of Tool fans and my feeling that this is a near-flawless album, I'd like to hear some comments as to how Wings for Marie, Part II especially, does NOT move you enough to induce you to grant this album 5 stars on the basis of that song along. Comment on my review; I'd really like to hear an explanation. Because, contrary to what Maynard sings in the climax of Wings Part II, in this case, I feel the burden of proof is on the non-believers.
Oh, and the rest of the songs are great...Rosetta Stoned is remarkable. Especially if you juxtapose it with Wings, for kicks...amazing the same band could do both those songs. The Pot is not about weed (last lyrics: "ganja, please! you must have been out your mind!"...implying that the person Maynard is condemning "must have been so high" on something much more potent than weed...), but rather hypocrisy, as in the pot calling the kettle black ("when you pissed all over my black kettle..."). The lyrical twist of that song alone makes it good, but it's complemented by music of equal caliber...the last 30 seconds of that song probably stand out along with the last minute or so of Jambi as my favorite moments on the CD. Well, and the 17+ minutes of Wings.
pauses to listen to climax of Wings Part II...proceeds
The fact that the two songs I've saved for last, Vicarious and Right In Two, are listed by many as standout tracks speaks volumes about the overall quality of the album. And they are, except, they don't stand out quite enough from previous efforts that Maynard's had a hand in for me to give them full praise: Vicarious' bass line is, as has been pointed out numerous times, very similar to Schism's; and Right in Two [Lipan] conjures up memories of A Perfect Circle, for me anyway. But on any given day, I might repeat either of these songs the most, too.
Bottom line: at this point, probably my favorite album ever, even over all my treasured grunge albums (Jar of Flies by Alice in Chains is especially noteworthy), NIN, Floyd, Zeppelin, and every other Tool and A Perfect Circle record. Lateralus is maybe the album I'd argue to be the best I've ever heard, but this is my favorite, if that distinction makes any sense.
Free Music Review: A Reminder
Hit: 5 Stars
I have had plenty of time since the release of Lateralus to get deeply acquainted with the many sides of Tool. If there's anything that can be said it is that each album is immensely unique in its own right, and despite a common thread connecting each it simply does not do one justice to criticize it based on any other. Furthermore, the idea that anyone can dismiss a Tool album without giving it enough time to discover the depth and complexity it holds is asanine; think about what you're saying -- are you really disappointed that Tool isn't immediately accessible? Shame on you.
Like a previous reviewer stated, hearing the leak is not the way to approach this album. Any loyal fan should know better, as I know personally I have indirectly waited for this day for five years now... two weeks is nothing. On top of that I was able to get tickets to one of the upcoming shows that sold out 5,000 seats in one minute. My point is that this album could not have been built up on a higher pedestal.
Nonetheless, I heard 'Vicarious'. At first I was more confused than anything; yes, the instrumentals were all there, but the vocals sounded more characteristic of Maynard on A Perfect Circle than Tool (I'm not one of those people who blurs the edge between the two... I don't compare Tool to APC but I do compare Maynard to Maynard). Still, I gave it time, and after a few listens I knew '10,000 Days' would require patience but I couldn't wait to get started.
So here we are. I don't know what all the gripe is about the quality of the album art; it's 3-D Alex Grey, what more could a Tool fan want? And here's an interesting note: as an English major, we're taught that we view text (including songs/lyrics) through unconscious 'lenses' or theoretical perspectives. That's an intriguing metaphor when Tool includes stereoscopic lenses to view the album art... as if saying, 'Here; look at our album in a different perspective'. But the esoteric spiritual artwork is a bit decieving: this album is much more carnal than I expected. It is possibly their darkest album, filled with turmoil of the basest emotions. My first time listening I got the feeling that something was trapped inside and desperate to get out. It is a completely different style both lyrically and instrumentally. There's also a lot of noise about how much 'filler' the album has, when in fact it's the 'filler' that stands out and adds the most atmosphere to the album. I'm not going to critique each song, but there are elements that are both reminiscent of the Tool you know and love and then those that go beyond expectations -- like the electronic percussion of 'Intension'.
For those who doubted, the album is real and it's here: stop complaining and get over it. Don't be discouraged after a few listens; if it didn't take any work to appreciate then it wouldn't be Tool. As one reviewer said, 'It's not what you've been expecting, but it's exactly what you've been waiting for.'
Free Music Review: TOOL is the best thing that has ever happened to the world
Hit: 5 Stars
Tool's last album was lateralus, a masterpiece that is so good i sacrificed a goat to the gods that are tool for making my life even more complete by making such a fine work of art. After hearing this album, i thought it wasn't possible for tool to create another album that even broke the same plane of creativity and innovation as lateralus. For what seemed like an eternity, i awaited tools next release. I put a drop of my own blood in a jar every day untill the new album, and placed it in my tool shrine in my room (i went through four jars!!). Every night i prayed to maynard james keenan that he would be so generous to give the world even just one more tiny shred of his everylasting genius in his next album. Well this year when the album came out i can say my prayers had been answered. I got the album the day of its release, but i waited untill the weekend to listen to it so i could expererience it the way i should: alone and naked in my room with no light but the candles of my tool shrine. When the album finneshed, I had to vomit because i was so overwhelmed by it's staggering brilliance. tool had done the unthinkinkable, they had surpassed themselves to create the single greatest collection of sounds ever composed. i quickly put hot coals on my ears because i knew that they were unworthy of the greatness they had just heard. tool's album is so ahead of its time. i feel like tool could very well be a band from the future that come back in time every six years or so to enlighten people of the past. that's how innovative their music is. much of the songs on their new album are long repetitive droning noises that change very subtely and slowly. thay are so long and unchanging that you literally have to will yourself to listen to the entire song. why no one has ever thought of doing that before is beyond me because it's so perfect. tool is challenging to turn off your stereo and stop listening because only the worthy can understand them. only if you listen to one of the 17 minute songs straight through and attempt to hold your breath for the majority of it can you truly appreciate what tool is doing. everything tool does/ has ever done is perfect. tool could defocate on a plate and it would be the greatest single thing ever done. thats how good they are. i would let any member of tool sleep with my wife just so i could be closer to them. to all of you who say tool is boring or not fun to listen to or that they sound the same in every song or that they are cruel to their fans for making them wait years fo only decent cd's, i've got news for you, you're wrong. dead wrong. music isn't supposed to be "cool" or "enjoyable" or "pleasant". it's supposed to be innovative and unique and that is what tool is. tool is the greatest thing that has ever happened to the world. their new album can't be bad because they can do no wrong. they are infallible. i am a tool fan and this is what i believe.Free Music Review: this is some seriously dark and heavy sh-t!
Hit: 5 Stars
I just looked back on past Tool reviews I'd written, and it seems like I'm always defending them, or defending myself for loving them so much, but the more I've thought about it, the more it's become obvious that there's no need. Not at all. Not only does Tool not need me to defend them, they have tons of fans, sell millions of records, but they hardly qualify as a guilty pleasure at this point, other than for the fact that a bunch of d-cks with backwards baseball caps and jacked up trucks love them. But those same d-cks love Slayer too, but you don't see people embarrassed to love Slayer.
And what's not to love here, lengthy epics, sludgy crunchy guitars, impossibly complex drumming, lurching and grooving, moody and so intense, creepy crawly vocals, this is some seriously dark and heavy sh-t. Maybe more so than a lot of 'heavy underground' bands. Plus Tool just seem super cool. They refuse to sell their tracks on iTunes, they spend years crafting epic sort-of-concept records, totally elaborate and complex, right down to the packaging. And holy sh-t, the packaging this time around is mind blowing. And mind you Tool have long championed the ultra deluxe packaging for their records, but this one is definitely the most outrageous. In fact it just might be the most amazing packaging I've ever see. When I cracked open the case I ooh'ed and aah'ed like a kid on Christmas. What it is, is a super thick black plastic folder type sleeve, with two lenses embedded in the flap. When you open the sleeve, and check out the full color booklet each photo is split in two, two images side by side, and then you realize that it's a stereoscope and as you look through the lenses at the photos, they become strange 3-D tableaus, band photos are rife with tiny little details, ghosts in the background, strange items on the desk in the foreground, fire and smoke, other images are strange surreal juxtapositions and creepy Eastern psychedelic images, even the song titles are in 3-D!
It's funny, but Tool are one of the few bands that almost everyone I know loves, customers, band members, folks who run labels, over the last week or two, lots of our 'underground music' pals have emailed or called to opine on the new Tool, as if that made perfect sense, and it kind of does. It's a little bit like somehow one of "our own" managed to crack the code and miraculously made it to the big time, and in their own way are subverting from within. When Opiate came out years back, I never would have thought that a band that dark and that weird would one day be mentioned in the same breath as Coldplay or U2. But it's gotta happen once in a while. And it's pretty great that if anything, Tool have not softened or mainstreamed at all, but maybe gotten more strange and more obstinate with age. Just like me.