Tool - Aenima
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Free Music Notes for Aenima
Free Music Review: By far their most amazing album yet
Hit: 5 Stars
I've heard many a review of Tool's "AEnema", one by amazon.com itself, call this album "muddy" and more "disorganized" than the superior band's other two albums; "Opiate" and "Undertow". I believe that "AEnema" is just as great as the other CD's, just that Tool is trying new kinds of music and takes their fans to other places. Even though the CD was released back in 1996, this album leaves fans guessing at the meanings to the lyrics and titles to this day.This album has, by far, jumped to a new level than the other two Tool albums, both of which focused more on the hard rock and guitar riffs on most of the songs. Several songs on "AEnema" are softer and more lightly textured, but are by no means mellow. Songs such as "jimmy", "Pushit", and "H." are toned down to less hard rock as songs such as "Hooker With A Penis", but are just as energetic, meaningful, and powerful as every other Tool song. In fact, the contrast between the heaviness in some parts of the songs and the softer display gives a darker feel to the tunes. "Forty Six & 2" is one of the best examples of how quickly the song can change beat and mood, yet still strangely hold onto and keep grasp of the same eerie atmosphere.
But old Tool fans don't have to worry. There is still that heavy, hard rock element in the majority of the songs on the album. The three singles "Stinkfist" "Forty Six & 2", and the title track "AEnema" have the more familiar, older style that Tool is known for. Other great reflections of Tool's raw power and energy are "Hooker With A Penis", "Third Eye", and "Eulogy".
A close listener will also notice that Tool's music has become more experimental on this album, as is seen on all four of the instrumental tracks on the album. Although Tool's lyrics are part of their power and energy, they still give off a strange and haunting vibe and mood with the instrumental songs "Useful Idiot", "Intermission", "Cesaro Summability", and "(-) Ions". Also, the strangely woven "Message To Harry Manback" is a great example.
Whether you're not sure about Tool or are just a fan of their previos two albums, I recommend this album to you, and am quite confident that it will make a Tool fan out of you. This is a great CD, and definitely belongs on real music fans shelves. The songs and lyrics are deep, and make you both think and feel them. What's not to like?
Free Music Review: A top notch record from a band who rarely misses
Hit: 5 Stars
One thing I notice a lot with bands is that in order to benefit the most from fans, they almost have to stay under the radar their entire career yet still be successful so they can continue making albums. Bands like Radiohead and Tool have the critical and commercial success they should have yet there's a feeling that they're "overrated", most likely brought on by constant chatter of how they're one of the best bands in rock. But when you have Aenima, Tool's 2nd full-length, I wouldn't say they're the best band today but they're certainly consistent. Btw: I won't bother with the so-called "filler" tracks.
The album starts with Stinkfist, a very controversial song upon release, it's one of the better crafted songs on the album with some great vocals by Maynard. It's not really one of my favorite Tool songs ever but it's definately a favorite on the album. From there we move to Eulogy, another fan favorite with an odd spoon-sounding intro, big riffs and powerful vocals by Maynard. H. is probably one of the more underrated songs but even though it's not a huge favorite, it's got some great aspects to it and musician interplay. Another popular song off the record, though not a single was 46 & 2, which speaks of the human chromosomes and potentially getting 2 more. An incredibly catchy riff is the basis of the song and it almost sounds like a twisted pop tune if radio embraced this kind of stuff.
Jimmy, like H. is another rarely-spoken of song and it's actually quite good with catchy riffs and great lyrics and vocals. But again, some might gravitate towards the more popular ones first. Pu**** is weirdly better on the Salival version with powerful-as-hell vocals by Maynard. This version is good but then you hear the live one and go "wow, this one's kind of...better". Aenema is basically a lyrical assault on Los Angeles and the purging of all that is "fake". Musically it's good too but I love reading the lyrics. Third Eye is a huge epic, complete with multiple solos, time signature changes and even a sketch by late comedian Bill Hicks. Even if it's the longest song at 13 minutes, it's rarely, if ever, a boring song.
Even though they do offer breaks, with stuff such as a weird threatening phone message (Message to Harry Manback), recipe for cookie (Die Eier Von Satan) and a vinyl reaching its end (Useful Idiot), the songs here are so strong that they seem kind of useless. But taken out, the album rarely missteps and even lesser-known songs like Jimmy or H. are quite listenable. Highly recommended album.
Free Music Review: A lot deeper than you might think.
Hit: 5 Stars
I must admit that it's pretty easy to dismiss Tool as another angsty teen nonsense-metal band based on their fan base alone. I avoided this band for years because of the kind of people I saw wearing their T-shirts: The same gothy teenagers who worship Marilyn Manson. I finally decided to check out Tool after a friend whose musical opinion I trust suggested them to me, and bought "Lateralus" and "AEnema."Let me just say that if you listen to music deeply at all, this album will probably be an acquired taste. Despite it's traditional instrumentation, the album challenges the bounds we've set for what music "should" sound like, and what structure it's "supposed" to follow. At first listen, it will probably strike you as being "just noise". There's a method to their madness, however, and with an open mind and repeated listens, you can start to get inside of the music and appreciate it.
"Aenema" is very rhythm-driven. The guitar, bass, and drums all contribute to the percussive feel of the music, creating an overall "tribal" sort of vibe to much of the songs. This is most apparent in the song intros (especially Eulogy), routed heavily in the Indian rhythms that drummer Danny Carrey studies.
Another unique aspect of the music is the way in which sections are dragged out while managing not to sound monotonous. We're often teased by a "rock out" chorus that always feels JUST out of reach, building more and more tension until the band finally kicks into the chorus. This way of building energy is used throughout the album, particularly on "Hooker With a ..." after the second chorus. Through the wall of sound, a rhythmic figure in 5/16 emerges and builds in intensity until the whole band (vocalist included) is playing the rhythm over a flurry of tom notes created by Danny Carrey. Tension builds as the listener knows they're on the edge of something, when suddenly it stops, Maynard whisper/sings "Shut up and-", a drum fill leads into "BUY!!" and the band explodes. It's kept just out of reach for nearly a minute, and when it happens, the effect is VERY powerful. And unlike a lot of other "powerful" moments on other CD's, it never gets old. This music is still just as intense for me as it was several months ago.
I've only touched on what makes this album great, and encourage people to discover the rest for themselves. The key to enjoying "Aenema" (and "Lateralus") is to approach it with an open mind. Give it as many chances as it takes to appreciate what the musicans are trying to do on this album. Your efforts will be well worth it.
Free Music Review: Release your aenima
Hit: 5 Stars
Aenima is in my humble opinion probably THE most important album to the US metal scene... perhaps to the metal scene worldwide.
Given the all consuming wave of grunge bands (Nirvana, Peral Jam, Alice in Chains, Stone temple Pilots etc.) in the early 90s which completely abandoned the 'violent' metal attitude in favor af an emotional and less technical approach. Metal 'qualities' slowly seemed to be absorbed in the hype ... a lot af 'big' US metal bands like Metallica and Megadeth growing incresingly mainstream with their early 90s releases, Tool decided to walk an highly alternative path.
This is by no means to suggest the Tool simply remained a traditional metal band. On the contrary; Tool can in fact hardly be refined to a label such as 'traditional'... rather 'alternative metal' is probably the best definition. It seems that James Maynard K. deliberately has used the music and songwriting to channel human taboos as well as existential matters into a genre that continues to strugge with chichés. Tool nevertheless manages to remain theatrical in a honest, poetic and spiritual manner by dealing excessively with the complexity of mankind with emphasis on the abnormal, the spiritual and the creative.
Thus, Aenima is a record that does NOT in any way succumb to contemporary mainstream tendencies. Neither does it stick to familiar metal recipies. Rather Aenima REDEFINED the metal genre and transcended the way metal should be interpreted and presented... redeeming metal from the shallow entertainment tendencies of pop and power metal.
As such Anima presents an unpresedented alternative even considering former Toor releases. 'Undertow' (Tool's previous album - and an excellent one as well) did forebode this deveopment, however Aenima would be the artistic and musical climax of Tool making this album not only a metal, but rather a MUSIC icon. Listening to Aenima is increasingly rewarding; the progressive, complex yet subtle musicianship is explored throughout each of the epic tracks. Aenima may not be downright easy to grasp for the unconsecrated listener, however it must be heard over and over to phantom the overall vision of J.M.K. Ultimately, Aenima is no less than catharsis to the haunted mind of any music fan.
Altogether; thanks to Tool for the 'real' music which seems to stem from the darkest corners of the human soul! Aenima does mean Soul, and this album is indeed a piece of dark haunted soul neatly torn to bits for all of us to devour!
Free Music Review: The record that gave them even more of a name
Hit: 5 Stars
Before I get into the review, I must say one thing: I'm sick of people dismissing the album because they find it "pretentious." It seems people today only use the term to sound like they have a better vocabulary than they actually do, which would actually fit that word! Not just that, some of the interludes are kind of intermissions to show Tool's experimental side that had greatly grown on here. Sure, it's not for everybody, but can't you at least admit that sometimes you just don't enjoy something because you may not get it? That doesn't make it pretentious.
Also, while a couple of interludes do seem ponderous at best, some of the songs are just so good that they make this album five stars. Sure, you know about the five singles maybe, but one track that's EVEN better than those is "Pus--t." 11 minutes long, it shows some of Maynard's most impressive vocals; the melody just catches you in. The song doesn't come off as the least bit overlong. I also like how the intro sounds like it'll be something kind of weird or orchestral, but then you start hearing standard Adam Jones riffs. Of course, the structure of "Ænema" is just breath-taking, and I find it very interesting. It has some really awesome Danny Carey drums too; there's no one quite like him. "Third Eye" is fourteen minutes long but can be suspenseful, especially when it reaches to its climaxes, descends, then builds back up. Hearing "prying open your third eye" is something that's going to get stuck in your head. Oh, and there's some really amazing melodies on that track as well. Sometimes the lyrics are kind of ambiguous, yet I have my own interpretations (I somehow think "Stinkfist" is about sex). There's some more straightforward stuff here, like the structure of said song and the slow-burning "H." as well as the sell out lyrics on "Hooker." It may seem a bit juvenile for some, but I find the track amazing. Also, some of the interludes are kind of interesting and mildly funny, like the cool futuristic organs on "Intermission" and the German-spoken recipe on "Die Eier Vor Satan."
"Ænima" is an astounding album. I actually think they've outdone themselves with "Lateralus" and perhaps I'll even view "10,000 Days" as such, but this record is totally worth owning. If you like alternative metal, or just rock in itself, you owe it to yourself to give this record a chance. "Undertow" is also excellent.
Worth the money.