Tool - Lateralus
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Music CD Cover Artist: Tool Edition: Music CD Format: Explicit Lyrics, Import Published: 2001 CD Release Date: 2006-01-31 Music Label: MusicForNations Soundtracks:
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Free Music Notes for Lateralus Album
Free Music Review: Magnum Opus
Hit: 5 Stars
Magnum Opus..what does it mean?
In its most basic translation, Magnum Opus mean "Great Work" in Latin.
"Great Work" can be taken to mean "Greatest Work".
In a musical context, a band's Magnum Opus would either be:
A) The band's most famous and most popular album
B) The band's greatest, most accomplished, highly achieved work.
To be a Magnum Opus, an album has to basically be the pinnacle of the band's creativity and intention. A Magnum Opus is usually an album of such grand scale and epic emotion that the music world is forever changed due to its presence. To be a Magnum Opus, an album has to excel far beyond the normal confines of genre and style and transcend beyond anything created thus far.
Lateralus is Tool's Magnum Opus. It is single handedly their greatest work ever and shows Tool at their pinnacle of creativity. Now, this is not to say that Tool will never create another amazing album, but that Lateralus is the culmination epitome of their work.
Obviously with all so called "Magnum Opus'" questions are raised, such as:
What makes this particular work of art a band's Magnum Opus?
In my opinion, what makes an album a Magnum Opus:
What is so great about this album that sets itself apart from past, present and future releases?
And here, we enter into a review of Lateralus, by Tool..
Through each of Tool's release, one can get the sense of evolution.
It first started with "Opiate", a raw, gritty hard hitting album that debut Tool's sound to the world. On "Opiate" I get the sense of a human in the midst of his/her life, questioning, venting and coping with physical existence but confused and utterly lost. The lyrics deal with small glimpses of the unknown, and stark commentary on humanities present blunders and common fallacies.
The music is much more straight forward than on later releases and closely resembles traditional modern American Metal, accentuated by Danny Carey's amazing drumming and Maynard's exceptional voice.
Then came "Undertow", probably Tool's most personal and definitely their darkest release. On "Undertow", the lyrics shift to more of a memoir of a person's life. The pain, the anger, the triumph and the defeat. A tale of all the experiences that molded a person to what they are. The music is a tad more complex and the first signs of a more progressive sound emerge.
Next, we were treated to Aenima, an album that revealed a completely original, evolved and progressive sound that literally shook the face of music. On Aenima, the lyrics and themes were a blend of personal memoirs and the expressed dissatisfaction with humanities current perception and attitude towards all life.
In fact, each Tool release expresses this dissatisfaction, yet on Aenima it is most prominent. An apocalyptic setting seems to encompass the themes of Aenima.
With each subsequent release, we saw Tool evolving and become more into their "element" so to speak.
Tool's first three albums reflect the darkest depths of Humanity. Pain, suffering, self-serving, searching for purpose and meaning and emotional violence are some of the more prominent themes throughout.
In 2001, the world was treated to "Lateralus", and it changed the face of music.
Technically tight, musically complex and original, Lateralus remains Tool's Magnum Opus. Their greatest, most achieved and most accomplished work.
An epic beyond all epics, Lateralus is the story of a human coming to grips with his/her purpose and fully embracing everything that has happened, the is happening and that will happen. It is the story of a human embracing the past, present and future as one: the now. It is the story of the limitless potential within us all to either create or destroy, or both. Lateralus speaks louder than any music and any words could ever speak.
The CD packaging says it all. It depicts a human, stripped of all flesh. Bare and open to the universe that surrounds him. You can see a glow surrounding the human, and you can see his third eye open and releasing energy. All around the human is a vast, complex and unknowable energy that is pulsating and endless. - This sets the tone of the story to come.
Lateralus is about over-coming our human blunders, releasing the pain from the past, letting go of our ego and self - importance and welcoming in the un-predictable and entirely immense power of creation, and of the unknown. It is about shedding our anger, pain and hatred for something more intangible. It is embracing our experience as a human, which means fully accepting your responsibility and duties in the here and now.
Lyrically, these concepts are put forth through one of the most talented and greatest vocalist of our time, Maynard Keenan. His voice is so angelic and beautiful, yet can also delve into the depths of anger, rage and pain to bring forth the rawest of emotions. These lyrics pierce the veil of illusion and convey a message so out of the ordinary standard music fare, that it has and will pass over the heads of many. The lyrics are so personal yet they apply to everyone. They are sung with such conviction and sincerity and emotion that they will spark a flame within you. They will urge you to remember, remember something beyond our daily lives. Something that is so distant and alien, yet so familiar and warm. Something that we all feel, yet do not know how to verbalize or materialize into reality. The lyrics emanate energy that NEEDS to be felt by all humans.
Musically, Lateralus is immense, dense, complex and utterly astonishing.
Danny Carey's drumming is amazing, for lack of a better word. This drummer really explores his drum set, and seems to know it intimately through and through. His drumming is at times so complex, yet so structured that it literally demands all attention. The drumming seems to be a blend of avant-garde, tribal and modern rock themes that blend together into one coherent whole. They invoke visions and feelings within me that seem so far removed from myself, yet part of myself. The tribal sound and approach is so amazing an refreshing, it will evoke the primal energy within you. The drum work does not end at a regular drum set either, Danny brings tabla and hand drum energy to the mix as well, and it fits more perfect than the perfect puzzle piece.
The guitar work is simple, yet I do not think complexity is the aim of the guitars on Lateralus. They are more for atmosphere and created to spark emotions and feelings from within. The guitar parts are futhermore bathed in a myriad of effects and manipulations that further enhance the sound.
The bass lines produce forth such a vibration and bounce along with the tribal and sporadic drumming; they are one and the same at times, creating this over-arching dimension that speaks of an ancient and long lost energies that dwell within all of us.
Along with the traditional instruments, there are a whole host of effects from synths to digaridoos (an Australian instrument - check it out) to all sorts of sounds that knit the overall atmosphere and emotion together.
Each song is grand and epic in scale, uses a perfect blend of dynamics and emotion and is ever changing and evolving. Lateralus reveals a union of pregression and structure that is vastly ahead of all its peers. Each song is a behemoth of a feeling unto itself, each song is another dimension to explore and tune into.
In regards to an overall story, the contents and chapters are left up to the listener to decipher and learn.
But, songs like Parabol and its counterpart and sibling Parabola deal with a human coming to grips with his responsiblity, embracing his humanity and accepting what has happened, accepting the pain the anger the strife the suffering, accepting the good, the bad and everything in between. These two songs symbolize that we are something greater than human and we are merely playing the role of "human" right now. These two songs depict such a joy and elation that is both uplifting and revealing. These two songs are about being here right now, in your human form, living, being, accepting that you are a limitless energy taking the form of human. Parabol and Parabola further reveal the secret of this flesh vessel that we inhabit.
Lateralus, the title track, deals with many concepts. One of which seems to be the union of body and mind in order to pierce the unknown with clarity and awe. It deals with our unlimited power as beings of creation, it deals with embracing the now and being alive. It deals with an over-arching spiral of evolution that is within all creation, the evolution of energy. Lateralus is about pushing, bending and seeing past the regular, mundane, rational and tangible elements that we surround our lives with, that we were born into and stepping into the vast, immense and great unknown that pervades all.
Lateralus is about achieveing the Totality of our Being, becoming one with the dream, accepting our responsibility and mission as a human on this Earth, and true evolution. The lyrics reflect this, as does the music. Lateralus is a powerful song that has layers upon layers.
The Patient deals with the trials and tribulations of walking a path of meaning, a "path of heart". Walking a path that rings true within you, regardless of what anyone says, or what anything does. Walking a path that is hard, long and most arduous. A path that is not easily tread, nor is it convenient or comforting. Its a path that fully embraces the good with the bad, the right and the wrong. Its a path that reveals everything for what it truly is, including those within yourself. It is THE path to your true self.
The Patient is about being patient on the path to your true self. Its about being patient on this path because, on this particular path you will face all of the darkest, most depraved and vile aspects and elements of yourself and creation as a whole. There will be forces that will try their hardest to convince you to abandon and betray this path. The lyrics portray a human walking this "path", yet struggling deeply with it. The lyrics state that this human could easily walk away from this path and delve back into the darkness and self - indulgent life that he once knew. This song also deals with the relative ease of abandoning all hope as well. This song deals with the fact that, if there was no hope of release, no loving embrace from his own being and from creation as a whole to encourage him on his path, if there was no hope for healing then this human would quickly leave this path and return to the depths.
A most poignant song.
The Grudge deals with our most human, rational and grounding aspect...anger, fear and holding onto the past like it was life itself. The Grudge deals with wearing all of these things as a crown of power, lording it over others and over life, living in a bitter and twisted shell that has lost all compassion, all love only to be filled with anger and hatred toward life. The Grudge deals with shedding this aspect of self - importance, of putting hate, anger, fear, jealousy and all similar emotions into perspective and into their proper place.
The Grudge deals with how we frantically and desperately grip onto our pain and our past, and how it weighs us down like an anchor, allowing ourselves to drown in ignorance and our own grossly inflated ego.
The Grudge deals with the Death of the old ways and the Birth of the New ways. Alchemy, turning our leaden grudges, which way us down and detriment us, into gold. Transformation, transfiguration, transmutation. To change these grudges and pain into acceptance and clarity.
Ticks and Leeches deals with the utter frustration and weariness of dealing with parasitic people who use and abuse through manipulation or abuse of power. It speaks from a blunt and emotionally drained human that wishes the parasite to get exactly what they wanted, to the point of suffocation. A very powerful and emotional track that speaks volumes.
Schism is one of the more powerful songs on the album. Dealing with a schism in communication between all things. Between humans and between humans and creation. Between the tangible and the intangible, but mostly between humans. This song deals with the small crack of misunderstanding growing until it becomes a divide that separates us all from each other. This song also deals with putting the pieces back together, and the power and ability TO put the pieces back together. Schism deals with how our egos and self - importance taint and color all relationships, and how we struggle to repair them. We can all relate this this track, for we all have relationships with friends, family and lovers.
Disposition, Relfection and Triad all form one cohesive whole. Apparently they were supposed to be one long song, but the idea was ditched and this one song was split into three parts that are interconnected. Disposition deals with conversation between beings, and the raw power and force of nature and creation as a whole. Reflection deals with your reflection. What you really are, the purpose of us all, shedding the ego and self - importance to see the bigger picture, to feel the vast energy. Reflection deals with how we have a choice of either wallowing in our pain, anger and narcissistic view of life, only furthering our sadistic urge to hurt ourselves all the while thinking that we are right and living our lives the way they should be, or shedding all of that for a vulnerable and open state that puts you in tune with creation and something ultimately bigger and more grand than just your life. The All. Triad is like the blend of both the intangible power of Disposition and the rational, tangible world of Reflection, blended with a raw tribal urge.
There are two instrumentals on Lateralus, Eon blue Apocalypse and Faaip de Quip, which I do not want to comment on.
All in All, Lateralus will force you to come to terms with your own being, your own actions, your own responsibility while you are here on Earth. It will speak to you via feelings and show you yourself for what you truly are. Lateralus is a sonic juggernaut that plows through any definition and genre that is thrown at it. Dynamic and and full of the energy that pervades us all, Lateralus will bring you to One.