Tool - Opiate
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Free Music Notes for Opiate
Free Music Review: Attention grabbing debut
Hit: 5 Stars
The reason I'm writing this is to encourage any fan of tool's platinum stuff to go back and get this. This disc didn't have huge promotional backing, but it's the same brilliant group (well the bassist is Paul D'amour - also on Undertow).
The songs sound a little more like they're jamming, or somewhat more simplistic in their songwriting approach - but some of the catchiest riffs of their careers. Thats something you usually find on a creative band's debut - some of their most original and inspired work. And its no different here.
There are only 6 songs, but it holds its own with most bands' 12 song full length albums. I think that it also has its own feel. These songs go well together. If you can imagine what separates Undertow from Aenima (I would say slightly less complexity and more of a jammy feel), that same type of separation exists between Undertow and Opiate. They clearly were able to put more complex ideas together later in their career. But they already had that same feel for how to compose that certain tool sound.
Any fan of any Tool record should pick this up, but especially those who like the Undertow sound.
Free Music Review: Greatest band period
Hit: 5 Stars
Every Tool cd is great in its own way, they are the most outrageously awesome band there is. No question about it, this is a great cd despite its length. Maynard is a god among humans when it comes to his voice and ability to hold screams for enormous amounts of time. I give them 10 stars, 5 just doesnt justify.Free Music Review: Tool's Beginning
Hit: 4 Stars
Modern nu-metal and hard rock bands are always compared to Tool, which is saying alot. Tool, while sometimes unheard of and not as mainstream as one might suspect considering their sucess, never fails when putting out an album. Opiate is no exception, and it's interesting to hear early Tool. The sound of this album is very similar to 'Undertow', but rawer (Opiate also includes two live tracks, which sound top notch). The only drawback to this album, however, is that it is an EP and only has 6 songs not including the bonus track, 'The Gaping Lotus Experience'. Every song is listenable and has high replay value. Opiate is not for the easily offended or strong Christians in general as the title track's plot revolves around a sarcastic mockery of organized religion. The album is not Satanic, but merely brutally blunt in vocalist Maynard James Keenan's opinions on closed minds.
Bottom Line: 'Opiate' showcases some of Tool's hardest rocking material which doesn't dissapoint other than the fact that it is a six-songed EP.
Free Music Review: Underrated and Underappreciated.
Hit: 5 Stars
13 years ago, Tool released this album and was thrown into the same category as everyone else coming out of Seattle or the West Coast at that time. This wasn't a band composed of young men in big pants or bleached hair. As a matter of fact, the drummer was already over 30 when he was featured on his band's first release and the remaining members were closer to 30 than 20. This wasn't a band that was jaded in angst and wasting away to addiction, as they were an angry, yet very experimental group.
For some reason, the brilliance that shows the path to the remaining Tool releases never seems to be mentioned whenever Tool is mentioned in the press. Instead, the press seems to focus more on Undertow, Aenima, and Lateralus, which are more accepted amongst fans and casual listeners alike. While it is more primative than what Tool has evolved into today, it's the striking delivery of these songs that make them heavy, expressive, scary, and intense for for the listener. Bottom Line: This was a progressive and psychadelic experience that was grouped into the modern rock movement at the time, much like many of their predecesors before them.
This CD has six songs with a hidden track on it, each having it's own flavor and excitement to it. The opening track "Sweat" is a bit more formulaic in terms of song structure, while the self-titled closing track follows a similar approach, until the band throws an intense jam session at the end. Live tracks are featured on this CD as well, providing a raw element to Tool that makes you appreciate where this band came from and demonstrates how well they play live.
Its a hard, aggressive album, but you can always understand what's going on. None of the instruments are obstructed by the vocals, yet none of the instruments overpower the vocals or themselves. Instead, every single member of this band is literally showcased whenever they play their songs. There isn't so much an individual talent on this album as their is a collective talent that is awe-inspiring in just about every circle of rock musicians out there...
... yet it took 13 years to have the album become Platinum Certified. Yeah, it's sold a million copies, but their remaining albums have either become Double or Triple-Platinum, largely in part to their exposure.
If you are a musician who's just getting into Tool, buy this album first and listen to it. Listen to every detail that you'll find in the first release of a band who has come to be one of the most influential bands ever and still works to craft the face of modern rock. You could learn something that would be essential to your musical journey, as they learned valuable lessons from the bands that were essential to theirs.
Free Music Review: Beginning of the end!
Hit: 5 Stars
An awesome album that began the airwave takeover in the early 90's! With bands like Nirvana, Stone Temple Pilots, etc. the rest of the "Grunge" bands were slaying the hair bands by the dozens and making way for the new age rock and metal groups. With just a short track listing "Opiate" is six songs strong with a little craziness added at the end! Taking teachings from the psychadelic philosophies of Timothy Leary and applying them lyrically, Maynard James Keenan will blow away any vocalist that may come to mind. The early days also gave us Paul D'amour (bassist) with sweet riffs like "Cold and Ugly" and "Jerk-off." Ex Green Jelly drummer Danny Carey will never disappoint. (If you get a chance, listen to 46&2 off Aenima, it'll blow your mind!) Lets not forget Adam Jones the craziest guitarist I think I've ever heard! Using electronic toys over the pick-ups of his guitar he's made quite a library of strange medleys. To riff off.... this album I must say is brilliant in its own way for the competition that was around at that time. Alot of strange stuff mixed in with the lyrics and some ground breaking new ideas, but a must have for any TOOL fan!!!