Guest thefrenchargel Report post Posted July 28, 2002 Tool is a band I've been really into for a while, considering that they ooze talent and are a beautiful breath of fresh air in a world of over produced and publicized pop/fake metal bands with no talent. Anyway, the real point of this thread is to get some opinions on their last album, Lateralus. Among my friends, it's a dead-even split as to who does and doesn't like it. We all pretty much agree that the previous three studio releases were the shit, but are a house divided on the new one. Personally, Lateralus is my favorite album of theirs, since it's put together and mastered so well, and all the songs just flow one into the next, setting a great mood, and a sound that's nothing like their other albums. They also hold the honor of being the best live band I've ever seen. Opinions? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest PlatypusFool Report post Posted July 28, 2002 Lateralus is definately their best album because there is little silliness and as you say, it all fits together beautifully. However, when they did proper songs on Aenima, they were better individual tracks than most of Lateralus. Stinkfist is my favourite song of all time, for example, and Aenima itself is just a great, great track. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest EricMM Report post Posted July 28, 2002 IMO Tool gets better with every album. However if you are looking for pure rock and roll you can't beat Ænima. But Laturalus is by far more varied, with more Tribal, musical sounds, especially Disposition/Reflection/Triad. Its quite a way to end a rock album, IMO they should have put that in the middle and put lateralus at the end. Laturalus and The Patient are such good songs, comparable to Pushit, Stinkfist and Ænema IMO. Parabol/a is also very very good. I'm so glad Tool has accomplished everything they have, because everything they have done has been golden. Platinum recently And they never lost anything with their success which is amazing truthfully. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest saturnmark4life Report post Posted July 28, 2002 I think lateralus is the best too. Mind blowing stuff that will stand the test of time. And i agree they don't lose anything with popularity, which is certainly a breath of fresh air. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Edwin MacPhisto Report post Posted July 28, 2002 Lateralus is my #2 Tool album; Aenima's my favorite by a hair. Lateralus is musically complex, and probably much better put together as an album than Aenima--everything flows perfectly. The little interludes like "Eon Blue Apocalypse" and "Mantra" are short and work better than most of the 'transition' pieces on Aenima, and the Reflection/Disposition/Triad suite is mind-blowing. The album has so many rises and falls...for me, it rises all the way to "Parabol," and that and "Parabola" fuse together as the sort of centerpiece of the album. "Lateralus" in itself is an epic, and that leads right into the three-song suite. Musically it's fabulous, buuut...there's something about Aenima. I adore Lateralus, but for some reason there's no question in my mind about which is their finest album. Aenima actually gave me chills the first time I heard it, and still does. I think the emotions layed down on Aenima are a little simpler, or perhaps just slightly more genuine, then the wandering prog of Lateralus, or perhaps there's something primal about the almost sing-along qualities of "Stinkfist," "Eulogy," and "Aenema." I see this as a case of a group peaking...and then putting out an album that's right on the peak's tale. Here here to that. Oh, and: SEEING TOOL IN ONE WEEK. Happy day. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest TheyCallMeMark Report post Posted July 28, 2002 Would this be a thread in which it would be appropriate to rip into Tool? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Edwin MacPhisto Report post Posted July 28, 2002 Would this be a thread in which it would be appropriate to rip into Tool? You could. All us fans will probably pee on your grave, though. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest EricMM Report post Posted July 28, 2002 and you may ask which grave, but there would be a grave. There would. Nah, really, PUH-Leeze tell me why Tool isn't up to snuff. I'd especailly like to hear in compared to whom. I'm serious too, I'm not looking for a fight, I'd just like to know what I'm (probably) missing. After all during highschool I was all "OFFSPRING IS THE BEST BAND EVER!!! (in defense it was Smash I liked not Ixnay or Americana) and my friend was like "um no... I listen to Tool" and lah dee dah here I am today. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest saturnmark4life Report post Posted July 28, 2002 Oh, and: SEEING TOOL IN ONE WEEK. Happy day. LUCKY SON OF A... Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Black Lushus Report post Posted July 28, 2002 I prefer A Perfect Circle...Maynard seems to let his vocals out a tad better than on his Tool stuff, but yes the band does kick ass...my favorite songs are probably The Patient and Aenima... Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest redbaron51 Report post Posted July 29, 2002 Tool is one hell of a band to see live, and I will be seeing them later on as well (hopefully). After seeing French posting something good and I can agree on him, but saying that Ænima is shit...man you must listen to it again. Though Lateralus is a great album, I really think its the less than great of all the tool albums released. People call me strange, but I really think Undertow is Tool's best work followed by Ænima, Opiate then Lateralus. I'm not saying Lateralus is a complete bomb, its still one hell of an album, but comparing Tool albums too me is like saying which ice cream is my favourite because i have a hard time. As for favourite songs there is a lot of songs I like by Tool: Sweat, Jerk-Off, Prison Sex, Sober, Intolerance, Undertow, H, 46:2, Stinkfist, Ænima, The Grudge, Schism, Patient, Lateralis, Ticks and Leeches...and much more. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Shaved Bear Report post Posted July 29, 2002 i liek undertow the best, i kinda mark for the first half of the album alot, but disgustipated is kinda boring Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest MaxPower27 Report post Posted July 29, 2002 Undertow is probably my favorite over AEnima. Both are great to drive long distances, as well, don't ask me why. Favorite TOOL song? Man, that new song they have out now, Lateralus (I think), is phenominal. It's up there with my new favorite song Aerials by SOAD. But, my all time favorite TOOL song is bottom. Just great, deep music, and Henry Rollins is spec-fucking-tacular. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Vyce Report post Posted July 29, 2002 I'm waiting for the inevitable guy to show up with the "Maynard really isn't that smart, he only writes smart lyrics to look smart" argument. Favorite album - Lateralus. Aenima is close though. Sometimes I think it's the best, but Lateralus is still in my CD changer so I'm biased towards it right this moment. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Doomsault Report post Posted July 29, 2002 We all pretty much agree that the previous three studio releases were the shit, but are a house divided on the new one. I was only aware of two previous releases but anyway, I'd have to say Lateralus was my fav because of one reason: More music, Undertow and Aenima were full of 10 minute long crap songs that were attempting to be artistic and didn't concentrate on the apparent talent of the band. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Black Lushus Report post Posted July 29, 2002 We all pretty much agree that the previous three studio releases were the shit, but are a house divided on the new one. I was only aware of two previous releases but anyway, I'd have to say Lateralus was my fav because of one reason: More music, Undertow and Aenima were full of 10 minute long crap songs that were attempting to be artistic and didn't concentrate on the apparent talent of the band. he's referring to Opiate, an EP that came out before Undertow, I believe with 5 studio songs and one live song... Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest The Man in Blak Report post Posted July 29, 2002 Bleh. Lateralus totally walked over the line of pretentious self-indulgence that AEnima flirted with at times. The music was all right, at times, but many times, the fleeting moments of genius were pounded six feet under by an anal obsession with minimalist phrases that Tool felt free to repeat ad nauseum while cranking out some of the most laughable lyrics in their catalog. AEnima is technically their shortest album, save the Opiate EP, but it's also got their most successful material in Stinkfist, Eulogy, H., 46 and 2, and the title track. The prog leanings are obviously there with all of the intermission tracks, but the actual music within doesn't share that overindulgence. Only Eulogy flirts with progressive structure, but it at least builds to something huge at the end...something which three-fourths of the tracks on Lateralus can't even fathom. Undertow's also a good album, but it's far more straight-forward for rock. Most of the songs kind of melt into each other, but the big standout track, "Sober", is what put 'em on the map. So, for the record: Favorite Album: "AEnima" Favorite Song: "Eulogy" / "Sober" Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest thefrenchargel Report post Posted July 29, 2002 After seeing French posting something good and I can agree on him, but saying that Ænima is shit...man you must listen to it again. I didn't say Aenima was shit, I said it was THE shit. the ungodly shit, to put it precisely. I love every album they've done. Lateralus being my fav by a mile, then opiate. it's hard for me to compare them really, because they're all so different. Opiate's pretty much straight, no chaser, Undertow is really dark, Aenima got them going on their prog/drugged out phase they're in, and Lateralus perfected it. The pointless tracks on aenima drag it down a notch for me, but other than that, the album's absolutely great. Third Eye is one of my favorite tool songs. Anyone here ever listen to some of the covers they've done? No Quarter and Daytripper/She's so Heavy OWN ALL. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest thefrenchargel Report post Posted July 29, 2002 Would this be a thread in which it would be appropriate to rip into Tool? Go for it, I shit all over Metallica every time they're mentioned. fair's fair. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest redbaron51 Report post Posted July 29, 2002 whoops i didn't read that correctly... sorry frenchie Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
