TOOL Official Thread.

[Zantera]

I still rate it highly. Lateralus might still be #1 (though a lot of that is nostalgia) but I think Fear Inoculum is a very solid #2.

[Zydar]

I still really like it. Granted, I haven't heard much of their other albums to make a ranking of my own. Pneuma is the standout track for me.

[Bentower]

As I see it, Pneuma is pretty much a culmination of their career up to this point and one of the gems of the discography, but I don't feel the album as a whole measures up to their best work. The songs tend to meander on and Maynard seemed overwhelmed in trying to provide vocals for a large portion of the music.

[ProfessorPeart]

I still rate it highly. Lateralus might still be #1 (though a lot of that is nostalgia) but I think Fear Inoculum is a very solid #2.

Exactly where I am as well. I never thought Lateralus would be dethroned, but Fear has me doubting myself. It's that good.

[Kilgore Trout]

As I see it, Pneuma is pretty much a culmination of their career up to this point and one of the gems of the discography, but I don't feel the album as a whole measures up to their best work. The songs tend to meander on and Maynard seemed overwhelmed in trying to provide vocals for a large portion of the music.

I agree. Meandering songs, Maynard is uninspired and Adam is simply not a good enough guitarist to carry all the instrumental parts. And overall, the playing on the album is not up to their past glory. Still a fine album, but I only listen to Pneuma and Descending (althought the last minutes are weak) at this point.

Ranking would be:
1. Lateralus
2. Aenima (Third Eye is still better than anything on Fear Inoculum)
3. 10 000 days/Fear Inoculum
4. Undertow

[Ben_Jamin]

Pneuma is the standout track. Culling Voices is my favorite. The rest I could give or take. I don't know, it might be the length of the songs, but i find myself unable to listen to the album as a whole. It meanders and I lose track of what they were playing.

[Kotowboy]

Culling Voices is my fave too.

My least fave is 7empest as it's just a jam and as someone said - Adam isn't good enough to play anything interesting over 5 minutes of backing track.

[Zantera]

Culling Voices is probably my least favorite out of the long ones but it's still pretty decent. I get why people love Pneuma so much, I think it's great, but I think for me the highlights are Invincible and 7empest. I know some people feel like it's a bloated album but let's not pretend like Lateralus/Aenima/10K Days did not have their fair share of filler as well.

[Kotowboy]

Aenima has the most filler by a long way. At least the segues on Lateralus actually setup the next song.

[Zantera]

Yeah I think the Lateralus 'interludes' are the least offensive but like the Aenima and Fear Inoculum interludes (those are only on the deluxe edition thankfully) are almost laughably bad. Like an interlude track is usually the easiest thing to make because you can get away with just something ambient but then I think about something like 'die eier von satan' from Aenima and for me that short track on its own is enough to knock half a point off the overall score.

[Ben_Jamin]

With 10,000 Days, I don't consider Lipan Conjuring filler at all. To me, it serves a purpose. It's the backstory to why the guy in Lost Keys is in the hospital tripping balls and could be why it's subtitled "Blame Hoffman". The person took LSD and it led them to a journey to find spiritual enlightenment, just taking LSD wasn't enough. They then discovered a way to "achieve" it by visiting a native American shaman from the Lipan tribe. Whatever happened was too much for them, hence the loud scream at the end of Lipan Conjuring, and it caused them to get taken to a hospital.  As he lays there, he relays to the doctor everything he experienced while being under and it's coming across as 3 different languages (the many different vocal effects in Maynard's vocals), like how the Rosetta Stone is, Rosetta Stoned is trying to decipher your experience while under the effect of psychedelics, it comes out as something a person needs to decipher to understand what the hell your trying to talk about.

[Ben_Jamin]

Yeah I think the Lateralus 'interludes' are the least offensive but like the Aenima and Fear Inoculum interludes (those are only on the deluxe edition thankfully) are almost laughably bad. Like an interlude track is usually the easiest thing to make because you can get away with just something ambient but then I think about something like 'die eier von satan' from Aenima and for me that short track on its own is enough to knock half a point off the overall score.

I love that musical satire track. It's meant to be all Nazi Style as if Hitler himself was talking to massive crowd of people. When in reality, it's just a guy reciting a recipe.

[emtee]

Still amazes me how one person's "meandering" is another's bliss. Music is so unique in this regard. I would not change any second of this album--it's almost a spiritual experience--except for Chocolate Chip Trip.

[Kotowboy]

Mocking beat is clearly a joke though.

[Ben_Jamin]

Still amazes me how one person's "meandering" is another's bliss. Music is so unique in this regard. I would not change any second of this album--it's almost a spiritual experience--except for Chocolate Chip Trip.

Chocolate Chip Trip has to be Merkaba. They sound too similar.

I prefer Merkaba though, especially that ending. Although, Chocolate Chip Trip would be neat to see live.

[Zantera]

Chocolate Chip Trip is fun but also kinda weird. To me Tool always seemed like this serious and dour band who take themselves very seriously and Chocolate Chip Trip is like a fun quirky prog instrumental that feels more in line with something a band like DT - who goof around a bit more - would do.

I don't necessarily love it but it's a fun little track IMO.

[twosuitsluke]

Just because I really like the Lost in Vegas guys. Their Tool - Pneuma video is one of the best reactions videos I've seen since they are getting it quickly and are 100% mind blown. Honestly they got that song much quicker than I ever did.

Anyway they revisit the song checking out the live video Tool posted:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KRMmd62S84M

That live video is still the most insane drumming I ever seen. Can't think of anything else like it even after going through multiple progressive metal / rock live videos (ofc all Dream Theater ones).

I've watched a few of their reaction videos but hardly a big fan. This was cool though, and certainly made me have more of an appreciation for the Tool drummer, and what he can do. I had a search through after, looking to see if they'd done a Leprous reaction video, as I think they would be blown away by what Baard could do behind a kit. Doesn't look like they have, so I'm going to comment suggesting that for sure.

For anyone who has never seen Baard Kolstad drum, do yourself a favour and check out one of his videos, he is unbelievable. Try The Sky is Red drum video, just phoenomonal!

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=taMqbmV7O7w check it!

I did go down a bit of a YouTube rabbit hole watching his videos after.

[Kotowboy]

Theres this one guy on YouTube who does really good pro shot/audio covers of TOOL songs on guitar and every time he does a new video

it's like " ah it's literally the same 5 riffs again " 

You don't notice when you're just listening to the CDs - but seeing someone else play their songs just shows just how limited Adam is.

To say the rest of the band carry him is an understatement.

[fadetoblackdude7]

Maybe that’s why it takes them so long to make albums

[Ben_Jamin]

Theres this one guy on YouTube who does really good pro shot/audio covers of TOOL songs on guitar and every time he does a new video

it's like " ah it's literally the same 5 riffs again " 

You don't notice when you're just listening to the CDs - but seeing someone else play their songs just shows just how limited Adam is.

To say the rest of the band carry him is an understatement.

The guitars are not the focal point of Tool. They're a rhythm based band which the drums and bass are the focal points, and the timing and polyrhythms.

Adam is more interested in the Artwork aspect. He makes the creatures in all their videos, and it's like all he is doing is adding texture to the music like chiseling the finer points of a sculpture, and smoothing it out.

In a way they're like Mudvayne, another band that's a rhythm based band.

[Zantera]

I think Tool has a bunch of great guitar riffs so I don't really get the Adam hate personally. As for how their songs are constructed I think the repetition and slowly building and the rhythm section has always been the main focus and for me the lack of flashy guitar playing isn't Adam being a bad guitar player but it's just their music is designed to be that way. I think he does get to shine in 7empest though which is still one of the highlights on the album for me, maybe even my favorite song from it. But i think overall what makes Tool great is just how the 3 main players work together and giving each other room to shine when needed but also fill that support role.

[Dedalus]

Yeah I think the Lateralus 'interludes' are the least offensive but like the Aenima and Fear Inoculum interludes (those are only on the deluxe edition thankfully) are almost laughably bad. Like an interlude track is usually the easiest thing to make because you can get away with just something ambient but then I think about something like 'die eier von satan' from Aenima and for me that short track on its own is enough to knock half a point off the overall score.

I love that musical satire track. It's meant to be all Nazi Style as if Hitler himself was talking to massive crowd of people. When in reality, it's just a guy reciting a recipe.

Exactly. Tool only started to make sense to me after understanding that some prerequisites are mandatory. One is to understand and have fun with debauchery.

Theres this one guy on YouTube who does really good pro shot/audio covers of TOOL songs on guitar and every time he does a new video

it's like " ah it's literally the same 5 riffs again " 

You don't notice when you're just listening to the CDs - but seeing someone else play their songs just shows just how limited Adam is.

To say the rest of the band carry him is an understatement.

The guitars are not the focal point of Tool. They're a rhythm based band which the drums and bass are the focal points, and the timing and polyrhythms.

Adam is more interested in the Artwork aspect. He makes the creatures in all their videos, and it's like all he is doing is adding texture to the music like chiseling the finer points of a sculpture, and smoothing it out.

In a way they're like Mudvayne, another band that's a rhythm based band.

Yes, another one.

[Kotowboy]

I honestly don't get the hype for SevenEmpest. Maybe its cause I did a degree in guitar that I just notice all the flubs etc in the playing and the bad bends and what have you.

The 5 minute solo in SevenEmpest just sounds like when you're learning guitar and you learn a few licks and you jam with your friends and use up every trick you know on the guitar

and are just noodling around them over and over.

[Buddyhunter1]

7empest is one of my least favorites on the new album too. I don't know if I could describe the guitar work in the middle as bad, but it definitely didn't warrant taking up a third of the entire song.

[Ben_Jamin]

Since it's cloudy here and below 60°, I'm gonna try and listen to this album in full.

[Kotowboy]

I prefer the CD order without the segues.

Even if you get rid of the Drum Solo - it's just a 6 song album.

6 songs in 13 years is half a song a year.

[wolfking]

I honestly don't get the hype for SevenEmpest. Maybe its cause I did a degree in guitar that I just notice all the flubs etc in the playing and the bad bends and what have you.

The 5 minute solo in SevenEmpest just sounds like when you're learning guitar and you learn a few licks and you jam with your friends and use up every trick you know on the guitar

and are just noodling around them over and over.

I've played guitar for 20 years and it all sounds pretty fine to me.  I don't hear anything off, it's just Adams style.  I like the expression of everything he's doing.  I've been wanting him to do something like this for a while.  While he's not a technically great guitarist, he has a distinct sound and that sometimes is better and more beneficial to a band then being tecnically proficient.

[Kotowboy]

I dunno in Descending and 7empest there's definitely a couple of iffy notes.

There's that one glissando in 7empest I think it is - not sure which and he clearly slides to the wrong note because it's completely off - and he just hangs on it like ' yeah I meant to do that '.

[wolfking]

I dunno in Descending and 7empest there's definitely a couple of iffy notes.

There's that one glissando in 7empest I think it is - not sure which and he clearly slides to the wrong note because it's completely off - and he just hangs on it like ' yeah I meant to do that '.

I'll have to listen more closely.  You're probably right,  I'm probably letting some of it slide because I'm not expecting much from Adam in the first place, but I don't recall anything that makes me cringe.  Again, I really enjoy Adam on this record so I could be bias.  I'd have to pick up the guitar and noodle along to see what he's up to. 

[Podaar]

I don't know, K-Boy. Tool's been around for thirty years now, and not once has Adam claimed nor have I ever heard anyone say that he's a great guitarist. It seems, at this point, that tuning in to Tool for guitar clinic is akin to insanity's definition. I can't imagine why anyone would listen, repeatedly, to something they don't enjoy or admire...and then find a place online to spend their time complaining about it. You're welcome to continue, of course, but I think you might be a more cheerful guy if you stuck with music you admire.

[Kotowboy]

I do like TOOL and since F.I. came out - i've seen plenty of "Adam Jones is AMAZING" posts both from people online and website articles.

If 5 minute guitar solos that stick rigidly to D minor pentatonic are AMAZING - maybe i''ll do more of them 

[Elite]

How has it aged for everyone in one year?

Still haven't heard it fully

[Kotowboy]

How has it aged for everyone in one year?

Still haven't heard it fully

Still prefer it to Ænima and undertow. The production is great. Every instrument really shines.

Pneuma is a great track. I wish it was a little less Tool By Numbers. Which is why I love Culling Voices.

If we’re counting just the six actual SONGS then 7empest is at the bottom of my ranking.

Really good album overall. But it shouldn’t have been 13 years. Especially with as much

recycling going on as there is.

[Kwyjibo]

I dunno in Descending and 7empest there's definitely a couple of iffy notes.

There's that one glissando in 7empest I think it is - not sure which and he clearly slides to the wrong note because it's completely off - and he just hangs on it like ' yeah I meant to do that '.

Given that they spent several years to complete the record I find it hard to believe that they couldn't fix a wrong note, so maybe he really meant to do that?

[wolfking]

I do like TOOL and since F.I. came out - i've seen plenty of "Adam Jones is AMAZING" posts both from people online and website articles.

If 5 minute guitar solos that stick rigidly to D minor pentatonic are AMAZING - maybe i''ll do more of them 

I think you may be missing the point at why people like Adam's work on this album.