I can see that happening with Tool--it didn't with me, the first time I heard them, like I already said, it was like ****ing enlightenment or something... But that happened to me with NIN. When I first listened to "Downward Spiral," I didn't think it was anything special, but after I'd heard it a couple times it started to grow on me. Now I love it. Oh, and the same thing happened with Incubus' latest release.
Definitely happened with me. My dad bought home a copy of Aenima from work saying that it was supposed to be the new big thing. He gave it to me, I listened to it and I was just like...yeah, and? It's just overly long songs and a bunch of weird titles. Looking back, I can give the excuse that I was only 12 at the time. Still, took me two more years to get into it, then I bought Undertow and I've been a worshipper ever since. I've only ever come across one other band who can stand level with Tool.
I think it's quite shit that people are claiming we are Tool "groupies". It's not like we're singing their praises and giving no reason why whatsoever.
I think the only band who can claim to stand level with Tool today on talent are Radiohead. Faith No More are quite easily capable of taking the title of most talented band ever though in my opinion. Purely for the fact that genres, singers and bands that are considered innovative, in most cases only exist because of Mike Patton. Tool are candidates for that title too in my opinion and I honestly think it proves itself with their albums.
-AC
Tool are technicely very talented, ill give em that. But the talent to write interesting music is one that they IMO dont have. Theyve got some nice tunes, but I wouldnt call em talented in that department. They make nice lounge-metal and it sounds good when it's playing in the background (now playing as I type), but to actually listen to them with full attention is tiring most of the time.
And they do like to make 30 second bull songs every now and then dont they :-/
Originally posted by Darth Revan
I can see that happening with Tool--it didn't with me, the first time I heard them, like I already said, it was like ****ing enlightenment or something... But that happened to me with NIN. When I first listened to "Downward Spiral," I didn't think it was anything special, but after I'd heard it a couple times it started to grow on me. Now I love it. Oh, and the same thing happened with Incubus' latest release.
Same here, I loved Tool from the first time I heard one of their songs. I think the only group that I like that had to grow on me a bit first was probably SOAD...for some reason they didn't strike me as that great the first time I heard them, though after listening to them a bit more I began to really like them.
AC > groupies? 😆 that's the silliest thing I've ever heard. Groupies go "OMG I LOVE ________ THEY'RE THE GREATEST OMG OMG OMG!!!" and I don't remember any of us saying/doing anything remotely like that...and Radiohead and Faith No More both ****ing rock.
Originally posted by Alpha Centauri
I think the only band who can claim to stand level with Tool today on talent are Radiohead. Faith No More are quite easily capable of taking the title of most talented band ever though in my opinion. Purely for the fact that genres, singers and bands that are considered innovative, in most cases only exist because of Mike Patton. Tool are candidates for that title too in my opinion and I honestly think it proves itself with their albums.-AC
I was going to say Opeth. I like both of those bands you mentioned, but I don't think either of them are anywhere near Tool's level.
"Theyve got some nice tunes, but I wouldnt call em talented in that department. They make nice lounge-metal and it sounds good when it's playing in the background (now playing as I type), but to actually listen to them with full attention is tiring most of the time.
And they do like to make 30 second bull songs every now and then dont they :-/"
Hahahahaha Tool make nice lounge-metal. Hahahhaha good one. Tool are anything but lounge-metal.
Hey man, if you don't like Tool then that's more than fine with me. But don't try to demean their transcending and astounding talent just because you lack the attention or perception span to deal with songs over 5 minutes long.
As for the short songs, they are what makes up the album too. I'm sure Tool are sorry for not being a band that puts out an album full of singles that are easy to get into but like I've said before, I like to work for my musical enlightenment. If you do a painting of a field, every flower is as important as the next whether they are in the background and small or right up the front and large. As is the case with Tool's little intros to songs. It's really not a matter of opinion there either, those "bull songs" mean things in respect to the album and the fact that you think they don't DOES mean that you do not understand them.
Anyone that defines "Cesaro Summability" or "Eon Blue Apocalypse" etc as bull songs, clearly doesn't hold the ability to understand them.
-AC
Originally posted by Alpha Centauri
Hahahahaha Tool make nice lounge-metal. Hahahhaha good one. Tool are anything but lounge-metal.Hey man, if you don't like Tool then that's more than fine with me. But don't try to demean their transcending and astounding talent just because you lack the attention or perception span to deal with songs over 5 minutes long.
As for the short songs, they are what makes up the album too. I'm sure Tool are sorry for not being a band that puts out an album full of singles that are easy to get into but like I've said before, I like to work for my musical enlightenment. If you do a painting of a field, every flower is as important as the next whether they are in the background and small or right up the front and large. As is the case with Tool's little intros to songs. It's really not a matter of opinion there either, those "bull songs" mean things in respect to the album and the fact that you think they don't DOES mean that you do not understand them.
Anyone that defines "Cesaro Summability" or "Eon Blue Apocalypse" etc as bull songs, clearly doesn't hold the ability to understand them.
-AC
IMO accesibility (sp?) isnt a bad thing. I guess were just looking for different things in music. Im just looking for stuff that rocks my socks off and grabs my attention. Well, my attention wasnt really grabbed by Tool, nor did it really rock my socks off. Actually it worked slightly hypnotizing, and it was sorta like a soundtrack at times, like a mood, and most of the time it was just playing unnoticable in the background while I was surfing. Sorta like... lounge music...
On a sidenote: Ive just listened to about half the Lateralus album and I did like it better then the Aenima album.
That's all nice and everything but it doesn't change the fact that they are nothing like lounge metal nor do they make lounge metal. Also, as I said, you already claimed that certain parts of the album/s that are important are "bull songs" so to me that's pretty much invalidated your opinion of Tool. For the simple reason you're judging them harshly because of your lack of understanding.
-AC
The 30-second bull songs are important to the sound of the album as a whole. When I listen to Tool, I never go "this is H., next will come Useful Idiot." I know the names of the songs, but it's more a complete work of art than a collection of smaller ones. I hardly ever skip tracks on their albums, because a) I don't feel the need to because it's all interesting to listen to, and b) it's not right to listen to Stinkfist, then skip to Hooker With a Penis, because it's just not the same without all the stuff in the middle. Hence stuff like "Mantra" and "- Ions" are just as important as their long songs.
The other amazing thing about Tool is the unbelievable complexity to their music. Every once in a while I'll be listening to them and hear something I've never noticed before, or suddenly draw a new meaning from the lyrics. And I've listened to each album too many times to count. It's weird, like the songs change to fit the mood I'm in right then. They're incredible writers, and every song is perfect and complete exactly how it should be.
i like the intros and stuff it like calms me after a big ass song .. like on Laeralus ... you cant go straight from the grudge to the patient without an intermission type of thing .. it just wont work .. plus it will sound horrible .. so you need something to relax you again so its just like listening to a brand new kick ass song again !
As I am relatively new to Tool's music, I have been amazed at their work. As AC said earlier, all four band members are best at what they do. Aenima is one of the few albums that doesn't have a bad song or filler song which is very rare for me to find.
And Darth, I have never listened to Aenima all the way through from start to finish as I usually listen to my music while I'm in my car and don't have the time to listen to the whole CD. I'll be going to SF tomorrow with a two hour drive so I'll try listening to it all the way through. Sounds from your description, it's a huge difference to listening to all of it to some of it.
Regarding my bull songs remark, the fact was that one of those 30 second songs came up while I was typing the post and I wasnt really paying full attention to the music at that time, so it just sounded like some weird sounds going on. So I just typed the remark, it wasnt really meant seriously (though its true that I probably dont understand them).
I have to admit I didnt really pay attention to the relationship between the short songs and the songs following those. I interperted them as being some random experimental shit.
I admit I judged too quickly.
I thought all you Tool fans might be interested in this Maynard interview It's pretty old, so you might have already seen it...but it's good nonetheless.
Originally posted by Morgoths_Wrath
I thought all you Tool fans might be interested in this Maynard interview It's pretty old, so you might have already seen it...but it's good nonetheless.
That was really excellent. I've never read an interview in which Maynard is given such a free reign to express himself, I just wish that interviewer, as good as he was, hadn't shortened it so much.