Tool Suck

Originally posted by Alpha Centauri
Tool aren't way overrated.

This is gonna sound pretentious, elitist and some will say arrogant but it happens to be true:

If you think they're way overrated, you don't understand them or the music they make.

Not an insult, just truth.

-AC

That's not entirely accurate because then you're not accounting for the people who just say they "get them" for the sake of acceptance, the people who follow the music and not the message, leaving the people that "get" the complexities of the lyrics, can actually appreciate the craftsmanship of the music, and so on.

IMO, they peaked with "Aenima", and kind of lost steam ever since, and when the big Volcano records outout fiasco came and went, and "Lateralus" dropped, I really think it showed, because it came off really stale and pretentious, IMO.

What "ratings" do people take into account, and if a band is "overrated", who's input really matters? It's all opinion. There are some aspects of their music that stand out, of which can't be denied and hold up to scrutiny, but do you think that everyday fans critiques are what makes up the way the band is percieved to the public, or is it the beat writers?

Who's opinion that either makes the band overrated or underappreciated is what is in question. Overrated and overappreciated are two entirely different things, and conversely, they go hand in hand, because nobody can make the distinction since no one person's opinion is greater than the other, because that's all they are. Opinions.

In closing, I can think they are overrated because, and this is what I feel to be fact, not presenting it so boldly as such, a lot of the people doing the "rating" in the first place are partial fans who think they can do no wrong. Like any successful band, the naysayer's opinions can rarely be appreciated, although when they have strong supporting opinions, they're still obsolete in a diehard fans eyes.

Personally, I don't think they are overrated, there's just a lot of fanaticism and hype over a band who was ahead of their time, but decided to stay stuck in it, instead of progressing.

Basically, you agreed with what I'm saying. On the site there's alot of fanaticism. I wouldn't say it's bad, but it's there. I agree.

Fanaticism doesn't equal overrating though. Because they most certainly aren't.

I certainly don't have any idea how you can claim they didn't progress with Lateralus. Maybe they didn't progress in the way you wanted them to, but they did progress.

You, like Afro, have my respect in terms of your right to an opinion. Although I disagree.

I don't buy the whole "no opinion is greater." Coz they can be. "Simple Plan rule." "Simple Plan suck".

-AC

Personally I think Lateralus is better than Aenima,
Not by alot, but still better

IMO..

Aenima > Lateralus > Undertow > Opiate

Nothing wrong with preferring Aenima, I went back and forth between Lat and Aenima for a while.

Tool progressed with Lateralus, tremendously. Whether it was in the direction you wanted or not, I don't know. There was progression.

-AC

I have a hard time comparing Aenima and Lateralus to Undertow and Opiate somehow. In my head I tend to think of Aenima and Lateralus as one thing, and Undertow and Opiate as another... Aenima being the "transition" between the two parts. I like Undertow and Opiate almost equally as well as the other two, just depends on my mood.

Well I haven't listened to Opiate and Undertow as much as Aenima and Lateralus. Maybe they will grow on me more, but right now I like their two latest albums most. Lateralus vs Aenima is a close call.. but I like Aenima a little bit more.

I think technically Lateralus is superior in terms of progression.

In my opinion they achieved superior music as a result, but that can always be argued.

-AC

Lateralus is a technically flawless album, but I personally like Aenima better. Best Tool album=Lateralus, favorite Tool album=Aenima.

I wansn't really talking about technical progression to be honest, just personal preference.

The first half of Lateralus is great; The Grudge, The Patient, Schism, and Parabola. I like it more than the first half of Aenima. But I think Aenima ends better and overall I just like the sound on Aenima more, it just sounds more... raw. Lateralus is still a favorite too, though.

I agree.

Only Tool song thats really struck me as good is Parabola..

tool ... imo, theyre ok. i can listen to them if someone else wanted to ✅
but i wouldnt chose to 😬

i wouldnt say they suck though 😖

Probably not the band for you then.

-AC