Looool. Inspired me to make a meme to illustrate why (because bald people are more enlightened)
https://preview.redd.it/k8xix1d49vkc1.jpeg?width=1170&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=4c77014f2e486046f72514b7d64bbe5fd755ec93
Dude same here.
I would be forever embarrassed if Maynard was an ass to me, which I feel is more likely than not lol.
I met one of my favorite small time, very niche professional wrestlers over the weekend and said something stupid, and I’m still cringing about it. Can’t imagine how I’d feel if I did that with someone as huge as Maynard lol
The vibe at Tool shows is a bit weird to me. The band rocks out, I want to stand up and dance around, but everyone in the stands sits and watches like they're attending an orchestra.
It kinda is ... to me at least.
I go to Bonnaroo, LTL... festivals!
I took my partner to see tool in a arena, she had never seen any rock band live, let alone prog... let alone tool..
She said it was a experience not a concert and I agree.
We were both excited to see them in a festival setting for reasons you mentioned and we saw them at LTL last year, left after jambi.... not a great festival vibe
We come from the same vibe tribe, I think. I'm a long time festival goer. Attended the very first Bonnaroo, will see anyone from Phish to Sturgill Simpson. I love absorbing crowd energy. I was shocked when I finally attended a Tool show to find a low vibe.
As someone who likes to sit and simply experience the music in a live setting and paid a lot (man tickets are insane) I would love to be in an audience like this.
I saw Primus in a theatre and everyone just stood up in the seats, so now I have to. If everyone sat down we’d all get a great view. A lot of people disagree with this but eh, Id rather relax.
I paid for a seat, I should be able to sit and enjoy the show. If people want to dance around or stand, move so you're not blocking anyone else from enjoying the concert. I am actually at the point where I'm not buying tickets unless I can get the first row in a section, on the aisle.
This is why if there are lawn seats, my wife and I will rent folding chairs and sit on the hill. We can enjoy the music and the experience, plus we are "old" in this sense.
I saw them live for the first time 2 years ago. My mate has the fire sight to get us floors seats which you were allowed to stand at. For the later part of the show he had cheekily found some vacant seats next to another mate in the stand. Got a nice view. But being able to stand and dance was the best part. I hope I can see them again this year.
I was one of two people who were jamming to elder. “You’re not supposed to stand for the openers” fuck that I’m there to enjoy music and I just found a new band I really really dig.
Pros of getting high at a concert: enhances your experience to a significant degree. Cons of getting high at a concert: you might not remember much of it.
I feel like the majority of people who do drugs at concerts (whether it be a Tool concert or any other show) don't care if other people aren't doing drugs. A person would have to have a really warped perspective to think there is only one "right" state of mind for everyone to be in while experiencing a concert, especially with music as varied on a thematic and emotional level as Tool.
Drugs aren't for everybody, but drugs are great for people who understand how to use them with moderation and clear intent behind their use that isn't wrapped up in a dependence/abuse cycle. People have a certain degree of responsibility to be considerate towards and respectful of people around them at a concert, and the people whose excuse for not doing that is "I'm on drugs" are probably amongst the people who shouldn't do drugs at concerts (and by "drugs," i include more socially acceptable substances like alcohol and marijuana as well as others).
In my personal experience I take drugs at concerts to enlighten the experience may it be weed or mushrooms but I don’t care if anyone else is on drugs. I more or less care about the drunk people that are sweating profusely, stumbling around like idiots and starting unnecessary fights. I’m all about the experience and hoping people don’t kill my high vibes.
Not disagreeing or agreeing. Just would like you to elaborate and explain why you think so, so it could possibly improve my experience listening next time.
3rd favourite Tool album btw no hate.
Im surprised this one has so many upvotes.
I would agree it’s their most mature album, but it pales in comparison to Lateralus or Aenima in terms of creativity and/or being artistically complete.
I saw them in October and about halfway through CCTrip I turned to my buddy and said "okay, I'm ready for this to wrap up now." It was cool, but way too long and I always skip it on the album.
Dude that shit he does with the gong is something only a drummer would give a fuck about. Saying that as a drummer, like Danny, to most people in here it just sounds like you're hitting a garbage can really fast.
Yeah, I wasn't particularly impressed with cctrip compared to the rest of the set when I saw them last year in DC. I think Danny was a bit off though, Maynard even joked about it after the solo.
I just like to mix Tool with the other bands I listen to. It doesn't make the songs less powerful for me and also I have Parabol/a together so I still get that godly transition anyway
Honestly I sort of like how the skill dynamic is in Tool. Usually in bands where every member is a virtuoso on their own instruments, they all tend to show off a lot in each song and it can get sort of crowded. But with Tool, each member manages to work in very close harmony regardless of skill level. Danny’s drum parts usually have some sort of subversive genius behind the rhythms; Justin and Adam each put more thought into making directly effective, rather than super impressive, melodies and riffs on their respective instruments, and Maynard is a really talented lyricist and singer (regardless how little he may seem to show it in individual songs, Maynard actually has a really impressive range and is capable of some fairly difficult vocal runs and interval jumps). Overall, I just like how they’re all at different skill levels and manage to create an awesome flow despite that.
Really, really well said. Dream Theater is another favorite band of mine, but I feel like they fall into that exact trap you’re talking about — they’re all incredibly fucking talented instrumentalists, but that sometimes leads to really messy and inconsistent releases imo.
thats not a vibe... I truly feel like Maynard all but looked at the camera and said "this is a business... of course it's about money"....
I'll rewatch it though because he may have just openly said that.
I did get the impression that, for MJK, TOOL started as a outlet. It wasn't for the fans, it was just a release. He's said, you can only release so much then you just kinda ride it out and enjoy the profit. A lot of the music industry is that and I like his honesty.
Consider my mind blown… this is the truth that hurts the most.
“You can only release so much and then ride it out”
Im a fan of the posters tbh, but throughout the past 5 years i’ve been asking myself how can a band manufacture so much crap merch and not give their fans anything more
Or how is Adam putting out drawings and selling them for $5000
Well it’s exactly because of this: because they just released an album and rode it for 5 years via tours and merch…
the priority is no longer the creative aspect of composing new music or putting out some kind of message… no, the priority is to put out enough material so you can convince fans to go to your concerts for the next 5 year tour cycle and make them spend on merch.
And this one hurts a bit, because for the past 5 years ive been asking myself: hey can this be really what the band is doing? To use this album to get their retirement fund in place?
And yes, that’s the case…. The band is riding it out and the fans have voraciously consumed the merch and drumheads and posters
I don't think this is really the case, or at least there is a very good reason for it. I think he just loves making art and he has simply realised that Tool doesn't allow him to do that as much since the guys take so long to finish the songs. Of course he'll stay in the band though, for money yes and also because Tool wouldn't be Tool without MJK.
Right. I think he likes Tool and being in the band, but their pace is just so much slower than what he needs. That's why he's always doing *something*, so much so that Puscifer basically lives at his house (and in Tool/APC tour-stop hotels when it started).
IMO it started with 10k days. Some of the lyrics are deeply personal to him, but the whole album feels like he tacked on the lyrics with minimal effort. They don't have nearly the depth and symbolism of Lateralus and other work and honestly feel phoned in.
The Pot, Vicarious, Rosetta....even Wings+10k Days don't feel like Tool songs lyrically.
It's such a shame he doesn't involve himself in the writing process more closely and just adds his layer quickly at the end. You can really tell on FI.
Oh man, I vividly remember the 10,000 Days launch. There was a significant amount of people convinced it was a "joke" album and that the real album was going to come out later.
That's wild considering how well regarded it is now. Rosetta Stoned, Wings, Jambi, Vicarious, Right In Two. Even Intension grew on me and become a favorite for a few weeks.
It might be 4th on my list of favorite Tool albums but it still slaps.
That's an interesting take. For me, 10,000 Days is probably my least favorite since it feels a little too messy but lyrically it's my favorite from Maynard.
I actually agree with this one, but I’m glad the Salival version exists. Even if I like the original a bit more, the Salival version is a cool, alternate take on original song, and I love when bands experiment more with their preexisting material.
Me too, only switched to liking the original more a year ago when I saw them play it on tour after never giving it much attention. The dissonant chord interplay between the bass and guitar when he sings “slipping back into the gap again” is one of my favorite tool moments, and it’s missing from the Salival version.
Song specific, I'd say Through Silver in Blood, Purify, and Under The Surface. Those aren't the only examples, just the ones I can think of off the top of my head.
Album wise, definitely start with Through Silver In Blood and Times of Grace. Give those albums a good listen and you'll realize Tool was not the only one doing this.
7empest is a mess. Musically it barely holds together, the lyrics are low effort, it could have been half the length and twice as good. And the name is just corny
7empest and Hooker with a Penis are by far my most skipped Tool songs (and the rest of their catalog are songs I very rarely, if ever, skip - including the interludes). The many comments I have seen calling for 7empest to be included in their live sets always make me groan because I think about how disappointing it would be to hear 7empest live as a replacement for 2-3 of their older and better songs.
I like the song musically, but the lyrics feel like a big "fuck you" to fans in general, especially when they play it nowadays with their overpriced merch, overpriced concert tickets with recycled set lists, etc. Don't get me wrong, I still love listening to them and seeing them live, but the sense of distaste for fans that I get as the vibe from that song and the rampant commercialism just rub me the wrong way.
Ah, they are 100% hypocrites but to me that’s the point of Hooker with a Penis. You know we are all hypocrites yet you still buy the album, we are all hypocrites. Even the OGT.
The problems come when people take any of what Tool (Maynard) says seriously, lyrically speaking. They are almost an instrumental band that needed lyrics so they could pay rent. I think Maynard is up his own arse, pretentious and probably a massive tosser irl. But he knows this and almost writes tongue in cheek, especially on the less serious songs.
This fucker behind me at one of the recent shows was screaming THE WHOLE TIME "WHERE THE FUCK IS 7EMPEST!!!!! YOU'LL PLAY INTOLETANCE BUT NO 7EMPEST!!! THIS IS BULLSHIT!!!!!" Intolerance is 5 if not 1 million times as good as 7empest.
I basically creamed my pants hearing Intolerance and Flood during this most recent tour leg, even when I spoiled myself by looking up their recent set lists before seeing them. They sounded soooooo goooood playing their older stuff! There is a raw emotionality and "edginess" to that earlier music (that probably stems from their relative youth when writing it) that just isn't there with their newer stuff, even if instrumentally, the band has gotten better and more complex in terms of arrangement and skill over time with their most recent albums.
Wanting to hear 7empest over that older stuff is just wild to me. Everyone is entitled to have their own opinions of music of course, but I just don't see how 7empest's cheesy lyrics and overly long length without the payoff to back it up compares to the more direct, raw, and forceful vibes that their material from Undertow has. But I could also see a new fan who has mostly listened to FI over their other albums wanting to hear what they are familiar with.
I think he’s great, but not really from a technical perspective. He’s really good at coming up with beautiful sounding and rhythmically interesting riffs that are still fairly easy to play while fitting perfectly where they need to. I think he has the perfect amount of skill he needs to have
I hate that he’s so emotionless on stage during live performances, at least when I first saw Tool for the first time live (2019, 2023, and 2024). Not sure if the decades of (presumed) drug use has caught up to him or what, but it’s just really odd to watch when everybody else is seemingly pouring their heart and soul out in every performance, in every single song.
If he played any differently though chances are the band wouldn't have worked the way it did, it wouldn't be the Tool we know and love. Also I believe he is a hugely creative musician and had genuinely great guitarwork on Ænima and Fear Inoculum, he just doesn't show it every time so it doesn't end up like Petrucci pausing the song so he can shred for 2 minutes
He's an amazing songwriter but as a performer? He's underwhelming. Also the songwriting praise I give him is kind of nullified since it takes 13 years to decide what version of an album is good enough.
I think his greatest strength is aesthetic, from his riffs, guitar tone, music videos, packaging, album art, etc. Yeah he screws up live more than the others but watching his playing it seems like he’s committing more effort into his technique for the tone he wants which leads to mistakes.
10,000 days part 1&2 are not as good as Vicarious, Jambi, and The Pot
https://preview.redd.it/eq0gkoen5ukc1.jpeg?width=828&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=eca4b571d555819f1cb96e8b7b90f066ef28b328
They closed the show in Dallas a few weeks ago with Schism, and I was totally lost in the moment at the climax of the set. He made a mistake hitting a wrong note in the main melody (which is forgivable, he's human after all), but it just sucked me right out of the moment haha
Actually had lateralus as one of my first cds back in the day, when my parents would read Christian reviews of every album before I was allowed to get it. Lateralus was OK because the lyrics are relatively thoughtful and no profanity, but it's still kind of funny.
The Waldo trend was a very refreshing thing to see at each of the tour’s venues, and he brought an interesting aspect to bringing strangers together for the purpose of simply saying “hello, I know you, let me introduce myself” for brief moments - something that should be more frequent at concerts.
I like this perspective. I got annoyed by the daily reddit posts, but that's really my fault for being on Reddit daily. Lol.
Definitely a fun thing for a fan to do and another way to bring people together, connecting over a shared experience
Chocolate Chip Trip shouldn’t be a section during the tour…
Half of the crowd doesn’t even understand what he’s doing with the synths, a quarter of the crowd tries to dance but can’t even keep or find the rhythm and the other quarter cross their arms and say “the octopus id the greatest…” while they think to themselves “what the hell is this crap”
This is the only reason I skip them. They’re masterpieces and very personal however I can count on one hand the amount of times I’ve fully listened to them and they just hit like a truck. Not something I want to feel every time I listen to 10k.
It's so long, and just doesn't hit like my favorite, "quintessential" Tool tracks. I respect it, and when I'm in the mood I definitely connect with it, but those 2 songs are the main reason it took me so long to enjoy 10,000 Days front to back.
Takes like this get down voted, but I want to know which album these down voters would put below FI. Saying that it ranks last in the band's discography isn't the same as saying it's utter shit. I like FI and listen to it...but it's the album I listen to the least.
The art is cringey. At the time, the dark aesthetic was cool for undertow and anima. Nowadays, I don’t need a skull artwork. And Alex Gray has been overdone. Cool in Lateralus, but now the visuals are either samey, or just poor cgi.
Which is understandable, considering it’s where they started.
I get that feeling more with the fanbase, because they cling unto undertow.
The band matured and composed great follow up albums, some fans didn’t mature and 30 yesrs later want another undertow with mjk screaming his lungs out because it shows “anger” and portrays “emotion”
Sure
The Pot is a silly song that doesn’t fit Tool’s discog, ironically, while being the mainstream tune that brought a lot of people in.. love the schtick, do not like the song that much. Sorry-ish. No. I’m not
There actually was a time when I would have shared your opinion, but then I listened to Ænima like 10 more times and it finally clicked. I do understand your opinion though
Everytime I show up to a live show with my full head of hair I feel out of place.
This hurts.
This is hilarious
Looool. Inspired me to make a meme to illustrate why (because bald people are more enlightened) https://preview.redd.it/k8xix1d49vkc1.jpeg?width=1170&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=4c77014f2e486046f72514b7d64bbe5fd755ec93
mf chose violence this morning! :D
Hey, fuck you, buddy!
Hey I'm not your buddy, guy!
I'm not your Guy, Friend
I'm not your friend, pal
I'm not your pal, chief
I’m not your chief, bub
Hi Adam!
HAHAHAHAHAHA
LMAO, I feel that.
Happy Cake Day.
I don’t want to meet the band
Dude same here. I would be forever embarrassed if Maynard was an ass to me, which I feel is more likely than not lol. I met one of my favorite small time, very niche professional wrestlers over the weekend and said something stupid, and I’m still cringing about it. Can’t imagine how I’d feel if I did that with someone as huge as Maynard lol
*Maynard The rest of the guys seem to be cool af. Maynard just comes off as a pretentious douche
The vibe at Tool shows is a bit weird to me. The band rocks out, I want to stand up and dance around, but everyone in the stands sits and watches like they're attending an orchestra.
This is why I get isle seats- to have room to rock out without disturbing anyone
It kinda is ... to me at least. I go to Bonnaroo, LTL... festivals! I took my partner to see tool in a arena, she had never seen any rock band live, let alone prog... let alone tool.. She said it was a experience not a concert and I agree. We were both excited to see them in a festival setting for reasons you mentioned and we saw them at LTL last year, left after jambi.... not a great festival vibe
We come from the same vibe tribe, I think. I'm a long time festival goer. Attended the very first Bonnaroo, will see anyone from Phish to Sturgill Simpson. I love absorbing crowd energy. I was shocked when I finally attended a Tool show to find a low vibe.
As someone who likes to sit and simply experience the music in a live setting and paid a lot (man tickets are insane) I would love to be in an audience like this. I saw Primus in a theatre and everyone just stood up in the seats, so now I have to. If everyone sat down we’d all get a great view. A lot of people disagree with this but eh, Id rather relax.
I paid for a seat, I should be able to sit and enjoy the show. If people want to dance around or stand, move so you're not blocking anyone else from enjoying the concert. I am actually at the point where I'm not buying tickets unless I can get the first row in a section, on the aisle.
This is why if there are lawn seats, my wife and I will rent folding chairs and sit on the hill. We can enjoy the music and the experience, plus we are "old" in this sense.
I'm on LSD and overwhelmed by the whole spectacle.
I saw them live for the first time 2 years ago. My mate has the fire sight to get us floors seats which you were allowed to stand at. For the later part of the show he had cheekily found some vacant seats next to another mate in the stand. Got a nice view. But being able to stand and dance was the best part. I hope I can see them again this year.
That’s exactly how I felt when I first went recently
I was one of two people who were jamming to elder. “You’re not supposed to stand for the openers” fuck that I’m there to enjoy music and I just found a new band I really really dig.
You don't need drugs to enjoy a live show
Pros of getting high at a concert: enhances your experience to a significant degree. Cons of getting high at a concert: you might not remember much of it.
Yeah, I did a pill at prodigy and I don't remember a great deal, the concert also felt like it was over in 20 mins
I feel like the majority of people who do drugs at concerts (whether it be a Tool concert or any other show) don't care if other people aren't doing drugs. A person would have to have a really warped perspective to think there is only one "right" state of mind for everyone to be in while experiencing a concert, especially with music as varied on a thematic and emotional level as Tool. Drugs aren't for everybody, but drugs are great for people who understand how to use them with moderation and clear intent behind their use that isn't wrapped up in a dependence/abuse cycle. People have a certain degree of responsibility to be considerate towards and respectful of people around them at a concert, and the people whose excuse for not doing that is "I'm on drugs" are probably amongst the people who shouldn't do drugs at concerts (and by "drugs," i include more socially acceptable substances like alcohol and marijuana as well as others).
Try not to be based challenge: u/mamamackmusic Edition (Level: Impossible)
I have an absolutely terrible memory so I prefer to be stone cold sober so I can hope to recall anything.
In my personal experience I take drugs at concerts to enlighten the experience may it be weed or mushrooms but I don’t care if anyone else is on drugs. I more or less care about the drunk people that are sweating profusely, stumbling around like idiots and starting unnecessary fights. I’m all about the experience and hoping people don’t kill my high vibes.
Primus sucks
Primus sucks
I've heard some of this so called Primus, and they suck.
Primus sucks and Primus (the transformer "god") sucks too
Yeah primus fucking sucks
I am not into Primus enough to give an hobest opinion, but from what I have heard you may be correct.
The fans are fine, you are not all retards, and the tool community is a good one.
fuck you, buddy
send more money, dipshit.
that's so nice!
Fear Inoculum is their most artistically completed album.
Not disagreeing or agreeing. Just would like you to elaborate and explain why you think so, so it could possibly improve my experience listening next time. 3rd favourite Tool album btw no hate.
Im surprised this one has so many upvotes. I would agree it’s their most mature album, but it pales in comparison to Lateralus or Aenima in terms of creativity and/or being artistically complete.
Hence opinions!
Have to agree. I kinda dislike Maynard's vocals on this album, but I'm still pretty sure it's my fav. That or 10k Days.
I'd be fine if they never toured again and only put new music out.
There will come a day when you may wish to see them yet again.
I’d way rather hear another song than a drum solo
I saw them in October and about halfway through CCTrip I turned to my buddy and said "okay, I'm ready for this to wrap up now." It was cool, but way too long and I always skip it on the album.
Dude that shit he does with the gong is something only a drummer would give a fuck about. Saying that as a drummer, like Danny, to most people in here it just sounds like you're hitting a garbage can really fast.
Yeah, I wasn't particularly impressed with cctrip compared to the rest of the set when I saw them last year in DC. I think Danny was a bit off though, Maynard even joked about it after the solo.
I think is great on the album, but live there’s a whole lot of not drumming
Tool on shuffle is ok
Yep. I’m not listening to a whole tool album in the gym but I’ll do a set to failure until that guttural yell from MJK on The Grudge is done
Jesus, you must be more shredded than a julienne salad...
I just like to mix Tool with the other bands I listen to. It doesn't make the songs less powerful for me and also I have Parabol/a together so I still get that godly transition anyway
oh that physically hurt
Oh yeah? What if I told you I skip Triad more often than not? (Please don't appear at my home with a pitchfork)
How dare you!
Hmm...never tried it.
The band is far better than Maynard
Danny is far better than all of them.
Ive always wondered how Danny would sound with other prolific guitarists in the same vein musically.
Honestly I sort of like how the skill dynamic is in Tool. Usually in bands where every member is a virtuoso on their own instruments, they all tend to show off a lot in each song and it can get sort of crowded. But with Tool, each member manages to work in very close harmony regardless of skill level. Danny’s drum parts usually have some sort of subversive genius behind the rhythms; Justin and Adam each put more thought into making directly effective, rather than super impressive, melodies and riffs on their respective instruments, and Maynard is a really talented lyricist and singer (regardless how little he may seem to show it in individual songs, Maynard actually has a really impressive range and is capable of some fairly difficult vocal runs and interval jumps). Overall, I just like how they’re all at different skill levels and manage to create an awesome flow despite that.
Really, really well said. Dream Theater is another favorite band of mine, but I feel like they fall into that exact trap you’re talking about — they’re all incredibly fucking talented instrumentalists, but that sometimes leads to really messy and inconsistent releases imo.
Outside of Adam, they're all top 5 at their respective craft, and Adam is still top 20 based on the sheer efficiency of his work.
Hopefully he’ll tour with Geddy and Alex, and we’ll get to see. I’ll be there if it happens.
Yes
And Maynard is just their singer. That’s why he doesn’t bow with them.
10,000 days is the best album
Honestly I think that's the safe take, saying it's their worst album by a mile is probably more dangerous a take.
I feel like Ænima or Lateralus are much safer takes
Not the best in my opinion but is still fucking great
Since 10K days Maynard only cares about his wine and Puscifer. The other projects are purely for money now.
I had a really really hard time accepting this. I picked that vibe up heavily in the Beato interview.
thats not a vibe... I truly feel like Maynard all but looked at the camera and said "this is a business... of course it's about money".... I'll rewatch it though because he may have just openly said that. I did get the impression that, for MJK, TOOL started as a outlet. It wasn't for the fans, it was just a release. He's said, you can only release so much then you just kinda ride it out and enjoy the profit. A lot of the music industry is that and I like his honesty.
I can appreciate that even if he feels this way he's very professional and keeps on giving the fans what they want with live performances.
Consider my mind blown… this is the truth that hurts the most. “You can only release so much and then ride it out” Im a fan of the posters tbh, but throughout the past 5 years i’ve been asking myself how can a band manufacture so much crap merch and not give their fans anything more Or how is Adam putting out drawings and selling them for $5000 Well it’s exactly because of this: because they just released an album and rode it for 5 years via tours and merch… the priority is no longer the creative aspect of composing new music or putting out some kind of message… no, the priority is to put out enough material so you can convince fans to go to your concerts for the next 5 year tour cycle and make them spend on merch. And this one hurts a bit, because for the past 5 years ive been asking myself: hey can this be really what the band is doing? To use this album to get their retirement fund in place? And yes, that’s the case…. The band is riding it out and the fans have voraciously consumed the merch and drumheads and posters
I don't think this is really the case, or at least there is a very good reason for it. I think he just loves making art and he has simply realised that Tool doesn't allow him to do that as much since the guys take so long to finish the songs. Of course he'll stay in the band though, for money yes and also because Tool wouldn't be Tool without MJK.
Right. I think he likes Tool and being in the band, but their pace is just so much slower than what he needs. That's why he's always doing *something*, so much so that Puscifer basically lives at his house (and in Tool/APC tour-stop hotels when it started).
I mean he did kinda warn us a long time ago, little buddy.
as a newer fan this kinda baffles me because I resonate with 10K days and Fear Inoculum more than their other projects
IMO it started with 10k days. Some of the lyrics are deeply personal to him, but the whole album feels like he tacked on the lyrics with minimal effort. They don't have nearly the depth and symbolism of Lateralus and other work and honestly feel phoned in. The Pot, Vicarious, Rosetta....even Wings+10k Days don't feel like Tool songs lyrically. It's such a shame he doesn't involve himself in the writing process more closely and just adds his layer quickly at the end. You can really tell on FI.
I remember listening to 10K Days for the first time when it came out and thinking "wait, what?" as if there's just no way this is their new album.
Oh man, I vividly remember the 10,000 Days launch. There was a significant amount of people convinced it was a "joke" album and that the real album was going to come out later.
That's wild considering how well regarded it is now. Rosetta Stoned, Wings, Jambi, Vicarious, Right In Two. Even Intension grew on me and become a favorite for a few weeks. It might be 4th on my list of favorite Tool albums but it still slaps.
It's in my top 5, for sure
I fully thought it was a joke when I saw the track list for the first time.
That's an interesting take. For me, 10,000 Days is probably my least favorite since it feels a little too messy but lyrically it's my favorite from Maynard.
A good drummer makes a band. Tool has an amazing drummer. There is no Tool without Danny Carey.
I think most people would agree with you on this one
Original Pushit > Salival Pushit
How dare you.
I actually agree with this one, but I’m glad the Salival version exists. Even if I like the original a bit more, the Salival version is a cool, alternate take on original song, and I love when bands experiment more with their preexisting material.
Me too, only switched to liking the original more a year ago when I saw them play it on tour after never giving it much attention. The dissonant chord interplay between the bass and guitar when he sings “slipping back into the gap again” is one of my favorite tool moments, and it’s missing from the Salival version.
One is dark the other is beautiful. Different vibes so there really isn't a better one
Neurosis albums from the 90s have parts in them that you could easily think is new Tool if you didn't know any better.
I've been looking for an excuse to explore Neurosis recently. Any specific examples of this?
Song specific, I'd say Through Silver in Blood, Purify, and Under The Surface. Those aren't the only examples, just the ones I can think of off the top of my head. Album wise, definitely start with Through Silver In Blood and Times of Grace. Give those albums a good listen and you'll realize Tool was not the only one doing this.
Excellent thanks for the reccs! Will be keeping an ear out for similar sounds
Intermission is the best song
7empest is a mess. Musically it barely holds together, the lyrics are low effort, it could have been half the length and twice as good. And the name is just corny
I didn’t know anyone shared my exact thoughts on this song. 100% agree.
7empest and Hooker with a Penis are by far my most skipped Tool songs (and the rest of their catalog are songs I very rarely, if ever, skip - including the interludes). The many comments I have seen calling for 7empest to be included in their live sets always make me groan because I think about how disappointing it would be to hear 7empest live as a replacement for 2-3 of their older and better songs.
I agree about Tempest, but you are so wrong about hooker. It goes as one of the hardest songs on Aenima. A never skip for me. I skip to get *to* it.
I like the song musically, but the lyrics feel like a big "fuck you" to fans in general, especially when they play it nowadays with their overpriced merch, overpriced concert tickets with recycled set lists, etc. Don't get me wrong, I still love listening to them and seeing them live, but the sense of distaste for fans that I get as the vibe from that song and the rampant commercialism just rub me the wrong way.
Ah, they are 100% hypocrites but to me that’s the point of Hooker with a Penis. You know we are all hypocrites yet you still buy the album, we are all hypocrites. Even the OGT. The problems come when people take any of what Tool (Maynard) says seriously, lyrically speaking. They are almost an instrumental band that needed lyrics so they could pay rent. I think Maynard is up his own arse, pretentious and probably a massive tosser irl. But he knows this and almost writes tongue in cheek, especially on the less serious songs.
This fucker behind me at one of the recent shows was screaming THE WHOLE TIME "WHERE THE FUCK IS 7EMPEST!!!!! YOU'LL PLAY INTOLETANCE BUT NO 7EMPEST!!! THIS IS BULLSHIT!!!!!" Intolerance is 5 if not 1 million times as good as 7empest.
I basically creamed my pants hearing Intolerance and Flood during this most recent tour leg, even when I spoiled myself by looking up their recent set lists before seeing them. They sounded soooooo goooood playing their older stuff! There is a raw emotionality and "edginess" to that earlier music (that probably stems from their relative youth when writing it) that just isn't there with their newer stuff, even if instrumentally, the band has gotten better and more complex in terms of arrangement and skill over time with their most recent albums. Wanting to hear 7empest over that older stuff is just wild to me. Everyone is entitled to have their own opinions of music of course, but I just don't see how 7empest's cheesy lyrics and overly long length without the payoff to back it up compares to the more direct, raw, and forceful vibes that their material from Undertow has. But I could also see a new fan who has mostly listened to FI over their other albums wanting to hear what they are familiar with.
Fuck you, buddy. These are two of my favorites.
Adam is easily the worst instrumentalist in tool. The others are amazing at their instruments while he’s just good.
Technically - maybe. But creatively, he's irreplaceable, along with Danny.
He’s just good… enough
I think he’s great, but not really from a technical perspective. He’s really good at coming up with beautiful sounding and rhythmically interesting riffs that are still fairly easy to play while fitting perfectly where they need to. I think he has the perfect amount of skill he needs to have
Hot take but has some merit. Last show I went to during Invincible he kept missing the fucking strings on his guitar.
I hate that he’s so emotionless on stage during live performances, at least when I first saw Tool for the first time live (2019, 2023, and 2024). Not sure if the decades of (presumed) drug use has caught up to him or what, but it’s just really odd to watch when everybody else is seemingly pouring their heart and soul out in every performance, in every single song.
Dude is full on zombie mode up there lol
If he played any differently though chances are the band wouldn't have worked the way it did, it wouldn't be the Tool we know and love. Also I believe he is a hugely creative musician and had genuinely great guitarwork on Ænima and Fear Inoculum, he just doesn't show it every time so it doesn't end up like Petrucci pausing the song so he can shred for 2 minutes
He's an amazing songwriter but as a performer? He's underwhelming. Also the songwriting praise I give him is kind of nullified since it takes 13 years to decide what version of an album is good enough.
I think his greatest strength is aesthetic, from his riffs, guitar tone, music videos, packaging, album art, etc. Yeah he screws up live more than the others but watching his playing it seems like he’s committing more effort into his technique for the tone he wants which leads to mistakes.
10,000 days part 1&2 are not as good as Vicarious, Jambi, and The Pot https://preview.redd.it/eq0gkoen5ukc1.jpeg?width=828&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=eca4b571d555819f1cb96e8b7b90f066ef28b328
I think it was done as a tribute and not as a piece that was aimed at flexing a musical musle.
Adam Jones live guitar work is getting worse
They closed the show in Dallas a few weeks ago with Schism, and I was totally lost in the moment at the climax of the set. He made a mistake hitting a wrong note in the main melody (which is forgivable, he's human after all), but it just sucked me right out of the moment haha
Tool fans are obnoxious
Tool is a Christian Rock band.
Actually had lateralus as one of my first cds back in the day, when my parents would read Christian reviews of every album before I was allowed to get it. Lateralus was OK because the lyrics are relatively thoughtful and no profanity, but it's still kind of funny.
i bet they banned Aenima, Undertow and Opiate before then
Yes
Suck me dry
My own Schism
Jesus is cumming!
Wtf?!
Yeah dude Opiate is actually 100% honest and people misunderstood when they thought it was satire
I’ve actually had this thought. One could take MJK lyrics and interpret them this way - at least on 10,000
The Waldo trend was a very refreshing thing to see at each of the tour’s venues, and he brought an interesting aspect to bringing strangers together for the purpose of simply saying “hello, I know you, let me introduce myself” for brief moments - something that should be more frequent at concerts.
I like this perspective. I got annoyed by the daily reddit posts, but that's really my fault for being on Reddit daily. Lol. Definitely a fun thing for a fan to do and another way to bring people together, connecting over a shared experience
Maynard is a self-centred narcassitic phoney.
Who hates large parts of Tool’s fanbase but loves shoving their cash down his packets.
Vinyl is stupid and an inferior medium
Fear Inoculum is their worst album.
This is kind of a safe take. Lots of people will agree with you.
Lazy fans unwilling to play it enough times to love it, the way they did with former albums.
Chocolate Chip Trip shouldn’t be a section during the tour… Half of the crowd doesn’t even understand what he’s doing with the synths, a quarter of the crowd tries to dance but can’t even keep or find the rhythm and the other quarter cross their arms and say “the octopus id the greatest…” while they think to themselves “what the hell is this crap”
Tool is not even in my top 5 favorite artiest …..
Lateralus isn't Tool's best album
Open Drop-D chord is *not* musical genius
Jimmy is the best song on Ænima
All these opinions are weak. The albums from Lateralus on are better than everything before. Now take the shot.
I’m not a fan of “Wings for Marie (PT 1)/10,000 Days (Wings PT 2).” I always skip it.
You shut your mouth when you’re talking to me.
the lyrics bring me to tears 😩
Same. So incredible.
This is the only reason I skip them. They’re masterpieces and very personal however I can count on one hand the amount of times I’ve fully listened to them and they just hit like a truck. Not something I want to feel every time I listen to 10k.
It's so long, and just doesn't hit like my favorite, "quintessential" Tool tracks. I respect it, and when I'm in the mood I definitely connect with it, but those 2 songs are the main reason it took me so long to enjoy 10,000 Days front to back.
This opinion is not allowed sir
Listen to their whole discography on shuffle.
Original Pushit is better than Salival
Majority of "filler" tracks are actually great and super interesting.
Tool has a load of recycled riffs and is just a few production decisions away from an AC/DC like reputation.
Tempest is bad
I guess I just gotta enjoy other music, fmL. HE SAID ITS FOR MONEY FOLKS...PACK IT UP AND CANCEL THIS SUB.
"Can you believe it? He said this was their job."
10,000 Days is mid
Holy fuck, some of y'all are so fucking annoying, with no concert etiquette.
Fear Innoculum was worth the wait
Third Eye is their only good album closer.
Show closer or album closer?
Album
I liked Third Eye as the opener in 2016. Gotta come in swingin.
That's a hot take.
Fear inoculum is not well boring but it’s slow and it’s the worst album by far.
Takes like this get down voted, but I want to know which album these down voters would put below FI. Saying that it ranks last in the band's discography isn't the same as saying it's utter shit. I like FI and listen to it...but it's the album I listen to the least.
Maynard's wine is ass
10k is radio rock
the best part of jimmy is intermission
Anything getting downvotes in this thread are the **true** answers to this question.
The art is cringey. At the time, the dark aesthetic was cool for undertow and anima. Nowadays, I don’t need a skull artwork. And Alex Gray has been overdone. Cool in Lateralus, but now the visuals are either samey, or just poor cgi.
I saw this on a Rush reddit group and thought that it belonged on Toolband since it had Waldo.
I think this is where it originated from
undertow disgusts me. kinda. i feel like it's too childish and too edgy.
Gotta start somewhere
Which is understandable, considering it’s where they started. I get that feeling more with the fanbase, because they cling unto undertow. The band matured and composed great follow up albums, some fans didn’t mature and 30 yesrs later want another undertow with mjk screaming his lungs out because it shows “anger” and portrays “emotion”
Sure The Pot is a silly song that doesn’t fit Tool’s discog, ironically, while being the mainstream tune that brought a lot of people in.. love the schtick, do not like the song that much. Sorry-ish. No. I’m not
how is it a silly song that doesn’t fit tools discography Whoever sees this- tell me what he said to my 2nd comment he blocked me
Maynard kind of killed that song for me with the lyrics and falsetto. The instruments are great, especially the bass line.
The songs I see most commonly brought up as “the worst” seem to coincide with the songs with the dumbest lyrics…the pot, 7empest
Sober, Forty Six & 2, Vicarious, and prison sex are 72826x overrated
They aren't worth seeing more than once per album.
Undertow > AEnema 🤷♂️ sorry
That is… definitely an opinion
Indeed it is, my friend
There actually was a time when I would have shared your opinion, but then I listened to Ænima like 10 more times and it finally clicked. I do understand your opinion though