I love this fucking album! There is no other like it, worth it for Third Eye and Stinkfist alone.
Anonymous user
10/10
Thu, June 19, 2008
This album is a personal fave and I borrowed it off a mate about 2 years after it was released as I quite liked the previous album. I wasn't sure with it for a while as it's not quite as immediate as "Undertow". But I was told to persevere. I'm glad I did...
The riffs suddenly creep up on you and take over your body, and you find yourself twitching and drumming along to weird 5/4 rhythms. And Maynard's voice is amazing, ranging from whispering nasal raps to full on shouting to really powerful anthemic choruses. His range is great too, [if you like this guy's voice you have to get 'Mer de Noms' by a perfect circle]. Have I mentioned the lyrics yet? Ha-ha. There are whole websites dedicated to their meanings, and it's a point in which many fans' views differ. They range from the utter detestment of the people in L.A. (AEnema), with one of my favourite lines. '..one great festering neon distraction..'. To the power of chromosomes in our bodies (Forty six and 2).
Tool's second proper album starts with 'Stinkfist'. The main riff is a great little groove with Maynard singing an understated vocal over the top through a megaphone type distortion. It climaxes half way through the guitar solo, and at this point you can't help but smile as the groove envelopes you.
This album also has a connection with the late Bill Hicks, basically his album Arizona Bay and the aforementioned song 'AEnema' go hand in hand reflecting each other's sentiments. Maynard and Bill must've been friends back then. Hicks' voice also appears on the intro to 'Third Eye' with a line from one of his shows were he states that people who don't like drugs should burn their record collections claiming that those artists "...were reeeeaall fucking high on drugs!"
This is probably my favourite album ever just because it has everything you'd ever want from a spinning digital disc. Thought provoking lyrics, interesting instrumentation and grooves you can actually wreck/dance to.
sexyBadger
10/10
Sat, February 07, 2009