Album Rating: 4.0

Thanks for this review, Iai. It probably expresses my feelings on the album most agreeably, although I enjoy it a little more. If you listen to it outside of context then it's just a solid (if overdrawn) hard rock album. But realizing that this band has waited five years to give us more of the same is what's disappointing.



Still, the title track is really great, and there are certainly SOME hints of the band's evolution. But overall, Tool is not as good as Tool fans think they are, because that kind of hyperbole is impossible to live up to. They're just good, okay?

in my opinion 10,000 days is a 5. the lyrics are amazing, dark twisted, and demented how I like it. It all goes together beutifully
and grows on me a little more everytime i here it. Ill admit alot of his stuff sounds similar to previous songs but Its done in a good way

Album Rating: 3.5

I would rate it about a 3.7-4.1. After some time with the album, I recognize what I like an its faults, so to speak.



As far as reviews go, this is the fairest.



And, personally, I actually like "Lipan Conjuring."

Album Rating: 3.0

"You would think if Tool had been working on this album for about 5 years, that they would be able to find or make a better closing song than Viginti Tres, which is basically a 4 min. display of sounds."

Thing is, they really haven't been working on it for five years. Just because it's been 5 years since the last release, dosen't mean they have been working on it the whole time, especially since Maynard was working with APC.

I was disappointed at first, but the more I listen to this album, the more I love it. Especially The Pot... that and Eulogy are my two favorite Tool songs ever.

I bought this today. I wish I could take the glasses off since their kinda lame looking, but I like looking through them at the pictures for weird 3-D effects =0

There are a few things that I would say:

I won't join in the big pat on the back for the review.

Lipan Conjuring is 1 minute long. I think it fits well in the album, but if something so minor bothers you that much, find your "skip track" key or burn a CD without the track. Similarly, Eon Blue Apocalypse on Lateralus is also about a minute. Viginti Tres can be easily ignored; Right in Two is the real end, just as Triad was the real end of Lateralus. Honestly, take out the seques and they still give you about 65 minutes of new music. Just get over it; it sounds like you're looking for something to complain about or have the attention span of a 15 year old.

On the attention span issue, people are saying things like if they would just cut it down a little and quit being over indulgent, they would be amazing. So, you'd like to see them move closer to the 3-5 minute song structure that 99.9% of bands use, and probably the good old verse-chorus-verse structure as well. Interestingly, the claim is found along side the one that Tool has not moved forward enough with this. So, they're supposed to move forward towards something we haven't heard before and moving towards a more typical song structure at the same time. Hmmm... Listen to some jazz, some classical, some more avente garde stuff. After you get used to that kind of stuff, at least in my opinion, you see the short songs not as concise, but as limited.

Rosetta Stoned - "Shit the bed" is an expression in some parts of the US, it just means "Oh, fuck!," but with a more sarcastic tinge. The song, as I see it, is about Maynard telling people that see him as some sort of "chosen one" spreading "the message" to the masses to chill a little. "Shit the bed" is him being sarcastic to you for taking him too seriously. It's great and a perfect response to the criticism in the review. Vocal delivery is awesome - pretty much covering the gamut of everything Maynard has done before, all in one song. Musically, it's the best on the album. Just listen to it a few more times. How this song is a "grinding halt" after 1 min of Lipan and 3 minutes of LK buildup, I don't know. I can leave a lot of space for varying taste, but you're just wrong about this one.

People complain about Tool not moving forward or doing something different, then bash Intension, which sounds like at most Disposition, or one song in 4 albums. But, I don't think it really sounds like Disposition other than it is mellow. So, you don't want them to just sound different, but different how you want it. Go start a band, I guess.

You don't sound like you've listened to the lyrics on Right in Two very closely if you think he's saying free will is a bad thing. If you listen to the lyrics to Intension, which is I think really part of Right in Two, its about the choices of free will. Right in Two is about the singer's regret of certain choices people have been making lately and his supposition that angels might also regret those choices. "Monkey killing Monkey" indicates how much thought he thinks has been put into these decisions.

Jambi - "Repeating a handful of strained notes over and over" I have no idea what you're talking about. Maybe you had the fake.

Once again, on "stepping forward" - your favorite songs are Vicarious and The Pot, the two most obviously radio-friendly and accessible songs. Perhaps that is your definition of moving forward, but it's not mine. Maynard introduced Vicarous at Cochella by saying, "Single!" and that's what it is - its the song they desiged to appeal to the masses (at least by matter of degree), while still being Tool. "I think Tool should be more accessible" is a legitimate point of view, but you should make that belief explicit.

My two cents anyway...

Album Rating: 4.0

You're clearly a Tool fanboy, I don't think any other explanation is necessary.



I mean seriously, "Shit the bed" is a figure of speech? You've got to be delusional. It's taken quite literally in the story that is "Rosetta Stoned" so stop trying to create deeper meanings for it, even though that's one of the defining traits of a Toolophile.

Album Rating: 3.5

Haha, damage control already.

Album Rating: 5.0

I have been listening to the CD for a week now and love it. I agree with your review but the songs have grown on me.



I saw them in Vegas last Friday night and the new tracks were awesome live.

YDload wrote

*Thanks for this review, Iai. It probably expresses my feelings on the album most agreeably, although I enjoy it a little more. If you listen to it outside of context then it's just a solid (if overdrawn) hard rock album. But realizing that this band has waited five years to give us more of the same is what's disappointing.



Still, the title track is really great, and there are certainly SOME hints of the band's evolution. But overall, Tool is not as good as Tool fans think they are, because that kind of hyperbole is impossible to live up to. They're just good, okay?

- They are great to me because..

1. Song structure - the song ends completely somewhere else from where it begins
2. Time signatures
3. The experimentation and progress of songs in each album
4. Meaningfull lyrics
5. Incredible talent. The way tool plays is a style that doesn't typically support 600bpm solos. If Adam Jones was playing faster and more technical than Satch / Vai / Ingvie whoever, alot of people would like them just for that reason.
6. IF you listen to alot of albums outside of context it's just typical 3-4 minute songs w/ a crazy solo somewhere. Those musicians are great and amazing, but not what all rock fans want.
7. You have your opinion, and I'm just giving mine. This album takes a LONG time to grow into. It's not something you just rock out to, you need to dim down your other senses and then listen to it again. Turn the lights off so your eyes aren't distracted, you'll focus on the music more. If possible, get a bathtub full of salt water, lots of salt. Float in it and have the music on. Your body doesn't think about gravity or touch as much since you are floating. Your ears are even more sensitive and your mind is less cluttered. This makes almost any album twice as rich with content.

Album Rating: 5.0

syous......



I totally agree, but alt use a heated water bed (as opposed to the salty bath) and listen in most chilled self enlightenment. :-)



The more I listen, the more I hear and love.

I despise these close minded wankers that hate any attempt a band makes at making a mood for an album.

"Oh my God this doesn't have any instruments in it, pointless!"
"This is just a guitar! No other instruments! Worthless!"
"Sure it's spooky and ambient, but this is a rock album!"

Tool approach music as art. Stop dismissing tracks like Lipan Conjuring and Lost Keys as "filler". Idiots.

Some people have called Parabol, Eon Blue Apocalypse and even Triad filler! Last time I checked they were just as much songs as any others.

I like this, it's not half as fulfilling as Lateralus or Aenima but it's still pretty amazing. Intension is the best track, it really absorbs me and it's quite emotional.

Album Rating: 5.0

To all who have slagged Tool off for the fillers, selling out, changing (or not) and all the other moaners..........



All you know about me is what I’ve sold you,

Dumb fuck.

I sold out long before you ever even heard my name.



I sold my soul to make a record,

Dip shit,

And then you bought one.



Classic.

Album Rating: 4.0

I think the point of that song is that Tool fans are dipshits. Even Maynard himself knows that!



Really, I've heard just about every Tool song there is and I used to be a really big fan of them as well. But after I realized that they aren't really going to progress at all, even after half a decade, I lost a lot of respect for them. I'm a bassist, so Justin's basslines will always be captivating to me. And I don't need to say what makes Danny Carey a machine at the drums. But I'm not going to slobber all over their collective dicks just because they finally released a new album. I'm gonna step back and analyze it in the context of its release, and understand that it's just "okay."

I heard a sample of one of the new songs on the TV advert and it made me think although I dont own any Tool records.. I need to own this one..
I managed to listen to Jambi, and I wasn't terribly impressed - sounds like the kind of stuff that might take a while to get into

Album Rating: 3.5

Haha, I didn't even know until now that there was a review of this album. I don't really care for Tool, but fantastic review.

Album Rating: 3.5

[quote=hr123]Listen to some jazz, some classical, some more avente garde stuff. After you get used to that kind of stuff, at least in my opinion, you see the short songs not as concise, but as limited.[/quote]

You're telling Iai to listen to more music?

Album Rating: 3.5

yeah really iai you don't no nuthin about sumthin

Album Rating: 3.5

i personally really like rosetta stoned... i think its a cool concept lyrically. and i'm not really into the pot.... i feel thats the worse song on the album.