Tool: Where to start?

[oathfbass]

I've had a lot about this band and never really listened to them besides one song I heard on the radio several years ago.

So where should I begin? My top two favorite bands are The Mars Volta and Between the Buried and Me if that helps with recommendations.

Thanks

[Moon Flavor]

Sounds like you like pretentious drawn out prog so I recommend Lateralus to you.

However my favorite go in this order:

Opiate>Undertow>Aenima>10,000 Days>Lateralus

Godspeed!

[Porklips]

bahaha Opiate first, good one.
Totally opposite for me, switch Aenima with 10,000 Days though.

[oathfbass]

Sounds like you like pretentious drawn out prog so I recommend Lateralus to you.

However my favorite go in this order:

Opiate>Undertow>Aenima>10,000 Days>Lateralus

Godspeed!

I hate when people use that word to describe music. Whats so bad about Lateralus, since you are obviously recommending me their worst album?

[Jaymz Hetfield]

Lateralus - Aenima - Undertow - Opiate - 10,000 Days

Aenima is probably the best to start with.....though if you like the proggier stuff then might as well head straight to Lateralus.

[Porklips]

I know there is a thing called opinions, but I can't really see anyone putting Opiate and Undertow in front of Aenima and Lateralus. That being said, check out Lateralus first as it's pretty awesome.

[oathfbass]

Alright thanks. I'll give it a song by song listen and post my opinions here when ever I get the chance!

[oathfbass]

I found the whole album on last fm and decided to give the first song a go before I go out.

The Grudge:

3/5

Couldn't find anything memoriable about, though I liked the drumming and got used to the singers voice as the song progressed.

[horseypie]

the rest of the album is probably as drawn out as the grudge, its a good opener for that album.
personally i hated teh grudge for a long time and never really clicked with lateralus until i liked it, but aenima was a bit easier to get into
maybe start with aenima or undertow first. undertow is a bit more straightforward, and aenima is them getting a little more experimental, maybe? i dunno...but yeah try aenima or undertow first

[Jaundice]

I used to like Undertow, it's a pretty good album.

Gives an idea of what they were like in their more straight-forward days before people started calling them prog because their songs are longer than seven minutes know what I'm sayin

[BenX02]

Nice avatar. I just finished watching Death Note a couple of weeks ago.

Volta and BTBAM are amazing bands. Especially Volta.

I have no recommendations when it comes to Tool though. Sorry.

[Darkness]

Lateralus is the best album... Don't let people who put Opiate first fool you...

[oathfbass]

the rest of the album is probably as drawn out as the grudge, its a good opener for that album.
personally i hated teh grudge for a long time and never really clicked with lateralus until i liked it, but aenima was a bit easier to get into
maybe start with aenima or undertow first. undertow is a bit more straightforward, and aenima is them getting a little more experimental, maybe? i dunno...but yeah try aenima or undertow first
I'll give the first song on Aenima a spin and see how that goes

[oathfbass]

Nice avatar. I just finished watching Death Note a couple of weeks ago.

Volta and BTBAM are amazing bands. Especially Volta.

I have no recommendations when it comes to Tool though. Sorry.

Yeah its one of my favorite shows and probably one of the only animes I can stand watching

[imperialblackness]

Stinkfist is a real good song

[Jaundice]

it's probably a lot more reliable to go with the song with the coolest name then to judge an album by its opening track. it's what i do anyway.

[oathfbass]

Lateralus is the best album... Don't let people who put Opiate first fool you...
I guess he was just trying to annoy me then lol

[oathfbass]

it's probably a lot more reliable to go with the song with the coolest name then to judge an album by its opening track. it's what i do anyway.
I plan on listening to the whole album, but he told me to start with Aenima so i'll pick which opener I like better and finish off that album first

[imperialblackness]

it's probably a lot more reliable to go with the song with the coolest name then to judge an album by its opening track. it's what i do anyway.

Yeah a lot of times opening tracks arent really like the rest of the album, they will be full tracks but still just an intro.

But with Aenima the first track is awesome so....

[Si1v3RfaNg]

it's probably a lot more reliable to go with the song with the coolest name then to judge an album by its opening track. it's what i do anyway.

This works for me every time. :thumb:

[oathfbass]

Stinkfist is pretty impressive

[Darkness]

Stinkfist isn't really a good representation of their overall current sound. It is a good song though.

[oathfbass]

What do they sound like now?

[oathfbass]

Btw their songs so far remind me of Isis in a way

[shindip]

Lateralus and 10,000 days are my faves, and I found them easier to get into than the others.

[imperialblackness]

Those are like their two hardest albums to get into lol, 10,000 days has a couple good songs but there is WAY too much boring filler on that album.

[OzzyTornado]

for some reason whenever i see my dad he is frequently listening to tool

[shindip]

lol my parents like Tool as well.

[Meatplow]

Listening to Aenima stoned through headphones was a really good experience, band I don't really like much or not.

[horseypie]

Lateralus and 10,000 days are my faves, and I found them easier to get into than the others.

for real? lateralus on the first few listens to me was really, really dense and long. took me a long time to appreciate it.
10,000 days came out right at the height of my fanboy stage so i enjoyed it pretty much straight away.

but yeah, OP you should really like aenima. and undertow. im basically just repeating myself.

however opiate would be immense if it was a full album, not just an EP

[shindip]

Best album while stoned is 10,000 Days IMO, because the production is really top notch and the ambient sections seem really layered.

[Meatplow]

I haven't heard it yet. There are a lot of varied textures on Aenima I dig.

[rasputin]

need to her aenima first then lateralus, go go go

[McP3000]

protip: tool sucks

[horseypie]

a perfect circle is better

>_>

[McP3000]

protip: both are terrible

[Mordecai21]

yeah check out aenima first. Download title track and Eulogy first to see if you like.

[Meatplow]

protip: hold grip real hard mate

[UpperDecker]

And if you wanna hear just a cool, almost classic rock sounding Tool sound, download "Maynard's Dick".

[Moon Flavor]

I know there is a thing called opinions, but I can't really see anyone putting Opiate and Undertow in front of Aenima and Lateralus. That being said, check out Lateralus first as it's pretty awesome.

As the band went on, their songs got more "progressive"...but not really. In actuality they just got longer and more boring and they just try too hard. On Opiate and Undertow all they do is rock the **** out and then they're done. And it's way better

[StooTwo]

Lateralus is one of my favourite albums of all time. There is alot of listening in it, so anyone that says it is long and boring may not have given it enough time. Aenima is good - 10,000 Days is better. Undertow and Opiate are good. It's Tool though, so the "good" albums do have some spectacular songs on them.

Lateralus is just THAT good.

Disposition then Reflection pwns.

[UpperDecker]

Can somebody tell me why there's all that blank space at the end of Triad? I've always wondered about that. Why would they want to leave blank space? Wouldn't they just have to pay more money (for making the record) cause it make's the cd longer?

[nevertoolate]

Tools film clip for Sober is def one of the best clips of all time. So damn good.

[shindip]

The ending of the Sober video is disturbing. Same with Prison Sex vid and the beggining of Parabola video. (The Slug people shitting with their mouths)

[horseypie]

Can somebody tell me why there's all that blank space at the end of Triad? I've always wondered about that. Why would they want to leave blank space? Wouldn't they just have to pay more money (for making the record) cause it make's the cd longer?

they did it because the record company could only recommend them like 79 minutes to put onto the cd, so they made teh album 78:58 long and gave them like 2 second leeway.
plus they also did it i think to separate faaip do oeiad from the rest of the album, making it a hidden track.

but then again why did they make disgustipated track 69 on undertow and have to pay for 58 tracks of 3 second silence? if youre thinking like that

[Moon Flavor]

recording doesn't cost extra for each track or minute of music....thats stupid

[shindip]

recording doesn't cost extra for each track or minute of music....thats stupid


tis stupid. thatd be funny if on the back of the cd there are like 40 names of songs that are just blank:chug:

[cjgone]

Just listen to Schism and Parabola off of Lateralus.

[horseypie]

recording doesn't cost extra for each track or minute of music....thats stupid

wait you dont think i meant that do you? i was saying that so that what he asked originally sounded silly

[nevertoolate]

he was just horsing around

[Moon Flavor]

wait you dont think i meant that do you? i was saying that so that what he asked originally sounded silly

oh really? I didn't catch that, it seemed like one of those stupid things tool would do.

They really are a bunch of TOOLS

[nevertoolate]

oh no he said it.........

[horseypie]

thats punariffic

[nevertoolate]

puntastic

[Moon Flavor]

would you like a cinnamon pun or a pwnut with your coffee?

[McP3000]

this is stupid

almost as stupid as Tool

[Moon Flavor]

goddammit i was TRYING to turn this thread into the official r/m pun thread all you had to do is make another bad pun and once we get to a 10 post derailment we're free but no can't have that with you McPussy!

[McP3000]

i care

[Nosferatu]

protip: tool sucks

protip: both are terrible

this is stupid

almost as stupid as Tool

thank you for that wonderful information.


to threadstarter, i would suggest you listen to Aenima. it's not their best, imo, but it's the one you should check out first.

my list would be Lateralus>Aenima>Undertow>Salival>10,000 Days>Opiate.

Lateralus is not only my favorite Tool album, but one of my all time favorites. I personally think that's when they really hit their peak. 10,000 Days is good, but there's only like 3-4 songs that i really like on there. Aenima is just an overrall really good album with two of their best songs ever, Third Eye and Pushit.

And if you haven't heard them yet, also check out A Perfect Circle. Mer de Noms is a really good album.

[Stevie VII]

nowhere

[shindip]

i dont see how some1 could NOT LIKE tool :0

[nevertoolate]

there is a lot of strange likings/not likings on mx

[horseypie]

its not cool to like tool jeez

nah seriously i know a few mates who get bored by them and dont like them. and then theres people who i guess hate the tool fanboys who think maynard shits golden eggs, but meh

[lak89]

I used to like Undertow, it's a pretty good album.

Gives an idea of what they were like in their more straight-forward days before people started calling them prog because their songs are longer than seven minutes know what I'm sayin

same, the subjects' are dirtier as well and they sound really raw

[shindip]

Prison Sex is gnarly.

[Moon Flavor]

yeah, pre-head-up-*** tool was sweet fo realz

[James46n2]

Heh, I love Tool. They might be my favourite band. But saying things like "I can't understand how someone could NOT like them" is why lots of people hate Tool fans.

[Jaymz Hetfield]

James you just don't GET TooL dude....they're too deep for your feeble mind.

[nevertoolate]

their early stuff is best, they just got a bit wanksy with their current ones. (still not bad tho)

[UpperDecker]

they did it because the record company could only recommend them like 79 minutes to put onto the cd, so they made teh album 78:58 long and gave them like 2 second leeway.
plus they also did it i think to separate faaip do oeiad from the rest of the album, making it a hidden track.

but then again why did they make disgustipated track 69 on undertow and have to pay for 58 tracks of 3 second silence? if youre thinking like that

lol, that's pretty funny, leaving them with two seconds. I think Disgustipated is all the way on track 69 just to be funny (i guess). It is pretty dumb though, they coulda put right after the last track. Or made the last track with extra silence until Disgustipated comes on. Well, atleast the track that its on is easy to remember.

[The Feeding]

i dont see how some1 could NOT LIKE tool :0

every song sounds exactly the same....

[illmitch]

the best place to start is with a different band and never listening to tool IMO

[Pastor of Muppets]

Lateralus is my favorite by miles, but AEnima is the best place to start. IMO it's just a collection of great Tool songs, whereas Opiate and Undertow are collections of not-so-great Tool songs, and Lateralus and 10,000 days are more cohesive prog "albums".

[oathfbass]

I still need to finish Aenima, im about halfway through it so far(been soaking in Octahedron)

[shindip]

Aenima took a long time to sink in and I found it to be a difficult listen...

[McP3000]

thats because its a bad album

[Nosferatu]

every song sounds exactly the same....

the best place to start is with a different band and never listening to tool IMO

thats because its a bad album

my roflcopter is hitting maximum altitude.

[JonG]

lateralus is the best, followed by aenima

undertow is good

:<

[The Feeding]

my roflcopter is hitting maximum altitude.

the moral of the story is....don't listen to tool

[Moon Flavor]

the moral of the story is....don't listen to tool

Or just listen to Opiate since it's not pretentious crap

[The Feeding]

always thought this band was garbage

[imperialblackness]

I really enjoy Tool. You guys suck

[nevertoolate]

same here, very talented band

[shindip]

I also agree, as do like most people on the site. People who don't like the music itself could at least aknowledge that they are still a really talented group of musicians.

[Moon Flavor]

Good drummer.

The rest of em are pretty average they just try real (too) hard with their time sigs n shi

[shindip]

The singer and bassist are also really talented.

[The Feeding]

I also agree, as do like most people on the site. People who don't like the music itself could at least aknowledge that they are still a really talented group of musicians.

i could.....but i refuse

[shindip]

i could.....but i refuse

damn you :smash:

[The Feeding]

seriously not trying to be a douche never understood why these guys were always thought of as musical geniuses, i really think they are god awful

[shindip]

seriously not trying to be a douche never understood why these guys were always thought of as musical geniuses, i really think they are god awful

I guess everyones entitled to their opinion...

[The Feeding]

for serious. What is so amazing about them? i'm not trolling, I would like to know

[shindip]

Well they can do some crazy musical proggy stuff, the singer sounds nice, the drumming is SICK, the guitar is pretty good, and the bass is amazing. the songwriting is generally very good and altogether it makes for one awesome band.

[The Feeding]

i'm done with this thread

kthnksbye

[Moon Flavor]

The singer and bassist are also really talented.

I can say little about the talent of the singer but he sounds pretty lame most of the time (except on opiate!)

As a bassist I will be entitled to say that their bassist is not that good. In terms of sheer technicality and for that matter musicality Streetlight Manifesto and even Reel Big Fish both have better bassists

[shindip]

I can say little about the talent of the singer but he sounds pretty lame most of the time (except on opiate!)

As a bassist I will be entitled to say that their bassist is not that good. In terms of sheer technicality and for that matter musicality Streetlight Manifesto and even Reel Big Fish both have better bassists

I dont know too much about the bass, but that guy can write some pretty crazy bass lines, that, although they may not be the most technical things, are catchy and add to the music.

[Porklips]

Danny Carey is a beast. Overrated maybe, but his tribal drumming is probably the only reason I listen to Tool.

[Nosferatu]

seriously not trying to be a douche never understood why these guys were always thought of as musical geniuses, i really think they are god awful

i don't think they are "musical geniuses", they just write really good music. isn't that enough?

I can say little about the talent of the singer but he sounds pretty lame most of the time (except on opiate!)

i take it you've never heard Salival? go listen to Pushit off of that album and then come back and we'll talk.

As a bassist I will be entitled to say that their bassist is not that good. In terms of sheer technicality and for that matter musicality Streetlight Manifesto and even Reel Big Fish both have better bassists

technicality doesn't automatically equal "good". just because there are better bassists out there, doesn't mean this one can't write good riffs. now i'm not much of a bass guitar guy, but i am a guitar guy, and Tool's guitarist doesn't write technical garbage. Necrophagist is very technical, but that doesn't mean they are good songwriters. I would take Tool's guitarist over Necrophagist's any day of the week.

[betacortex]

My god there are some idiots on here... Anyways, Tool IS VERY MUSICALLY TALENTED. Maynard the singer is incredible with his almost conversation-like vocals that pick up the atmosphere of the song and take it further. Danny Carey to be honest is probably the most stand out technically on his instrument (drums) and uses tribal rhythms to accent the themes and motifs going on in the guitar and bass melody's. The guitarist, Adam Jones, is also very good, although as others have mentioned he does not do Petrucci like solo's, the depth and atmosphere he adds to the songs is incredible and he can really bring it if he decides to (check out the No Quarter cover from Salival). Justin Chancellor is an incredible bassist who can write amazing riffs and knows how to use effects and pauses effectively (being a bassist myself, I can tell you HE IS GOOD)... The thing you need to remember about Tool is that they have ALWAYS put the instruments first and the vocals second, even the lyrical content while intriguing and engaging is not the focal point of the song. Also Tool is very album oriented, it is best to listen to an album as a whole instead of nit-picking songs off them... Sorry for the essay but I am really passionate about Tool and to hear such ignorant comments getting spouted off about them is infuriating, have a good day...

[SKUDstorm]

seriously not trying to be a douche never understood why these guys were always thought of as musical geniuses, i really think they are god awful

half of the music you listen to is terrible

[Moon Flavor]

i take it you've never heard Salival? go listen to Pushit off of that album and then come back and we'll talk.



technicality doesn't automatically equal "good". just because there are better bassists out there, doesn't mean this one can't write good riffs. now i'm not much of a bass guitar guy, but i am a guitar guy, and Tool's guitarist doesn't write technical garbage. Necrophagist is very technical, but that doesn't mean they are good songwriters. I would take Tool's guitarist over Necrophagist's any day of the week.

Yeah I've heard Salival I like their cover of No Quarter that's about it really/

And I never said technicality equals good but their riffs are mad boring. Super boring. Necrophagist riffs are way better because he just rips off bach, and bach did some sweet ****.

[Shattered_Future]

My god there are some idiots on here... Anyways, Tool IS VERY MUSICALLY TALENTED. Maynard the singer is incredible with his almost conversation-like vocals that pick up the atmosphere of the song and take it further. Danny Carey to be honest is probably the most stand out technically on his instrument (drums) and uses tribal rhythms to accent the themes and motifs going on in the guitar and bass melody's. The guitarist, Adam Jones, is also very good, although as others have mentioned he does not do Petrucci like solo's, the depth and atmosphere he adds to the songs is incredible and he can really bring it if he decides to (check out the No Quarter cover from Salival). Justin Chancellor is an incredible bassist who can write amazing riffs and knows how to use effects and pauses effectively (being a bassist myself, I can tell you HE IS GOOD)... The thing you need to remember about Tool is that they have ALWAYS put the instruments first and the vocals second, even the lyrical content while intriguing and engaging is not the focal point of the song. Also Tool is very album oriented, it is best to listen to an album as a whole instead of nit-picking songs off them... Sorry for the essay but I am really passionate about Tool and to hear such ignorant comments getting spouted off about them is infuriating, have a good day...

Definitely an unbiased opinion.

Lateralus was great, 10,000 Days had 2 good songs, the rest I could care less about. But I really enjoy Lateralus.

[betacortex]

Definitely an unbiased opinion.

Lateralus was great, 10,000 Days had 2 good songs, the rest I could care less about. But I really enjoy Lateralus.

Ya I'm a Tool fan, of course it's not unbiased...

At least you acknowledge Lateralus :thumb:

[awilder27]

Tool is my favorite band, and all I can tell you is that everyone I know has different opinions of their best music. I personally am a huge fan of Aenima, and believe that is the most solid album they made. Many will say that Lateralus is better, that was the first one I ever heard, another awesome album. 10,000 Days was a solid new release, I would start with that album or Aenima. All the albums kick a** but that's my 2 cents.

If you find you like Maynard a lot, I would also check out A Perfect Circle, the music is a little more chill, but still awesome!

[oathfbass]

Finished Aenmia. Pretty good stuff now im moving on to the other album.

[shindip]

Wut do u think of the other albums?

[Turkish]

If I were to recommend any songs by Tool I'd probably go with

Parabol/Parabola
Wings For Marie/10,000 Days
Pushit (probably my all time favorite)
Eulogy
H
4 Degrees
Opiate

Those are probably my top songs, I list the first 2 as one song because really (in my opinion) to fully enjoy the songs listen to them back to back.

[horseypie]

wings/10,000 days would be ridic hard for a new listener to get into i reckon
the rest of the songs are pretty spot on...although id probably swap h for stinkfist and 4 degrees with undertow

[StooTwo]

Stinkfist is one of Tool's poorest songs I think.

[Nosferatu]

If I were to recommend any songs by Tool I'd probably go with

Parabol/Parabola
Wings For Marie/10,000 Days
Pupoop (probably my all time favorite)
Eulogy
H
4 Degrees
Opiate

Those are probably my top songs, I list the first 2 as one song because really (in my opinion) to fully enjoy the songs listen to them back to back.


Pupoop! LOL.

interesting choice of songs, as there is no Third Eye on there. and what about REFLECTION? that is my favorite song by them, and possibly my favorite song of any band EVAR!

[JizzInMyPants]

We barely remember...who or what came before this righteous moment...We are choosing to be here right now. But hold on....Stay insiiiiiiide this HOOOOOOOOOOOOOOL

[Turkish]

Haha, I didn't even notice Push it being messed up.

I'm a fan of Third Eye, but I guess it just never hit me as hard as the other songs. Push it's ending is just so incredible and intense and I get goosebumps listening to it every time. Parabol/Parabola probably come in close second to being my favorite Tool material.

[Moon Flavor]

Best Tool songs:

Sweat
Opiate
That one near the end of Undertow that's all cool
Sober
Aenima
Hooker with a penis
Eulogy
46&2

[James46n2]

My favourite is Forty-Six and Two. Hence the name.

[shindip]

10000 Days/Wings For Marie are actually pretty catchy once you get into it, and was one of the first Tool songs I got into.

[StooTwo]

Pupoop! LOL.

interesting choice of songs, as there is no Third Eye on there. and what about REFLECTION? that is my favorite song by them, and possibly my favorite song of any band EVAR!

Reflection is unbelievably good. Disposition then Reflection is the best combination... > Parabol/Parabola and Wings/10,000 Days... Even though I love those four too.

[Nosferatu]

Haha, I didn't even notice Push it being messed up.

I'm a fan of Third Eye, but I guess it just never hit me as hard as the other songs. Push it's ending is just so incredible and intense and I get goosebumps listening to it every time. Parabol/Parabola probably come in close second to being my favorite Tool material.

live version of Pushit on Salival = stained pants.