AffableMartyr: Fear Inoculum Ranked

AffableMartyr 09.04.19	How'd you guys rank it so far? Disappointing? Surprised? Shitty list? Great job!
whalebone 09.04.19	I thought the album was pretty good. I was pleasantly surprised. It was smart of them to wait 13 years to release it because this album isn't enough to warrant the hype it is receiving on its own. Your ranking is pretty close to mine except I would put Chocolate Chip Trip at the absolute bottom of the list and switch Invincible and Fear Inoculum.
danielito19 09.04.19	As expected. The haters and snobs who dislike Tool are bullshitting again. If you’re a fan of Tool and have heard things like “The album is very disappointing.” Or “13 years for some improv in Dm pentatonic for 90 mins.” Don’t listen. Fear Inoculum is absolutely fantastic and anyone who likes Tool is going to fall in love with it, so if you are shitposting about it you’re either joking or not a fan. So, here’s some advice, you might want to stop wasting your time listening to albums and bands you know full well you won’t like before you even start it and use that time to enjoy artists and groups you actually do like, or better yet, go make your own music. As regards to Fear Inoculum, I’m hesitant to say it’s their best record to date, it could be. Let’s remember Lateralus wasn’t the holy grail of Tool upon the first listen, more like “what the fucking shit did I just experience.” Fear Inoculum is a lot like that, as far as I’m concerned (MY opinion) Lateralus is the only record still standing up to Fear Inoculum and i will have to listen many many more times before I come to a conclusion on which is better, if I come to a conclusion. In other words (fans), don’t listen to the butthurt, wanna be music critics who are probably salty because of all the attention Tool is getting while there favourite band can only dream to support them one day, Fear Inoculum is fantastic. And that is coming from a fan of Tool, not an obsessor, or a hater. Just a casual listener.
MO 09.04.19	all about that pneuma
AffableMartyr 09.04.19	If there was ever a greatest hits Tool album Pneuma and 7empest would have to be on it
hexfix93 09.04.19	Is that a copypasta or are you being serious? If you're being serious, you can't just make a blanket statement and say "If you don't fall in love with this, you're not a fan". That's ridiculous lmao. There are very few, if any, bands I like who don't have at least one album that I don't like. That doesn't mean I don't like the band, it just means I don't like a certain album(s). There's certainly some people who hate on Tool just for fun but not everyone who dislikes them (or this album) falls into that. Hell, I know people who love Tool but for whatever reason don't like Lateralus. Doesn't mean they're not fans just because one album didn't click with them. As for this one, I find it enjoyable but as of now it's a 3.5/5. It's solid, but I don't think it's amazing. As to the ranking, actually quite similar to mine but Pneuma is prolly my favorite from this.
sixdegrees 09.04.19	I had to go back and remove a lot of my criticisms. You have to listen to this album at least three times before you start to understand how to approach it. It is long form and you have to look at it more like a Yob or ISIS album. This is definitely their most epic music to date. TOOL's mastery of timing and unorthodox song structure is mind bending. This record morphs after each listen until you understand the complete magnitude of what has been accomplished. This album on first glance seems boring and uninspired but the more you retrain your mind on how to listen the more you realize that is the furthest thing from what this album is
whalebone 09.04.19	I think 7empest leaves you with the impression that the rest of the album was actually better than it was because it's such a fantastic closer.
AffableMartyr 09.04.19	I thought the new album was excellent but not on the same level as Lateralus or Ænima. Listened to it at least 15 times now
Gmork89 09.04.19	I like it, solid 4/5 at this point. Still think the cover art could have been way cooler.
DominionMM1 09.04.19	all about that pneuma [2] by far the most coherent track here
SitarHero 09.04.19	Pneuma and 7empest are both great. Descending and Invincible are both really good. Culling and FI are okay.
Rik VII 09.04.19	"I think 7empest leaves you with the impression that the rest of the album was actually better than it was because it's such a fantastic closer." It's actually the opposite for me. 7empest showcases the quality level this level should have had to compete with Lateralus. If anything, it makes it harder to pretend that it is on that level.
kalkwiese 09.04.19	CCT is awesome
mifzal 09.04.19	pretty much the same
Couteau 09.04.19	About same ranking. They did evolve (even more prog and clean vocals) and that's good but I miss Maynard vocals on 2nd part of most songs... Plus the length is not a problem for me when it flows well but some parts, jams and fills are just too much and could have been shortened or even cut. It still needs for sure some listens and I will judge in a few months but as of today I certainly prefer their 3 previous. Production and drums are phenomenal on FI though.
JDubb 09.04.19	I’m with danielito19. This is, upon more listens, turning out to be a master work. Still wrapping my head around 7empest.
danielito19 09.04.19	Omfg y’all it’s a pasta I’ve put it in like ten Tool threads how have y’all not picked up on that
JDubb 09.04.19	Further, Fear Inoculum is one of Tool’s most consistent albums. 10000 Days was like a smorgasbord. Aenima ,as incredible as it is, has a few questionable segues. This album, like Lateralus, flows as a whole.
hexfix93 09.04.19	Thought it was a copypasta lol. You never know with Tool though. In retrospect, checking to make sure probably would've taken less time than responding just in case you were serious.
Larkinhill 09.04.19	Descending Pneuma Invincible 7empest Fear Inoculum Culling Voices CCT This is my current ranking, but it has changed a bit over the past few days.
Larkinhill 09.04.19	JDubb — agreed on both counts.
OSEL 09.04.19	Hmm, seems fun. 1. Pneuma - 4.7/5 2. Invincible - 4.5/5 3. Fear Inoculum - 4.4/5 4. 7empest - 4.2/5 5. CCT - 3.8/5 6. Culling Voices - 3.7/5 7. Descending - 3.5/5 Haven't actually listened to the interludes yet. Also, I really like CCT. Reminds me of Merkaba from their ~2000 live shows and, as a longtime drummer, it's just such an awesome exposition. I also can't listen to it without hearing another fav, Bill Bruford. Descending doesn't do it for me yet. Don't know why. Just not jiving with it. 7empest starts out sounding like the coolest thing I've ever heard, but the minutes of Adam wanking it during the middle of the song bores me. Title track is even better I'd say in the context of the whole album; really dig it.
BerryGarlicia 09.05.19	Fear inoculum 9 Pneuma 9 Tempest 8 Invincible 8 Culling voices 8 Descending 8 Other bullshit - collective 2
Groundking 09.05.19	Invincible 5 > Pnuema 4.9 > Tempest 4.9 > Fear Inoculum 4.7 > Descending 4.7 > Culling Voices4.6 > CCT 3.5