Allow me to start off by stating my background so you guys can get an idea of where this review is coming from. I suppose I’m a more recent Tool fan as apposed to some of the hardcore guys and gals from back in 92 when Opiate first hit the scene, but all the same I love this band more than anything.
Let’s kick this review off shall we?
I'm going to be putting a score next to each song just so you can get my input a little bit better.
Vicarious(9/10): Being a tool fan I was excited as hell when I first heard this being played on my stereo. It had all the components of a good song; Great lyrics, great guitars and drums and an overall sound that just fit the mold for tool. There’s something unusual about this song that just grabbed me and told me to sit down and listen to the rest of the album, I believe it happened when Maynard sang the following lyrics...
" Cause I need to watch things die... from a distance
Vicariously I live while the whole world dies
YOU ALL NEED IT TOO, DON'T LIE "
Really not much more can be said about this song, it just contains all the right stuff and is delivered without a hitch.
Jambi(9/10): Right when Vicarious ends tool unleashes another powerful explosion of music. The song starts off with a pretty generic grungy twang yet it takes a brief pause to allow Maynard to come in and spurt his voice out and make the song all that more enjoyable. This is a song you just want to crank up sit back and enjoy.
Wings For Marie(6/10): I really REALLY wished they had either stuck this to 10,000 days(creating it one with so it would be a 17 minute track) or totally abolished it. Its not that the song isn't good it’s just that it tends to dim down one of the albums best tracks, 10,000 days. Again I can’t say much about this one, it’s got a pretty effective sound to it but the fact that it brings down 10,000 days makes it a miss.
10,000 Days(10/10): No question that this song is bar far one of the best, if not THE best, on the album. There’s a very eerie vibe that’s given off of this song making it seem almost taboo. Maynard’s spilling his guts out lyrically (about his mother) and he does it amazingly, the song has still had me thinking since I bought it last week and it continues to intrigue me.
The Pot(10/10): One of the overlooked songs on the album would be The Pot. The reasoning behind its large score would be the effectiveness of the beginning when MJK is singing with zero sound alterations or anything. It really reveals that the guy can sing, and when he does it he does it well. So the beginning is the hook, what’s later said and done in the song basically serves as a fine dessert of some sort. Solid song overall with basically no faults.
Lipan Conjuring(N/A): This is a filler, nothing can be said really about a filler but I shall make an attempt. Normally if this sort of thing would come across in any other album of mine I’d definitely skip to the next track but for this one I leave it on. It almost gives you a sense that you’re witnessing a tribal ritual or something. I like it, but like I said, it’s a filler and that sort of thing is somewhat unacceptable.
Lost Keys(8/10): this song is OK, although it acts much in the same way "Wings for Marie" acted. It’s meant to be a prep song for "Roseta Stoned" but since it only tallies in at 3:46 it can be labeled as a filler. Tool could have easily added it to the beginning of "Roseta Stoned" but they didn't, I sort of have mixed feelings about that one. Besides those complications the song has an interestingly peaceful sound to it, much in the same way a daze feels. I feel they captured how the guy that was abducted by aliens (I'm assuming he's Hofmann?) was feeling being in the hospital, interesting stuff.
Roseta Stoned(8/10): Well this is what Lost Keys built up for, if you've listened to the album you can tell that Lost Keys wasn't really necessary. In any case I like this song alot, very fresh from the rest of the album, very catchy. My only beef with this song are the bizarre lyrics. "*** the bed"? I'm hoping that has some sort of deeper meaning because those aren't Tool quality lyrics.
Intension(8/10): Ah, the much hated "Intension". Why do alot of Tool fans hate this song? I couldn't tell you. I believe it serves as well deserved break from the insanity of "Roseta Stoned". Maybe it’s too soft or something for Tool fans but I like it all the same.
Right in Two(10/10): Superb. This song is excellent in every aspect. It truly reminds me of older Tool albums both by how it sounds and how Maynard speaks to us. I can’t sum this up in a few sentences. All you need to know is that it mimics classic tool and it does it extremely well. I wish this song had ended the album but unfortunately it did not.
Viginti Tres(N/A): Another Filler, it serves as a peaceful ending to an excellent album. Not much to say about this one, there’s some wind going on and then a large groan. Simple but it works.
So there it is, 10,000 days in a nutshell according to somebody you've never met in your life. I'm not here to shove this in your face, I’m just here to express my opinions towards the album and hopefully help you guys build your own opinions on the album. The only problem with the album I can see is the assortment of the tracks. They put all their AAA stuff in the beginning and sort of left "Right in Two" to fend for itself. I want you all to go out and listen to the album if you haven't already, it does in fact take multiple listens to sink into your head (The myth is true!) So go do it, you won’t be disappointed. Viva La Tool.
