Tool is a progressive metal band that started out in 1990 in Los Angeles, California. They released a demo EP entitled "Opiate". In 1993, they released their first full length CD, entitled "Undertow". In 1996, starting the first of Tool’s two classic albums, they released "Aenima". In 2000 they released another EP, entitled "Salival", which I think contains some live songs. In 2001, they released the second, entitled "Lateralus". Maynard James Keenan then left for A Perfect Circle in 2000. He recorded three albums, two originals and one cover album. After A Perfect Circle released "eMotive" in 2004, people began to wonder if Tool was going to release another CD.
On May 2, 2006 (in the US), Tool released "10,000 Days". The album is based on the time period between his Mom's surgery and her death, which was 27 years, or approximately 10,000 Days (it is actually 9,855 days, but 10,000 days is very well accepted). With that being said, let's get on to the CD. I am not going to compare it to any other one of the Tool CD's, but just comparing it to itself, if you know what I mean. With the average song being over 6 minutes long, it might take a couple of listens to get the full deal that this CD gives you.
Tool for 10,000 Days is:
Maynard James Keenan - Vocals
Adam Jones - Guitar
Justin Chancellor - Bass
Danney Carey - Drums
Vicarious opens the album up. It is 7:06 and is the first single on the CD. It has a typical radio rock sound to it and is very well done. The guitar stands out perfectly and the build up to the actual song is very creative. Maynard loves to distort his voice, and he does in this song, probably throughout the whole song. I think that the interlude is pretty good as well. The song can get repetitive at times, but it to me is always worth the listen every time I pop this CD into my CD player (or listen to it on my iPod, whichever I prefer). This is the song that made me want to get this album.
Jambi is just as long, clocking in at 7:28 and is the second song on the CD. A typical Tool riff starts us off, and for the first time on this CD, you get to hear Maynard not distort his voice, and he sings pretty well on this. The guitar parts have that ancient feel to them that encompasses this album. Around the 4:15 mark, Adam comes in with a solo that fits perfectly into the song. The guitar actually fits with this song really well, and I can probably describe it as a hidden gem. This is a song that has grown on me since I have listened to it. The only problem with this song is that it ends too quickly for me (it is over 7 minutes long, though I can see that).
Wings for Marie and
10,000 Days (Wings Part 2) are kind of like Parabol and Parabola. (that is the only Tool reference I will use from other CD's). I will review them separate though, because each one is unique and different. Wings for Marie could be considered the ballad, as no distortion comes in until the very end. This is also one of the two parts to the song on Maynards' mother's death. He uses little distortion, and uses it well. The guitar does the same riff over for a while, but it blends in with the bass. It changes keys and leads to the end of the song around the 4 minute mark. The ending is the same as the other part. A great song and really gets you "pumped up" for the next song.
10,000 Days (Wings Part 2) is worth for the buy of this album alone. The longest song on the CD clocks in at 11:13. There is also rumors of this becoming the third and final single from this album. Justin Chancellor may have put down his best bass line ever in this song, and it leads up to the whole band. Maynard uses different lyrics here than in the previous song, but it is still about the same thing. The addition of other effects in the song really sets the mood for the song, such as the thunder and rain. The guitar comes in very softly. It blends in to the song, and quickly you will notice the same riff from the previous song, but Maynard is actually singing in this song.
Quote:
"10,000 days in the fire is long enough.
You're going home...
You're the only one who can hold your head up high.
Shake your fist at the gates saying,
"I have come home now...!"
Fetch me the spirit, the son and the father.
Tell them their pillar of faith has ascended."
|
These are some of the lyrics before the distortion kicks in and I think that they are some of Maynard's best lyrics ever, especially with the meaning of the song. At around the 6:30 mark, Adam comes in with yet another inspiring solo. It is nothing spectacular, but blends perfectly with the song. The solo lasts about 2 minutes into the song, and it really gets the song going. There is a little different intro to the outro, and it fits well. The outro is the same as the first song, but the buildup just makes it so much better than the first one.
The Pot is the second single and you will find Maynard singing his highest he ever has. I think this song is dealing with hypocrisy. I am not sure. The bass and drum intro is very catchy and leads to the actual song. For 6:20 seconds, it isn’t as long of a Tool song as we may have liked, but is very well done. The guitar and bass do very well on this song, as the bass doesn’t hug the guitar line and the guitar is doing its thing. The bridge is kind of different and has some cool guitar parts to it, once again nothing mind blowing, but it works. Many people like this song, and I don’t like it as much. I still listen to it when it comes up on my playlist, or when I stick the CD in my CD player. I will say that this is a great way to put a track after 10,000 Days. Good song. One of the better ones on the CD.
Lipan Conjuring is actually an Indian chant. I refer to this as more a filler track. There isn't much to review about this one and I don’t know if what they are humming actually has meaning.
Lost Keys (Blame Hoffman) is actually an intro to the next song, but I will review them separate. This song is actually a conversation including a doctor, the nurse and eventually the patient comes into play. The patient won't talk to anybody but the doctor. You could call it a filler song, unless you include this as part of the next song.
Rosetta Stoned is a very serious song. As the previous song ends, this one begins, where the patient is actually speaking his mind to the doctor. It is about wetting and ****ting the bed. Although the lyrics he chooses might be a bit cheesy, there is a serious matter behind it. The guitar line is very creative and simple. The bass is audible, and this is the second longest song on the CD, clocking in at 11:11. Every so often, it feels like the song is going to end, but it doesn’t and they find a way to keep it going. If there was going to be a lyric that got stuck in your head from this whole CD, it is
"God damn, *** the bed!"
The rest of the song flows together and Maynard messes around with some voice distortion and actually sings quite well in this song, when he does sing. One of the better ones on the CD.
Intention is a lot softer than Rosetta Stoned. It is saying something backwards, something about "he should do good in school", "Jesus loves you", I can't make out the words exactly. I think this is part of Rosetta Stoned, I am not sure. The bass does a little solo type thing and some interesting effects are used in this song. I listen to this song to go to sleep because of the eerie effects and the soft guitar line. This song actually leads into the next song. The guitar effects do, at least.
Right In Two starts out with a very simple guitar line. This clocks in at 8:55 and is also being rumored about being the third single. I think they could do either song, but we will wait and see. It is talking about our agency and why we choose to do the things we do. A great message comes from this song. The guitar leads up to be very distorted later. At around the 4:15 mark, there comes a solo (some ancient instrument?) and it is very well done and adds to the atmosphere of the whole album. The song actually starts to rock out right after that, and it takes a while to get to the end. But these guys sure do know how to rock as it is proven in the 5-6:30 minute mark. A drum solo accompanies this, although it is being played with other instruments, the drums are just spectacular. One of the best on the album.
Viginiti Tres is latin for the number 23, and although is not a real song, it is rather a noise sampler. Not much to review about here. The history of the number 23 is significant, though.
Overall impression: This is an outstanding album and a must have for any Tool fan, or any progressive metal/regular metal fan. The CD cover booklet that comes with it is pretty cool.
Pros:
Bass
Guitar
Drums
MJK singing
10,000 Days
Cons:
Too many filler tracks
Buildups take a while, but are very good when they do.
Can get old after a while
Viginiti Tres
Recommended Tracks:
Vicarious
Jambi
10,000 Days (Wings Part 2)
The Pot
Rosetta Stoned
Right In Two
I give it a 4/5. Money well spent, especially for the 10,000 Days song and the glasses thing. Hope you like it!
