Tool - 10,000 Days

OK, this is what I wait months, even years for. Tool is THE band whose albums I always anticipate the most. Why? Because it only happens every three years or longer. Tool also shows much growth and change over each album. I first heard Tool when "Sober" came out, and I really didn't get that into them because that video creeped me out big time. I also assumed they were a metal band, and I'm just not that into metal. When I finally heard the rest of their stuff, and their irregular rhythms and lyrics, and styles I realize they are more progressive than anything. In fact, they name King Crimson as an influence.

I love every Tool CD differently. When I first heard 10,000 Days I didn't think it was as good as Lateralus, but with each listening I see it's just different, and reflects the band's current style. It opens with "Vicarious" which just floors me with its guitars and drums. It's a song about the schadenfreude we get from watching death and destruction on the news. It really makes one question why we watch tragedy and feel a slight thrill mixed with the sadness. Fear perhaps causing and adrenaline rush.

The masterpiece of this album is "Wings for Marie (part 1)" and "10,000 Days (Wings part 2)" which eerily tells of the slow death of Maynard Keenan's mother. The first part reminds me of a cathedral kind of atmosphere. The second part's use of rain and thunder is really effective. Also, you can remix "Viginti Tres" followed by "Wings for Marie" so one then the other plays on top of "10,000 Days" for a new song. It's a real interesting listen if you got the software.

I like all the songs on this CD. I love the vocoder solo on "Jambi" even if it sounds a little Bon Jovi-esque. Hey, when Tool does it, it's cool. "Lost Keys" and "Rosetta Stoned" go together, and describe a patient's bad acid trip. Really scary. My least favorite is "Lapin" for its Native American chanting. I don't really get when bands do that, and maybe I missed how it honors the tribe.

This is a must purchase for any Tool fan, or fan of A Perfect Circle, that other band Maynard is in. It's as dark as any of the others, maybe even darker.

For further reading:
Tool's homepage
All Music Guide's Tool entry
Wikipedia's Tool entry

The String Quartet Tribute to Tool's Aenima

I'm going to do something different here and review an album that really isn't rock. I like cover songs. And I also love orchestral or other instrumental arrangements of rock music that don't sound like simple elevator music. When I found that a string quartet had done not just an arrangement of Tool, but the entire Aenima album I had to give it a listen.

From the opening notes of "Stinkfist" I realized these musicians have some serious talent. They make sounds with the strings I didn't know where possible. I can't even begin to guess how they make the clicking and screeching noises that keep the music in the spirit of Tool.

"Eulogy" is by far my favorite song they cover, in all its eight-plus minute glory. It's almost as dark as Tool, and you still get the feel of the driving rhythms, and although the part I love best about Tool is Maynard's voice and the drums, this song still sounds awesome in a string instrumental version.

The bass and cello in "H." sound like something from a Mahler symphony. I can hear percussive beats, but I don't know how they do it. Sticks against instruments? I have no clue. "Useful Idiot" follows and sounds down right scary as the strings build then suddenly stop.

"Message to Harry Manback" translates very well to strings. This version sounds very 19th century, and reminds me of the soundtrack to a PC game I once played called Arcanum.

"Intermission" bounces along in the spirit of the carnival music Tool used in the original album. Pizzicato strings help add to the cheerful sound of the short tune which of course leads into "Jimmy," which has the same melody to begin with, but a much darker tone. The strings do a good job showing the contrast between the two tunes.

The metallic echoes in "Die Eier von Satan" are really creepy. They even include vocals in this one, through some kind of synthesizer or something. This time, the recitation is in English, though still hard to make out. AND NO EGGS!

All the songs on this album are very well done, and better than what I would have expected from an arrangement of Tool using only four string instruments. Of course, it's not for everyone's taste. If you like Tool cause it's hard metal, you might pass on this. If you like Tool for its dark, experimental melodies and rhythms, give this a shot.

For further reading:
Vitamin records homepage
All Music Guide's The String Quartet Tribute to Tool's Aenima entry
Wikipedia's The String Quartet Tribute entry