All Things Tool

Well it's time I write a little bit about my favorite band, Tool. I'll take you back to when I first heard them.

It was 1994 and I was 18 years old and living in a dorm at San Diego State University. One of my suitemates was into a lot of different music that I never heard of. He had the likes of Gwar, Pennywise, Unwritten Law, and a band named Tool. The album was Undertow and he listend to it relentlessly.

At first I wasn't really sure what to think of them. I was your typical "I'll listen to whatever they play on the radio" type guy. I didn't venture out to try and find new bands. The Undertow album continued to grow on me. It was more for just the sound and the heaviness of the music that I enjoyed at that time. I didn't really take the time to grasp a hold onto the lyrics and listen to what Maynard was singing about.

The next album that followed was Aenima.

I picked it up at Tower Records and gave it a listen. What I was amazed at was the fact that although you could tell that it was Tool, the album was completely different in its own right than Undertow. I was amazed at the sheer brillance of the music and the lyrics. After listening to Aenima I began to look deeper into the lyrics behind the music. The title track Aenima talks about Los Angeles being no longer and all of the stereotypes that go along with the citizens of Los Angeles. I began to think of my time in L.A. and realized that these were not just stereotypes but actual truths of many of the people that reside in L.A.

The way the four members of Tool come together as a collective unit to make such brilliant music is unsurpassed by any band out there today. Danny Carey is a mad man on the drums. I often think he has more than just two legs and feet and two arms and hands. Maynard is brilliant vocally on anything that he does.

The beauty behind their music is that it allows a listener to "escape" into another world and get lost (in a good way) in the music and lyrics. The way each album is created and organized to take the listener on a ride is unmatched by anyone in the music industry.

I have seen Tool live four times now and every time it is almost as though it is a "religious" experience for me. (seeing as I am not religious) For those of you that have not experienced the brilliance of Tool I suggest starting at the beggining with Undertow which was their first full length album. Continue on to Aenima and then to Lateralus and followed lastly by 10,000 Days.

Each album has the "Tool" sound but you can tell how they have grown as musicians over the years.

Go take a listen and I will see you on the other side.

Until Next Time!
Spiral Out