Dr. J. Kasmire, not a cyborgDecided to do another #AlbumParty which is when I listen to all the studio albums from an artist or band in chronological order, no shuffling.
Today, Tool. Starting with Opiate from 1992.
Technically, I guess Opiate is an EP rather than an album but since there are not actually a huge number of Tool albums, I am going to include it.
Well. That was fast. As one might expect from an EP. I would say it was fine. The tracks were all solid and obviously sounded like Tool because of Maynard's voice.
But only "Opiate" had the kind of rolling, discombobulating rhythms that I think of as a Tool song. Also, it was over 8 minutes. Classic Tool.
Now onto Undertow from 1993.
I don't think I had ever seen the video for "Prison Sex". According to Wikipedia, it was deemed too graphic and only played a few times. I suspect that is more about the lyrics (which cover CSA) making people uncomfortable than the video. The video has the creepy stop motion, distorted, mechanical figures that are in a lot of Tool's videos.
I think evyrone is now dealing with how the discomfort with CSA lead to not talking about it instead of doing anything to address it.
I think evyrone is now dealing with how the discomfort with CSA lead to not talking about it instead of doing anything to address it.
Now playing "Sober" and watching the video. Same creepy stop motion, distorted figures video.
It is fascinatingly ugly, presumably on purpose. I'd say they did a great job.
This song, and also I guess the video. give me that horripilaton feeling. Love it.
It is fascinatingly ugly, presumably on purpose. I'd say they did a great job.
This song, and also I guess the video. give me that horripilaton feeling. Love it.
Now on to Ænima from 1996. Tool switched bassists before this album, apparently amicably.
I think this album might be my favourite? I remember being FASCINATED by the lenticular album cover. I really enjoy the contrast between spoken or softly sung parts and crashing noise. The whole thing feels driven inexorably forward by really strong bass. There is also a mixing effect that makes it feel like the music is moving toward or away from you that I love.
I love that Die Eier von Satan is a really metal sounding song that is just a recipe for hash cookies in German.
The title track Ænima is so incredibly dynamic. It SOUNDS like movement.
Is there a word for that? The closest I can think of is onomatopoeia, which is a word that sounds a bit like its meaning (e.g. words like whoosh or sizzle).
Do you get what I mean? Or am I just being synaesthetic at you all?
"Third Eye" wrapped up Ænima strongly - almost 14 minutes of empassioned religious ephiphany... or something.
Now playing Lateralus from 2001. Starting off with "The Grudge" at over 8 and a half minutes. No actual criticism, but it doesn't speak to me the way other songs do.
Obviously, "Schism" is an amazing song ... track ... art moment ... Whatever you want to call it.
But I remember being absolutely tickled by this little video about how to clap along with "Schism". https://www.instagram.com/p/DK7VBHzAh2o/
Wesley Johnson on Instagram: "Schism: Always clap on 2 & 4 pt2 #schism #toolband #musicmeme #musicmemes #musichumor #musicjoke #MusicTheory #TimeSignature"
5,841 likes, 44 comments - jimlapbap on June 15, 2025: "Schism: Always clap on 2 & 4 pt2 #schism #toolband #musicmeme #musicmemes #musichumor #musicjoke #MusicTheory #TimeSignature".
Maybe I need to listen to Lateralus more, but I didn't really recognise anynthing apart from "Schism" off that album.
Now, onto 10,000 Days from 2006.
So, that is another album that sounds fine. Quality stuff. No complaints. But I don't have any strong memories of these songs from formative periods of my life so they don't hook me the way earlier albums did.
Nevertheless, I persist. Fear Inoculum from 2019. Probably won't finish this today so will pick it up again and share final thoughts on Monday.
Picking it up again today to finish off this #AlbumParty. Shouldn't take me too long to listen to this last album and the compose my reflections.
Well, that's everything for this Album Party. I enjoyed the tour of Tool's music. I read that they are considered 'progressive metal' which is not a thing I had heard of before.
What I like most is that they seem to have a very clear articistic voice. They have videos, rhythms, themes, etc. that are interesting but not especially likely to be mass appeal. I like when people do things because they genuinely want to do them rather than because they feel they must.