View Poll Results: How would you rate Tool?
Great band
38
50.67%
They're ok
22
29.33%
They suck!!
12
16.00%
Who??
3
4.00%
Voters: 75. You may not vote on this poll
Rate Tool
#1
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Aug 2001
Location: Canada
Posts: 419
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Rate Tool
I've seen some mixed opinions in previous threads on this band. Some people love them, others can't stand them. I'd like to see what you guys think about them. In my opinion they are the best rock band in the world today, but hey that's just me. Now it's time for you to vote.
#5
Moderator
I have to admit I know next to nothing about them. A friend of mine has told me their videos are quite good. I'll check out some stuff and let you know what I think.
#7
I don't think they suck, but I don't think they are great or anything either.
Of course, most of the songs I have heard of theirs are the radio songs, so I havent given them that much of a chance I suppose. But, out of all the things I have heard on the radio, I never really had much of a desire to check them out. Maybe one of these days.
BTW, on the radio here, the only song they seem to play is the "I know the pieces fit" song, and I think it is kinda boring so I change the station. I do like sober okay though, and I like the songs I have heard from A Perfect Circle.
Of course, most of the songs I have heard of theirs are the radio songs, so I havent given them that much of a chance I suppose. But, out of all the things I have heard on the radio, I never really had much of a desire to check them out. Maybe one of these days.
BTW, on the radio here, the only song they seem to play is the "I know the pieces fit" song, and I think it is kinda boring so I change the station. I do like sober okay though, and I like the songs I have heard from A Perfect Circle.
#8
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Aug 2001
Location: Canada
Posts: 419
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Originally posted by Applejack
BTW, on the radio here, the only song they seem to play is the "I know the pieces fit" song, and I think it is kinda boring so I change the station. I do like sober okay though, and I like the songs I have heard from A Perfect Circle.
BTW, on the radio here, the only song they seem to play is the "I know the pieces fit" song, and I think it is kinda boring so I change the station. I do like sober okay though, and I like the songs I have heard from A Perfect Circle.
#9
Banned
Join Date: Feb 2001
Location: John "57 Varieties" Kerry represents me in the US Senate.
Posts: 1,367
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I voted for "They're OK" which seems a tad harsh, but I didn't want to give them the Highest Rating of "Great Band!" A more accurate 1-sentence assessment would be "They're good - sometimes *great* - but often self-indulgent and overrated." Album by album....
Opiate: Owned it for years; recently unloaded it. No regrets. Yeah, the live stuff comes off rather well, but I don't find much on here that wasn't done better on the follow-up.
Undertow: Arguably their "least ambitious" full-length, but also the easiest to listen to without using the Skip Button. And that's *not* just because they hadn't yet brainstormed the brilliant concept of "segue" tracks. None of the songs here are quite revolutionary, but even if I had to pick a "least favorite," it would still be pretty decent. However, "Disgustipated" (Track 69) would hint at the pretentiousness to come (several minutes of nothing but crickets chirping?!).
AEnima: Reaches heights that Undertow didn't quite aim for with moody, disturbing songs like personal fave "Forty-Six & 2," but also introduces the inclusion of non-song tracks. Go ahead, convince me that the album would be significantly weaker without "Intermission." Also, "Jimmy" and especially "Hooker With a Penis" are duds. And I felt that way even when I was in my "Tool is the best band in the history of the universe and AEnima is the greatest piece of art ever created" phase. Which lasted a couple years, actually.
Lateralus: Even more bloated and self-important than you'd expect from a band that feels its ideas are so bold as to transcend mere English, demanding that new words be "created" to express them. A lot of what I didn't like about AEnima returns, and is at least as annoying here. "Schism" and "The Patient" are 2 of Tool's worst songs, taking 6-7 minutes to go nowhere. "Ticks & Leeches" is rather intriguing until you get to the part where they felt the need to pad the length of the song with two and a half minutes of near silence. My working theory is that they scheduled Henry Rollins to do some spoken-word vocals over this segment, but never got around to finishing it. Oops! Best tracks are the opener "The Grudge" and the title-track-that-kind-of-isn't-because-it's-actually-spelled-differently-than-the-album-title. Which are both longer than my 2 least favorite songs mentioned earlier, so don't even try with the "Your attention span is too short to understand Tool" angle.
Conclusion: There's a lot to like, and fair amount to dislike with this band. When they're good, they're REAL good; when they're bad........yikes. Still, even if their next album continues to "spiral out / keep going" in the Self-Appointed Saviours of Rock direction, I'll buy it anyway. There's bound to be at least one or two songs where it all falls into place. So I have something to look forward to when the sequel to Lateralus debuts in early 2009.
Opiate: Owned it for years; recently unloaded it. No regrets. Yeah, the live stuff comes off rather well, but I don't find much on here that wasn't done better on the follow-up.
Undertow: Arguably their "least ambitious" full-length, but also the easiest to listen to without using the Skip Button. And that's *not* just because they hadn't yet brainstormed the brilliant concept of "segue" tracks. None of the songs here are quite revolutionary, but even if I had to pick a "least favorite," it would still be pretty decent. However, "Disgustipated" (Track 69) would hint at the pretentiousness to come (several minutes of nothing but crickets chirping?!).
AEnima: Reaches heights that Undertow didn't quite aim for with moody, disturbing songs like personal fave "Forty-Six & 2," but also introduces the inclusion of non-song tracks. Go ahead, convince me that the album would be significantly weaker without "Intermission." Also, "Jimmy" and especially "Hooker With a Penis" are duds. And I felt that way even when I was in my "Tool is the best band in the history of the universe and AEnima is the greatest piece of art ever created" phase. Which lasted a couple years, actually.
Lateralus: Even more bloated and self-important than you'd expect from a band that feels its ideas are so bold as to transcend mere English, demanding that new words be "created" to express them. A lot of what I didn't like about AEnima returns, and is at least as annoying here. "Schism" and "The Patient" are 2 of Tool's worst songs, taking 6-7 minutes to go nowhere. "Ticks & Leeches" is rather intriguing until you get to the part where they felt the need to pad the length of the song with two and a half minutes of near silence. My working theory is that they scheduled Henry Rollins to do some spoken-word vocals over this segment, but never got around to finishing it. Oops! Best tracks are the opener "The Grudge" and the title-track-that-kind-of-isn't-because-it's-actually-spelled-differently-than-the-album-title. Which are both longer than my 2 least favorite songs mentioned earlier, so don't even try with the "Your attention span is too short to understand Tool" angle.
Conclusion: There's a lot to like, and fair amount to dislike with this band. When they're good, they're REAL good; when they're bad........yikes. Still, even if their next album continues to "spiral out / keep going" in the Self-Appointed Saviours of Rock direction, I'll buy it anyway. There's bound to be at least one or two songs where it all falls into place. So I have something to look forward to when the sequel to Lateralus debuts in early 2009.
#10
Member
Join Date: Apr 2002
Location: Cincinnati, OH
Posts: 249
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Ok....I admit I'm a little biased since the are my favorite band. But people really need to sit down and listen to their albums all the way through. Don't just judge them by their radio songs like "Sober" or "Schism".
Mordecai rated Ænima and Lateralus as the worst Tool albums?!? Wow! You just don't like Tool. Most fans would say those are the best two albums.
And again.....if you saw these guys live.....you'd have a whole new respect for them as musicians. They truly are some of the most talented guys in music right now. Hopefully the much rumored live DVD will come out within the next 6 months. If it does, do yourself a favor and pick it up.
Not everybody is going to like Tool. But at least respect them for what they do. And if it's not your thing.....I'm sure there's another Creed album on the way.
Mordecai rated Ænima and Lateralus as the worst Tool albums?!? Wow! You just don't like Tool. Most fans would say those are the best two albums.
And again.....if you saw these guys live.....you'd have a whole new respect for them as musicians. They truly are some of the most talented guys in music right now. Hopefully the much rumored live DVD will come out within the next 6 months. If it does, do yourself a favor and pick it up.
Not everybody is going to like Tool. But at least respect them for what they do. And if it's not your thing.....I'm sure there's another Creed album on the way.
#11
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Aug 2001
Location: Canada
Posts: 419
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Originally posted by G-Rex
Ok....I admit I'm a little biased since the are my favorite band. But people really need to sit down and listen to their albums all the way through. Don't just judge them by their radio songs like "Sober" or "Schism".
Mordecai rated Ænima and Lateralus as the worst Tool albums?!? Wow! You just don't like Tool. Most fans would say those are the best two albums.
And again.....if you saw these guys live.....you'd have a whole new respect for them as musicians. They truly are some of the most talented guys in music right now. Hopefully the much rumored live DVD will come out within the next 6 months. If it does, do yourself a favor and pick it up.
Not everybody is going to like Tool. But at least respect them for what they do. And if it's not your thing.....I'm sure there's another Creed album on the way.
Ok....I admit I'm a little biased since the are my favorite band. But people really need to sit down and listen to their albums all the way through. Don't just judge them by their radio songs like "Sober" or "Schism".
Mordecai rated Ænima and Lateralus as the worst Tool albums?!? Wow! You just don't like Tool. Most fans would say those are the best two albums.
And again.....if you saw these guys live.....you'd have a whole new respect for them as musicians. They truly are some of the most talented guys in music right now. Hopefully the much rumored live DVD will come out within the next 6 months. If it does, do yourself a favor and pick it up.
Not everybody is going to like Tool. But at least respect them for what they do. And if it's not your thing.....I'm sure there's another Creed album on the way.
#13
Originally posted by G-Rex
Ok....I admit I'm a little biased since the are my favorite band. But people really need to sit down and listen to their albums all the way through. Don't just judge them by their radio songs like "Sober" or "Schism".
Mordecai rated Ænima and Lateralus as the worst Tool albums?!? Wow! You just don't like Tool. Most fans would say those are the best two albums.
And again.....if you saw these guys live.....you'd have a whole new respect for them as musicians. They truly are some of the most talented guys in music right now. Hopefully the much rumored live DVD will come out within the next 6 months. If it does, do yourself a favor and pick it up.
Not everybody is going to like Tool. But at least respect them for what they do. And if it's not your thing.....I'm sure there's another Creed album on the way.
Ok....I admit I'm a little biased since the are my favorite band. But people really need to sit down and listen to their albums all the way through. Don't just judge them by their radio songs like "Sober" or "Schism".
Mordecai rated Ænima and Lateralus as the worst Tool albums?!? Wow! You just don't like Tool. Most fans would say those are the best two albums.
And again.....if you saw these guys live.....you'd have a whole new respect for them as musicians. They truly are some of the most talented guys in music right now. Hopefully the much rumored live DVD will come out within the next 6 months. If it does, do yourself a favor and pick it up.
Not everybody is going to like Tool. But at least respect them for what they do. And if it's not your thing.....I'm sure there's another Creed album on the way.
I just think that their songs can be a little too long, and the ones I have heard do not interest me enough to buy a CD. I am sure that they are good musicians, but so was Beethoven, and he isn't burning up my CD player or anything.
BTW, I can only speak for myself, but just because you don't like tool that much, doesn't mean that you like crappy rock bands like Creed either.
#14
Banned
Join Date: Feb 2001
Location: John "57 Varieties" Kerry represents me in the US Senate.
Posts: 1,367
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
G-Rex sportin' the attitude that makes me love to bash Tool:
And if it's not your thing.....I'm sure there's another Creed album on the way.
And if it's not your thing.....I'm sure there's another Creed album on the way.
But that comment is a perfect illustration of what infuriates me about the Tool Fanboy Scene. You seem to think your fondness for this one band is the "musical street cred" equivalent of a Harvard degree - something you're eager to tell the whole world about, since it testifies to your brilliance.
Especially questionable is the implication that Tool is so "underground" and "non-mainstream" (unlike Creed). Yeah, OK, so Tool doesn't sell quite as many records as Scott Stapp & Co., but they're still a multi-platinum band that gets decent radio play and packs arenas (right?). If you think Lateralus is THE defining moment in the Era of Recorded Music, fine. It's just that, if you wanna pick a band to hold up as an example of your "unconventional" tastes, Tool is hardly a good choice. It's almost as weak as saying, "Oh, I despise commercially-oriented movies like 'Pearl Harbor.' That's why I support projects like 'LOTR.'"
As for the sparkling "musicianship" of Tool: I know a guitarist who seemed to be a pretty big classic / prog rock lover, and his review of Lateralus was - and I quote - "It blows." He also assured me he could note-for-note replicate *anything* that Adam Jones played on the album. Again, if you wanna believe Tool is the culmination of thousands of years of human evolution, that's great. It's when you start implying that "Anyone who disagrees is wrong / doesn't understand it / fails to comprehend it / listens to Creed" that I get upset.
#16
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Aug 2001
Location: Canada
Posts: 419
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Originally posted by inVectiVe
As for the sparkling "musicianship" of Tool: I know a guitarist who seemed to be a pretty big classic / prog rock lover, and his review of Lateralus was - and I quote - "It blows." He also assured me he could note-for-note replicate *anything* that Adam Jones played on the album. Again, if you wanna believe Tool is the culmination of thousands of years of human evolution, that's great. It's when you start implying that "Anyone who disagrees is wrong / doesn't understand it / fails to comprehend it / listens to Creed" that I get upset.
As for the sparkling "musicianship" of Tool: I know a guitarist who seemed to be a pretty big classic / prog rock lover, and his review of Lateralus was - and I quote - "It blows." He also assured me he could note-for-note replicate *anything* that Adam Jones played on the album. Again, if you wanna believe Tool is the culmination of thousands of years of human evolution, that's great. It's when you start implying that "Anyone who disagrees is wrong / doesn't understand it / fails to comprehend it / listens to Creed" that I get upset.
#18
Member
Join Date: Apr 2002
Location: Cincinnati, OH
Posts: 249
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Originally posted by Capo2002
I gotta admit that G-Rex Creed comment may have been a little immature and uncalled for, since we can't assume that everyone who doesn't listen to Tool listens to Creed.......
I gotta admit that G-Rex Creed comment may have been a little immature and uncalled for, since we can't assume that everyone who doesn't listen to Tool listens to Creed.......
Think for yourself......
#19
Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2001
Location: Michigan, USA
Posts: 810
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I don't really like Tool. But then again if you played a Tool song and a Creed song back-to-back, I probably couldn't tell you which one is which. Not a big fan of that "heavy" rock sound. The thing that does annoy me is that a lot of Tool fans have a very superior attitude, but I guess most people have that with their favorite band.
#20
Member
Join Date: Apr 2002
Location: Cincinnati, OH
Posts: 249
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
The thing that does annoy me is that a lot of Tool fans have a very superior attitude, but I guess most people have that with their favorite band.
Peace.
#21
DVD Talk Platinum Edition
I was gonna vote "twikoff," but since it wasn't an option (for shame), I went with "Great band."
I absolutely love Tool. Always have, and probably always will. I don't expect everyone to love them, though. To each his own, or something. Some people love Zeppelin. Some people love Rush. Some people love Floyd. And some people love Tool. As far as I'm concerned, these bands all come from the same mold.
I do have to laugh any time I see Tool described as pretentious, self-indulgent, etc. They just have a different approach to making music. For anyone who doesn't realize, Maynard is a freak! He has surrounded himself with a group of guys who are willing to support his freakacity, freaktitude, or whatever you want to call it. I just feel that the end product is simply beautiful and merits my attention.
As for the debate on musicianship, there are more talented, more technical, faster, etc. musicians out there. The boys of Tool are pretty damn_good at what they do, though. What impresses me the most is their ability to put their individual efforts together to form songs and albums. It is in this area that I believe other bands of today cannot touch Tool.
For anyone who doesn't appreciate Tool's use of segueways on their albums, I completely understand. Not your "cup of tea." They don't bother me in the least, though, because I believe that Tool is no longer concerned with just writing songs. They are trying to produce albums. Lateralus is not meant to be listened to a song at a time. It is one piece of work, not a collection of songs. If you listen to each of their albums in chronological order, you can definitely hear the progression toward such an end. Once again, not everyone will or should enjoy such efforts, but I most certainly do.
I absolutely love Tool. Always have, and probably always will. I don't expect everyone to love them, though. To each his own, or something. Some people love Zeppelin. Some people love Rush. Some people love Floyd. And some people love Tool. As far as I'm concerned, these bands all come from the same mold.
I do have to laugh any time I see Tool described as pretentious, self-indulgent, etc. They just have a different approach to making music. For anyone who doesn't realize, Maynard is a freak! He has surrounded himself with a group of guys who are willing to support his freakacity, freaktitude, or whatever you want to call it. I just feel that the end product is simply beautiful and merits my attention.
As for the debate on musicianship, there are more talented, more technical, faster, etc. musicians out there. The boys of Tool are pretty damn_good at what they do, though. What impresses me the most is their ability to put their individual efforts together to form songs and albums. It is in this area that I believe other bands of today cannot touch Tool.
For anyone who doesn't appreciate Tool's use of segueways on their albums, I completely understand. Not your "cup of tea." They don't bother me in the least, though, because I believe that Tool is no longer concerned with just writing songs. They are trying to produce albums. Lateralus is not meant to be listened to a song at a time. It is one piece of work, not a collection of songs. If you listen to each of their albums in chronological order, you can definitely hear the progression toward such an end. Once again, not everyone will or should enjoy such efforts, but I most certainly do.
#22
Banned
Join Date: Feb 2001
Location: John "57 Varieties" Kerry represents me in the US Senate.
Posts: 1,367
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Capo2002 agrees with some of what I wrote...
I gotta admit that G-Rex Creed comment may have been a little immature and uncalled for, since we can't assume that everyone who doesn't listen to Tool listens to Creed,
I gotta admit that G-Rex Creed comment may have been a little immature and uncalled for, since we can't assume that everyone who doesn't listen to Tool listens to Creed,
...yet disagrees with the rest:
but your comments dissing Tool's musicianship are pretty weak as well. You basically said your friend decided Lateralus blows based on Adam Jones' guitar work. Adam Jones certainly isn't a great guitarist, but he is pretty damn good in my opinion.
but your comments dissing Tool's musicianship are pretty weak as well. You basically said your friend decided Lateralus blows based on Adam Jones' guitar work. Adam Jones certainly isn't a great guitarist, but he is pretty damn good in my opinion.
Also what about the rest of the band? Danny Carey is considered by many people to be one of the best, if not the best drummer in rock today. If you don't think so, please go back and listen to lateralus one more time.
Justin Chauncellor is an amazing bass player as well, and Maynard is a very gifted vocalist.
I'm sure even if you don't like Tool, but you have at least listened to some of their music, you can at least see this.
Finally, the other problem that keeps popping up in these discussions is that people sometimes assume that, because I don't (any longer) think of highly of Tool as they do, it means I "hate" the band. Not so! [I'll admit, I used poor choice of words when I announced my love of "bash"ing them.] My feeling is, and has been for a couple years now, that they are worth listening to but overpraised in some circles. And if I come across as too forceful in my opinions, part of that is because I'm naturally a jackass, but it's also due to the fact that I'm *very* familiar with all the band's major releases so I feel pretty well qualified going into detail and backing up my thoughts.
PS: Haven't heard Salival, since it came out *after* I decided that, while the band's major studio albums were must-owns, their "compilation"-type material was unnecessary. Also haven't seen them live.
[Edited to delete cheap shot at the concert experience, and to add that I'm not offended by charges (which have *also* seemingly been edited out) that my little rants here are migraine-inducing. No need to lock the thread IMO. ]
Last edited by inVectiVe; 04-23-03 at 01:25 PM.
#23
Member
Join Date: Apr 2002
Location: Cincinnati, OH
Posts: 249
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Wow.....that Creed comment really struck a nerve with people. I forgort to turn the [sarcasm] tag on.
inVectiVe,
I guess you like some of their stuff, but you're not a huge fan. But let's not get into an arguement about their talents as musicians. Everybody has an opinion, but critisizing the skills of any member of the band is quite silly. Anyways, it's about the music a whole.....not individuals.
And please don't comment on the live shows if you haven't been to one.
Remember.....music is art.....not a contest.
Sorry....Tool's music is just very important to me.....and the live shows I've been to were amazing experiences. So I'm a little defensive about them. I don't want this thread to be closed....everybody should feel free to post their opinions!
inVectiVe,
I guess you like some of their stuff, but you're not a huge fan. But let's not get into an arguement about their talents as musicians. Everybody has an opinion, but critisizing the skills of any member of the band is quite silly. Anyways, it's about the music a whole.....not individuals.
And please don't comment on the live shows if you haven't been to one.
Remember.....music is art.....not a contest.
Sorry....Tool's music is just very important to me.....and the live shows I've been to were amazing experiences. So I'm a little defensive about them. I don't want this thread to be closed....everybody should feel free to post their opinions!
Last edited by G-Rex; 04-23-03 at 11:23 AM.
#24
Mod Emeritus
Join Date: Oct 1999
Location: Outside of the U.S.A.
Posts: 10,674
Likes: 0
Received 1 Like
on
1 Post
<small>
</small>And yet, more than two hours before your own post, he made it pretty clear.
Taking on board your own point concerning concerts, it's probably not a good idea to comment on his posts if you haven't properly read them (because of the headache?)
So far as I can see this is a "rate Tool" thread. If it gets bitter and destructively off-topic it will be closed - as would any clones that appeared shiortly thereafter.
Don't let the terrorists win: play nice!
Benedict
Moderator, Music Talk
Originally posted by G-Rex
inVectiVe,
Your posts are giving me a headache. I can't figure out if you like Tool or not.
inVectiVe,
Your posts are giving me a headache. I can't figure out if you like Tool or not.
Taking on board your own point concerning concerts, it's probably not a good idea to comment on his posts if you haven't properly read them (because of the headache?)
So far as I can see this is a "rate Tool" thread. If it gets bitter and destructively off-topic it will be closed - as would any clones that appeared shiortly thereafter.
Don't let the terrorists win: play nice!
Benedict
Moderator, Music Talk
#25
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Aug 2001
Location: Canada
Posts: 419
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Originally posted by benedict
<small></small>And yet, more than two hours before your own post, he made it pretty clear.
Taking on board your own point concerning concerts, it's probably not a good idea to comment on his posts if you haven't properly read them (because of the headache?)
So far as I can see this is a "rate Tool" thread. If it gets bitter and destructively off-topic it will be closed - as would any clones that appeared shiortly thereafter.
Don't let the terrorists win: play nice!
Benedict
Moderator, Music Talk
<small></small>And yet, more than two hours before your own post, he made it pretty clear.
Taking on board your own point concerning concerts, it's probably not a good idea to comment on his posts if you haven't properly read them (because of the headache?)
So far as I can see this is a "rate Tool" thread. If it gets bitter and destructively off-topic it will be closed - as would any clones that appeared shiortly thereafter.
Don't let the terrorists win: play nice!
Benedict
Moderator, Music Talk