Tool's new album has been an interesting ride for a music fan.
Tool's previous album AEnema is one of my favourites. It's fantastic. It's damn near perfection. So Tool was always going to have a tought time impressing me with their new album.
When I first heard Lateralus for the first few times I hated it. Thought it was complete and utter trash with none of the brilliance of AEnema. I hated the production. I hated what they've done to Maynards voice. I hate the weak muffled sounding guitars. I thought the drumming was pure wank. I hated Maynards singing style throughout. It was too damn long. I just couldn't get into it.
So I went back and listened to AEnema and damn it, I hated Lateralus even more because it had somehow managed to make me dislike parts of my favourite album. I spoted massive chunks of Lateralus in AEnema and I didn't like it. Another listen and I was over it but it wasn't a pleasent experience.
The big problem I had with Lateralus was that it was AEnema, but it wasn't. It was the big guitar sound, the quiet to sudden extreme shock value, the way Maynard sings but doesn't seem to be listening to the music. It was almost a parody of Tool. Like many a band's "big album follow up", it sounds like they're playing themselves but not very well.
That is entirely too harsh and I know it. But it will not change the fact that I will never get into this album. Whenever I listen to it for a while, then stop I find myself singing Tool songs from AEnema, not from Lateralus. Lateralus serves nothing for me but a reminder of how amazing AEnema is. I feel I hold AEnema on such a high pedestal that I'll never be able to appreciate Lateralus for what others seem to think it is. When I listen to it (or Opiate or Undertow) I always think, "what the hell am I doing listening to this" and put on AEnema. I know that they're good. I appreciate that they're good. But they're not as good as AEnema.
I used to feel this way about Soundgarden's Down On The Upside and recently rediscovered how good it is. Maybe one day I'll do the same for Lateralus.
hey dick your review of this album is about as accurate as a blind man throwing a rock at your face lateralus is not aenima is not lateralus they are both equally genius if you are a tool fan you would no that every word every sound from that band needs to be heard with open ears and an open mind
you fuckin idiot, lateralus is so much better than aenime ever was.
sure at first i though aenima was better, but the second time i listened to lateralus it totally blew my mind. there is so much to it, the lyrics, and ever subtle sound makes the whole album into a piece of near perfection that any other band should be struggling to achieve half of its brilliance.
I really dont like to bash other peoples perspectives, and i somewhat agree with you. but i think each album is not suppose to sound like any other. if you really stop and think about it, Maynard did it on purpose.
You see opiate and undertow were just feelings and emotions jummbled together to make meaningful songs, while Aenima was Maynards outlet for his rage against the idiot's of the world. But Lateralus was not meant to be too loud or too fast, it was just meant to be there. It was meant to be not, anger, or feelings but contemplation of thoughts. contemplation of fantasy and the unresolved, its like an episode of the X-FILES.
WOW, I would have to agree with "mateo", whats with the bashing. Althugh the rock hitting the face thing was pretty funny!
Tool is about self-exploration ad self-expression, so if someone wants to tell there opinion about what THEY think, there perfectly welcome to do so. I think aenima and lateralus (as well as all the albums) are all great in there own light. Lateralus, to me, was simply the evolving creature that came after the past albums. Lateralus has reached the greatest amount of people however, and I think that may be the main reason its so popular of all the albums. READ THE LYRICS BEFORE YOU OPEN YOUR MOUTH.
ignore the above comment sent by inept friend.
"There not as good as aenima." DUDE! Your smokin dope hommee! Open your ears and put down the crack pipe, you may here something your missing, like the point. Hello? I cant believe what you said about Danney Carreys drumming, he is one (if not the) best drummer in music history. As for Maynards voice, take that dick out of your ear and wipe off your mouth! I have never herd anyone (exept your dumb ass) say anything but possitibe things about Maynards lyrics. Maynard and Danney both use something called the Fabonacci sequince in both ascending and descending. They are one of the most intelligent and musically able individuals on the planet you fuck nut!
i think you are the biggest fucking idiot. i cant believe that you say you like tool. if you liked them then you wouldnt be saying that lateralus was a piece of shit album thats trying to simulate the "mood" of aenima. i think that comparing tool albums is like comparing an jimi hendrix album with an album by britteny spears. you cant and arent supposed to compare them. each tool album provided a unique experience, evokes a new emotion, and moves you to a new level. each album is different and thats the way that tool intended for them to be. if you can see that then you must be pretty fucked up. perhaps you should give up on tool since they obviously have had no effect on you.
...dumbass