New Tool Album (No, Really)

[Norseman]

Interview snips in this YouTube vid come from a longer BBC show:

https://youtu.be/xW6FOQ5sGKw

From JRE:

https://youtu.be/HRYbQWBq3UI

[The Reverend Floater]

It's worth noting that Maynard has never "led the way" with their tunes... he's always written vocal parts in reaction to finished musical tracks, and I think it's valuable for the listener to consider this.

Also... they are getting older, and have more mature artistic expression than when they were 30 and full of anger when writing Opiate. To play and compose at their level, at their age, is mind blowing. Danny is 58.

They are talented dudes, all. This record is amazing. They've always kinda cringed at being lumped in with "metal"... this ain't no 4/4 buttrock. I still hear new shit in the old albums... this one is on another plane.

True and well said. My wife always asks why they're so special to me and it's nearly impossible to articulate other than how I still discover nuances in their music, twenty plus years later. It seems to have unlimited complexities.

[The Reverend Floater]

I agree, and I would guess Maynard's voice can't carry a song/album or make a song something much, much more, like it once could. That's why this is less Maynard's. This guess is based on all the old vocal-cord-wrecking songs he can't/won't sing live anymore. He couldn't write/sing another Stinkfist or Aenema if he wanted too, right? His body won't let him perform it like did, so he's moved out of the way on this album. The band doesn't have to complement his crazy range or match an intense scream/tone anymore (wasn't every song they had to in the past, I know), they can let songs take a different path now as they write. In a lot of ways it's a huge bummer and why there's isn't an intense gut-wrenching rocking single on this album. On the other hand, they are talented enough to come out with something interesting without Maynard leading the way, and in the past they did this on some mellower songs already, so it's not out of place.

90's Tool is never coming back, they have gotten old, but they are evolving.

When I saw them last, Maynard was still hitting probably 90% of the notes. I remember being blown away by H. and Jiambi. But you're likely right.. probably not as easy as it used to be.

[SkiBall]

Take what the world gives. Like it, love it, leave it, rank it. It is new Tool music, and I will take what they give and enjoy it as I see fit. Just happy we have this music put out into the universe.

I just better get fucking tickets when they go on sale Friday. My last experience with this kind of show and Altitude tickets was a disappointing goose egg. (Pearl Jam).

[AK47bp]

New Tool Album (No, Really)

Opiate and Undertow are my favorites, however, all the albums after are serious works of art, they require more immersion for a bigger payoff. After the long building and set up, the crescendos are just amazing.

The best thing about this new album to me is they still sound like Tool, haven’t missed a beat, I can close my eyes and can be back in the 90’s. We needed this, I needed this. music nowadays just sucks balls in my opinion.

Tool is super nostalgic for me, I was 14 when Undertow came out.

Forgot to add this. Should be on on every page

https://youtu.be/u7lweNCCwS0

Sent from my iPhone using TGR Forums

[Ripzalot]

i'm determined to be the last tool fan alive who hasn't heard the new album.

[muted]

I don't think they're 100% "finished" until they're actually tracked, but yeah, they've described their writing process in various interviews. I'll see if I can dig up a couple.

That blows my theory out of the water, but I still have to think they polished and fit the music somewhat to fit maynards tone on earlier albums, even if it was just a few songs. I can see 100% how he could have written everything after the tracks were finished on the last album though.

When I saw them last, Maynard was still hitting probably 90% of the notes. I remember being blown away by H. and Jiambi. But you're likely right.. probably not as easy as it used to be.

For a 55 year old he sounds really good, don't get me wrong, but he set a high frickin' bar in his twenties that had to be hard to maintain night-after-night performing live. I saw Tool last fall (maybe it was fall of 2017?), I can't say he blew me away like he used to. Still great though.

Tix on sale in 2.2 hours...

[skideeppow]

i just bought the album on I Tunes. I thought they didnt sell their stuff on I tunes?

[Tippster]

Forgot to add this. Should be on on every page
https://youtu.be/u7lweNCCwS0

So fucking strong.

Reminds me of this show: Lollapalooza Tour 06/26/1993 – Fiddlers Green Amphitheatre... first time I saw them Live.

What a show: Primus, Alice in Chains, Dinosaur Jr., Fishbone, Arrested Development, Front 242 (first half), George Clinton (second half), Babes in Toyland (first half), Tool (second half), Rage Against the Machine

[Norseman]

That blows my theory out of the water, but I still have to think they polished and fit the music somewhat to fit maynards tone on earlier albums, even if it was just a few songs. I can see 100% how he could have written everything after the tracks were finished on the last album though.

I have to correct myself after hearing this interview published today, in which Maynard clarifies the statements he made previously:

https://youtu.be/iWYvB6sfOks

He said that he started writing lyrics to fully finished tracks when Billy Howerdel brought them to him for A Perfect Circle... so that'd be late 90's.

With the early Tool material, he was at least somewhat involved in arrangement work.

[SKIP IN7RO]

A preseller has tix for $188-1774. Good luck mags!

[undertow2]

A preseller has tix for $188-1774. Good luck mags!

By the time I was able to get into buy the good tics were all sold out... As usual I had to get mine through StubHub and paid $336 per tic and the seats are pretty legit...! Not missing them this go around...

Sent from my SM-G955U using TGR Forums mobile app

[muted]

Just checking some other venues for demand before i get in virtual line at 10am, seems like there is some demand, no?

[406]

Anyone figure out how to buy the new album on CD? I'm just seeing it on ebay? I keep seeing click bait claiming it is outselling Taylor Swift, but can't figure out how to buy...

[toast2266]

I'm very solidly in the "meh" category on this album. Although, I'm not sure that I'm the target audience because, if I ranked Tool albums it'd go; 1. Opiate 2. Undertow 3. Aenima 4. Can't really tell a difference.

X2.

The new album is great - per usual, some insane music on there. But it kinda feels like they're just finding ways to draw out saying / playing the same things with minor tweaks here and there.