Lateralus not Schism.Originally Posted by moecurlythanu
I'd rather listen to Tool than Dream Theater or Ayreon, but I still don't think they are Prog-Rock. However, I think I recall reading that the musical progression or some such in the song "Schism" mimics the Fibonacci Sequence, and you can't get much more prognerd than that.
Thanks. I wasn't certain which of the two it was when I typed it.
One way to put it is perhaps that Tool belongs to a current which I call "anti-prog" for lack of a better name - a dark yang to the colourful yin of prog: a tradition of advanced, sophisticated rock music, but with a cynical and misanthropic rather than culturally progressive outlook, beginning with Frank Zappa and the Velvet Underground, and progressing via industrial and noise rock to the stuff called "prog rock" in the hipster press of which Tool is a prime example.
But perhaps this is just utter hogwash.
Fibonacci sequences ... What could be more imaginative? lol.
What you didn't know was the last album's name was how long it would take for the next one.After waiting for 10 years I take the view it will arrive when it arrives, I've stopped counting the days!!
My problem with Tool more or less these days is not what you say but more that they used their initial mystique and belief in anonymity with their personalities or lack thereof so that they could go pushing their higher art and replaced or spun it now as an outright "spiritual" egotism gimmick...not to mention how arena-rock corporate they've gone.
exceptional is exagerated , IMHO
But those are the two that I will retain.
my music collection increased tenfolds when I switched from drug-addicts to complete nutcases.
I don't find their music misanthropic at all. In fact, when Aenima came out, I was going through a really down period in my life, and listening to the lyrics and music, that was working through dark themes, was hugely helpful, healing and cathartic for me. In fact there is a line from the song Aenema, "don't just call me pessimist, try and read between the lines", which pretty much spells it out. But, then again, I'm a huge fan, so that's what it means, to me.
neil
I saw them live in Belgrade, in 2007, and since then, I'm quite a big fan because they were fantastic.
An amateur footage of Belgrade show:
And yeah, they are Prog, as Prog isn't and never meant that symphonic rock only.
Tool are Prog like, for example, King Crimson were Prog in their LTiA era. Or, like Rush's 2112 epic.
Last edited by Svetonio; 07-13-2016 at 06:00 AM.
Funny, that song was the first one I immediately thought of when considering their most misanthropic moments.
On consideration I suppose you can read it either way. As with their hero Bill Hicks, maybe the anger is really rooted in a fundamental optimism, as in "we're so disgusted with these dregs of humanity because we can/should be better." It's also the same song with "I can't imagine why you wouldn't welcome any change" and "Mom's coming around to put it back the way it ought to be."
Seven-minute singles with gothic disturbing-imagery-filled videos, rhythms based around odd or complex math, deviant artwork, vague lyrics about metaphysics and human evolution, 11- or 18-minute suites interspersed with abstract sound interludes, an insistence on anonymity rather than cult of personality--wow, if that isn't arena-rock corporate, what is?
I've also never gotten the impression the spiritual stuff was insincere or gimmicky, but that's just me.
To me, they are an anomaly. Somehow, despite the difficult lyrics, bizarre time sigs, and dark, weird videos, they have become popular. It's not their fault that they can fill arenas. I am very happy to have seen them on the Aenima tour in late '96, just as they were starting to break big, in a mid sized venue. MJK was right up front, freaking out like a madman, and, other than Danny, they were all painted blue and white. Top 5 live show ever, for me.
neil
I seem to like A Perfect Circle. Does that say anything in relation to Tool?
The older I get, the better I was.
Almost nothing.
Alright, I'll take your "Almost" and consider that something..
The older I get, the better I was.
Nice. That's sort of accurate. Obviously the voice is the same, but otherwise you'd very rarely confuse the two... APC's writing style basically sticks to the conventional verse-chorus structure that Tool studiously avoids (though there's some of the same heavy crunch).Alright, I'll take your "Almost" and consider that something.
IMO, the 1at APC album Mers de Nom is the one to own. After that, more miss than hit to these ears.
Sent from my OnePlus One awaiting a LuneOS port
Death inspires me like a dog inspires a rabbit
LOL... Steve Perry singing Stinkfist! In that awful Escape era tiger shirt!
Oh man...
Death inspires me like a dog inspires a rabbit
I agree here.
The older I get, the better I was.
Find me ONE mainstream article in the past 6 years that DOESN'T have an opening sentence along the lines of "Tool are a very private band, who hardly give interviews"...and they're not selling out and adhering to arena-rock conventions? oh ok. i just don't feel or see the integrity behind what they do any more...and it's sold to all of us under the guise of "mystique/occult/arcane" and "higher-evolution" futant nonsense...when they're not really very challenging or as deep as they believe...and the first person to quote Hooker With A Penis or tell me to "learn to swim" proves the blind idiocy going around, as if that sums everything up.
i won't pay to see this band again. It was borderline like being at a Dave Matthews Band concert last time i saw them - and i'm a fan of both bands, but the fans absolutely blow. No one was there to have any sort of internal experience, "it's a party man!" And this is why i don't do arena shows any more. To me the gold standard of an art-rock show or just being at a show in general and getting some experience where my hand isn't held in being told "how to feel" is Steven Wilson. But with Tool there's now an obligatory showboating drum solo bit...and not along the lines of Salival's Merkaba any more either...FFS he covered B'Boom, why!?
If you were referring to the Lateralus tour i would agree with you. The last time i saw them they had laser lights, smoke machines, pyrotechnics, Windows Media fractals as videos, or their own videos which are fine...but for a band that touts "ART" there are TONS of visual artists looking for work (Chet Zar's stuff and Osseus Labyrinth were cool accompaniments for instance)...MJK said the same bad hippie "do something positive after tonight" message night in, night out; now he's just an egotistical prick although occasionally funny when we get "blessed" with him opening his mouth...and honestly, if you've seen one Alex Grey painting, you've seen them all...i really wish they drop him in this upcoming direction, if we ever get there.
so uh, i'll tell you how i REALLY feel some other time.
Last edited by Haruspex Carnage; 07-13-2016 at 10:50 PM.
Some of that's understandable, but really it seems like you're projecting a lot onto the band because of things they don't control. They don't encourage the fans to act like idiots, usually the opposite in fact, and the fame/demand for big venues was a fluke that happened pretty much despite their musical sensibility, not because of it.
Huh???
Enjoy the moment... It's the only way to fly!
Well that's what i mean i think, it's come back to bite them in the ass pretty hard, and rather than shrug with it and continue to push the envelope like they claim to, i think they just rested on their laughing-to-the-bank laurels and they don't give a fuck any more...and perhaps rightfully, they all, save Justin, have kids again or otherwise now!
Last edited by Haruspex Carnage; 07-14-2016 at 04:55 PM.
so uh, i'll tell you how i REALLY feel some other time.LOL. I must agree that Tool are more hype than substance these days.
To be or not to be? That is the point. - Harry Nilsson.
In the words of Fox Mulder: "I want to believe".
http://metaladdicts.com/site/tool-re...-5-hours-long/
neil
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