LATERALUS

Befroe assigning a star rating to an album, you should carefully consider what the differing numbers of stars stand for. Please use "zero" and "five star" ratings very sparingly--most albums you dislike will have at least some positive qualities, and not every album you enjoy will be a perfect masterpiece."

Now look at what I gave it. My first encounter with Tool was walking into my friend's little brother. A conclave of artists were discussing the affect of music on our art. When a seven year old boy piped up, "Have you heard Tool's new album?!" This kid had this bright-eyed look that was in equipoise with, "I just saw the most beautiful thing in the world." I dismissed it as being potentially childish pop drivel. MISTAKE NUMBER ONE.

A few weeks later while visiting Nathan's (a friend) basement with another friend (Allan) to check out some of Nathan's paintings (which were spectacular, by the way) Nathan said he had something he wanted us to hear. He calmly walked over to his sound system turned it way up and pressed play. Heavy breathing...then the most rawest, halting, yet penetrating guitar came form the speakers...I couldn't move, I didn't move. I stood there and DID NOT MOVE, it was THAT powerful...unfortunately Nathan had to turn it off. Allan was having a seizure from Danny Carey's pedal work about halfway through the song. That was my first Tool song, Aenema. Being from a primitive culture, I thought this was one of those REALLY bad CDs so I never got Aenima. MISTAKE NUMBER TWO.

Couple months later, we're sitting in my friend's car driving and he says, I got something for you to hear. ::Insert CD, switch to Track 5:: OK, I hear normal chords and start thinking "chamber music" and begin to chuckle to myself...then I hear a bass note and I KNOW somethings coming. Then comes this most otherworldy music...a song structure I'd never encountered and just when I think it's over, the synth part kicks in...I just about crapped my pants. I remember thinking, that if anyone of these guys used a different instrument other than what they were playing, this song would be crap and that voice sounds familiar... When it was over, he told me, "This is Tool's new album." The very SAME album that seven year old kid told me about... "Play it again," I demanded. And he complied. Over and over again..."Schism." Eventually he got upset and said, "That's not the only song on the *******album, Omar...try this one." The Grudge...

People. Learn from my mistakes and please note that there is no Mistake Number Three.

Share this TOOL review

Social review comments () BETA

---

---

Review related links

• Send comments to o3parietal
• Report this review (#31735)
• Buy TOOL music online with PA partners
• Show all TOOL MP3/Stream
• Go to TOOL page for videos, full discography with ratings, reviews and much more
• Go to Lateralus page for more details, where to buy and ratings/reviews
• Search the Forum for TOOL related discussions