Tool

16,788,600 plays
2,717 SHARES
54,068 FAVS
1,864 fans

albums

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- 10,000 Days
- Released 2006

- Aenima
- Released 1996

- Lateralus
- Released 2001

- Undertow
- Released 1993

biography

Tool's greatest breakthrough was to introduce dark, vaguely underground metal to the preening pretentiousness of art rock. Or maybe it was introducing the self-absorbed pretension of art rock to the wearing grind of post-thrash metal -- the order really doesn't matter. Though Metallica wrote their multi-sectioned, layered songs as if they were composers, they kept their musical attack ferociously at street level. Tool didn't. They embraced the artsy, faux-bohemian preoccupations of Jane's Addiction while they simultaneously paid musical homage to the dark, relentlessly bleak visions of grindcore, death metal, and thrash. Even with their post-punk influences, they executed their music with the ponderous, anti-song aesthetic of prog rock, alternating between long, detailed instrumental interludes and tuneless, pseudo-meaningful lyrical rants in their songs.

Tool, however, had a knack for conveying the strangled, oppressive angst that the alternative nation of the early '90s claimed as its own. So, the band was able to slip into the definition of alternative rock during the post-Nirvana era, landing a slot on the third Lollapalooza tour in 1993, which helped their first full-length debut album, Undertow, rocket into platinum status. By the time the band delivered their belated follow-up, Ænima, in 1996, alternative rock had lost its grip on the mainstream of America, and their audience had shaped up as essentially metal-oriented, which meant that the group and the record didn't capture as big an audience as their first album, despite debuting at number two on the charts. After a co-headlining slot with Korn on Lollapalooza '97 wrapped up, Tool remained on the road, supporting Ænima until well into the next year.

During their usual extended hiatus between albums, Maynard James Keenan decided to use his downtime productively by forming a side project, dubbed A Perfect Circle. The band's 2000 debut, Mer de Noms, was a surprise hit, while their ensuing tour was a sold-out success as well. With Tool breakup rumors swirling, the band put the speculation to rest by re-entering the recording studio and issuing the stopgap B-sides/DVD set Salival late the same year. Finally, May 2001 saw the release of Tool's third full-length release, Lateralus, which debuted at the number one position on the Billboard album chart and became the band's biggest hit. After the obligatory several-year sabbatical to pursue other projects, the group returned with another chart-topper, 10,000 Days, in 2006. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine & Greg Prato, All Music Guide

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- Korn

- Alice in Chains

- Soundgarden

- White Zombie

comments

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- - Tool Fan
  - - By SinuousScribe
    - 11/9/2009 13:04:30
  - I just wanna say this. ...as if I've not said it enough; I LOVE Tool. Ever since Ybor City 1994. Thank you Maynard, thank you Tool! Since then there have been no others. Maynard was celebrating his birthday at that show and the tickets to it were my birthday present. I can honestly say it was by far the coolest and longest lasting gift I've ever received. Can't wait until the next album! ...we gotta be getting close. Right?
  - 2 out of 2 people
  - think this is useful

- - TA members?
  - - By BrianZ81
    - 11/8/2009 20:03:53
  - Any TA members here? I am BrianZ81 on the Tool Army, if anyone cares:)
    
    What can be said about TOOL that hasn't already been said? Look at my top plays and you'll clearly see that I am a diehard fan. Justin and Danny are two really cool people. Danny is obviously one of the best drummers in the world, yet, is very humble and easy to talk to. Justin is very cool. We sat backstage debating on flavors of milkshakes after he invited a group of us inside, after a show. Adam and Maynard did not join the festivities. This backs up my theory: the rhythm section is composed of the coolest people:)
    
    Ænima is a masterpiece!
  - 1 out of 5 people
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- - Tool Is Tool
  - - By whacktose
    - 10/20/2009 11:06:45
  - If you don't understand Tool you never will. People spend countless hours trying to pick apart the lyrics, but Tool is all about thinking for yourself. Every word means something different to everyone. If this was the only band left on Earth, I would be alright. As I get older the lyrics start to mean different things to me. The music is ridiculous also!!!
  - 18 out of 19 people
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- - SATAN IS ME...you are an idiot
  - - By wh1p1ash
    - 10/15/2009 14:38:40
  - Would you call Metallica EMO, as well. They write a lot of songs about emotions. James has written songs, (Until it Sleeps, God that Failed for example) about about his mother dying from cancer.
  - 3 out of 3 people
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- - @ satan is me
  - - By Zombie McJesus
    - 10/5/2009 03:02:35
  - If you really think Tool is 'emo' in any way, shape or form, you're stupid. REALLY stupid. Of course, they have some songs which are emotional (who doesn't?), but that doesn't classify them as 'emo' what-so-ever. God forbid people show their emotions, right? Makes for terrible songs, right?
    
    You're entitled to your own little opinion, but the least you can do is get your shit straight.
  - 12 out of 13 people
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