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Rating:
...........This is how I begin my second review. Honestly, I can't find the words to define this work by Tool. If I could give it a 10, I would. If I could give it a 15, I would. If I could avoid giving a score to this album, it would be the first thing I'd do, because it's not wise to judge an album that with 90% probability has forever changed the history of rock.
Oh right, but rock has been dead for quite a while, damn, so let's just screw ourselves and bow down before the last rock band in the history of music. Even here, before definitively trying to express my opinion on the album, I state one thing. Very painfully, I admit this is the first and only Tool album I have in my discography, and until two months ago, I didn't know who these four aliens were, who go by the names of Maynard James Keenan (vocals), Justin Chancellor (bass), Danny Carey (drums, and damn what drums), and Adam Jones (electric guitar). I also admit I have no desire to buy the previous works of these four, because I'm still trying to understand this one, so it's not my fault. To finish, a plea to the friends and reviewers of DeBaser: to keep this site acceptable, let's try to exalt MASTERPIECES like these, instead of mocking the horny and depraved teenagers listening to that (music? huh, maybe not) that comes from overhyped idols like Jesse McCartney, Lee Ryan, and Hilary Duff who soon won't even know how many hairs they have on their asshole they are so arrogant and willing to do anything for a bit of fame.
Fine, Tool. A name, a guarantee, a whole. And this new chapter of the four's magmatic inner search needs to be explored all, without leaving anything out, even if it's nearly impossible. First point: the cover. I sort of remember the covers of the various "Lateralus", "Aenima", "Opiate" and so forth, but even the cover this time is no longer the same: representing a kind of totem or at least a lofty figure with divine semblance is made of cardboard, not the kind you pack food in, mind you, almost cardstock, hence an extremely thick cover. The eleven songs are barely hinted at in the booklet placed inside a CD "compartment," which is mostly illustrated with abstract, almost fractal figures, all colored to make everything truly suggestive and hypnotic. So, the Album, with a capital A.
The first track, called "Vicarious", was chosen as the band's first official single, and never was there a more fitting choice, because it's the only track that for its rhythm and melody can be adapted as a single. Gosh, it's not like "single" is a word that fits the song, because in reality within these 7 minutes and 6 is contained power, charisma, magnificence and above all extreme skill. The composition starts with an extremely simple bass riff, with a rhythm pattern typical of Tool style, and while the alarm of a distant clock brings us back to reality, here the song explodes. The lyrics are truly poetic, never cliché, a denunciation against consumer society. The solo at about four minutes is breathtaking; I felt chills down to my toes, but damn the best was yet to come, the ending is worth all the €23.90 of the album, with these words shouted by Keenan ("Vicariously I/ Live while the whole world dies/ Much better you than I") accompanied by a Danny Carey who stunned me, and if he doesn't take drugs to hit like that, who the hell does? Come on.
The second song is "Jambi", and I must say I didn't like it much, even though the initial guitar strumming accompanied by Carey's furious rolls had me a bit deluded. I find that in the 7.28 total, the song loses a bit of intensity and also loses its way a bit, but a tiny flaw amid an ocean of skill is irrelevant, and nonetheless, I reiterate that tastes are subjective. The third song (divided into two parts, "Wings for Marie pt 1" and "10,000 Days- Wings Pt 2") is a very sweet composition in the first six minutes, as it's dedicated to Keenan's infirm mother who, while with the side project A Perfect Circle raged against her convictions (especially religious ones), now mourns her because she died after a long suffering. Regarding the song, Jones' oddly distant and gentle guitar persists throughout the track, while Maynard with a sweet voice sings tear-jerking verses (really beautiful the last one). A very brief explosion, lasting fifteen seconds, appears around the fifth minute of this very long track (seventeen minutes), and the first part ends with a strange thud echoing for ten seconds. I won't say much about the second part, only that it's more aggressive than the first, starts with an emblematic thunderstorm in the distance and the eponymous title seems to symbolize the days of suffering for Maynard's mother. Perhaps "10,000 Days- Wings Pt 2" resulted too magmatic for me.
The fourth song is called "The Pot" and I was very impressed by Keenan's voice alone so distorted from the falsetto, it doesn't even seem like him anymore, but the song works very well, indeed, and shortly after good Maynard resumes his rough tones with force and yells "You must have been... high, high!". Truly an excellent song. The fifth track, "Lipan Conjuring", named after a Native American tribe, is very short and almost entirely instrumental, with Maynard mumbling something nonsensical under a persistent jingling. Interesting is the sixth composition, also divided into two parts ("Lost Keys(Blame Hoffmann)" and "Rosetta Stoned"). The first is entirely instrumental, Chancellor's bass composes some very simple chords with a siren in the background, and indeed towards the end of the song there is a conversation between a doctor and a nurse about a problematic patient who doesn't want to talk to anyone. Under the doctor's insistent request (who as his last line says to the patient: "Tell me everything...") start the acidic notes of "Rosetta Stoned", the longest song on the album which turns out to be a very rough track but truly enjoyable in its rarefied beauty.
I have little time and still some things to say, so I skip the analysis of the seventh song (divided into "Intension" and "Right in Two") to analyze the eighth and final track. You surely have noticed that I haven't delved much into the songs on the album, and I feel very guilty for this, forgive me really, I'm sorry, but I had a reason. This reason goes by the name of twenty-three or, as the Latins said, "Viginti Tres". Honestly, I don't consider it a song, but a life choice: you either like it or you don't. And I like it, very much even. It's not a song, as mentioned before: rather, it's an assemblage of inarticulate sounds, very distant, and that come closer, and then go back away, and then come forward again, for five minutes. The first time after listening to it I said to myself: "What the hell is this crap?". The second time I was already in delirium. These sounds are unclassifiable: to me, they initially seemed produced by the beating of a sheet metal, then like in "10,000 Days- Wings Pt 2" a distant thunderstorm, then again a breath. The answer left me astonished: it's the noise produced by the simultaneous closing and opening of a heart patient's heart's systole and diastole, which indeed is in coronary crisis. Truly genius, there are almost no words to describe it...
Final curiosities, because the album is perfect: "Lost Keys" is dedicated to an Austrian scientist, Albert Hoffmann, who first discovered the virtues of LSD (and this reinforces possible doubts stating the Tool's intake of LSD for composing their lyrics). Finally, and I didn't know this and hadn't heard it, even "Viginti Tres" has its own lyrics, smothered among the noise of systoles, four lines you can read here next to ("Una Infinitas/ Abominatio Nascitur Autumno/ Hic est tuum temptamen quod temptat tua potentia/ Viginti Tres gradus ad summam potestatem"). I don’t know what the hell it means, translate it yourself........
Tracklist Lyrics and Samples
01 Vicarious (07:06)
Eye on the TV
'Cause tragedy thrills me
Whatever flavor it happens to be
Like
Killed by the husband
Drowned by the ocean
Shot by his own son
She used a poison in his tea
Then she kissed him goodbye
That's my kind of story
It's no fun till someone dies
Don't look at me like
I am a monster
Frown out your one face
But with the other you
Stare like a junkie
Into the TV
Stare like a zombie
While the mother holds her child
Watches him die
Hands to the sky, cryin'
"Why, oh why?"
'Cause I need to watch things die
From a distance
Vicariously, I live while the whole world dies
You all need it too don't lie
Why can't we just admit it?
We won't give pause untill
The blood is flowing
Neither the brave nor bold
Nor brightest of stories told
We won't give pause untill
The blood is flowing
I need to watch things die
From a good safe distance
Vicariously, I live while the whole world dies
You all feel the same so why can't we just admit it?
Blood like rain come down
Drum on grave and ground
Part vampire
Part warrior
Carnivore
and voyeur
Stare at the transmittal
Sing to the death rattle
Credulous at best
Your desire to believe in
Angels in the hearts of men
Pull your head on out
Your hippy haze and give a listen
Shouldn't have to say it all again
The universe is hostile
So impersonal
Devour to survive
So it is
So it's always been
We all feed on tragedy
It's like Blood to a vampire
Vicariously, I live while the whole world dies
Much better you than I
02 Jambi (07:28)
Here from a king's mountain view,
Here from a wild dream come true.
Feast like a sultan, I do,
On treasures and flesh - never few.
But I would wish it all away if I thought I’d lose you just one day.
The Devil and his had me down;
In love with the dark side, I’d found.
Dabbling all the way down.
Up to my neck, soon to drown.
But you changed that all for me.
Lifted me up; turned me round.
So I,
I,
I,
I,
I would,
I would,
I would wish this all away…
Prayed like a martyr dusk to dawn;
Begged like a hooker all night long.
Tempted the devil with my song,
And got what I wanted all along.
But I,
And I would,
If I could,
And I would -
Wish it away,
Wish it away,
Wish it all away;
[I] wanna wish it all away-
No prize you could hold, sway or justify my giving away, my Center.
So if I could I’d wish it all away - if I thought tomorrow would take you away.
Your my piece of mind, my all, my Center; I'm just trying to hold on one more day.
Damn my eyes!
Dim my eyes...
Dim my eyes if they should compromise our fulcrum.
Want and Need, divide me - then I might as well be gone.
Shine on forever; shine on, benevolent son/sun.
Shine down upon the broken; shine until the two become one.
Shine on forever; shine on, benevolent son/sun.
Shine down upon the severed; shine until the two become one.
Divided, I’m withering away.
Divided, I’m withering away.
Shine down upon the many; light our way, benevolent son/sun.
Breathe in union. Breathe in union. Breathe in union. Breathe in union.
Breathe in union so as one survive another day and season.
Silence, leech, and save your prayers; silence, leech, just stay out of my way.
05 The Pot (06:21)
Who are you to wave your finger?
You must have been outta your head
Eye hole deep in muddy waters
You practically raised the dead
Rob the grave to snow the cradle
Then burn the evidence down
Soapbox house of cards and glass so
Don't go tossin' your stones around
You must have been high
You must have been high
You must have been
Foot in mouth and head up ass
So whatcha talkin' 'bout?
Difficult to dance 'round this one
'til you pull it out, boy
You must have been so high
You must have been so high
Steal, borrow, refer, save your shady inference
Kangaroo done hung the jury with the innocent
Now you're weeping shades of cozened indigo
Got lemon juice up in your eye, eye
When you pissed all over my black kettle
You must have been high
You must have been high
Who are you to wave your finger?
So full of it
Eye balls deep in muddy waters
Fuckin' hypocrite
Liar, lawyer; mirror show me, what's the difference?
Kangaroo done hung the guilty with the innocent
Now you're weeping shades of cozened indigo
Got lemon juice up in your eye, eye
When you pissed all over my black kettle
You must've been...
So who are you to wave your finger?
Who are you to wave your fatty fingers at me?
You must have been out your mind
Weepin' shades of indigo
Shed without a reason
Weepin' shades of indigo
Liar, lawyer; mirror, for you, what's the difference?
Kangaroo be stoned. He's guilty as the government
Now you're weeping shades of cozened indigo
Got lemon juice up in your eye, eye
Now when you pissed all over my black kettle
You must've been
High
High
High
High
Eyeballs deep in muddy waters
Eyeballs deep in muddy waters
Ganja? P-lease,
You must have been out your mind
07 Lost Keys (Blame Hofmann) (03:46)
Excuse me, doctor?
If you have a moment?
A moment? What's the question?
More of a situation: A gentleman in exam three.
What's the problem?
That is the problem.
We're not sure...
You got the chart?
Right here.
Hmm, not much here is there?
No doctor.
No obvious physical trauma.
Mmm, vitals are stable.
Name?
No sir.
Someone drop him off?
Maybe we can speak to them.
Let's get some background on this fella.
No ID, Nothing.
And he won't speak to anyone.
Well then let's say hello.
Good morning, I'm Doctor Marcy.
How are you today?
How... are you today? (echo)
Look son,
You're in a safe place.
We want to help you, whatever way we can.
But we need to talk to you.
We can't help you otherwise.
Now what's happened?
Tell me everything.
08 Rosetta Stoned (11:11)
Alrighty, then ... picture this if you will.
10 to 2 AM, X, Yogi DMT, and a box of Krispy Kremes,
in my "need to know" pose, just outside of Area 51
Contemplating the whole "chosen people" thingy
when a flaming stealth banana split the sky
like one would hope but never really expect
to see in a place like this.
Cutting right angle donuts on a dime
and stopping right at my Birkenstocks,
and me yelping...
Holy fucking shit!
Then the X-Files being,
Looking like some kind of blue-green Jackie Chan
with Isabella Rossellini lips, and breath that reeked of
vanilla Chig Champa
Did a slow-mo Matrix descent
Outta the butt end of the banana vessel
And hovered above my bug-eyes, my gaping jaw,
and my sweaty L. Ron Hubbard upper lip,
and all I could think was:
"I hope Uncle Martin here doesn't notice
that I pissed my fuckin' pants."
So light in his way,
Like an apparition, that
He had me crying out,
"Fuck me
It's gotta be
the Deadhead Chemistry
The blotter got right on top of me
Got me seein' E-motherfuckin'-T!"
And after calming me down
with some orange slices
and some fetal spooning,
E.T. revealed to me his singular purpose.
He said, "You are the Chosen One,
the One who will deliver the message.
A message of hope for those who choose to hear it
and a warning for those who do not."
Me. The Chosen One?
They chose me!!!
And I didn't even graduate from fuckin' high school.
You'd better...
You'd better...
You'd better...
You'd better listen.
Then he looked right through me
With somniferous almond eyes
Don't even know what that means
Must remember to write it down
This is so real
Like the time Dave floated away
See, my heart is pounding
'Cause this shit never happens to me
I can't breathe right now!
It was so real,
Like I woke up in Wonderland.
All sorta terrifying
I don't wanna be all alone
While I tell this story.
And can anyone tell me why
Y'all sound like Peanuts parents?
Will I ever be coming down?
This is so real
Finally, it's my lucky day
See, my heart is racing
'Cause this shit never happens to me
I can't breathe right now!
You believe me, don't you?
Please believe what I've just said!
See the Dead ain't touring
And this wasn't all in my head.
See, they took me by the hand
And invited me right in.
Then they showed me something
I don't even know where to begin.
Strapped down to my bed
Feet cold and eyes red
I'm out of my head
Am I alive? Am I dead?
Can't remember what they said
God damn, shit the bed.
Hey ...
Overwhelmed as one would be, placed in my position.
Such a heavy burden now to be the One
Born to bear and bring to all the details of our ending,
To write it down for all the world to see.
But I forgot my pen
Shit the bed again ...
Typical.
Strapped down to my bed
Feet cold and eyes red
I'm out of my head
Am I alive? Am I dead?
Sun kissed and Sudafed
Gyroscopes and infrared
Won't help, I'm brain dead
Can't remember what they said
God damn, shit the bed
I can't remember what they said to me
Can't remember what they said to make me out to be the hero
Can't remember what they said
Bob help me!
Can't remember what they said
We don't know, and we won't know (x12)
God damn, shit the bed!
09 Intension (07:21)
(Lyrics for the reversed song at approx. 05:45: Work hard, Stay in school, Listen to your mother,
Your father is right/rising/right, son...
Jesus loves you... Work hard, Stay in school,
Listen to your mother, your father is right/rising/right son...)
Pure as we begin.
Pure as we come in.
Pure as we begin.
Ruled by will alone.
Pure as we begin.
Here we have a stone.
Gather, place, erase so.
Shelter turns to home.
Pure as we begin.
Here we have a stone.
Throw to stay the stranger.
Swore to crush his bones.
Ruled by will alone.
Spark becomes a flame.
Flame becomes a fire.
Light the way or warm this.
Home we occupy.
Spark becomes a flame.
Flame becomes a fire.
Forge a blade to slay the stranger.
Take whatever we desire.
Moved by will alone.
Pure as we begin.
Pure as we begin
Move by will alone.
Leave as we come in.
Pure as light.
Return to one.
Move by will alone.
Move by will alone.
10 Right in Two (08:55)
Angels on the sideline
Puzzled and amused
Why did Father give these humans free will?
Now they're all confused
Don't these talking monkeys know that Eden has enough to go around?
Plenty in this holy garden, silly monkeys
Where there's one they're bound to divide
Right in two
Angels on the sideline
Baffled and confused
Father blessed them all with reason
And this is what they choose
Monkey, killing monkey, killing monkey
Over pieces of the ground
Silly monkeys, give them thumbs
They forge a blade
And where there's one they're bound to divide
Right in two
Right in two
Monkey, killing monkey, killing monkey
Over pieces of the ground
Silly monkeys give them thumbs
They make a club
And beat their brother down
How they survive so misguided is a mystery
Repugnant is a creature who would squander
The ability to lift an eye to heaven, conscious of his fleeting time here
Cutting our love right in two
Cutting our love right in two
Cutting our love right in two
Cutting our love right in two
Fight over the clouds, over wind, over sky
Fight over life, over blood, over air
Fight over love, over sun, over another
Fight each other, over lies and....
Angels on the sideline again
Been so long with patience and reason
Angels on the sideline again
Wondering when this tug of war will end
Cutting our love right in two
Cutting our love right in two
Cutting our love right in two
Right in two
Right in two
11 Viginti Tres (05:02)
Viginti Tres
una Infinitas
Abominatio Nascitur Autumno
hic est tuum temptamen quod temptat tua potentia
viginti tres gradus ad summam potestatem
translated :
one infinity
the horror begins in autumn
this is your trial, which tries your (power, might, ability; efficacy, potency)
Twenty three steps to total power.
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Other reviews
By Adil
The eleven tracks of 10,000 Days... represent the most vital and dynamic rock music one can find today.
The only criticism one might level at Tool is perhaps an excessive awareness of their own abilities.
By pops
The artwork is something amazing, meticulously crafted with holographic 3D images... AMAZING!
This will be an album that will certainly provoke extensive discussion but we need bands like them!
By Stoopid
The rhythm proceeds regular and aseptic, regular even in irregularity. An artificial heart, not a spasm, not a jolt, not a leap into the void.
The album flows without any meaning, leaving only the froth at the mouth of those who were waiting for something juicy.
By coolmoon1987
If it had been the same as the previous albums, I would have given a bad review.
An album to savor and listen to billions and billions of times from start to finish.
By DreaminGorilla
It is certainly one of the best albums of the last 5 years.
Pink Floyd are one thing, Tool are another.
