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Rating:
Difficult review, also because it's the third one, in this dirty world where everything is obtained instantly, and albums are found before their release. I adapt, skip the metabolization phase, convinced, having grown up on a diet of bread and Tool (often just Tool), that I can already speak about it now, and, above all, add something. Ah, human vanity...
Let's put some order, our guys emerged back in '92 with 'Opiate', a raw and genuine EP, where their entire subsequent career is encapsulated. 'Undertow' and 'Aenima' are the steps that lead them to the empyrean. It's 1996, and many of us realize we're in the presence of a phenomenon: Tool tell stories like no one before, Maynard sings of arms climbing up the anus, floods and Californias breaking off from the continent, of sex, flesh and crucifixions, of drugs, saints and fuck you. All with immense anger and sweetness, on detuned guitars, seismic basses, daring percussion lines, in eternal syncopation.
Then the mantra of 'Lateralus', of which we will speak. And then '10000 days', and here it gets tough. The ten thousand toolian days condense into 76 minutes. Alas, despite the effort for the substantial reduction, even those seem too many. It's a bit like the difference between the heartbeat and that of a pacemaker: 10000 days beats without interruption, in a precise and academic manner, I intentionally use the word "manner".
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. Exercises in style, imitation of truth, in the groove of a progressive never so regressive. And so the album flows without any meaning, leaving only the froth at the mouth of those who were waiting for something juicy.
Rather significant is the frequent loss of attention (who would have thought), that one encounters during listening, like a movie already seen, or an evening with the woman you've been with for 10000 days. No disturbances, warmth, dismay, flights of fancy, in short nothing. Better 'Lateralus', without a doubt, and that was already decline, but the mystical-hypnotic vocation of that work had something remarkable about it, which here after more listens does not seem to emerge. That said, beware, they are still Tool, inevitable will be the admiration of those discovering them today, or of those who did not love the apocalypses of 'Aenima' or the claustrophobia of 'Undertow'. Inevitable is the following that '10000 days' will find in many lateralus fans (but not all).
But at the end of this pseudo-review, I convince myself that since praises and apologies for this album will not be lacking, it was inevitable to say my piece. This is necessary.
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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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 coolmoon1987
If it had been the same as the previous albums, I would have given a bad review.
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By DreaminGorilla
It is certainly one of the best albums of the last 5 years.
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By luca marini
"'10,000 Days' belongs to a rare category of albums whose mystery invites endless listening and reverence."
"Maynard shines as a chameleon of modern rock, constantly changing guises and leading listeners through the album's complex corridors."
