And eventhough he still uses the term "fetch" when refering to the trinity.he ends the album in right in two asking the question "why did father give us free will". There is a little more humility in his lyrics. His answers to these questions seem to have changed a little. Although he was tackling things he has always gone into (is there a god?, who is he, why are we here, why do bad things happen). And as I listened.I got incredibly emotional.I could tell there was something different in Maynards lyrics and voice. Then there was Wings for Marie/100,000 days. Even though during some of the opening guitar riffs I almost thought Maynard was going to start singing "I know the peices fit.", I didnt care. For the first 14 minutes (first 2 tracks I had chills all over my body). I went to them gym, got on the elliptical trainer and hit play. I remembered my experience from the last time I listened to a new tool CD and my original disappointment. When I went into it this time, I had a different mindset. Lateralus quickly became my favorite album, with aenima being a close 2nd. It took on very personal meanings for me and my life, especially songs like the grudge, the patient, lateralus, and reflections Like most of you, Im sure, I have lived these songs, not just listened to them. Things started to become very clear for me after this. I downloaded the lyrics and looked at them while I listened. The first time I heard it, I was soo dissappointed. One of the things I like about it was that their lyrics I could mold into something meaningful to me, personally. It was the single best album I had ever heard. I have been lurking in here since the release of 10,000 days reading what people have thought about the album and wondering why people were putting it down soo soon. If you aren't listening from that position, you're going to miss the point, which many of you have.
This album is very brave, creative and HONEST. Some people aren't ready for such a bold expression from an artist that usually is shrouded in more mystery. Now that he is standing completely vulnerable and human and not some abstracted super-human, it is too much for some people. In some form or another, he's been hiding behind a facade up until this album. For maynard to write lyrics like "wings for marie/10K" is a very vulnerable position to express yourself in. 10K is impressive in a way tool has never been before. The fact that some people are bashing it so strongly after only hearing it a few times is really bizarre, and wholly unfair to the artists. It takes a long time for tool albums to really emerge fully to the ears. I guess I'm just trying to say that I have no doubt 10K will reach "classic" status for many tool listeners, if not already. Lateralus was not recieved well by many people I know, and I myself didn't really fully accept it until I had seen them perform it live. It's been 10 years! We've all had time to allow it to become "classic" in our minds. The point is, is that at first, even Aenima (to many who had seen the material live beforehand) was definately not perfect. Pushit was a crappy version of what I had seen live, ect ect. At first, 46X2 seemed like a cheesy metal song. I saw half the album live before the album was released, and when I first heard Aenima, it was a huge disappointment sound quality-wise. Anyone else feel the same way, I cant figure it out why I would rather listen to lateralus/10,000days over aenima.Īenima is a good album. I can't find a bad track on aenima and it has my favorite song while lateralus I dislike parabol/parabola (minus the transition between the two) and disposition, and 10,000 days I think right in two is probably one of the worst songs tool has ever made. there is not a bad track on it excluding cearso summability (which doesnt really count).
There is no flaws in aenima, my favorite song of all time is 46&2 not including the live version of H. Sad to say, I think aenima is there best cd I would just rather listen to the others. Its going to be either 10,000 days or lateralus. However given the choice if i had to pick a cd to listen to out of opiate, undertow ,aenima, lateralus, and 10,000 days. It's pretty sad that, i'm even having a hard time justifying this to myself.