I know some people out there are interested in my opinion. If you’re not one of those, stop reading now. You won’t find (much) Tool information in this post.
Since I don’t listen to every single album out there, rather than try and compile a top ten list out of the probably 11 albums I’ve listen to this year, I’m just going to post a few mini-reviews on albums that have caught my attention this year. Here we go:
Tool – 10,000 Days
I’m sure it comes to no ones surprise that 10,000 Days is my favorite album of 2006. I mean it would be kinda pointless to run a Tool website and not love the band. Unlike some people though, I love 10,000 Days, and personally think it’s second only to Lateralus. “Sacrilege” I hear all you Aenima fans yelling, but that’s just how I feel about it. To me 10,000 Days is a consistently good album, which highlights the skill of the individuals within the band, and pretty much met all of the expectations I had about the album during all the hype before it was released.
Peeping Tom – Peeping Tom
After many years of speculation, Mike Patton’s Peeping Tom project finally came to fruition this year. I’ve been a Patton fan since getting into Faith No More in high school, and I have to say that I was somewhat disappointed by the record. I’m unashamedly a fan of heavy music, and I guess the fact that Peeping Tom was largely a hip-hop electronic type record didn’t quite work for me. But maybe not, I actually like the General Patton vs The Executioners album, yet there’s something about Peeping Tom that I just can’t quite get into. In the end, I don’t think it’s a terrible album, but I don’t think it’s an amazing one either.
Mastodon – Blood Mountain
Well this is one of those albums which pretty much everyone seems to be adding to their top 10s this year. Mastodon are a great band, there’s no doubting that they’re a talented bunch of musicians, and Blood Mountain was a great CD. I was a little disappointed though. I really liked Leviathan and Blood Mountain just didn’t quite stack up to it for me.
As Blood Runs Black – Allegiance
I stumbled across these guys on Myspace about a month ago now. I was looking at a so called “Deathcore” band who’s name escapes me at the moment, and came across these guys. After listening to their samples I decided that these guys kicked some serious ass. Nothing really special about this lot, no overly talented musicians, just balls to the wall metal, but not that old school Trivium type crap that seems to be popular these days. Well worth checking out if your tastes venture to the heavier end of the spectrum.
The Melvins – (A) Senile Animal
I never really got into The Melvins until pretty late in the game. I was always conscious that they were around during the 90s (Kurt Cobain didn’t let us forget about them). Their last few albums though have really made me sit up and take notice though, and (A) Senile Animal is pretty much the best of them. Employing the talents of Big Business, the Melvins took the unusual route of having two drummers. This really paid off in my opinion, and created a drum sound not quite like anything else I’ve heard. Here’s hoping for a Melvins tour (with Big Business) down under in 2007.
Isis – In The Absence of Truth
Isis have always been a little meh to me, and In the Absence of Truth seems to continue this downward spiral unfortunately. I much prefer heavy Isis, but this album just seems to soften them up a bit too much for my liking.
Dr Octagon – The Return of Dr. Octagon
Kool Keith is pretty much the best rapper going around these days, and The Return of Dr. Octagon is a great album, though probably not quite as good as the first. It does contain one of my favorite tracks this year with the funky Trees.
Body Count – Murder For Hire
Ah Body Count. No one can deny (not even Doors) that Copkiller is one of the great albums of all time. If you don’t own it or haven’t heard it, do yourself a favor and check it out now. Murder For Hire seems to be by the numbers metal album though. All the humour that made the Copkiller album so great seems to be non existant, and the production values sound like that it was recorded for $100 down at the local University Radio Station. Don’t waste any money on this on, BC is no longer in the house….
The Mars Volta – Amputechture
The Mars Volta seem to spurt out music at a pretty prolific rate. It seems like only the other day I was wondering why the fuck people thought Frances the Mute was any good. The Amputechture cam out, and while it was better, it still leaves me wondering why so many people worship the sun shining out of the TMVs assholes. It’s not a bad album, and a few of the songs have some great moments, but I just don’t have the patience these days to sit through all the drivel to get to the good bits.
Sparta – Threes
Sparta seem to contain all the good bits of At The Drive-In, and I’ve been a fan of theirs for a while. This new album is a little softer than before, but still has the same emo sounds that we all love to hate. I probably haven’t given this enough listens to really comment too much, but it seems quite good to me. I’ve really gotta get 10,000 Days out of the stereo a bit more to give these guys a shot.
So there, we go, that pretty sums up my year in new music listening. Feel free to agree or disagree with what I’ve said here. I value your opinions as much as I hope you value mine. Let me know what you think I’ve missed out on. Don’t both suggesting Thom Yorke though…
[quote comment=”31931″]-There are so many repeated guitar riffs from other Tool CD’s.[/quote] Personally I think every Tool album has repeated riffs to some extent. Adam seems to be comfortable with a certain style of guitar playing, and personally it works for me. I don’t think the riffs on 10,000 Days are overwhelmingly different to Lateralus & Aenima, but having played songs from each CD on my guitar, I can tell you that 10,000 Days riff are generally more complex and intricate than the last few albums. [quote comment=”31931″]-The lyrics are terrible. They are cliche, just look around and the same… Read more »
could you please mention cliche & watered-down a few more times?
Rezro, you’ve said it perfectly! 😀
foot in mouth and head up ass,
Cliched & watered down?
Yeah and losing a loved and then writing “wings part 1& 2” how
unprofound.
10,000 Days(wings part2) is the song I’m looking forward to see live.
It somehow goes “HAPHAZARDLY” with APC Judith.
Now bakfromdadead who shitdabed go back to handing out “how to vote”
pamphlets for Steve Bracks.
What the fuck?.. Maybe you guys should read the title of this Website, its Fourth Eye, a Australian Fan Based site for Tool, if your so pissed off at Tool for making a ‘Cliched’ Album (what the fuck are you on about? it sounds compleatly different to me) , then quite bitching about it on a Tool Fan Site… go do that on MYSPACE or some other shitty website.
Good list. I have 5 of your top 10 in my list.
Can’t they not like 10,000 Days and still be Tool fans?
Coda sucked so I hate Led Zeppelin. Make sense?
I agree with a lot of what he said, because Maynard does play a big part for me in Tool.
Now tell me that I don’t like Tool. Please.
What dicks.
I’m happy to concede that if Maynard is the most important part of Tool to you, then 10,000 Days definitely won’t be your favorite album (though personally I think Maynards performance was still pretty good, and still far better than 90% of vocalists out there). I feel that there is a lot more to Tool than Maynard, and in fact I’d say he’s my least favorite member, because in my opinion he contributes less to the band than the other three members.
Will do from now on…
You lashed out on me by ‘cliched’ing’ a really good tool album because it wasn’t up to your expectations, and what im saying is if you ‘love’ tool so much you would get over your dissapointment for this album and keep supporting them no matter how many shitty album’s they make. But personally i don’t quite get what your saying with the same style from other albums on this one… its tool isn’t it?.. this is what tool do?.. last time I checked im pretty sure tool can do whatever the fuck they feel like, and thats their style, to… Read more »
A valid point… agree to disagree… And yeah, people say they like the new album when really they don’t… just because its tool, but not every Tool fan agree’s, i know of many people who think this Album is better than the rest or up there with the greats, Hellboy for one, and myself… And you have to take in that new fresh fan’s (Kiddies and/or people who have tuned in) would have heard all the fuss about 10,000 days and had a listen, instantly loving it and not appreaciating the fine works of the past… But hey, heres to… Read more »
On a different note, Zombi’s Surface To Air I hear is good. I have it but haven’t listened to it yet.
KeLucasGadKeLucasGadKeLucasGadKeLucasGadKeLucasGadKeLucasGadKeLucasGadKeLucasGadKeLucasGadKeLucasGadKeLucasGadKeLucasGadKeLu says: where did elliot get that shirt that says “HARSH”? King Frankenstein¿ Hey thin-lips, why don’t you go make out with Glen Close? says: he made it KeLucasGadKeLucasGadKeLucasGadKeLucasGadKeLucasGadKeLucasGadKeLucasGadKeLucasGadKeLucasGadKeLucasGadKeLucasGadKeLucasGadKeLu says: i want one King Frankenstein¿ Hey thin-lips, why don’t you go make out with Glen Close? says: well, ask him how he made it KeLucasGadKeLucasGadKeLucasGadKeLucasGadKeLucasGadKeLucasGadKeLucasGadKeLucasGadKeLucasGadKeLucasGadKeLucasGadKeLucasGadKeLu says: you’re a gay King Frankenstein¿ Hey thin-lips, why don’t you go make out with Glen Close? says: i did not make-a the shirt! King Frankenstein¿ Hey thin-lips, why don’t you go make out with Glen Close? says: why you do not like what i… Read more »
RohanD do you have a mind of your own or does Tool have an influence on your thought process?
The 1st stirk was Lateralus, 2nd strike was 10,000 Fists (ooops sorry Days)….the future is not looking very bright for Tool. Strike 3? Going by trends it’s looking worrying.
[quote comment=”31952″]The 1st stirk was Lateralus, 2nd strike was 10,000 Fists (ooops sorry Days)….the future is not looking very bright for Tool. Strike 3? Going by trends it’s looking worrying.[/quote]
That’s being a bit generous isn’t it. Surely you think Strike 1 was firing Paul D’Amour?
Whose Paul?
I’m speaking albums here.
andIgivashitwatyouthinkbakfromdadeadwhoshitdabedagain.
No, i don’t think for myself i blindly follow Tool around…. of course i do you idiot, and i say there is nothing wrong with 10,000 days, get over it. I like everything Tool has done, im not that fussy/bitchy about it.
The Melvins huh?
I saw this band when Tool played here last time. They were really shit and I was clapping not for them but for them getting off the stage.
[quote comment=”31965″]The Melvins huh?
I saw this band when Tool played here last time. They were really shit and I was clapping not for them but for them getting off the stage.[/quote]
(A) Senile Animal is still worth checking out. An excellent CD imo.
The Melvins weren’t the greatest opening band I’ve seen either. They’re really not suited to playing in arenas, and quite frankly their sound (at the Adelaide Entertainment Centre) was below par.
Having seen them in the smaller venue with Tomahawk and Fantomas though, I can tell you that they were much better there.
I don’t think moving to another venue will change the fact that their music is shit. That’s just my opinion hellboy.
[quote comment=”31967″]I don’t think moving to another venue will change the fact that their music is shit. That’s just my opinion hellboy.[/quote]
And I appreciate your opinion, you know I’m not one to bash it needlessly.
I would be interested in hearing what you favorite albums were last year, if indeed you actually have any.
In no order my fav’s this year:
David Gilmour – On An Island
Bloc Party – A Weekend In The City (after countless listens I like it. Leaked in 2006)
T.I. – King
TV on the Radio – Return to Cookie Mountain
Deftones – Saturday Night Wrist
Isis – In The Absence of Truth
Laura – Radio Swan is Down
Peeping Tom – S/T
Tool – 10,000 Days (mostly because of Wings)
The Knife – Silent Shout
There’s more but those are the one’s that come to my head.
oops, last year.
Laura are supporting Isis I think in February, what song(s) should I check out first backfromdadead?
the whole album.
I would have uploaded the album for you but I’d feel guilty doing it since it’s a new band deserving the credit. Sorry.
A lot of people are going on about Laura. I really should check them out before the Isis gig.
My top 10:
1. Isis – In The Absence Of Truth
2. Mogwai – Mr. Beast
3. Tool – 10,000 Days
4. The Mars Volta – Amputechture
5. The Melvins – (A) Senile Animal
6. Agalloch – Ashes Against The Grain
7. These Arms Are Snakes – Easter
8. …And You Will Know Us By The Trail Of Dead – So Divided
9. In Flames – Come Clarity
10. Sonic Youth – Rather Ripped
I took a listen to what Laura have up on their website, and I was pretty unimpressed by those. Maybe it was just an ordinary selection of songs, but I have no motivation at the moment to delve any further.
[quote comment=”32002″]1. Decemberunderground – A.F.I.
2. In the Absence of Truth – Isis
3. Come Clarity – In Flames
4. The Scattering of Ashes – Into Eternity
5. 10,000 Days – Tool
6. IV – Godsmack[/quote]
Thanks for you list, but now I ask – are you serious?
Godsmack? In Flames, AFI? WTF!