Many of you have already worked out what the number one in my Tool Top 10 is by using your powers of deduction. The same powers that you use to pull the mystery clues from each of Blair’s newsletters. Number one is of course Aenema. To be honest the top 3 tracks on my list (Third Eye, Lateralus and Aenema) are pretty much interchangeable. There’s a number of reasons I… Read More »My Tool Top 10: #1 Aenema
What’s the best part about Tool‘s Lateralus? What makes it the number two in my Tool Top 10? That catchy riffs with Adam and Justin intertwining? Maynard’s Fibonacci inspired (deliberate or otherwise) lyrics? Danny’s polyrythmic drumming? The cathartic last minute of the song? The laser show during the live set? All of those things appeal to me, but my favorite parts of Lateralus are both guitar solos, and they are… Read More »My Tool Top 10: #2 Lateralus
I’ve been a little busy of late, so my Tool Top 10 has been on the backburner, however now that things are settling down, it’s time to work towards the top 3! I don’t think my top 3 will come as a surprise to many of you, though perhaps the order may. Anyway, number three is fittingly Third Eye. There were plenty of eye opening moments for me on Aenima.… Read More »My Tool Top 10: #3 Third Eye
Lateralus has almost the perfect opening track. The Grudge is one that features great work from all four members of the band, and is most commonly the track I recommend to new fans to listen to in order to see what Tool really sound like. When I heard it I felt like Justin was truly a member of the band for the first time. The bass work in the track… Read More »My Tool Top 10: #4 The Grudge
Stinkfist is the second Tool song I ever heard (or at least remember) and was the first to really drag me in. I’d heard Sober on the radio before, but hearing Stinkfist played on afternoon on Triple J by Adam Spencer seemed to do it for me. The mix of the distorted and clean vocals are what sticks in my mind, and the next day I was down at the… Read More »My Tool Top 10: #5 Stinkfist
Undoubtedly one of the highlights of Aenima, Pushit is a powerful piece of love gone wrong, and is a popular one with many Tool fans. In fact I imagine quite a few would argue that #6 isn’t high enough! Not to mention the fact that I didn’t choose the Salival version (I do indeed prefer the original). Musically the song shows almost all of the colours of Tool. It has… Read More »My Tool Top 10: #6 Pushit
Eulogy is a show case for Maynard’s talents. The singing pushes the boundaries of his vocal cords. I’m yet to hear a good live bootleg where Maynard really nails this – those high notes are just too high to hit consistently. And the lyrics are extremely quotable. Where you look at them as a reference to Bill Hicks, L Ron Hubbard or someone else, it’s easy for many of us… Read More »My Top 10 Tool Songs: #7 Eulogy
Most of you who know me well know that I like heavy music, so it would possibly come as no surprise to many to see Hooker With A Penis entering my Tool Top 10 list. It features Adam’s guitar cranked to 11, and Maynard’s rage level cranked just as high. Lyrically it’s not one that is open for a great deal of interpretation – Maynard’s rant about artisitic integrity is… Read More »My Top 10 Tool Songs: #8 Hooker With A Penis
I really liked 10,000 Days. While the album seemed to disappoint some, personally I wasn’t. I don’t think it’s quite as solid as Lateralus and Aenema are, but it’s a great album and a worth inclusion in Tool‘s discography. When I first started putting my list together I had three entries from the album, and there quite easily could have been four. Though Right In Two, Rosetta Stoned and Wings… Read More »My Top 10 Tool Songs: #9 Jambi
Things are quiet up in the Loft, perhaps a little too quiet. While we all await some news regarding a new album, I thought I’d take some time to indulge myself and publish my personal Tool top 10. You may agree, you may disagree, that is both expected and welcomed. Feel free to discuss my selections are reasoning, as well as add your own. If anyone feels like having a… Read More »My Top 10 Tool Songs: #10 Flood