review: tool - 10,000 days

10,000 days - 7.5/10 -

10,000 days is not a giant step back (a la nine inch nails' with teeth [in hindsight]), and that alone is enough to make me reasonably content. the problem with 10,000 days is that it is no step at all. for a band that's commonly designated as 'prog' something other other, and which demonstrates a beautiful evolution from opiate to lateralus, this album has got to be somewhat of a disappointment. there is absolutely nothing new here by any stretch of the imagination, and somehow i feel like 10,000 days has already been out for a few years. the album feels like the collection of songs that didn't flow well enough to make the cut on lateralus. on top of that, any one song on lateralus beats any one song on 10,000 days.

the sad truth is: this album would be brilliant if lateralus had never been released.

vicarious - 7.5/10 - a solid single, vicarious is no more than a typical tool song, though its subject matter may be a bit more decipherable and accessible. it's a good strong song, but i wouldn't call it exceptional.

jambi - 7.5/10 - jambi starts off like any mildly bad metal song would, and that's sad. though instrumentally unimpressive, the vocals seem to stand out on this track more than most, and they're superb. this song is to be sung along with.

wings for marie (part 1) - 8.5/10 - wings for marie (part 1) is the first truly pleasant surprise to be found on 10,000 days. on its own it is very well-rounded and complete, and manages to find a stunning balance between beauty and intensity. the opening guitar instrumentation is perhaps the best on the album.

10,000 days (wings part 2) - 8/10 - while overshadowed by wings for marie (part 1), 10,000 days (wings part 2) holds its own. it has the qualities that allow me to get lost in it during a listen, which is quite an accomplishment.

the pot - 8/10 - the pot, quite frankly, stands out to the point that it doesn't really belong on this album, and that's not necessarily a good thing. it's marvelous, though, for what it is. i'm not saying this is going to change music forever, but those who value the loud, angry tool of the past (as well as those who like to indulge in the loud, angry tool of the past from time to time) will enjoy jumping up and down to this tune. while the pot will most likely get old in a hurry, it's a knee-jerk success. the radio should love this song (and it's a runaway hit on my itunes play count).

lipan conjuring - 4/10 - i don't get it.

lost keys (blame hofmann) - 6/10 - were there no dialogue on this track, it would be more enjoyable. it belongs on the soundtrack to a film inspired by a graphic novel.

rosetta stoned - 6.5/10 - recipe: put two songs from aenima and a song from lateralus into a blender and name the result 'rosetta stoned.' the title is this song's only real redeeming quality.

intension - 7.5/10 - this is just a good song. there isn't much else to say about it, other than that i have the distinct feeling that it's going to grow on me (and that it tries really hard to be some kind of disposition/reflection equivalent).

right in two - 8.5/10 - i've come to the conclusion that right in two is the best song on the album. the song flows well, doesn't seem to overreach. this song revives my feeling that some tool songs are one entity as opposed to four distinct parts.

viginti trees - 5/10 - faaip de oiad, while usually skipped over, did at least have interesting content and meaning. viginti trees, on the other hand, is just another track that i don't get.

recommended music (not including tool):
yeah yeah yeahs - deja vu
regina spektor - ain't no cover