T minus 1 week until 10,000 days...
- Thread starter cleanbluesky
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You've only got three tracks to go so it doesn't sound like you're too impressed.
Found any hidden messages yet?
Found any hidden messages yet?
Okay. I've just finished listening to it and I think it's going to need a few more listenings to be fair.
First impressions though are not as good as I'd have hoped - it does seem too similar to Lateralus in a lot of ways (very similar song progression & production), and at times you just want them to cut loose but they don't really seem to.
This may change - you never know, but it hasn't hit me in the same way as my first listen to any of their previous albums. I'd have liked something a bit more radical in all honesty - 5 years (even with all the other projects they're involved with) is enough time to come up with something a bit fresher.
Please, no flaming - these are just my initial thoughts (they may change).
First impressions though are not as good as I'd have hoped - it does seem too similar to Lateralus in a lot of ways (very similar song progression & production), and at times you just want them to cut loose but they don't really seem to.
This may change - you never know, but it hasn't hit me in the same way as my first listen to any of their previous albums. I'd have liked something a bit more radical in all honesty - 5 years (even with all the other projects they're involved with) is enough time to come up with something a bit fresher.
Please, no flaming - these are just my initial thoughts (they may change).
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He's still lying in an isolation tank with the music directly piped in to his eardrums, for the complete listening experience.Big Chris said:
I've just finished my first listen through.
I kind of feel like I did after my first listen to Lateralus, slightly confused as to how I feel about the album but generally amazed by the musicianship on show.
I think it's going to take a lot of listens to get to know this album, as it's a lot more foreboding and difficult than any other Tool album to date. Where Lateralus was optimistic and positive, 10,000 Days is bleak and brutal.
On first listen, I would say 'Vicarious' is my favourite track, but that could also be because it's the most familiar. 'Right In Two' was amazing though, more what I wanted from the album after hearing 'Vicarious' than any other track. Both 'Wings For Marie' and '10,000 Days' were awesome, I closed my eyes during '10,000 Days' and felt really in the middle of the track. I think it'll become a closet favourite like 'Lateralus' (the track) did.
The production is unbelievable. I think it's probably the best recorded drum/tom sound I've ever heard and the guitars/bass are just brutal.
On the whole it was a positive first listen, but I don't really feel like I've begun to scratch the surface. I liked bits of 'Rosetta Stoned' and 'Jambi' but I found them harder to get into first time around.
I kind of feel like I did after my first listen to Lateralus, slightly confused as to how I feel about the album but generally amazed by the musicianship on show.
I think it's going to take a lot of listens to get to know this album, as it's a lot more foreboding and difficult than any other Tool album to date. Where Lateralus was optimistic and positive, 10,000 Days is bleak and brutal.
On first listen, I would say 'Vicarious' is my favourite track, but that could also be because it's the most familiar. 'Right In Two' was amazing though, more what I wanted from the album after hearing 'Vicarious' than any other track. Both 'Wings For Marie' and '10,000 Days' were awesome, I closed my eyes during '10,000 Days' and felt really in the middle of the track. I think it'll become a closet favourite like 'Lateralus' (the track) did.
The production is unbelievable. I think it's probably the best recorded drum/tom sound I've ever heard and the guitars/bass are just brutal.
On the whole it was a positive first listen, but I don't really feel like I've begun to scratch the surface. I liked bits of 'Rosetta Stoned' and 'Jambi' but I found them harder to get into first time around.
Stand out track for me at the moment are: Vicarious, The Pot and 10,000 days. Will post a better review later after a few more listens!
As for hidden meanings; people are already listening to bits backwards and finding things out. Madness.
As for hidden meanings; people are already listening to bits backwards and finding things out. Madness.
deSade you're first impressions are pretty much exactly the same as mine. I'm initially a little dissapointed that I wasn't instantly blown away by this as I was hoping. Rosetta Stoned is my favourite track so far.
Need to listen to this more.
Need to listen to this more.
fus said:
What blows my mind more is that people are already trying playing 'Ions' and 'Faip de Oieadad' over the top of 'Viginti Tres' and getting interesting results.
I'm going to let it all sink in a bit and have another listen later.
I went from pop music when i was like 11. Then the first heavy song i liked was probably a linkin park song. Then i heard Killswitch Engage "Rose of Sharyn" and from then on i got lurred into a massive jungle of metal bands. Iv listened to alsorts and i still do but the bands that grip me are bands like Tool, Opeth, Procupine Tree, APC etc. Theres somthing "progressive" in there music that when u listen to it you immediatly recognize it, as for new indie bands i think there catchy but they all sound the same and u get tired after the first few tracks.. As for hidden messages and deep dark lyrics etc, who cares there music owns! 
Ok, here is my mini review of the album. It's very different to what I was expecting, but I think that's a good thing. In my opinion (after about 5 listens) is that it's great. Unfortunatly, for me it's not as ground-breaking as Lateralus or Aenima. However, my opinion is subject to change after i've listened to it a bit more.
Album art - Amazing. Wouldnt expect anything less.
Track rundown. All below is opinion.
01. Vicarious
Ah, the first release. After an absense of 5 years, fans were expecting something special. As I said earlier in this thread, after the first few listens I wasn't that impressed. It was good, but I was looking forward to more. However, my opinion of the song has now changed. After reading the lyrics, and listening to it as part of the album, I've decided that I really like it. It's provoking, dark and relevant to current society. I'm glad they chose this as their first release. Another winner for me. 9/10
02. Jambi
Well, this is an odd one. The drumming is absolutly fantastic. It's so gloomy and dark - I feel that the drumming is the best bit of the song. That doesn't mean the rest of the song isn't great, the drumming is just that good. When the song comes on, it hits you like a truck. The first 20 seconds are brutal, then it calms down a bit for Maynards vocal part. His first part is structured very strangly (" I.........I.......I.......") but then it becomes more like us fans are used to. Very clever lyrics, and phenomenal music aslo makes this a winner. Wouldn't have been out of place on Aenima, so back to old school. 8/10
03. Wings for Marie
Gloomy and dark, full of unique sounds, lots of reverb and echo on voice makes it quite haunting. Taken on its own merit, it's not that good. It's not really a song, more of an introduction to the next track along. Kind of like Parabol/Parabola. Taken as an introduction, it's not bad. Nothing really jumps out and hits me
7/10
04. 10,000 Days (Wings pt. 2)
Starts of slow, ends in a bang. Not listened closely enough to give full opinion yet. Didn't really grab me as it was a bit too slow for the mood I was in. Will give it another go when I go to bed tonight.
8/10
05. The Pot
When this track begins you'd be forgiven for thinking it was sung by someone other than Maynard. Not a fan of the vocal introduction to this song at all. However, once it gets into it. WOW. Possibly my favourite track on the album. Maynards vocal throughout the song (excluding the first part) is so varied and diverse. Not the usual style for a tool song (to quote someone on ToolNavy 'if Undertow Maynard heard this, he'd kick his own ass.') which is true to an extent, but it doesn't stop it being incredible. Lyrically confusing as it allows lots of interpretation, but the most common theory is it's a dig at the USA and war. Nothing to do with drugs, but with tool who knows? Top track for me 9.5/10.
06. Lipan Conjuring
Typical tool oddness. Meaning of the song still unknown. Shows off MJK's vocal ability though, going from almost meditational chanting to full on screaming.
7.5/10
07. Lost Keys
More tool wierdness. Can't comment as I don't understand it fully.
??/10
08. Rosetta Stoned
Epic
9/10
09. Intension
For me probably the strangest tool song to date. Needs more listens!
??/10
10. Right in Two
Another top track. Slow starter, ends in an absolute explosion. Need to listen a bit more again to this; definatly a grower.
8/10
11. Viginti Tres
Well, most would think it's a waste of time, this track. I did. Upon further delving, I feel this track is more important than first thought. Thanks to IceBus I read ToolNavy and saw the different theories (playing this track together with (-) Ions or Faip) and noticed they do actually go together. Maybe it fits better with another song. Once again, who knows? I'm sure it will become clearer with time.
8/10
So there you have it. 5 year wait worth it? Yes, but it's going to take a bit longer to 'get' than the previous efforts. All in all, tool have still managed to wow me, although maybe not as powerfully as before.
Whole experience 8.5/10
Album art - Amazing. Wouldnt expect anything less.
Track rundown. All below is opinion.
01. Vicarious
Ah, the first release. After an absense of 5 years, fans were expecting something special. As I said earlier in this thread, after the first few listens I wasn't that impressed. It was good, but I was looking forward to more. However, my opinion of the song has now changed. After reading the lyrics, and listening to it as part of the album, I've decided that I really like it. It's provoking, dark and relevant to current society. I'm glad they chose this as their first release. Another winner for me. 9/10
02. Jambi
Well, this is an odd one. The drumming is absolutly fantastic. It's so gloomy and dark - I feel that the drumming is the best bit of the song. That doesn't mean the rest of the song isn't great, the drumming is just that good. When the song comes on, it hits you like a truck. The first 20 seconds are brutal, then it calms down a bit for Maynards vocal part. His first part is structured very strangly (" I.........I.......I.......") but then it becomes more like us fans are used to. Very clever lyrics, and phenomenal music aslo makes this a winner. Wouldn't have been out of place on Aenima, so back to old school. 8/10
03. Wings for Marie
Gloomy and dark, full of unique sounds, lots of reverb and echo on voice makes it quite haunting. Taken on its own merit, it's not that good. It's not really a song, more of an introduction to the next track along. Kind of like Parabol/Parabola. Taken as an introduction, it's not bad. Nothing really jumps out and hits me
7/10
04. 10,000 Days (Wings pt. 2)
Starts of slow, ends in a bang. Not listened closely enough to give full opinion yet. Didn't really grab me as it was a bit too slow for the mood I was in. Will give it another go when I go to bed tonight.
8/10
05. The Pot
When this track begins you'd be forgiven for thinking it was sung by someone other than Maynard. Not a fan of the vocal introduction to this song at all. However, once it gets into it. WOW. Possibly my favourite track on the album. Maynards vocal throughout the song (excluding the first part) is so varied and diverse. Not the usual style for a tool song (to quote someone on ToolNavy 'if Undertow Maynard heard this, he'd kick his own ass.') which is true to an extent, but it doesn't stop it being incredible. Lyrically confusing as it allows lots of interpretation, but the most common theory is it's a dig at the USA and war. Nothing to do with drugs, but with tool who knows? Top track for me 9.5/10.
06. Lipan Conjuring
Typical tool oddness. Meaning of the song still unknown. Shows off MJK's vocal ability though, going from almost meditational chanting to full on screaming.
7.5/10
07. Lost Keys
More tool wierdness. Can't comment as I don't understand it fully.
??/10
08. Rosetta Stoned
Epic
9/10
09. Intension
For me probably the strangest tool song to date. Needs more listens!
??/10
10. Right in Two
Another top track. Slow starter, ends in an absolute explosion. Need to listen a bit more again to this; definatly a grower.
8/10
11. Viginti Tres
Well, most would think it's a waste of time, this track. I did. Upon further delving, I feel this track is more important than first thought. Thanks to IceBus I read ToolNavy and saw the different theories (playing this track together with (-) Ions or Faip) and noticed they do actually go together. Maybe it fits better with another song. Once again, who knows? I'm sure it will become clearer with time.
8/10
So there you have it. 5 year wait worth it? Yes, but it's going to take a bit longer to 'get' than the previous efforts. All in all, tool have still managed to wow me, although maybe not as powerfully as before.
Whole experience 8.5/10
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I won't go into what I like about the album as I'm sure those that have listened already know what's good about it.
My only real gripe with it though is that after 5 years (I appreciate the guys have been working on other stuff in that time) I was hoping for a bit more. 11 tracks in total, 3 of them being weirdness (which may have a deep spiritual meaning that CBS will revel in telling us all) leaving only 8 musical tracks. They're all of Tool's usual and expected high quality, I just wish there were more of them!
Still, bring on June 13th
.
My only real gripe with it though is that after 5 years (I appreciate the guys have been working on other stuff in that time) I was hoping for a bit more. 11 tracks in total, 3 of them being weirdness (which may have a deep spiritual meaning that CBS will revel in telling us all) leaving only 8 musical tracks. They're all of Tool's usual and expected high quality, I just wish there were more of them!
Still, bring on June 13th
.