I'm back now hopefully after a couple of the best weeks of my life......
I'm back now hopefully after a couple of the best weeks of my life......
Member since:02.11.2005
Reviews:16
Members who trust:19
I think it's fair to say before I start to review this CD that yes, I am one of the biggest Tool fans on the planet and that I am fully aware that not all their music appeals to everyone yet with every CD they release they take a different direction.
'Undertow', released in 1993 was Tools first full length album has a distinctly grunge sound to it. Although in my opinion it is not their greatest album still I find it superior to many other bands from the same time.
The album kicks off with 'Intolerance' an upbeat song that combines addictive rifts with Maynard's harsh spitting lyrics. It seems like a biting song to a partner that is less than perfect but accepted all the same. This is followed by 'Prison Sex' a song that lyrically is similar to 'Stinkfist' (taken from the album 'Aenima'). This song is not particularly heavy, rather quite happy despite its subject of sexual control.
Yet this rather upbeat track does not last leading into 'Sober' a dark and depressing tune which many see as one of Tool's finest tracks. I myself am not of fan of this as I find it too bleak and reminiscent of suicides.
As the last drum beat fades from 'Sober' you are confronted with 'Bottom' a song which begins rather positive with its light guitars and excellent yet simple drums. However as the song progresses it shows just how dark this track is with a voice over harshly stating that he has nothing left but the desire to fight.
'Crawl away' comes next with its bitterness and cruelty, a song about betrayal. Its beats are danceable, memorable and easily sung to.
'Swamp song' follows, which I defy metal fans not to move heads to. In turn comes 'Undertow' a mix of both slow and fast paced drum beats and guitar rifts.
My favourite song from this album '4◦' follows which begins with a simple sitar sounding rift which is then continued into a typical Tool song. However this Indian sound at the beginning keeps the song sounding more positive than the majority of this album.
This fades to slow drum beats and bass guitar which is the opening of 'Flood', an opening that on any of Tool's other albums could have been listed as a song in its own right. After this build up you are greeted with rather gentle vocals which then descend into a tortured plea.
The final song on the album is 'Disgustipated' which begins with a preacher preaching to what you assume is a congregation. On examination of the lyrics though you realise that this is what can only be described as a random song as the first verse is about saving carrots from harvest day and the second seems to me to be describing a hangover.
As in all of Tool's albums Maynard's vocals are in turn gentle and soothing then harsh and powerful. His talent to slip into so many different styles is partly what makes Tool such an amazing band. This is combined with Jones' guitar rifts which are usually quite simple yet unique, and Carey's drums which baffle the mind of both drummers and simple music fans alike due to the complicated sequences. Also on this album is Tool's original bassist Paul D'Amour who although is a talented in his own right does not compliment the band as much as Chancellor does in their later albums.
The artwork is also quite controversial, the band being pictured with pins in their heads and pictures of naked women. Yet the cover image is almost iconic in its simplicity.
In total this is a cruel and dark album, rather depressing compared to Tool's later work but I would still recommend it to fans. Its bleak overview seems to be one of failings, in all aspects of life, yet as in all Tool songs there is so much more to be read into this.
Available for £9.99 at hmv.co.uk, 'Undertow' is a great album from a band that are one of a kind.
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