Published on May 18, 2001
Think back to five years…1996.
Limp Bizkit was packing the clubs, it would not be uncommon to
hear the phrase, “Who the fuck is N*Sync?” and hearing the
words “OK Computer” would probably describe a two-year-old
486 model. It was also the year that
Aenimacame out from Tool..
The album was a sprawling tour de force about the need for a
catastrophic breakdown of the human condition in order to
break
through with a new level of enlightenment. “Break Stuff,” and
“American Badass,” this shit was not. Tool’s astounding
musicianship is only matched by lyrical ambition. And now
they
continue the trend with
Lateralus.
Though the band has been absent an album for more than five
years, it is not entirely their fault: legal troubles,
ambitious side
projects and a staunch belief in waiting until inspiration
strikes
were all factors in this huge wait. But no matter. After
digesting
Lateralus,it is safe to say that it may take five more years
just
to let the album sink in. Running close to 80 minutes,
Lateralus
is a hard album to sit through. But like
Aenima,it is an album
that almost requires you to sit through it, front to back, to
fully
appreciate it.
After the first spin, the listener feels gorged. You can compare
it
to those challenges that those Texas steakhouses give to
diners:
eat the entire 44 ounces of rib eye…and the meal is
free. With
Lateralus, you must endure pulverizing beats, off-kilter
experiments and jazzy experimentation, sometimes within the
same song. Some of the songs, if you can even call them that,
run
in excess of seven minutes. If you thought their epic “Third
Eye”
was overkill, be cautious: there’s about five songs that are
just as
baffling.
But Tool’s rabid fan base would want nothing less. Maynard
James Keenan delivers his ghostly creepy uber-metal-rock-god
vocals with an intensity that is chilling and breathtaking.
Adam
Jones is also in top form, able to withstand the dynamic
changes
from thrashing intensity to eerie mood music. Justin
Chancellor’s
bass work is also key in establishing Tool’s presence. Few
bassists have the ability to create a staple sound of a band
with
only a couple of chords.
However, drummer Danny Carey may get the MVP honors on this
outing. Always an amazing asset, this time, Carey explodes
with
an intensity that has been building since the
Opiatedays. His
playing on the songs “The Grudge” and “Reflection” rival
Rush’s
drummer Neil Peart in terms of sheer complexity.
When it comes to sheer power, Tool’s aggression is noticeably
toned down. Still, songs like “Ticks And Leeches” and
“Parabol”
have enough sonic force to keep those who have been hoping
for
another “Intolerance” and “Hooker With A Penis” satisfied. As
for the rest of the album, well, there’s a bit of everything
in each
track. The album leads off perfectly with “The Grudge,” a
track
that darts from straightforward rocking to arty
experimentation to
an odd jazzy free-styling. That is also repeated with the
title
track and “Reflection.”
Unfortunately, this can be a bit daunting at times. Lyrically,
hell,
find a web site and find out for yourself. But from what I’ve
been
able to piece together so far, it’s about trying to reopen
yourself
up to human contact again. I would like to subscribe to their
new
philosophy, but I’m going to lose a lot of human contact if I
try to
listen to this album repeatedly, trying to familiarize myself
with
the material.
Rumors abound that this may be Tool’s last album. Take it with a
grain of salt: Their last tour was supposed to be their last
tour.
But
Lateralus would be a fitting end to one of the saviors of
heavy music in the 1990s. While
Aenima may have strayed
from the traditional song structures of
Undertow,
Lateralus
all but abandons your typical verse-chorus-verse structure.
While this may pass as elitism in some circles, Tool inject
enough humanity and give the listener enough surprises to
keep
coming back for more.
Lateralus could have benefited from an editor. But so could
novels like “Underworld.” But Tool’s resilient risk-taking
pays
off. Listeners will want an album that will not get old after
the
first three listens. After all, this may be the final album
released
by this band. If you’re looking for a smoother ride, no doubt
A
Perfect Circle may be a better choice. But, with a brave ear
and
a whole lot of time,
Lateralus will likely seep in and take you
over.