by Ali Patterson
Daily Lobo
The wait is finally over.
10,000 Days, Tool's sixth release and the first since 2001's Lateralus, is probably this year's most anticipated album.
And it comes out today.
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Of course, rumors and clips of songs have been circulating for quite some time. 10,000 Days was released in parts of Europe on April 28 and in Australia on April 29, and the entire album has leaked to the United States as well. And it's thanks to a pirated copy of a copy of a copy snatched from a radio station that I was able to listen to it before its release. However, false information has been released by the band before, so the album that arrived in stores at midnight might be slightly different than the pilfered copy I received.
"Vicarious," the first single, is classic Tool. Slow, melodic guitar riffs fade away - then comes the boom. Head-banging guitar and powerful vocals from front man Maynard James Keenan satisfy diehard Tool fans and perk up the ears of casual listeners as well. Of course, if you're not already a Tool fan, this album probably won't make you one. From drummer Danny Carey's impossibly complex rhythms and crazy time signatures to bassist Justin Chancellor's pulse-altering fretwork, the sound is undeniably Tool, so the album offers nothing new to people who were sitting on the fence about the band.
Known for mysterious and sometimes controversial lyrics, listeners can spend days deciphering the meanings. "Judith," by A Perfect Circle, Keenan's other band, is a song supposedly about Keenan's mother and her choice of faith: "Oh so many ways for me to show you how the savior has abandoned you. Fuck your God, your Lord, your Christ. Still you pray, you never stray, never taste of the fruit. You never thought to question why."
Apparently Keenan's attitude has changed. He's mellowed a bit. The second track, "Wings For Marie (Part 1)" is also about his mother. Her middle name is Marie, and she suffered a stroke that left her partially paralyzed. The length of time between her paralysis and her death was 27 years, or about 10,000 days. Keenan sings, "What have I done to be a son to an angel?" Then, on the next track, "10,000 Days (Marie Part 2)," Keenan whispers about her arrival in heaven and how people on Earth are still guessing about the afterlife. Sounds like Keenan may not believe the same things as his mother, but at least he wishes her the best.
Some complained Lateralus was lacking in the anger department compared to previous Tool, and the same could be said about 10,000 Days. The mellow riffs - and sometimes American-Indian-inspired chanting - take the listener to a surreal place. It's perfect to have on in the background as you sit on the porch watching the sunset. The group seems to have struck an ideal balance between the spirally mathematical contemplations of Lateralus and the raw, incendiary screams of Opiate, the band's debut release.
One thing to look for, though, is how Keenan distorts his voice. Sometimes it sounds like the Keenan fans love, but other times it sounds clearer, higher, like pop singer Howie Day. It's a bit of a surprise for an album that sticks to the well-known 7- to 12-minute songs with lots of instrumentals.
For rabid Tool fans, this album is a must. If you haven't already fought through the crowds at the midnight release parties for 10,000 Days, pick it up as soon as possible. For the casual Tool listener, do the same. Then go out on your back porch and maybe call your mother.
