Tool Band - Blog Posts

is it just me, or is TOOL really good???

My New Year’s resolution I wanted to share:

Expanding my CD’s collection or even going back to burning 💿

I’ve made a deal with my bf that every month we’re going to buy CD record one for each of us.

So here are our picks the left side is mine and right side is his

I’m a fan of New Order and I wish that where I went they had “Low-Life” album instead of “Substance” because I prefer it more and the song “Elegia” is an absolute instrumental masterpiece. Substance is fine, I just was in mood for New Order so I bought it.

Second CD is kinda fun because I love x-files and I found this one on vinted, it was cheap and not in a very good condition but the cover just bought me.

I discovered that the graphic on cover is a part of bigger picture and I LOVE!!! when CDs have that! It always surprises me positively. The same situation I had with the album “Ten” from Pearl Jam, I used this paper cover as a poster in my room when I was teenager 👨🏻‍🦳

My boyfriend’s picks are also good, I never was into Tool but he wanted to show me this album and about Blade Runner soundtrack I don’t need to write a lot because it’s good. d-_-b

I need to check out for some fun places where I can get CDs stationary like small record store or sth because going to shopping mall is literally burning my brain cells (and eyes, why tf the lights are so bright there)

I also ended my Spotify subscription because of switching to mp3, I’m still having Spotify tho because my friends from university have Airbuds and I like checking what they are listening or show them what I listen in the fcking middle of the night

The duality of the person which whole personality is listening to music…

Who is bro calling 📞...

Tried a new brush!!

I hate him with his fake long hair /affectionate

Maynard ohh lorddd

Why are they posed so gayly? Are they gay?

Adam has come to give you forks

Do you accept? :]

More tool doodles because I got nothing else to share

(I do have more to share I just don't wanna)

Take some tool sketches (literally just maynard and adam)

Some recent vinyl pick ups

Songs of the Week (4)

1. Hooker with a Penis (TOOL)

I know I already talked about Aenema on here (please don’t come for me I don’t know how to type out the AE character), but I really rediscovered it recently. In my opinion, this is TOOL’s best album, and Hooker with a Penis is definitely a highlight for me. I don’t even feel like I have to say that musically it’s amazing, mostly because I don’t think I’ve come across a single bad TOOL song, but I’ll mention it anyway because the chorus is absolutely stellar. What really drew me to this song, however, were the lyrics. Definitely some of their best work.

2. 4th of July (Soundgarden)

I don’t know what it is about this song but I’ve been listening to it nonstop for the past week. And by nonstop I mean at least 4 times a day. I’ve never been a big fan of Soundgarden and Superunknown was the only album of theirs I was actually familiar with (because of Black Hole Sun and Spoonman only to be honest), and I never thought I’d ever be this into any of their stuff, but this song did a complete 180 for me. I don’t know what it is about it that makes it so addictive, but it literally takes me to another dimension. I don’t know how to describe what I feel every time I listen to 4th of July, but I HIGHLY recommend it.

3. Сука Любовь (Antoha MC)

I don’t usually recommend Russian music on here because this obviously isn’t a Russian-speaking blog, but I’ll be making an exception for this one. The beat is absolutely heavenly, the vocals are a perfect fit, and the flow of this song is just insane overall. And yes, I know it’s a cover, but I would much rather listen to this version because the original, while not necessarily bad, is a kind of a confusing mix between reggae and 90s Russian pop (at least that’s how I would put it). You don’t need to know the language to enjoy this song, it’s absolutely magical either way.

4. Roads (Portishead)

I don’t think I’ve spoken about my love for Portishead on here yet, so I feel like Roads will be a great place to start. I’m going to be honest and admit that Dummy is the only record of theirs that I actively listen to but I feel like that’s enough because there’s nothing wrong with liking an artist’s most popular album because most of the time, it’s also their best one. Roads is beautiful all around, as is the entirety of Dummy, and as lately I’m increasingly drawn to calmer music, this is currently a perfect fit for me.

5. Heaven or Las Vegas (Cocteau Twins)

I don’t think I’ve spoken about Cocteau Twins yet either, so here’s Heaven or Las Vegas. Personally, I believe it’s the best song off the album, but to each their own. It’s such a summer song for me, and I listen to it whenever I want to be taken back to less stressful times. It’s so kind and weightless, I absolutely love it. I wish I could go into the technicalities of what makes this song as glowing as it is, but I’m not really a musician so I’ll just settle for saying that it overwhelms you in the best way possible; it feels like everything is happening all at once but it just makes the soul feel so light.

6. Reptilia (The Strokes)

Some will say the production sucks but I say it’s a creative decision. The mixing just adds to the ambience, which is amazing, so let it be. I like The Strokes quite a lot, but this song is just something else, it’s just so raw. I’ve already said that what I value most in music is genuineness, and Reptilia is nothing if not genuine. You can say that it’s simple musically, but in this case I, quite frankly, don’t care. The chorus is out of this world and the vocals in it are so beautifully fitting it makes me want to cry. This song also has one of my all time favourite lines on it (“the room is one fire as she’s fixing her hair”) so I will not be taking any criticism.

7. Aenema (TOOL)

I’m closing this week off with the best song off of Aenema. It’s just great, I don’t know what else to say. The repetition of “learn to swim,” the drumming, the flow from section to section, the palpable frustration, the tension buildup throughout the song, the vocal work, god it’s all just perfect. Songs that are this well-balanced and flow this organically are very hard to come by, and I’m endlessly happy I had the opportunity to come by it and the album altogether. This is one of those songs that is literally life-changing, crush-your-soul-and-take-you-to-another-dimension kind of deal. Absolute standout of this week.

Songs of the Week (3)

1. Junkhead (Alice in Chains)

This was definitely an Alice in Chains week for me. Seasonal depression or whatever people choose to call it had me playing Dirt on repeat, and Junkhead is such an obvious standout (for me personally) that I just had to include it here. This song is so confident in what it wants to be that every listen feels different and it’s impossible to get tired of. Lyrical content and context aside, it’s a positive and enjoyable listen every single time.

2. Fist (Deftones)

Since Adrenaline’s 29th anniversary was a couple weeks ago and I forgot to make a post about it, I’m honoring it here. Besides, it was about time I added a Deftones song to one of these; just because there’s less of them in my daily rotation doesn’t mean I love the band any less. Fist is technically a hidden track, meaning that many forget about it when talking about Adrenaline, which I think is incredibly unfair. Fist is absolutely bewitching, a beautiful track that doesn’t really fit with the rest of the album, but it’s such a gorgeous addition that I could never have the heart to critique it.

3. Mic Check (Rage Against the Machine)

Is it obvious that I love the Battle of Los Angeles yet? I love how inventive this song is, what is done with the guitar and the vocal effects. It’s a little too out there to play in the car or public places, but god is it beautiful. One of the best tracks off the album.

4. Riders On The Storm (The Doors)

I’m switching it up a little this week. I don’t know what it is, maybe it’s the weather, but for some reason this song easily made it into my daily rotation. I don’t listen to The Doors much so this feels like a very welcome change. It’s so charming and confident and beautiful that sometimes I put it on just to calm myself down.

5. I Know Something (Alice in Chains)

I fucking love Facelift and this song is one of the main reasons why. I adore the bass on this one and the way it blends with Jerry Cantrell’s guitar is insane. It’s weirdly positive and upbeat for this album and Alice in Chains in general but in the best way possible; it brings a kind of funkness (is that even a word) to their work I really appreciate. An overall amazing listen, so captivating.

6. Jimmy Recard (Drapht)

This song was introduced to me by my stepdad and it’s actually one of the biggest reasons I love it so much. Music is one of our main bonding points and it’s just always so beautiful to have people you love give you a glimpse of their music taste (especially if the taste is stellar). I tend to gravitate towards music that’s a little different from Drapht, which only makes songs like these all the more interesting to me. Absolute banger.

7. Sober (TOOL)

Sober is this week’s TOOL song because apparently I need to have one on every single one of these. If I’m being completely honest, I haven’t checked out any other tracks from Undertow, but if Sober is anything to go by this album fucking rocks. As always, the lyrics are amazing, the vocals are as intense as can be, the atmosphere is transcendental, and the passion is out of this world. I have such a deep appreciation for this track because let’s be honest, there’s nothing like TOOL out there and this is an integral part of their origins.

Songs of the Week (2)

1. Bullet in the Head (Rage Against the Machine)

I’m honestly such a sucker for anything RATM-related, but this song is definitely in my top 3 this week. The band is so good at coming up with short but insanely effective slogans (is that what you call it?); like “they say jump, you say how high,” for example. Zack de la Rocha is one of the most powerful frontmen of all time, which becomes especially obvious in Bullet in the Head. This song really does give me chills.

2. Schism (TOOL)

Almost half a year later, and I’m still on Lateralus. I can’t seem to let this album go, it’s just so transcendentally beautiful I have to give it another listen. And then another. And another. I get that Schism is probably the most well-known song off this album, but I’m so tired of the ridiculous narrative that you can’t enjoy the popular songs because it makes you a ‘fake fan’ or whatever. Schism is amazing no matter which way you choose to look at it.

3. Die, Die My Darling (The Misfits)

I was originally introduced to The Misfits when I was about 10 by my dad with Dig Up Her Bones, but didn’t think much of the song or of the band until last week. Not only do they have a very solid discography, but Die, Die My Darling is such a catchy and heartfelt track that I felt it was necessary to include it this week. Apart from the mixing, which is a little strange at times, this song absolutely slaps.

4. Bleed the Freak (Alice in Chains)

Kind of an obvious favorite from Facelift, but a favorite nonetheless. I rediscovered it this week after completely overplaying it in August, but Bleed the Freak is such a genuine masterpiece that I just can’t seem to leave it alone. I don’t know what they put in this song but I am unashamedly obsessed with it (again).

5. Lullaby (The Cure)

Yet another banger from Disintegration. I swear I’ll make a separate post on this album someday, but for now I’ll have to make do with speaking about separate tracks only. Lullaby is so sincere and charming it makes me want to cry, even if at first glance there’s nothing to really cry about. Yes, it’s simple, but when has simplicity ever stopped a song from being good?

6. Testify (Rage Against the Machine)

God how I love The Battle of Los Angeles. This song is an absolute beauty, both in terms of being innovative with its music and giving you food for thought. As I’ve said before, I’ll bite at anything genuine or passionate, so you can imagine how much authentic happiness songs like Testify bring me.

7. Firestarter (The Prodigy)

Another band I was introduced to by my dad. I’ve been listening to The Prodigy quite a bit this past month because I missed a chance to go their concert in August, so really it’s no surprise that one of their songs ends up on here. Firestarter is mind-numbing, but in the best way possible; just like most of their music, this song carries the kind of energy you can’t find with any other artist. It’s gorgeous.

DAMN this is a good album. Beautiful production, intense instrumentals, insightful lyrics, haunting vocals. Don’t know if this is their best album because I’m honestly not that into tool yet but I literally can’t stop listening to some of the songs on here, despite the uneasiness they bring. Such a great listen. Yeah, it’s not casual, but the effort of sitting down and trying to dissect the songs is so worth it omg.

Favourite song atm. Literally can’t stop listening. There’s something so undeniably transcendent about it, and this isn’t even me trying to be fancy. I legitimately think of this as a masterpiece.

Before ever trying out their music, I read up a little on tool (by that I mean I saw 3 20-minute YouTube videos). I didn’t understand what could ever be so magical about a bunch of guys that release 1 album every 10 years or so and let themselves actively hate on their fans more than any other artist I’ve seen. I also interacted with the fanbase a little bit, and that wasn’t a piece of cake either (it’s a cult guys no joke). But after actually trying them out, I immediately understood why the members get away with so much more than should be allowed and why fans are willing to pay $10,000 for a piece of merch (actually no this number is still crazy to me). I legitimately think their music is worth it.

Despite being a little too heavy (not in the musical sense, more in the emotional sense) for daily listening, tool remains one of my favourite bands. Genuinely can’t think of a better song than parabola off the top of my head, it’s just that good.

I’m seeing Tool in February guys I promise I’ll have more concert photos soon

Maynard James Keenan of Tool

Shout out to my fellow Tool fans 🫶