Most Helpful Customer Reviews
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68 of 70 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Pull me under., February 2, 2002
As a progressive rock fan who entered Tool's world with Lateralus, I've been collecting their albums in reverse order. It's pretty strange going from Lateralus (their most progressive) to Opiate (their "simplest"). It must have been very interesting for fans who started at the beginning and watched this remarkable band grow into the powerhouses they are now.At face value, Undertow seems simple and heavy, pulled down because of a muddy mix that never seems to raise the guitars above a buzz or Maynard James Keenan's voice to the heights where it should soar. It's more song-oriented than the multifaceted epics of Lateralus and even ::whoa!:: catchy at times. I love the rapid, quick-fingered picking of the infectious main riff for "Bottom". Heavy stuff can have hooks too, right? At face value... Undertow, however, is a pretty rich heavy metal album. Only traces of the alternative/grunge sound hover around Undertow's edges -- mainly the production style and some of the riffs. But in most respects, this is very much a metal record. Intellectually, however, Tool steps well beyond most metal bands with innovative musical intricacies and astute lyrics. Keenan is one of the most powerful vocalists in rock/metal, and his delivery is perfectly dramatic on songs like "Sober" (with its powerful ending) and "Crawl Away", where he whispers and roars. Adam Jones is a very unique guitarist, not playing conventional solos, and usually basing his playing on just a few chords per song. However, Tool is more about band interplay than individual playing: Danny Carey's exact and meticulous drumming; Paul d'Amour's gritty, growling bass; Jones' scratching guitar sounds, silent nuance, or earsplitting power chords. The title track is the most dynamic musically, with clever riffs and awesome vocals. "4 Degrees" shows the band's interest in Middle Eastern influences (which would inform parts of Lateralus). I recommend getting the lyrics from Tool's site and following along as you listen. It really gives the songs more impact. And, of course, we expect a Tool album to have something weird on it. The trippy 16-minute "Disgustipated" finishes off the album, starting on track 10 and ending on track 69. Tracks 10-68 are just blank, 1-second bits. Then, on track 69, things start to happen. There's some dialogue, some sounds, some singing, and a *bit* of music. Listen closely to the words and think about it...interesting stuff. It's amusingly weird and cool. Explore one of the best bands out there.
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31 of 32 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
A wonderful, touching, and chilling CD, December 14, 1999
Tool is amazing. They write complex, emotional music, never sound corny, and they can flat-out run a chill down your spine. This particular album is more of a straight rock approach to their brand of music, as opposed to the heavy distortion of Ænima. It's tough to comapre the two albums because of this difference, but one thing I can pick out is that I like the bass better on Undertow. It is used to great effect; one example of this is on "Intolerence", where the bass keeps the flow of the song together, allowing the guitar to play more complicated and varied riffs. The vocals by Keenan are simply astounding : he can sing soft and beautifully, and conversely go all out and yell. During all of the yelling, however, he never sounds untalented; he is able to keep the high quality of his voice. That's very rare to find these days. And last but certainly not least, Danny Carey's heart-pounding drums are able to pick a song up from a slow melody to all out rage and then slow it back down again. If they continue on the path that Undertow and Ænima have beaten out for them, their new album (which is rumored to have been in production since October '99) will be something special indeed.
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18 of 18 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
My reluctant favorite of the quartet., February 25, 1999
By A Customer
As a long-time fan of the band, I've chosen to spotlight this album in an Amazon review. I've seen Tool seven times live, once at Lollapalooza, once at Ozzfest and the rest at their own shows. Undertow is undoubtedly the most powerful, thought-provoking album these guys have assembled, but I would also prescribe any other of their masterpieces. Maynard's voice is an instrument, a vehicle, that takes the listener to dark places. He is the tragic king of his own world, and he makes you feel like he's been through something the rest of us only have nightmares about. The lyrics make you dig into yourself, introspect, realize what's there and what isn't and should be. Danny Carey's percussion lines provide powerful punctuation to Adam Jones' amazing guitar riffs and Paul D'amour's (now replaced by Justin Chancellor's) bass beats. The bass, in this album and Aenima particularly, is the engine of the music. The pure genius of Adam Jones, the brain child of this band, is recognizeable in any of their videos or songs. Rarely does one find a band that speaks to listeners like Tool. One of their most powerful messages is that through introspection, you realize your true potential in what you do and who you are-- so don't be a sheep. Don't follow the crowd, or take things for granted. No one told you to come. This is necessary; life feeds on life. If you can't get the messages, can't appreciate the music for what it is, don't get this album or any of their others. If you are open-minded and you can read between the lines, listen to Tool.
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