I must admit, I'm impressed by the music.

I still don't like Maynard's vocals, however.

Agreed. Great musicians, but I just can't like the vocals. I have tried very hard, too. Oh well.

I think he has one of the best voices ever. For example listen to Schism or the collaboration with Deftones on Passenger. Absolute masterworks.

Then again I'm not really impressed by the new album. You can make 11 minute masterpieces, but it doesn't do a lot to me. I like Vicarious, but the rest is somethimes rather dull or to much b-material for Lateralus to me (some songs even sound like Lateralus-ones). Luckily Lateralus is a really great album (one of my favs), so I ain't bashing Tool for those who might think..

I like Maynard's voice when he is raging, like for example, on The Outsider and Passive.
But I have to admit, I don't like his voice when he does it like in the opening lines of The Pot (nice song overall, nonetheless).

I used to like Tool quite a bit, but I find a lot of their songs boring after a few repeated listens. Plus they're a bit fur coat and no knickers - once you get past the impressive bombast, I find Maynard's voice is annoyingly grating and the guitar work is really unimaginative and ordinary. I found that it didn't work for me, but I can understand why people like them.

I've never got to the end of Lateralus in one go yet, but Aenima is a great album and Undertow has it's moments too. Not listened to 10,000 days as I can't be arsed.

This post has been edited by Senghe: May 18 2006, 8:24 am

I know a lot of people that feel this way. What songs did you listen to?

What the hell are you talking about? He sings with much more strength in plenty of tool songs. Also, passive is fucking pathetic. I fucking despise that song. Vacant was the shit. Passive is a lameass version of it.

Eulogy
Hooker With a Penis (only because I've heard so much good about it)
Lateralus
Vicarious
10,000 Days

Right on. That's a pretty good list. Vocally...you might wanna check out the Salival version of Pushit (if you can find it), and maybe Forty-Six and Two.

Glad you enjoyed the music, at least.

I hated that when I first heard it but it's grown on me to the point where that's my favourite song on the new album.

I don't understand how people can't love his voice! It's one of my favourites and one of the most unique.

Well, yes, almost the whole of Undertow for example. The Outsider and Passive are two of my favorites, hence the example. I haven't heard the Tapeworm version (original) though.

"You fucking disappoint me." <-- classic last liner IMO.

You really need to hear vacant. Everyone does.

i like their sound. haven't listened to them that much and could not easily identify any tunes other than schism, 10000 days, & vicarious (which is getting alot of airplay in ATL). i need to listen more before making a proper judgement on guitar/bass skills, but they do have great sound & whoever mixes their stuff in the studio does a helluva job. i suspect that would be maynard. does he play & record all of the instruments like rezner? i ask because that is what i have heard, but i never researched it.

No..... and you need to listen more before making a proper judgement? If you've listened to vicarious you would surely know that they're talented musicians.

Btw, I believe Maynard isn't even that involved in the writing process of the album... might be wrong though

ok, dug up some older tool...agree there is much talent there in the writing & the skills...seems maynard is the least talented of them all, i can take or leave his voice...i guess his lyrics are thought provoking (what i can understand), but for me personally, lyrics are the least important part of a song unless they extremely ridiculous. i don't really care what they sing about as long as i enjoy the voice.

seems maynard is pretty fucked up...lol...as is ed, but in a totally different way..."see the buddha sitting underneath his tree"...shit, what was ed smoking during SFBM?