firesuite
11-28-2003, 01:36 PM
This is very very abstract so just bear with me. As always, Tool's lyrics are meant to be food for thought and imagination. So here goes:
One way of looking at this is thinking of the three connected to the song "Lateralus" and the stages of life. The theme of the title track (to me) represents re-birth and re-discovering oneself in an ideal light. The end of "Lateralus" is symbolic of the death of the former self. Its almost as if the narrator of the album (Maynard, if you will) becomes aware of what he needs to become (the ideal balance of logic and emotion as represented in "Lateralus") and therefore enters into a deep meditation in which he is "re-born" and analyzes his life. Think of all three tracks together as one long, introspective "trip."
Think of the beginning of "Disposition" as the actual re-birth. The texture of the song is so entrancing and, in a way, very very innocent, much like the mind of a child. One listens to this song with an air of curiosity and hope. We come into life "wide-eyed and hopeful" but upon learning the ways of the world, our innocence is lost: "mention this to me, watch the weather change." The weather changes from innocent and hopeful to loathing, regret, and worry.
The song "Reflection" is very clearly introspective. The narrator looks at his life in this vision (or mediation, trip or whatever you would like to call it) and sees the person he has become. The final lyrics though are parallel to the ideals presented in Lateralus, becoming aware of the changes that must take places in our lives "before we pine away."
If "Lateralus" is a set of instructions for what needs to be, then "Triad" is the actual process. It is the metamorphisis, the purge, the cleansing, the descent or possibly even the ascension. This song represents some kind of change. It is not a suggestion to "spiral out." It is the actual spiraling.
Who knows? We may see a new Tool on their next album. As with all Tool albums, the final tracks are epic and foreshadowing of whats to come. "Third Eye's" curiosity, introspection, and (at times) melody definately point to Lateralus. At the end of Aenima, its almost as if they have discovered a whole new world of thought through the eyes of a new perception (pried open third eyes", and on Lateralus attempt to explore this. Upon their exploration of their opened "doors of perception" they come to somewhat of a temporary conclusion: the ideals of "Lateralus" and then the actual process of "Dis/Ref/Triad."
In addition, (to wrap it up really quickly), the musical structure of these three songs is very repetitive: very hypnotic jams. They are not structured songs like "Schism" or "The Patient". This again points to a meditative state.
So listen to "Lateralus" as a warm-up, followed by these three songs together. We'll meet you on the other side.
"Fear and regret are the twin thieves that rob us of today."
One way of looking at this is thinking of the three connected to the song "Lateralus" and the stages of life. The theme of the title track (to me) represents re-birth and re-discovering oneself in an ideal light. The end of "Lateralus" is symbolic of the death of the former self. Its almost as if the narrator of the album (Maynard, if you will) becomes aware of what he needs to become (the ideal balance of logic and emotion as represented in "Lateralus") and therefore enters into a deep meditation in which he is "re-born" and analyzes his life. Think of all three tracks together as one long, introspective "trip."
Think of the beginning of "Disposition" as the actual re-birth. The texture of the song is so entrancing and, in a way, very very innocent, much like the mind of a child. One listens to this song with an air of curiosity and hope. We come into life "wide-eyed and hopeful" but upon learning the ways of the world, our innocence is lost: "mention this to me, watch the weather change." The weather changes from innocent and hopeful to loathing, regret, and worry.
The song "Reflection" is very clearly introspective. The narrator looks at his life in this vision (or mediation, trip or whatever you would like to call it) and sees the person he has become. The final lyrics though are parallel to the ideals presented in Lateralus, becoming aware of the changes that must take places in our lives "before we pine away."
If "Lateralus" is a set of instructions for what needs to be, then "Triad" is the actual process. It is the metamorphisis, the purge, the cleansing, the descent or possibly even the ascension. This song represents some kind of change. It is not a suggestion to "spiral out." It is the actual spiraling.
Who knows? We may see a new Tool on their next album. As with all Tool albums, the final tracks are epic and foreshadowing of whats to come. "Third Eye's" curiosity, introspection, and (at times) melody definately point to Lateralus. At the end of Aenima, its almost as if they have discovered a whole new world of thought through the eyes of a new perception (pried open third eyes", and on Lateralus attempt to explore this. Upon their exploration of their opened "doors of perception" they come to somewhat of a temporary conclusion: the ideals of "Lateralus" and then the actual process of "Dis/Ref/Triad."
In addition, (to wrap it up really quickly), the musical structure of these three songs is very repetitive: very hypnotic jams. They are not structured songs like "Schism" or "The Patient". This again points to a meditative state.
So listen to "Lateralus" as a warm-up, followed by these three songs together. We'll meet you on the other side.
"Fear and regret are the twin thieves that rob us of today."