benpink
05-12-2005, 09:18 AM
I'm not sure if this is already blatantly obvious to most people by now, but the idea hit me outta the blue.
I've always thought of Tool's albums as being thematic rather than conceptual, meaning they have central themes that run throughout, but not an actual story line. Then I started thinking about Ænima as a whole.
An enema, as you all know, is a procedure done to cleanse the anal cavity. So Stinkfist, the first song, represents the actual device being shoved into place. This is probably a metaphor for being open and vulnerable to spiritual change , or cleansing. "something has to change, undeniable dilemma"
Songs 2-11 (Eulogy through Pushit) are all the different things within the psyche that could go under an attempted change. As we all know, there are numerous interpretations as to what you are actually changing, or improving within yourself.
Eulogy - concepts of martyrdom, having someone above the masses do things for everyone else. being a sheep.
H. - getting over an attachment to heroin, someone in a relationship, etc...
46&2- changing the level of spirituality.... ah.... "Cleansing I've endured within My shadow. Change is coming. Now is my time."
Hooker - misconceptions of consumerism. "buy, buy, send more money, buy" pretty much sums up how we are pawns in the capitalist system...not good for spiritual growth within ourselves.
Jimmy- reverting back to a childhood state, possibly to deal with un-resolved fixations within the psyche.
Pushit- perhaps the destination of Jimmy's journey. Now the good old Oedipus complex can be resolved. Or, taken more literally: coming to grips with an abusive relationship.
Ænima- the final 'squirt' , if u will. All the other shit in society that needs to be dealt with. Basically, everything opposed to self-reflection and spiritual advancement is 'flushed away' and cleaned out. now we are 'clean.'
I haven't been mentioning the segues, but Ions might have some relevance. I recall Danny saying that ions are commonly found near natural water and they tend to give off good energy or something like that. He said it was the "feel good song of the album." It makes sense here: The anal cavity has successfully undergone cleansing by water and is now clean; a metaphor for being susceptible to genuine spiritual change.
Third Eye represents the spiritual enlightenment now made possible after all of the above.
Feedback would be wonderful , thanks.
I've always thought of Tool's albums as being thematic rather than conceptual, meaning they have central themes that run throughout, but not an actual story line. Then I started thinking about Ænima as a whole.
An enema, as you all know, is a procedure done to cleanse the anal cavity. So Stinkfist, the first song, represents the actual device being shoved into place. This is probably a metaphor for being open and vulnerable to spiritual change , or cleansing. "something has to change, undeniable dilemma"
Songs 2-11 (Eulogy through Pushit) are all the different things within the psyche that could go under an attempted change. As we all know, there are numerous interpretations as to what you are actually changing, or improving within yourself.
Eulogy - concepts of martyrdom, having someone above the masses do things for everyone else. being a sheep.
H. - getting over an attachment to heroin, someone in a relationship, etc...
46&2- changing the level of spirituality.... ah.... "Cleansing I've endured within My shadow. Change is coming. Now is my time."
Hooker - misconceptions of consumerism. "buy, buy, send more money, buy" pretty much sums up how we are pawns in the capitalist system...not good for spiritual growth within ourselves.
Jimmy- reverting back to a childhood state, possibly to deal with un-resolved fixations within the psyche.
Pushit- perhaps the destination of Jimmy's journey. Now the good old Oedipus complex can be resolved. Or, taken more literally: coming to grips with an abusive relationship.
Ænima- the final 'squirt' , if u will. All the other shit in society that needs to be dealt with. Basically, everything opposed to self-reflection and spiritual advancement is 'flushed away' and cleaned out. now we are 'clean.'
I haven't been mentioning the segues, but Ions might have some relevance. I recall Danny saying that ions are commonly found near natural water and they tend to give off good energy or something like that. He said it was the "feel good song of the album." It makes sense here: The anal cavity has successfully undergone cleansing by water and is now clean; a metaphor for being susceptible to genuine spiritual change.
Third Eye represents the spiritual enlightenment now made possible after all of the above.
Feedback would be wonderful , thanks.