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fakee
04-23-2006, 04:29 PM
Hi.

I've been listening to Tool since Undertow. They are probably my favorite band in terms of producing my most listened to and enjoyed content. I do not consider myself a fan though. The fans are the ones who worship, reading the lyrics like the Bible (inventing meaning where there is none), and blindly believing all they do is good.

As someone with a long-term and intimate relationship with Tool, who hasn't been following this whole hoax thing until today, I thought you might be interested in my perspective on the matter.

I don't own any Tool merchandise, and don't follow their appearances outside of shows/CDs, but I have watched a couple of interviews on the web. A common theme I noticed was Maynard's disdain for piracy. I am a strong supporter of it, so I paid close attention to what he had to say.

After some pain of getting fake releases, and a broken copy, I finally got 10,000 m4a today. I'd only just heard it was out a day ago.

I actually got Vicarious first. It showed up before the working m4as. So I listened to that multiple times prior. I am the type of person that needs to listen to any song multiple times before I can enjoy it. This isn't just for Tool, it is also true for stupid pop songs.

My first thoughts are... is this A Perfect Circle? Maynard has relaxed his vocal style in his side-project, and now apparently he has decided to stick with it and use it in Tool as well. I hear not only the same style, but also identical vocal melodies.

Okay so it's time to cue up the entire album. I notice right away how it sounds very much like Lateralus. The production sound between all their other albums had distinct sounds... but this sounds like it was recorded at the same place, using the same equipment.

It's not just the production though. There are identical chord progressions as on Lateralus, except they change to another note at the last minute to be a little different.

I should also note that I didn't care much for Lateralus. Half of it was good, the other was so-so. It had too many signs I recognized from all the other experiences of bands releasing a so-so album right before completely sucking. So I feared that Tool was over, and I'd better just not listen to Undertow/Aenema too often so that I can keep it fresh for years to come.

So I'm a few songs into 10,000 days, and without knowing about all this hoax theory stuff, I say, "Haha! This is totally fake!".

I didn't feel this way because I hated it and was in denial. It was because it sounded disconnected. Don't get me wrong, it is professionally produced. It doesn't sound fake, but that is why it seemed fake. It just sounds like something a pro would create when trying to make something that appears real, but without much effort.

So immediately I am thinking about Maynard hating people who steal their music. I am envisioning his misguided rage as he preaches to us about how we are thieves and Metallica is a good guy. I also realize how what Tool does, is try to be artistic. They go out of their way to screw with the idiot fans and thus create the mystery behind them, which is a great way to sucker people into giving them money.

Also, they are old. Tool is not going to be able to keep up this music game for much longer. Knowing that your music would be leaked, and having anger about this... being old, and someone who tries to be artsy and mess with people, why WOULDN'T you release a fake album that sounds convincingly real? How could you pass up what might be the last opportunity to be creative in the dying music industry??

It was clear, this is fake. It sounds so much like Lateralus, I wouldn't be surprised if to speed up the process they took some old instrumental cuts already recorded and had Maynard throw some crap over it, and go out while some kid tweaked it in the studio to make it sound polished enough to pass as real.

Then I come to this forum, and read all the same ideas. It really is interesting. There are people exhibiting the same behavior you see in cults like Christianity. People are taking words from here and there, tying them together with things from completely unrelated sources, and somehow create a story that they believe might be plausible.

No one thought any previous leaks might be fake. But here we are, where others have had the same thought as me. Why is this? Could this really be a decoy stunt?

When I first listened, it was obvious to me it was fake. Now I am trying to listen again, and I am finding the same type of lifelessness I hear in half of Lateralus, only, now it is worse. So what does this mean?

It means that Tool might've missed a great opportunity.

If I were in Tools position, being a fairly large player in the old industry game, I would not let it dwindle away without being creative. Now is such a perfect opportunity, right before the entire show is over, to do something exciting. With such controversy over the RIAA, P2P, how could you be a major label band and not release a real-fake CD?!?

Madonna took the first step with the, "What the fuck do you think you're doing?". But that is too simple. People have always packaged fake releases, but anyone can do this. Only Tool can package a fake that is totally passable as a real thing. If they missed this obvious opportunity, they really are blinded by Hollywood.

So where does this leave us? Either Tool is old, found a formula that developed, and like all things matured, no longer has surprise... or, they are still trying to fill the bland music industry->consumer relationship with something resembling soul (even if fake).

Despite immediately hearing a fake CD, I am thinking that they are just old and can no longer see themselves through the self-centered cave that Hollywood forces acts into. I can see Maynard now, "Those fucking little bastards. They stole our shit! We need DRM. Don't they know I am Christ!?" :P

Feel free to prove me wrong Tool. But until then, I still have <Lateralus to enjoy... and now that you and the industry are dying, I can seize my opportunity to fill the void that you will inevitably leave.

LeperKhan
04-23-2006, 04:52 PM
Fairly well said.

To me, there were far too many clues, too many coincidences and inconsistencies, for this to not be a joke. The real clincher is how I came of this thought on my own, and then realized so many other people had developed the exact same thought. I believe that many came to this conclusion on their own, as well.

Doh, I just noticed your name. You're making fun of the conspiracy theorists, aren't you? I don't even know anymore.

This is the most interesting thing to happen in a while, and when I think about that, it makes me a little sad.

fault
04-23-2006, 04:58 PM
The real clincher is how I came of this thought on my own, and then realized so many other people had developed the exact same thought. I believe that many came to this conclusion on their own, as well..

That's spot on for me too. I had the album within the first hour, went away and listened to it twice. Utter disappointment that hasn't changed, and I was quite suprised to see others had a similar "vocal" opinion. The hoax idea seemed plausible about a week ago, but I'm pretty sure now this is it. Bugger.

montsegur
04-23-2006, 05:01 PM
I agree... tool being as an institution or a religion to some fans....thats just to much...Fans think their heroes cant go wrong,cant make a bad album....
It just sad that a band whose music stands against mass worshipping has fans that threat them as gods...

knot0fvipers
04-23-2006, 05:03 PM
I have oscilated back and forth if this is fake or not. I really had not read the lyrics until today though. I think its clearly a fake now, as you point out they are getting older and some of the lyrics are out right childish(Rosetta Stoned).
If it does turn out to be real i will buy the cd still just to have the final mastered version because this is clearly not the final mastered version besides for the track that is on the radio. If you dispute the production differences between the tracks its because your listening on headphones/consumer speakers. The difference is huge on good flat studio monitors.
I really love Vicarious. I think you can hear how they have progressed as musicians in that track. The almost counter point between the bass and the guitars, the guitar riffs themselves, the production(best I have ever heard). The other tracks are simply not even close to Vicarious as far as anything technicaly related.

Alistair_Carson
04-23-2006, 05:18 PM
Well.

You pretty much just summed up my entire opinion of all this in this thread. I whole-heartedly agree. Thank you dearly.

04-23-2006, 06:49 PM
Be prepared to get blasted for your comments about Lateralus...What songs dont you like just curiously? I havent heard TTD yet so I dont know if ts fake or not. I think it cant be said either way, no one knows anything for SURE.

Reagunn
04-23-2006, 10:34 PM
as you point out they are getting older .
What does that mean?
Thye're musicians not athletes.
If anythng, they shoud be getting wiser and better with age.
Is there an age when you can't play guitar anymore?

fakee
04-24-2006, 03:35 PM
If anythng, they shoud be getting wiser and better with age.
Is there an age when you can't play guitar anymore?

Don't believe the lies they sell you on TV about humans being in their prime at 40. Old people hate how their life was stolen from them, so they continue the cycle out of revenge.

Humans decay with time. Music is a raw emotional expression that comes from the energy and passion of youth, which is very deeply entwined in sex and rebellion. Sure you can play instruments when you are old, but what you have to say is going to be slower, more predictable, and less passionate.

What would be more exciting, raw lip licking porn with fresh bouncy youth... or matured, refined, and stable 40 year olds?

This new leak pretty much kills the dream of this being a grand trick. I think a big part of what people heard as fakeness was due to the horrible quality of the audio.

Now as I listen, it sounds like they tried. They are just old and tired. I still like this, as I liked some of Lateralus. But it is in a different category, with something like Pink Floyd. It is okay, but it just doesn't have that spark.

I can groove to, "What's the difference? Kangaroo be stoned blah blah", and I can get into it half-ass. But then I put on Stinkfist as comparison, and it isn't even the same band. 10,000 days is some cool jamming of old men.

"Something kinda sad about the way that things have come to be. Desensitized to everything, what became of subtlety." I mean this is stuff I sing to myself when battling life. This is real.

A sad thing I am noticing listening to Stinkfist right now is that I hear 10,000 days in it. This new CD has so many recycled elements from old Tool and A Perfect Circle, that now it has tainted my CDs. Sigh.

Yes, the new stuff is superior technically... but it lacks depth. Lateralus also was pretty sterile, but at least it had a little mystery and some cool lyrics. What words or memorable riffs will be in your head for you to carry around as you face life? "Shit the bed"? "Lemon in your eye"?

Some of this stuff is funny, but not really, because it is too perfect and professionally executed to be funny. Any kid in his basement with a tape recorder could make more creative stuff, and they do. Look on the web and see all the poor quality but clever things.

Tool is now in the list. Yes, that list. Metallica, Queensryche, Megadeth, Pantera, In Flames. The bands I used to like, but turned into sterile, predictable, Hollywood trash. Yes, Tool can make very complicated trash... but that's all it is. The magic has dissipated.

One can only wonder how things would've been different had Maynard not done the Circle thing. From what I read, he was absent from the evolution in Lateralus. I got the feeling watching them that the band grew apart other than the career aspect.

But this is what happens. When you first met your wife, there was magic. You fucked like wild rabbits. Compare that to when you are old. Sure, maybe technically you have more moves and have refined your technique... but can you really say that sex is as alive as when you first fell in love?

Sorry Tool. It was a great insult to suggest you were creative enough to release a decoy, when really you aren't. I can't imagine how bad that must hurt... but... I think after being worshipped for so long, their heads must be so far in the clouds that they can dismiss our thoughts that it might've been fake.

So. What new bands have promise nowadays?

black_rose
04-24-2006, 03:52 PM
I only just started liking opeth so thanfully i have about 8 albums to listen to for a while then i'll probably never listen to bands again

phylleb
04-24-2006, 04:01 PM
why is the main page and news section not working on this site or many of the other tool news sights. i guess we will just have to wait till monday morning to see what they played a coachella festival on sunday night. i am going to the concert in detroit and i will be pissed if i bought tickets to a show were they play a proposed decoy album. but, maynard did say they would not put the crowd through listening to 10,000 days. it was an interview with vision. maybe that is a hint by him.

Masses
04-24-2006, 04:02 PM
mars volta. system of a down. nine inch nails. they're all getting better.

fakee
04-24-2006, 04:40 PM
I only just started liking opeth so thanfully i have about 8 albums to listen to for a while then i'll probably never listen to bands again

Opeth are great, but... the new stuff gets wimpier and wimpier. Luckily there is a lot of fresh old material if you haven't heard it, but don't expect new stuff with any power.

System is good. Mars volta I've never heard, I will check it out thanks.

eksyte
04-24-2006, 04:43 PM
Most of what you seem to base you opinion is the sound of the music, and that's fine, but I think a lot of the entertainment for some people comes from figuring out the what Maynard's actually saying (the word-for-word lyrics) and then figuring out what he means. It helps if it sounds cool, but that's not the primary interest.

Of course, I'm a musical layman, so I'm not anal about riffs or production quality.

In response to your porn analogy:
A lot of middle-aged chicks look hot as fuck and they've got the experience that younger chicks lack. Think about it.

Reagunn
04-24-2006, 05:26 PM
Don't believe the lies they sell you on TV about humans being in their prime at 40. Old people hate how their life was stolen from them, so they continue the cycle out of revenge.
First of all old people are in retirement homes, if you think 40 is old then your life is really going to suck.
I haven't heard these lies your referring to, but thanks for telling me what's what.
People have children out of revenge?
You just live until you die, that's it, don't be an ageist, it's stupid.
I guess I was just lucky, but I was never one of those kids that thought that everyone who didn't see the world my way was just to old.
Thanks god for it, the kids that did grew up to have boring lives.


Humans decay with time. Music is a raw emotional expression that comes from the energy and passion of youth, which is very deeply entwined in sex and rebellion. Sure you can play instruments when you are old, but what you have to say is going to be slower, more predictable, and less passionate.
People get smarter with age, that's a fact, especially in crystalized intelligence, which is the abiliy to draw upon information and experience.
So, as fer as music is concerned, older people should be better at it,and they are.
What your doing is mistaking anger and rebellion as the sole catalyst of art.
Some of the greatest music ever written is nothing but beautiful and full of hope.
Maybe Tool isn't as angry as they used to be.
Good, who the hell wants to live their entire life like that?
More predictable?
They're doing something new and you don't like it, you want the old Tool.
Sounds like predictibality is exactly what you want.

But why am I telling you this?
You must be 60 or so years old yourself since you seem to know everything about how older people think.

What would be more exciting, raw lip licking porn with fresh bouncy youth... or matured, refined, and stable 40 year olds?

I did have sex with a 38 year old woman when I was 23, she didn't look as good as a young woman, but she was was a whole hell of a lot better at it.
You should try it, might give you a bit of perspective that you're so obviously lacking.