The Grudge.

for me at the moment, the grudge, but vicarious is growing on me...

personally i think stinkfist is a better song to start an album than either the grudge or vicarious just as i still think AEnima is a better album than Lateralus or 10K Days.

The fact that i cant walk away from where i am sitting without mumbling under my breath 'i need to watch things die......' makes me want to say that Vicarious is better.

I love the grudge though. it is indeed a very hard decision.

ill have to go with a tie. it's just too much for me..

Agreed.

Tough choice. I enjoy them both sonically, but I prefer the vocals and lyrics on Vicarious at the moment. The Grudge is a little too preachy for my taste. Still hell of a track, though.

I said "ooooh" and grinned widely first time I heard Vicarious.

I creamed my pants and cracked my skull open first time I heard The Grudge.

speaking as a drummer, from a drummer's perspective:
- the grudge has spectacular dual time signatures toward the end of the piece and overall the more ecclectic rythm which gives it the win in technical complexity.

- Vicarious definitely showcases how Danny has evolved as a membranophonist (hehe), his use of new electronic percussion/sampling is jawdropping. I feel his use of a simple yet rare 10/4 rythm throughout the piece gives him a wicked backdrop for masterful multiple bar fills, not unlike some of his PLC stuff. It is also more powerful in general, giving it the win in catchy style.

- in conclusion, I have to declare the winner, in my opinion......

a tie :)

tie

I think I like the vocals better on Stinkfist than Intolerance.

But I can't get over the 25 second scream in The Grudge. There should have been at least a hint of that power in Vicarious...which I still love.

true true.

All of tool's first songs kick major ass including salival's.

i'm just so overwhelmed with 'vicarious' right now, that 'the grudge' is a bit far off at the moment. it's fresh, new, unconsumed. so i go with vicarious right now. but i think with more time it will be a tie.

the grudge

Tie. Although i love the grudge, vicarious does a fantastic job of opening this album.

oh come on, don't go there :p

i would have to say the grudge, as vicarious has only been out for a while.

tool songs take a while to take in. virarious has more of a radio friendly vibe to it. its still a very good song, and a good opener for the album, but the grudge i know by heart and it has more of a deepness to it, and the middle section with the maynard screem and the hypnotic riffs do it for me.

Hi all, I new to this whole forum business but when it comes to choosing which is the better song...I would have to say hands down "The Grudge".
I mean, though "Vicarious" is a fantastic song which is one of Tool's most accessible to date, It will never beat the "Choose to, Let this Go" at 4:45 or the 30 sec scream towards the climax.
That said I am already eager to see where the rest of the album is going if "Vicarious" is the opening smack to the head.


Thanks for listening...

I'm gonna go with Jambi.

Isn't it awesome how Third Eye not only makes a masterful closing song but an OPENING one as well?

Genius.

i feel the same way

Vicarious by a nose. More intense drumming (his most mind-blosing to date), though there are some cool innovative (for the time) double-bass drum techniques on The Grudge as well. I guess it's the chorus "wear the grudge like a/your crown" almost sounds like TOOL rapping. That was the only part of the song that bugged me at first, though I got over it pretty quickly. It's a great song. But Vicarious defines four musicians that have continued to transcend their own individual abilities to make a song that just defies logic. Vicarious, to me, is like nothing else they have ever done; which is what I was hoping for from this album. All the naysayers saying this new TOOL sucks, I just cannot imagine what they were expecting. Apparently the goofballs think they can write better music, so why sit around for five years and let TOOL disappoint you. Make better music than that and we'll listen to you losers. Until then, TOOL RULES!!!!

i haven't heard the new album yet, but i agree. aenima is from the heart. lateralus is from the mind.

i agree. it's too early to pass such sure footed judgement. besides, can you really compare the two songs? they are both from entirely different places, on our side and the band's. i dont know that they are trying to "beat" lateralus as much as they are trying to express where they are as artists.

that's a simple question...the grudge
I think that 10,000 days ever rating over lateralus is a futile thought, though it is a good cd.

The Grudge. Vicarious is a damn good song, but The Grudge is about as good as it gets. Not just the music, but the lyrics and the message. It clearly has a better climax too...and no not just because he screams.

The Grudge ..... AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH HHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH HHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH HHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH HHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH HHHHHHHHHHHHHH

I think Rosetta Stoned should have been the first song and single BTW. "Will I ever be coming down" from that song?

I'm solidly in the Vicarious camp even taking into account the fact that the novelty probably hasn't worn off yet. The Grudge is one of my least favorite cuts from Lateralus because it's so mechanical and not the least bit melodic. I still love it, just not to the degree I do the likes of Parabola, Schism, or Reflection.

The Grudge happened to be the first Tool song I had ever listened to, and I surely will never forget the experience.

Lol, autumnleigh. Im going with that also.


seriously thought i would have to say "The grudge"

why? ..



well.... ->



Sing along with "the grudge", then with "vicarious" . (make sure you are by youself at the time!) Tell me how you feel afterwards.


thx

VICARIOUS BY FAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAARRRRRRRRRRRRRRR RR!
Maynare sounds more real than in "The Grudge." Expecially during the choruses. The Last few lines of the song are Tool at their best.

The Grudge definitely.. Vicarious is the worst song on 10 000 Days imo at the moment. Good song still.

whooaa, hard question:-)
grudge has been playing in my mp3 player for some years now, vicarious is just a new kid around the block:-) ask me in 5 years:-)
(anyway, both are amazing.)

INTOLERANCE - first Tool song i ever heard btw

vicarious, obviously

I love Vicarious, but The Grudge is my favorite Tool song. That song has unbelievable power.

Vicarious - by alot.
The Grudge became boring and stale, at least for me.

If Vicarious had a drum solo in the end it might stand a chance.

Definitely The Grudge.