This was touched on in a Pink Floyd thread a while back. Do you think Tool rides that whole question authority thing as a marketing scheme? Are they only about making money or do they actually believe in what they sing... or is it somewhere in between?
"Tool" question...
- Thread starter bGIveNs33
- Start date
Umm I don't think their lyrics is what has gotten them all the fans they have. I love his voice but I love their music. You will be hard pressed to find a band as talented musically as tool.
So no, I don't think they write lyrics about questioning authority to make money. There just isn't ANY evidence to support that thought.
Yea... that's what I thought. I am a huge Tool fan... they put on one of the most intense live shows I've ever seen... it's just that in this day and age, its rare pure musicians make it big.
Oh don't get me wrong. They like the money. They are happy their music makes them money but I don't think they go out to make music that will make them the most money. They create music that will make them happy.
First time I heard Earshot, I was wondering what Tool B-album the crappy song came off of especially since I own just about every mainstream live, produced, and concert album. It was the first song I thought was horrible that was done by Tool. Then I found out it was a crappy rip off band.
I like their music more than their lyrics. But I can't say their lyrics are about "questioning authority", they're just about stuff...How can you extrapolate "questioning authority" from The Grudge or Reflection. Their songs are mostly about feelings/emotions/experiences etc.
To be honest, Lateralus (IMO) is a lot like Dark side of the Moon. Great music, common theme through the songs, great lyrics which you can relate to.
Also, I am sure their are honestly into the whole eastern religions/lsd thing. I read an article in NYTimes about Alex Grey, a close friend of theirs and the guy who does their artwork, so no, I don't think they're fakes.
To be honest, Lateralus (IMO) is a lot like Dark side of the Moon. Great music, common theme through the songs, great lyrics which you can relate to.
Also, I am sure their are honestly into the whole eastern religions/lsd thing. I read an article in NYTimes about Alex Grey, a close friend of theirs and the guy who does their artwork, so no, I don't think they're fakes.
For some reason, when a band is underground they are "cool" but once they get popular they sell out. There are bands that do that. But tool is not one of them.
Tool has one of the best jobs in the world. They are doing what they like AND make a lot of money doing it.
I know I will get flamed for this but a band I do felt left it's underground sound from the early days is Korn. I saw them WAY before Life is Peachy and they were some awesome guys. Their music was edgy and rough. Then after Life is Peachy they went with more of a produced commercial sound. You can say their sound evolved but I just think it changed to a more radio friendly sound. I won't say they sound out because I can't read their minds but something definately happened. I was lucky enough to catch them live before they blew up. I saw then play with Rob Zombie and they couldn't even play the new stuff on stage worth a crap because it was WAY overproduced.
If anything Tool's last album is about as UN-radio friendly as you can get.
Tool has one of the best jobs in the world. They are doing what they like AND make a lot of money doing it.
I know I will get flamed for this but a band I do felt left it's underground sound from the early days is Korn. I saw them WAY before Life is Peachy and they were some awesome guys. Their music was edgy and rough. Then after Life is Peachy they went with more of a produced commercial sound. You can say their sound evolved but I just think it changed to a more radio friendly sound. I won't say they sound out because I can't read their minds but something definately happened. I was lucky enough to catch them live before they blew up. I saw then play with Rob Zombie and they couldn't even play the new stuff on stage worth a crap because it was WAY overproduced.
If anything Tool's last album is about as UN-radio friendly as you can get.
Bitek
Lifer
- Aug 2, 2001
- 10,676
- 5,238
- 136
My 2 cents..
There is a song on Aenema where he sings about a fan ("wearing Van's, 501's, new tattoos," etc) going up to him telling him he "sold out to the Man," then the whole song goes on about what a hippacrite the guy is. He "opines" that yes he's a sellout, but he sold out long before he made a record, and that we are all sell-outs in one way or another...
"I'm the Man, and she's the Man, and your the f*&king Man as well, so you can stick that f#$king finger up your ass!!!!"....
So if you don't realize this you are a dope, and you can kiss his freaking ass.
Are they sell-outs? Probably to some degree. Nobody can make a record with not having to compromise some of their artistic vision. But are they NSync? Not even close.
IMO, the lyrics are what makes Tool so great. Most of their songs are about interesting issues, many of which aren't really taked about, and they take strong opinions on them, most of which I agree with. So many popular/big-name bands, while some of their songs may have some good riffs, that have absolutely nothing to say (duh, I gots all the money/bitches/whatever, I'll kick yer ass boy!!..)
There is a song on Aenema where he sings about a fan ("wearing Van's, 501's, new tattoos," etc) going up to him telling him he "sold out to the Man," then the whole song goes on about what a hippacrite the guy is. He "opines" that yes he's a sellout, but he sold out long before he made a record, and that we are all sell-outs in one way or another...
"I'm the Man, and she's the Man, and your the f*&king Man as well, so you can stick that f#$king finger up your ass!!!!"....
So if you don't realize this you are a dope, and you can kiss his freaking ass.
Are they sell-outs? Probably to some degree. Nobody can make a record with not having to compromise some of their artistic vision. But are they NSync? Not even close.
IMO, the lyrics are what makes Tool so great. Most of their songs are about interesting issues, many of which aren't really taked about, and they take strong opinions on them, most of which I agree with. So many popular/big-name bands, while some of their songs may have some good riffs, that have absolutely nothing to say (duh, I gots all the money/bitches/whatever, I'll kick yer ass boy!!..)
And on this subject... does anyone know what time "Schism" is written in? I can't seem to figure it out.
- Oct 28, 1999
- 62,484
- 8,344
- 126
I met a boy wearing Vans, 501s, and a
Dope Beastie t, nipple rings, and
New tattoos that claimed that he
Was OGT,
From '92,
The first EP.
And in between
Sips of Coke
He told me that
He thought
We were sellin' out,
Layin' down,
Suckin' up
To the man.
Well now I've got some
A-dvice for you, little buddy.
Before you point the finger
You should know that
I'm the man,
And if I'm the man,
Then you're the man, and
He's the man as well so you can
Point that fsckin' finger up your ass.
All you know about me is what I've sold you,
Dumb fsck.
I sold out long before you ever heard my name.
I sold my soul to make a record,
Dip sh!t,
And you bought one.
So I've got some
Advice for you, little buddy.
Before you point your finger
You should know that
I'm the man,
If I'm the fsckin' man
Then you're the fsckin' man as well
So you can
Point that fsckin' finger up your ass.
All you know about me is what I've sold you,
Dumb fsck.
I sold out long before you ever heard my name.
I sold my soul to make a record,
Dip sh!t,
And you bought one.
All you read and
Wear or see and
Hear on TV
Is a product
Begging for your
Fatass dirty
Dollar
So...Shut up and
Buy my new record
Send more money
Fsck you, buddy.
Dope Beastie t, nipple rings, and
New tattoos that claimed that he
Was OGT,
From '92,
The first EP.
And in between
Sips of Coke
He told me that
He thought
We were sellin' out,
Layin' down,
Suckin' up
To the man.
Well now I've got some
A-dvice for you, little buddy.
Before you point the finger
You should know that
I'm the man,
And if I'm the man,
Then you're the man, and
He's the man as well so you can
Point that fsckin' finger up your ass.
All you know about me is what I've sold you,
Dumb fsck.
I sold out long before you ever heard my name.
I sold my soul to make a record,
Dip sh!t,
And you bought one.
So I've got some
Advice for you, little buddy.
Before you point your finger
You should know that
I'm the man,
If I'm the fsckin' man
Then you're the fsckin' man as well
So you can
Point that fsckin' finger up your ass.
All you know about me is what I've sold you,
Dumb fsck.
I sold out long before you ever heard my name.
I sold my soul to make a record,
Dip sh!t,
And you bought one.
All you read and
Wear or see and
Hear on TV
Is a product
Begging for your
Fatass dirty
Dollar
So...Shut up and
Buy my new record
Send more money
Fsck you, buddy.
Originally posted by: MartyTheManiak
A weird one
Mostly 7/8, IIRC. They play with time signatures a lot and on that song in particular.
If you've seen them live relatively recently, or have Salival, you'll hear a Timothy sound bite that starts off, "Think for yourself, question authority... Think for yourself, question authority..." It's not an anarchist "fight the power" mantra, but a call to, well, think for yourself. Don't just accept what others or society say at face value. There are other examples as well. Like their sound bite from controversial comic Lenny Bruce at the begining of Third Eye on Aenima, or the song Lateralus (excerpts below):
Black then white are all I see in my infancy.
red and yellow then came to be, reaching out to me.
lets me see there is so much more
and beckons me to look through to these infinite possibilities.
I'm reaching up and reaching out.
I'm reaching for the random or what ever will bewilder me.
And following our will and wind we may just go where no one's been.
We'll ride the spiral to the end and may just go where no one's been.
Spiral out. Keep going...
If Tool has a "message" I think it's about thinking for yourself, pushing boundries (both personal and societal), self discovery and personal growth. Even towards the end of the live shows Maynard encourages the audience to go create something (poem, music, art, etc.,) after the show. Remember the energy and the feeling in the room and let that inspire you. And I must agree that Tool puts on fantastic live show. Hell, it's not a show it's an experience. I got to seem the play in San Diego on Halloween in '01 and that was, OMG, f'ing amazing.
Lethal
I am very sad to say that I haven't seen them live
They were here in the summer, but I had to go with. Tool isn't very popular with my friends it seems.Tool is obviously my favorite band as you would know if you had ever seen my sig before. Anyways, TOOL is a band that actually is about the music.
Think about this, have you ever seen an interview with them?
Have you ever heard them on the radio advertising their new record?
Have you ever seen them promoting a product?
I have only seen a few (less than 5 and they're all on my computer) interviews with them and it's not usually all of them. It's usually just a few seconds or a minute or two with maynard or just some splices from things he's said. They're not in this for the money. They're not complaining about the money but hey, I wouldn't be either.
The 'Think for yourself. Question authority.' is by no means a catch-phrase for them to ride to financial security. If you have ever attended one of their concerts, you would know that this is false. Just as somebody else stated, Maynard always tells people to take their energy they are feeling right now and over the next few months, to turn it into something positive.
Hell, last time he told us all to 'go home. sit beside the fireplace. write some poetry. then masturbate until you pass out.' It was hilarious. I've seen them twice and if they come to my area again, I would pay any money to see them for a third time. They truly are a band that needs to be seen live to appreciate them to the fullest extent.
Enough of my ranting. I'm obviously biased but go ahead and just listen to their songs and tell me if you still think they're about commercialism.
-silver
Think about this, have you ever seen an interview with them?
Have you ever heard them on the radio advertising their new record?
Have you ever seen them promoting a product?
I have only seen a few (less than 5 and they're all on my computer) interviews with them and it's not usually all of them. It's usually just a few seconds or a minute or two with maynard or just some splices from things he's said. They're not in this for the money. They're not complaining about the money but hey, I wouldn't be either.
The 'Think for yourself. Question authority.' is by no means a catch-phrase for them to ride to financial security. If you have ever attended one of their concerts, you would know that this is false. Just as somebody else stated, Maynard always tells people to take their energy they are feeling right now and over the next few months, to turn it into something positive.
Hell, last time he told us all to 'go home. sit beside the fireplace. write some poetry. then masturbate until you pass out.' It was hilarious. I've seen them twice and if they come to my area again, I would pay any money to see them for a third time. They truly are a band that needs to be seen live to appreciate them to the fullest extent.
Enough of my ranting. I'm obviously biased but go ahead and just listen to their songs and tell me if you still think they're about commercialism.
-silver
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