Musical tastes vary. I could love Johnny Cash, Eminem, Rush, and Tool. In fact, it just so happens, I do.
I love all kinds of music, from Rap to Metal. If it makes me sing and sway or, perhaps, bang my head I’m in.
I’m particularly fond of Hard Rock and Metal. If we’re to dive a bit deeper it seems my ear really appreciates Prog Rock and Prog Metal.
My favorite bands of all time are Rush and Tool.
I heard Rush for the first time in 1980. The song was Working Man, released in March 1974. When I heard it I asked my friend “Who’s this?” He told me it was Rush and he thought they were amazing. I was hooked, instantly.
I picked up Rush (self titled), Moving Pictures, and 2112, as part of my Columbia Records subscription in 1982. It was really love at first listen. Needless to say Rush became my favorite band.
Fast forward to 1999 and I hear a track from a band named Tool: Sober. This is an old track, released in 1993. At that time I was listening to a lot of grunge, we lived in Seattle, that’s what you did. I was really into Pearl Jam and Soundgarden (remember, metal) but Tool stuck with me. I hadn’t bought any CDs but I liked them. In 2001 I heard Schism and Lateralus and oh boy was I hooked. Who in the heck lets the bass be the star in a song, besides Rush? Yes, I’m partial to the bass.
So, all that said, what Tool songs should you listen to if you’d like to know if you like them? There is no simple answer to that question for me. I love Tool. I listen to them almost every day, but if I had to pick a few songs to get someone started, I’d choose:
Ænema - Forty Six & 2 Salival - Pushit Lateralus - Lateralus 10,000 Days - Rosetta Stoned Fear Inoculum - Pneuma
That list was extremely difficult to come up with. If you asked me tomorrow it would probably be different, with the exception of Pushit - Live, which is my all time favorite song, hands down. It’s so much better than the studio version because of subtle things that make it something else altogether, in all the best ways.
I picked these songs for various different reasons. They’re all different in composition, but all 100% Tool.
If you like to count music please do it while listening to Tool. They’ll ultimately trip you up with varied time signatures just about the time you figure out they’re doing something in 33/8 or is it 33/16 or is it 3/8? Then they’ll drop into 4/4 for a while only to jump somewhere else. They’re a fascinating band in many ways not to mention each player is at the peak of their game. They’re selfless. They take equal billing on all songs, simply as written by Tool.
I could go on and on about Maynard’s amazing vocals or Danny Carey’s unmatched drumming, but all four of them are masters and make Tool, Tool.
There are bands and then there’s Tool. That’s about the best way I can describe them.