Maynard’s vocals are often mixed into the background, it’s very intentional. To the point that for the past 10-15 years, when Tool is playing live he sings from the shadows at the rear of the stage, to the side of the Danny Carey on the drums, while Adam Jones (the guitarist) and Justin Chancellor (the bassist) are at the front of the stage, under the lights.
Thanks Leo! I WAS going to comment about the same, one thing my 11yr old is NOT digging into her short Tool journey, she likes hearing lyrics clearly and JMK is OFTEN in the mix NOT above it.
Yes, I agree. One of the things I love about this song is the "creamy" overdubbed vocal sections in the chorus that lay just underneath the crunchy guitar and bass. Great contrast and I am almost positive it was intentional.
The Lateralus Album is one of the deepest and personal growth journeys I've ever heard in music and Parobol/Parobala is the Apex of the Album. The Grudge and Reflection also hit me pretty hard in the feels. I interpret Reflection as breaking out of a deep depression, the first verse is very dark, and finding love in yourself and a reason to live by the end of the track.
Been a Tool fan since the beginning. 13 years old when Sober came on MTV. I was hooked. Went straight to the store to buy Opiate and then Undertow. Their music still gives me goosebumps to this day. I’m 43. Their sound is one of a kind and their music sucks you in. It’s hypnotic. I love it.
The album Lateralus is a spiritual journey and in my opinion one of the best albums of all time ...it's nothing less than a mindblowing masterpiece. From the energy to the soul to the groove to the sound to the beat to the bass & guitars the math to the mix to lyrics to the meaning and to the whole f'in journey. This river runs deep ...
I was so bummed when your title only said Parabola. Very welcome news you did both, they really have to be heard together. Newish fan really enjoying the videos.
My favorite song from tool and possibly ever. As someone with frustrating and painful bodily issues, this song immediately resonated with me on a level nothing else ever has. It is not a stretch to say it changed me as a person. Also, great analysis!
Gonna admit thar Reflection/Triad/Faap de Oiad sequence scares the shit out of me so hard that i sometimes stop listening the album on Triad or Disposition
@@Israel-jr5ks does it make the experience more unsettling knowing that was a legitimate call to Art Bell's Coast to Coast AM radio show? And/or that once the call was disconnected, they were unable to get him back on the air?
@@Israel-jr5ks Listening in a dark room in a meditative state with your eyes closed, yeah it can creep you out. I leave out Faaip de Oiad personally as it does nothing for me its one of their gimmicky songs like Message from Harry Manback or Hooker with a Penis, nonetheless a classic, but not a "spiritual" song you can claim Disposition, Relfection, Triad to be.
So many people either recommend Pneuma or 7empest so I have to 100% agree. I mean personally Descending is my favorite song on the album. I just would like to see a proper analysis done on it.
Harmonically, almost all of Tool's songs revolve heavily around the tonic. Lots of riffs with open string pedal tones on the tonic. This, along with the drumming, give it a tribal feel or a chanting vibe. The lyrics often tend to touch on similar concepts found in tribal or eastern philosophy. Often times, their songs are modal and don't have a dominant cadence. For instance, this song has c#'s all over the place so it's mostly in Dorian.
“Feeling eternal, all this pain is an illusion” got me through a very hard time. I got to know my body more than I wanted to. I like you’re tent poles. They’re great. From my standpoint, what they’re showing is I think how the nerves cluster and come together and: Feeling eternal? All this pain is an illusion
Tool has been a part of my life's formative moments since my teen years. I can think about jamming out to Maynard and Co. This song, Parabol/Parabola, is always a instant stop, sit, feel moment for me.
@@hampstershat123 it's a touchy subject, GenX are just getting their Hogwhorts letters (AARP membership invites) and we are being sorted into the house of old. 😂
listen to Tool without watching the videos the first couple times. They tend to represent art from the band that doesn't always fit the song, and will definitely pull your attention away from the music. Best to not watch until you know the song well.
@@Enochulator Its the same with Pneuma drumcam, the drumming is so good, that it distracts from the lyrics. People can watch it 10 times, and never notice the lyrics. Same here: the video is SO strange, that people are gasping at trying to explain what they see visually, while not noticing the lyrics much. Which enhances the art in its purest form, agreed. But to new Tool listeners: I recommend, like OP, to let them watch this fan-based video: th-cam.com/video/m1V1wZIiWag/w-d-xo.html that has perhaps more tame, but fitting visuals, and has the lyrics in plain sight on screen.
Agreed, leave the videos for another day - the music stands by itself and doesn't need visuals for first time watches. They're a distraction more than anything for first timers.
Absolutely! I think they use the art to screw with people, show their artistry and choices inspired by things they've seen while on drugs! Quite known for that, especially DMT!
Lateralus is absolutely an incredible experience to listen to, I love how each song ebbs and flows into the next as if it is one long melody. The music transports you, it was an interesting tour to see live back in 2001, one of the best shows I've ever seen!
I'm not a Tool and big fan of alternative/progressive metal overall, but I have to respect their craftwork, these kind of songs have a huge deep meaning behind them, and spirituality/religion is not a main theme overall in metal, that's why Tool is unique. I like to think of them as the metal version of Pink Ployd, which BTW would be a wonderful band to react in the future.
They most certainly belongs to the group of great musicians who grew up with floyds music, alongside for instance Opeth, Between the Buried and Me, and perhaps especially Porcupine tree.
It's tough to try place them in a genre, as some of their œuvre is inspired by metal, but they're more predominantly in rock but also in jazz and classical, with funk and ambient spliced in.
Really enjoyed your reaction...would love to hear your take on "46 and 2", but you'll need to look into the Jungian Theory behind it. Between "Daily Doug" for theory, "Key of Geebz" and "Chase Carneson" for engineering, then "The Charismatic Voice" and "Julia Nilon" for the vocals... I must say...reaction channels have stepped it up considerably.
Took generally writes the music fully through, then hands it to Maynard to make the lyrics based on his interpretation of the music. The videos are made by Adam the guitarist based on his interpretation of the music. Not always aligned
Adam Jones who does that videos used to help make sculptures and such for Jurassic Park, Predator 2, Terminator 2, Ghostbusters 2, etc... Lol a lot of 2s. But yeah, the videos have their own story to tell. They don't purposely match it to the lyrics. It's Adam's way to explore other things he might hear with the music they make. It's pretty freaky, weird, but cool. Always makes you think about what could be going on. You'll figure some stuff out after a few watches. 😁
annnnnd completely disregards the contrived profundity of the song's climax by remembering aloud to watch a television show, sending legions of toolarmy fanbois gasping to their sheds - Troll level : EPIC. Well done, sir. You've earned my sub.
Before co founding Tool, guitarist Adam Jones was a Hollywood artist. He did a lot of special effects, creature and set work for so many blockbuster films such as Ghostbusters 2, Predator 2, Jurassic Park, and Terminator 2. He plays a major part in the design and concepts of their music videos.
I started listening to TOOL 20 plus years ago. I still get those feelings you display in your video to this day. I studied music in school but have been a metal head for life. You should do some more TOOL. Maynard is a musical genius and he bases most of his music around VERY specific things. I wish I knew every bit of why he does what he does, but he is a VERY SPECIFIC person. Amazing band. Amazing career. Mad respect
There is enough to digest with this song’s melody and lyrics, you don’t have time to process the visuals ... until you learn to use ... your ... third eye.
Never watch the official music videos upon your first first listen, they are so abstract and surreal, like a bad drug trip, and make it hard to focus on the actual song! Save the vids for next listen! And Maynard's choice of how he vocalizes is a very conscious part of becoming just another instrument of sorts, when he does let loose it's all the more dramatic to me.
@@hassansabri6637 I think you meant, "blew me away" Hassan, "blew me off" means something completely different bud, it means being rejected. Like, if you were to make a financial/business proposal to someone, and they rejected it completely, without even thinking about it, then you could say, "they blew me off"... regards & respects... Paz. PS. "blew me off" also has sexual conotations, lol ;o)
I love these two songs, simply incredible pieces of music. At 16:52, I just noticed the guitar tone SWELL in the headphones, coinciding with the alignment.
Everything is said about tool. But holy moly i had to check three times that youre on my headphones and not the speakers (the little one is sleeping and my wife would hate me) because your voice is crystal clear and really "sorrounding". Mad props to your recording setup.
The vocals are specifically mixed to sound that way. The guitars and bass are meant to be up front. Maynards vocals in the background are meant to signify his anguish. 🤘
My ears understand this is a masterpiece but not the technicalities so appreciate you explaining the note that is in and such. Maybe teach us folks some theory with snippets of these masterpieces?
The guitar is tuned down Doug - most Tool songs are in drop D (DADGBE). This song has a low B so either a 7 string (BEADGBE) or, as most online tabs have it, BEDGBE (standard guitar tuning with the two lowest strings tuned down)
@@Doug.Helvering the most common alternate guitar tunings you will find are usually just every string tuned down an equal tone (every string down a half step is "D# Standard", then another half step to "D Standard", all the way down to "C Standard" is usually as far as most go). The other most common variation is to drop the low E string a whole step down to D, known as "Drop D". Then, similarly to above people sometimes drop all strings down to make "Drop C#", "Drop C", and so on. This allows the guitarist to play a power chord with just a bar chord, making power chords much easier.
@@Doug.Helvering I think just in terms of the mechanics of how this kind of music is written and played, the lowest note on the guitar is going to be a dominant theme in most of the music. For most Tool songs that will be a D. So much of their music is in D and uses it as a pedal. 46&2 and Schism are both really good examples of this, but virtually every heavy Tool song other than Parabola uses the D as the main theme
I love how moved you are at the end. Tool has the ability to reach into our subconscious and affect us. Edit; yes you do need to listen to the whole album.
I don't know if this has been noted here yet, but Maynard's vocals are often undermixed to give more emphasis to the rest of the band and to make you listen more. This also translates in their live performances where Maynard stands in the back by Danny's drums instead of out in front because he wants the music to matter more.
If you believe in having a soul (or spirit) theoretically means we don't have an "end", therefore "we are eternal". Our body will die but, we will continue and for that, there's no reason to worry because "all this pain is an illusion". That's what I feel when I listen to this song
Yes! Go back and listen to the whole album on camera! I will watch! And yes, Maynard's vocals are mixed in the back on purpose. His vocals are used more like an instrument than a story. Also, the videos are directed by Adam (after Sober when the original artist passed), so they don't necessarily represent the song/band. I would suggest listening to the songs on their own, then looking at the videos.
Maynard stays that far back in the mix on purpose. One song where he’s more up front is The Pot! Great reaction! (And the guitars are usually tuned to drop D)
That whole album is amazing. It's one you can put in your cd player and just let it keep playing over and over. Maynard is brilliant. They're all brilliant, actually. It's funny, if you go back to their first album, opiate (which is cool), you don't hear all this genius. Much more raw.
Listening to it with Doug really made me consider musicality to the best of my ability and it's the first time I've realized that musically it sounds as if they're playing parabolas in the main riff when it hits. At least that's what I hear in Danny's sweeps and Adam's guitar.
We open with an ancient chant; and then the bomb drops; musically speaking. XD I know it's been a while, but I would be interested to see your opinion on Judith, by A Perfect Circle - a band which is a side project of Maynard (the lead singer)
Adam Jones is my guitar hero. To do so much with so little, it's quite the feat. It's not easy. Plus, I find him a great influence for beginner guitarists for that very reason. The things you could do with just a three or four note riff, and sometimes switch the tonic of it, and still sound great - that's useful "info" to a beginner guitarist. It proves a point, regarding the instrument in question: it's not just about a pitch of a note, but also the expression of that pitch. The attack, the tone. David Gilmore of course has the same approach, a solo revolving around eight notes on a eight note bar, sure, but it's not about the harmonic complexity, it's about the expression - which is what art such as music is all about. Compared to the piano, there's so much more room for expressing notes on the guitar. Notes can have a certain quality attribute in terms of it being a sonic. Adam Jones might not play super-complex and fast runs of scales, but he can play a harmonic minor, or even a simple major, and every note of it is distinguished and special. To a beginner guitarist, that can and should be an eye opener.
Tool - Wings for Marie parts 1 and 2 (should be listened together). I'd also recommend listening to another band from Maynard, A Perfect Circle - Judith, before listening to Wings for Marie.
As a mathematician I'm wondering about the name and some images: There is only one circle and parabola. There are lots of different ellipsies and hyberbolas but the circle and parabola are the limiting cases and there is only one of both. What I mean is that without any co-ordinates you cannot tell where or what size circle and parabola are but you can always calculate the excentricity of an ellipse or hyperbola.
Fun to have the music video with this. I just remembered that when I first intentionally listened to Tool, it was Schism's music video and I was very disturbed. Fantastic song, very disturbing video. But with parabola I just keep thinking x^2+x=0. I understand none of the videos but you made some insightful observations. In the end I think the true way to listen/watch the songs is when smoking the pot, as they were probably created. I'm surprised you havemt done Schism yet, that's one of the most likely candidates to listen to usually. It has some great bass lines.
Guitars are tuned to either from lowest to highest: B E D G B E or B A D G B E, I think it's the former. That's why that D and B are so low. Tool is usually in Drop D: D A D G B E (lowest to highest)
It's cool that you brought up the Native American vocals.... Maynard has dealved deep into that, AND Tibetan monk vocals... It definitely gives it an ancient/holy sound
I had just graduated massage therapy school and saw this video... was totally blown away. At 15:30 it shows the actual meridians and the reflex points on them that I was taught as part of eastern energy theory (chi). Gives me the chills every time I see it. I use this song as medicine whenever I am stuck and need to let go of frustration.
As someone who's dealt with a lot of pain in my own life and watched too many loved ones deal with it as well, these songs have always meant a lot to me. I've always interpreted the first part as being a meditation on the Buddhist concept that "life is suffering." When he says "all this pain is an illusion" and the guitar comes in the second half of the song is transcending pain and even our physical being. While I often think Maynard's vocals are undermixed, here I think it's perfect, because if the vocals represent the ego, then them getting lost in the overpowering music is a perfect representation of what such transcendental meditative states are like. You just become one with everything around you. So not only does the music serve as a representation of the lyrics, but so does the sound. Also, yes, Lateralus is one of the greatest albums ever made. I say this as someone who's heard well over 5000 albums in my life. :)
Yeah, be rad and do each tool album in its entirety! Hard to tell what Tool you've done as they are not grouped together....as far as I can tell. Danny Carey drum cam for Pneuma is a must. Cheers. ✌️
Maynard always writes the lyrics after the music is fully completed. He wrote the lyrics to descending years ago because they finished it much earlier than the rest of the album, but he supposedly did most of his work on FI in the couple years leading up to the release of the album
You are right about the tuning. Tool's Adam Jones plays almost exclusively in Drop D, but this song is a rare exception where he plays much lower to something close to B standard.
Great analytical review! There are 3 songs (must listen in sequence) Lipan Conjuring (Native American), Lost Keys, Rosetta Stone! They are a journey into the absurd! Also... haven’t hear “that’s Rad” in a long time! Kids now days say “that’s Fire”! Great job
To me, it's a love song. She's holding him, in his body, her body holding him. They are choosing. To. Be. Here. Reminding each other that they are not alone. I know there are different interpretations, but this is mine, and I like it best.
TOOL purposefully mix Maynard behind the band, he has stated he is not the lead in this band. in live shows he stands in the back, in the shadows, and sometimes behind a screen.
Good vid. Good dude. Thanks, man. But, yea, it was kind-of-a ball-dropper when you sited a season finale while the Alex Grey-artwork finale was happenin'. Hey, at least you caught yourself.!
From what I remember MJK is often quoted as seeing his voice as just another instrument which takes it's place in combination with the others as part of the overall mix and composition. They also typically don't print their lyrics for the same / related reasons (which could be considered a shame) but with Tool the lyrical structure is really an integral part of the overall music.
Hi Doug. Nice to see another Tool reaction. Their new album is defiantly worth checking out. One of the new songs in particular has been creating a lot of buzz because of the uncharacteristic/unique time signatures that the drummer uses throughout the song. It would be interesting to get your reaction/interpretation on this. The song is Pneuma. The video that is posted for this is actually different than most, it is a pro shot drum cam during a concert. Here is the link, th-cam.com/video/FssULNGSZIA/w-d-xo.html. Looking forward to your take on this.
Oh yeah, Friday's sense of freedom with Tool, mmmm. And yes I think you nailed the song's meaning completely, the whole album of Lateralus is about connecting to spiritual and healing yourself. Besides some filler songs at least.
Tool are an awesome band, there's a lot to their music...you should check out Pneuma (the drum cam video live is amazing to watch, Danny Carey is a genius drummer), Eulogy, 46+2, Schism....just for starters, i think you'd get a lot from those songs :)
Maynard’s vocals are often mixed into the background, it’s very intentional. To the point that for the past 10-15 years, when Tool is playing live he sings from the shadows at the rear of the stage, to the side of the Danny Carey on the drums, while Adam Jones (the guitarist) and Justin Chancellor (the bassist) are at the front of the stage, under the lights.
Thanks Leo! I WAS going to comment about the same, one thing my 11yr old is NOT digging into her short Tool journey, she likes hearing lyrics clearly and JMK is OFTEN in the mix NOT above it.
This is also partly due to Maynard having stage fright as well as the above conceptual part
@@jsalvatori Pretty much point on eh :)
Yes, I agree. One of the things I love about this song is the "creamy" overdubbed vocal sections in the chorus that lay just underneath the crunchy guitar and bass. Great contrast and I am almost positive it was intentional.
@@jsalvatori he does not have stage fright. stop spreading that nonsense.
The Lateralus Album is one of the deepest and personal growth journeys I've ever heard in music and Parobol/Parobala is the Apex of the Album. The Grudge and Reflection also hit me pretty hard in the feels. I interpret Reflection as breaking out of a deep depression, the first verse is very dark, and finding love in yourself and a reason to live by the end of the track.
Disposition/reflection/triad have likely saved me on more than one occasion.
Been a Tool fan since the beginning. 13 years old when Sober came on MTV. I was hooked. Went straight to the store to buy Opiate and then Undertow. Their music still gives me goosebumps to this day. I’m 43. Their sound is one of a kind and their music sucks you in. It’s hypnotic. I love it.
The album Lateralus is a spiritual journey and in my opinion one of the best albums of all time ...it's nothing less than a mindblowing masterpiece. From the energy to the soul to the groove to the sound to the beat to the bass & guitars the math to the mix to lyrics to the meaning and to the whole f'in journey. This river runs deep ...
You get it. A lot of people don’t pick up on some of the spiritual messages on this album. Great album. My favorite from Tool.
I was so bummed when your title only said Parabola. Very welcome news you did both, they really have to be heard together. Newish fan really enjoying the videos.
Yeah, its a bit confusing. I call 'parabol' the first song, 'parabola' the second song, and 'parabol(a)' both songs together.
@@baskoning9896 I mean, I guess _technically_ they are two songs, but to me you can’t play them separately. *Parabol* is the setup for *Parabola*
My favorite song from tool and possibly ever. As someone with frustrating and painful bodily issues, this song immediately resonated with me on a level nothing else ever has. It is not a stretch to say it changed me as a person. Also, great analysis!
Definitely. It's comforting to think that suffering is an illusion. It very well may be.
If you want an experience you should do Disposition/Reflection/Triad off this album together, you won't regret it.
Gonna admit thar Reflection/Triad/Faap de Oiad sequence scares the shit out of me so hard that i sometimes stop listening the album on Triad or Disposition
@@Israel-jr5ks does it make the experience more unsettling knowing that was a legitimate call to Art Bell's Coast to Coast AM radio show? And/or that once the call was disconnected, they were unable to get him back on the air?
@@Israel-jr5ks Listening in a dark room in a meditative state with your eyes closed, yeah it can creep you out. I leave out Faaip de Oiad personally as it does nothing for me its one of their gimmicky songs like Message from Harry Manback or Hooker with a Penis, nonetheless a classic, but not a "spiritual" song you can claim Disposition, Relfection, Triad to be.
You gotta do Invincible and Descending from Tool. They are truly epic in composition and mixing. Seasoned veterans on top of their game.
This^!
So many people either recommend Pneuma or 7empest so I have to 100% agree. I mean personally Descending is my favorite song on the album. I just would like to see a proper analysis done on it.
@The Lord of Entropy same here
There are so many better songs and albums by them. (In my opinion)
@@JimbrasMermelevostoo bad deal with it
Harmonically, almost all of Tool's songs revolve heavily around the tonic. Lots of riffs with open string pedal tones on the tonic. This, along with the drumming, give it a tribal feel or a chanting vibe. The lyrics often tend to touch on similar concepts found in tribal or eastern philosophy. Often times, their songs are modal and don't have a dominant cadence. For instance, this song has c#'s all over the place so it's mostly in Dorian.
“Feeling eternal, all this pain is an illusion” got me through a very hard time. I got to know my body more than I wanted to. I like you’re tent poles. They’re great.
From my standpoint, what they’re showing is I think how the nerves cluster and come together and:
Feeling eternal? All this pain is an illusion
Tool has been a part of my life's formative moments since my teen years. I can think about jamming out to Maynard and Co. This song, Parabol/Parabola, is always a instant stop, sit, feel moment for me.
There's a good reason Tool has been relevant for over twenty years. Thanks Doug.
You mean over 30 years don’t you?
@@ianscottt3642 I stand corrected.
@@stersnevet77 over 20 years is still over 30 years.. haha
@@hampstershat123 it's a touchy subject, GenX are just getting their Hogwhorts letters (AARP membership invites) and we are being sorted into the house of old. 😂
@@ianscottt3642 I WAS going to say 20... Where did he miss the other 10yrs now! lol
listen to Tool without watching the videos the first couple times. They tend to represent art from the band that doesn't always fit the song, and will definitely pull your attention away from the music. Best to not watch until you know the song well.
+1
I’d say they always fit the song. But they may use imagery that is unfamiliar. And certainly enhance the experience.
@@Enochulator Its the same with Pneuma drumcam, the drumming is so good, that it distracts from the lyrics. People can watch it 10 times, and never notice the lyrics. Same here: the video is SO strange, that people are gasping at trying to explain what they see visually, while not noticing the lyrics much. Which enhances the art in its purest form, agreed. But to new Tool listeners: I recommend, like OP, to let them watch this fan-based video: th-cam.com/video/m1V1wZIiWag/w-d-xo.html that has perhaps more tame, but fitting visuals, and has the lyrics in plain sight on screen.
Agreed, leave the videos for another day - the music stands by itself and doesn't need visuals for first time watches. They're a distraction more than anything for first timers.
Absolutely! I think they use the art to screw with people, show their artistry and choices inspired by things they've seen while on drugs! Quite known for that, especially DMT!
Lateralus is absolutely an incredible experience to listen to, I love how each song ebbs and flows into the next as if it is one long melody. The music transports you, it was an interesting tour to see live back in 2001, one of the best shows I've ever seen!
I'm not a Tool and big fan of alternative/progressive metal overall, but I have to respect their craftwork, these kind of songs have a huge deep meaning behind them, and spirituality/religion is not a main theme overall in metal, that's why Tool is unique.
I like to think of them as the metal version of Pink Ployd, which BTW would be a wonderful band to react in the future.
They most certainly belongs to the group of great musicians who grew up with floyds music, alongside for instance Opeth, Between the Buried and Me, and perhaps especially Porcupine tree.
It's tough to try place them in a genre, as some of their œuvre is inspired by metal, but they're more predominantly in rock but also in jazz and classical, with funk and ambient spliced in.
And upon seeing this comment there was 22 thumbs up and 2 replies. Well, now there's 23 and 3.
@@theomniscientvoid9553 24 and 4
@@robotomy13 46 and 2?????
Really enjoyed your reaction...would love to hear your take on "46 and 2", but you'll need to look into the Jungian Theory behind it.
Between "Daily Doug" for theory, "Key of Geebz" and "Chase Carneson" for engineering, then "The Charismatic Voice" and "Julia Nilon" for the vocals...
I must say...reaction channels have stepped it up considerably.
im literally subscribed to all 5 of those reactors. i love mr. video too for a nice "change of pace"
And I think I’m subscribed to four of them 😂
I can also recommend "Critical Reactions" for his in depth analyses.
I knew of the first three, thanks for the other two name drops! Beth Roars is a nice channel too on the vocal side.
Took generally writes the music fully through, then hands it to Maynard to make the lyrics based on his interpretation of the music. The videos are made by Adam the guitarist based on his interpretation of the music. Not always aligned
Justin Chancellor is an amazing bass player
That its one of the most beautiful pieces of music ever written. You need to lay back relax and listen to it with eyes closed. You're welcome.🔥👁💫
this was my introduction to tool, aged 14, stoned on my mate's bedroom floor with headphones on. Changed my life.
Adam Jones who does that videos used to help make sculptures and such for Jurassic Park, Predator 2, Terminator 2, Ghostbusters 2, etc... Lol a lot of 2s. But yeah, the videos have their own story to tell. They don't purposely match it to the lyrics. It's Adam's way to explore other things he might hear with the music they make. It's pretty freaky, weird, but cool. Always makes you think about what could be going on. You'll figure some stuff out after a few watches. 😁
annnnnd completely disregards the contrived profundity of the song's climax by remembering aloud to watch a television show, sending legions of toolarmy fanbois gasping to their sheds - Troll level : EPIC.
Well done, sir.
You've earned my sub.
"All this pain is an illusion" is a phrase that saved me spiritually.
Before co founding Tool, guitarist Adam Jones was a Hollywood artist. He did a lot of special effects, creature and set work for so many blockbuster films such as Ghostbusters 2, Predator 2, Jurassic Park, and Terminator 2. He plays a major part in the design and concepts of their music videos.
I started listening to TOOL 20 plus years ago. I still get those feelings you display in your video to this day. I studied music in school but have been a metal head for life. You should do some more TOOL. Maynard is a musical genius and he bases most of his music around VERY specific things. I wish I knew every bit of why he does what he does, but he is a VERY SPECIFIC person. Amazing band. Amazing career. Mad respect
There is enough to digest with this song’s melody and lyrics, you don’t have time to process the visuals ... until you learn to use ... your ... third eye.
That ending.
“I need to watch Wandavision! …. D’oh!”
Never watch the official music videos upon your first first listen, they are so abstract and surreal, like a bad drug trip, and make it hard to focus on the actual song! Save the vids for next listen! And Maynard's choice of how he vocalizes is a very conscious part of becoming just another instrument of sorts, when he does let loose it's all the more dramatic to me.
Bro I disagree the first time i found this song the video and the music together blew me off
@@hassansabri6637 I think you meant, "blew me away" Hassan, "blew me off" means something completely different bud, it means being rejected. Like, if you were to make a financial/business proposal to someone, and they rejected it completely, without even thinking about it, then you could say, "they blew me off"...
regards & respects... Paz.
PS. "blew me off" also has sexual conotations, lol ;o)
Adams' 'Roundabout' harmonic homage at the end...sweet!
I love these two songs, simply incredible pieces of music. At 16:52, I just noticed the guitar tone SWELL in the headphones, coinciding with the alignment.
Sir, you are wealth of knowledge and musical intuition. Great response. Really enjoyed this. Thanks.
Everything is said about tool.
But holy moly i had to check three times that youre on my headphones and not the speakers (the little one is sleeping and my wife would hate me) because your voice is crystal clear and really "sorrounding". Mad props to your recording setup.
The vocals are specifically mixed to sound that way. The guitars and bass are meant to be up front. Maynards vocals in the background are meant to signify his anguish. 🤘
I've listened to Tool's discography probably 20 times now and I just realized there is a connection to Disgustipated at the end of Parabola.
hey Doug Love your videos. Cant begin to describe how cool this was when i first saw it, dvd style, at my friends house as a younger man. Peace
The build up throughout this song and the payoff when IT drops...tears of just pure emotion. Sadness, happiness, fear, desperation all mixed together.
My ears understand this is a masterpiece but not the technicalities so appreciate you explaining the note that is in and such. Maybe teach us folks some theory with snippets of these masterpieces?
The guitar is tuned down Doug - most Tool songs are in drop D (DADGBE). This song has a low B so either a 7 string (BEADGBE) or, as most online tabs have it, BEDGBE (standard guitar tuning with the two lowest strings tuned down)
I really need to learn my alternate tunings on guitar...it's a compositional element in the creation of this music that I'm not fully aware of.
@@Doug.Helvering the most common alternate guitar tunings you will find are usually just every string tuned down an equal tone (every string down a half step is "D# Standard", then another half step to "D Standard", all the way down to "C Standard" is usually as far as most go).
The other most common variation is to drop the low E string a whole step down to D, known as "Drop D". Then, similarly to above people sometimes drop all strings down to make "Drop C#", "Drop C", and so on. This allows the guitarist to play a power chord with just a bar chord, making power chords much easier.
@@Doug.Helvering I think just in terms of the mechanics of how this kind of music is written and played, the lowest note on the guitar is going to be a dominant theme in most of the music. For most Tool songs that will be a D. So much of their music is in D and uses it as a pedal.
46&2 and Schism are both really good examples of this, but virtually every heavy Tool song other than Parabola uses the D as the main theme
Those were record company executives spewing vinyl. Maynard was the one scratching his nose.
At last, unblocked and I can watch it!
PS. I've listened to the song countless times, but I had never watched the video. Creepy indeed, haha.
I love how moved you are at the end. Tool has the ability to reach into our subconscious and affect us.
Edit; yes you do need to listen to the whole album.
I don't know if this has been noted here yet, but Maynard's vocals are often undermixed to give more emphasis to the rest of the band and to make you listen more. This also translates in their live performances where Maynard stands in the back by Danny's drums instead of out in front because he wants the music to matter more.
This layering is literally the Tool sound.
Thank you. I appreciate your perspective, explanation of, and genuine curiosity.
If you believe in having a soul (or spirit) theoretically means we don't have an "end", therefore "we are eternal". Our body will die but, we will continue and for that, there's no reason to worry because "all this pain is an illusion".
That's what I feel when I listen to this song
You're right, there is a very spiritual feel to this. A sort of ritual or prayer with his singing style and the hums behind him, hymn like
Yes! Go back and listen to the whole album on camera! I will watch! And yes, Maynard's vocals are mixed in the back on purpose. His vocals are used more like an instrument than a story. Also, the videos are directed by Adam (after Sober when the original artist passed), so they don't necessarily represent the song/band. I would suggest listening to the songs on their own, then looking at the videos.
Maynard stays that far back in the mix on purpose. One song where he’s more up front is The Pot! Great reaction!
(And the guitars are usually tuned to drop D)
This one is in E
That whole album is amazing. It's one you can put in your cd player and just let it keep playing over and over.
Maynard is brilliant. They're all brilliant, actually.
It's funny, if you go back to their first album, opiate (which is cool), you don't hear all this genius. Much more raw.
Listening to it with Doug really made me consider musicality to the best of my ability and it's the first time I've realized that musically it sounds as if they're playing parabolas in the main riff when it hits. At least that's what I hear in Danny's sweeps and Adam's guitar.
We open with an ancient chant; and then the bomb drops; musically speaking. XD I know it's been a while, but I would be interested to see your opinion on Judith, by A Perfect Circle - a band which is a side project of Maynard (the lead singer)
Just realized after your comment on 3rds that the song ends on Em with the harmonics
Adam Jones is my guitar hero. To do so much with so little, it's quite the feat. It's not easy. Plus, I find him a great influence for beginner guitarists for that very reason. The things you could do with just a three or four note riff, and sometimes switch the tonic of it, and still sound great - that's useful "info" to a beginner guitarist. It proves a point, regarding the instrument in question: it's not just about a pitch of a note, but also the expression of that pitch. The attack, the tone. David Gilmore of course has the same approach, a solo revolving around eight notes on a eight note bar, sure, but it's not about the harmonic complexity, it's about the expression - which is what art such as music is all about.
Compared to the piano, there's so much more room for expressing notes on the guitar. Notes can have a certain quality attribute in terms of it being a sonic. Adam Jones might not play super-complex and fast runs of scales, but he can play a harmonic minor, or even a simple major, and every note of it is distinguished and special. To a beginner guitarist, that can and should be an eye opener.
"This pain is an illusion."
Doug - It rumbles up and off we go.
Tool - First time?
Yes, you DO have to listen to the album... If u wanna have a good time;-)
I wish I could know which notes I was hearing like Doug can. I hope he’s able to put out instructional materials soon.
Tool - Wings for Marie parts 1 and 2 (should be listened together). I'd also recommend listening to another band from Maynard, A Perfect Circle - Judith, before listening to Wings for Marie.
As a mathematician I'm wondering about the name and some images: There is only one circle and parabola. There are lots of different ellipsies and hyberbolas but the circle and parabola are the limiting cases and there is only one of both. What I mean is that without any co-ordinates you cannot tell where or what size circle and parabola are but you can always calculate the excentricity of an ellipse or hyperbola.
Fun to have the music video with this. I just remembered that when I first intentionally listened to Tool, it was Schism's music video and I was very disturbed. Fantastic song, very disturbing video. But with parabola I just keep thinking x^2+x=0. I understand none of the videos but you made some insightful observations. In the end I think the true way to listen/watch the songs is when smoking the pot, as they were probably created. I'm surprised you havemt done Schism yet, that's one of the most likely candidates to listen to usually. It has some great bass lines.
Guitars are tuned to either from lowest to highest: B E D G B E or B A D G B E, I think it's the former.
That's why that D and B are so low.
Tool is usually in Drop D: D A D G B E (lowest to highest)
It's cool that you brought up the Native American vocals.... Maynard has dealved deep into that, AND Tibetan monk vocals... It definitely gives it an ancient/holy sound
You really should do "pushit" live off the "Salival" album. It's an incredible performance
That version of push it saved me from a bad relationship and I will eternally be grateful for that.
please, PLEASE watch the live version of "sober" at readings, the performance will hit you on another level
I really enjoyed your insights and thoughts...thanks!
Guitar in this song has BADGBE tuning and bass has BEDG tuning, the same tuning was used in song 'Prison sex'.
I had just graduated massage therapy school and saw this video... was totally blown away. At 15:30 it shows the actual meridians and the reflex points on them that I was taught as part of eastern energy theory (chi). Gives me the chills every time I see it. I use this song as medicine whenever I am stuck and need to let go of frustration.
That last part was a visualization of an ayahuasca trip. Literally.
As someone who's dealt with a lot of pain in my own life and watched too many loved ones deal with it as well, these songs have always meant a lot to me. I've always interpreted the first part as being a meditation on the Buddhist concept that "life is suffering." When he says "all this pain is an illusion" and the guitar comes in the second half of the song is transcending pain and even our physical being. While I often think Maynard's vocals are undermixed, here I think it's perfect, because if the vocals represent the ego, then them getting lost in the overpowering music is a perfect representation of what such transcendental meditative states are like. You just become one with everything around you. So not only does the music serve as a representation of the lyrics, but so does the sound.
Also, yes, Lateralus is one of the greatest albums ever made. I say this as someone who's heard well over 5000 albums in my life. :)
The video that goes with this song is fantastic.
Yeah, be rad and do each tool album in its entirety! Hard to tell what Tool you've done as they are not grouped together....as far as I can tell. Danny Carey drum cam for Pneuma is a must. Cheers. ✌️
Maynard always writes the lyrics after the music is fully completed. He wrote the lyrics to descending years ago because they finished it much earlier than the rest of the album, but he supposedly did most of his work on FI in the couple years leading up to the release of the album
You are right about the tuning. Tool's Adam Jones plays almost exclusively in Drop D, but this song is a rare exception where he plays much lower to something close to B standard.
Whenever I’m feeling sad I watch this video. I’m 43 years old and not ashamed.
The last few guitar notes are an homage to the song Roundabout by YES...
This moment is everything….
10.23 The face universally pulled when the breakdown is tasty 😂👌
I’m not sure if it has been suggested but Between the Buried and Me. Great band, great musicians.
Btw, just throw a dart at any one of their albums. They’re all excellent.
Don’t have a big experience whit Tool, but what u knows of i do love, the they are indeed a interesting band ❤️
"Recognize this as a Holy gift and celebrate this chance to be alive and breathing."
Great analytical review! There are 3 songs (must listen in sequence) Lipan Conjuring (Native American), Lost Keys, Rosetta Stone! They are a journey into the absurd! Also... haven’t hear “that’s Rad” in a long time! Kids now days say “that’s Fire”! Great job
To me, it's a love song. She's holding him, in his body, her body holding him. They are choosing. To. Be. Here. Reminding each other that they are not alone.
I know there are different interpretations, but this is mine, and I like it best.
Love your analysis! Keep it up 👍
I like that you read the lyrics beforehand, smart move!
TOOL purposefully mix Maynard behind the band, he has stated he is not the lead in this band. in live shows he stands in the back, in the shadows, and sometimes behind a screen.
Tool videos are awesome. They are just bizarre and weird. Such a complex and different band.
Enjoying the reacts! Check out Gojira - Oroborus, or any song from Gojira.
Sat Nam 🙏, enjoyed the reaction, spiral out 🙏
really great soul from the band, love TooL
with the guitar out of mainstream tune love that, Love W A Mozart
Amazing! Hope you do many more. Salival Pushit TOOL live 🔥 would be my request
Good vid. Good dude. Thanks, man. But, yea, it was kind-of-a ball-dropper when you sited a season finale while the Alex Grey-artwork finale was happenin'. Hey, at least you caught yourself.!
Doug: musically its an interesting choice to take…uh… this…
Me whos still jamming: MMMBODAYYY
great reaction man
Well done, sir, well done!
Without even knowing it, you got the vibe. 🤘
They often sit the vocals back in the mix on purpose. It's to pull you in and kind of force you to listen closely.
From what I remember MJK is often quoted as seeing his voice as just another instrument which takes it's place in combination with the others as part of the overall mix and composition. They also typically don't print their lyrics for the same / related reasons (which could be considered a shame) but with Tool the lyrical structure is really an integral part of the overall music.
Cool thing is that Maynard writes his lyrics and melodies after the other 3 present their work
as other comments have stated the guitar is tuned in drop d
Hi Doug. Nice to see another Tool reaction. Their new album is defiantly worth checking out. One of the new songs in particular has been creating a lot of buzz because of the uncharacteristic/unique time signatures that the drummer uses throughout the song. It would be interesting to get your reaction/interpretation on this. The song is Pneuma. The video that is posted for this is actually different than most, it is a pro shot drum cam during a concert. Here is the link, th-cam.com/video/FssULNGSZIA/w-d-xo.html. Looking forward to your take on this.
Oh yeah, Friday's sense of freedom with Tool, mmmm. And yes I think you nailed the song's meaning completely, the whole album of Lateralus is about connecting to spiritual and healing yourself. Besides some filler songs at least.
Tool are an awesome band, there's a lot to their music...you should check out Pneuma (the drum cam video live is amazing to watch, Danny Carey is a genius drummer), Eulogy, 46+2, Schism....just for starters, i think you'd get a lot from those songs :)
This is one of a few Tool songs not in dropped D tuning. Also one of a very few songs after Aenima that's predominantly straight 4/4.