by Lateralus

Created on: May 24, 2009

At various times in history there have been geniuses in the world who have written music. Whether their IQs were higher or their intellectual capacity and rapid thought process were evolved they have created some of the greatest music of all time. From Beethoven to Mozart or Rush to Pink Floyd every generation has a couple. But in my generation there has been an evolution of music that rapidly progressed in the 80's and 90's and one of those bands has out evolved them all... their name is Tool.

Take the creative intelligent writing of Rush, Floyd and Zeppelin and mix it with a man who probably has a higher IQ than 3/4's of the world and a drummer who surpasses Neal Pert from Rush any day and you have Tool. Every Album has progressed harmonically, melodically and mathematically (through the instruments) in succession since Opiate came out in 1992. The recent album 10,000 Days is the culmination of everything Tool has done in my opinion.

Contained within the album 10,000 Days are 2 songs called 'Wings For Marie - (Part 1) and 10,000 days - (Wings Part 2); the former telling of how his mother suffered for years and still had faith in her religion and her god and was the pillar of his life*, and the latter telling the story of her finally standing at the gates of the heaven she most reverently had faith in and demanding her wings, and then climaxes with him expressing his admiration of her*.

* Lyric excerpt from 'Wings For Marie - (Part 1)
Yet it was you who prayed for me.
So what have I done
To be a son to an angel?
What have I done
To be worthy?

* Lyric excerpt from "10,000 Days - (Wings Part 2)
You're the only one, who can hold your head up high,
Shake your fists at the gates saying:
"I've come home now!
Fetch me the spirit, the son, and the father.
Tell them their pillar of faith has ascended.
It's time now!
My time now!
Give me my, give me my wings!"
and...

Set as I am in my ways and my arrogance,
(With the) burden of proof tossed upon the believers.
You were my witness, my eyes, my evidence,
Judith Marie, unconditional one.

With Maynard James Keenan's' operatic baritone vibrato voice combined with his lyrics and passion, this has to be the most amazing thing I have ever heard in my life and I have listened to thousands of bands from various era's in history. This is not a religious song or album or band. From every view I see it from he is agnostic as I am (and I could most definitely be wrong, but that is my opinion).

The art in the album of course is a collaboration of both the guitarist Adam Jones and artist Alex Grey. The music video from the song 'Vicaroius' is also a beautiful artistic display from the art of Alex Grey. Most of Tools videos have been a transcendence of beauty and of the mind and most of them directed or designed by Adam.

All in all a beautiful album from an amazing band. It is my enlightenment and has helped me evolve for that last almost 17 years.

Band Members Vocals,lyrics and wine maker - Maynard James Keenan
Guitarist, art design and various other talents - Adam Jones
Bass, the rhythm - Justin Chancellor
Drums and percussion - Danny Carey

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