The concoction of creativity, rage, and harrowing darkness that personifies Tool has been imitated by a number of bands that have emerged in the past decade or so. Alas, none of these bands can touch Tool -- give this album a listen and you can easily see why. Released in 1993, Undertow is one of the most raw, genuinely angry musical experiences I have ever heard. It is progressive, subtly aggressive, and above all, extremely unique.

Maynard James Keenan has a reputation for being one of the most interesting vocalists and lyricists in rock music. Believe me, there's reason for that. He is amazing and clever. These lyrics aren't something you can digest within a few minutes, and, be warned: Tool isn't out to provide catchy hooks or a #1 radio hit. This is not accessible music, and if you don't 'get' it the first twenty times you hear it, you probably never will. It's not a matter of intelligence and there's no huge, puzzling joke hidden underneath all of this music. Quite simply, Tool is just not 'music for everyone.'

"Intolerance," known to some as "the LIE, CHEAT, STEAL song," opens Undertow excellently. With a dominant bass line, a slow build-up to frantic guitar work and Maynard's trademark whisper-to-yell vocals, this song is sure to plunge the listener into Tool's mysterious world immediately. This segues fairly quickly into "Prison Sex," a twisted little song with unforgettably choppy, stuttering guitar riffs. The rumbling rhythms shift paces at the least expected moments (something characteristic of Tool, as newcomers will soon learn). Again, Maynard's emphatic performance steals the show, as he effortlessly switches between near-mumbles to strangely melodic roars.

Undertow got a lot of attention because of "Sober," a medium-paced song that does a beautiful job of displaying Tool's strengths. All extremes of Tool's music are somehow represented flawlessly here, despite the fact that, when compared to a number of Tool songs, it's short (five minutes). There is a strong sense of hopelessness carried within Maynard's trembly yells. The outstanding lyrics are entwined with progressive guitar riffs, and a marvelously complex, untouchable despondency. Perhaps its most famous lyrics are these:

I am just a worthless liar
I am just an imbecile
I will only complicate you
Trust in me, and fall as well

"Bottom" shows guitarist Adam Jones at his best, opening with speedy, slurred riffs that seem to follow up the pounding "Sober" especially well, while the latter half of "Crawl Away" puts emphasis on some of Danny Carey's fastest and most interesting drumming. I'm also continually captivated by the lengthy scream Maynard unleashes at the end of "Crawl Away."

Undertow is truly a special album all the way through, and its consistency is unmatchable. "4 Degrees" utilizes spacey guitar strumming in its opening to spice things up a bit; on the contrary, "Swamp Song" may be too sluggish and muddy (!) for some, but over time, I've taken a liking to Maynard's staccato vocals in the raging chorus. The title track is fury at its unrefined finest, with barraging instrumentation and Maynard's positively astounding shouts.

Aside from Aenima -- which will always be the clear winner for me -- I believe Undertow is the most impressive Tool release to date. It has a weird, indescribable roughness that the other albums don't have. Part of me says that it wouldn't be a wise 'first purchase' for a Tool, but the reality is this: NONE of Tool's music is cheery, simple, or easily accessible, ALL of Tool's music is worth investigating, and regardless of what Tool album one chooses to look into first, listening to it isn't going to be the easiest thing in the world. That said, I'm sure Undertow will appeal to anyone who's dabbled in Tool before and liked what they heard. This is an exceptional, one-of-a-kind CD.

Related Works:
Aenima - Tool
Mer de Noms - A Perfect Circle
Thirteenth Step - A Perfect Circle



Recommended: Yes