Tool (2) - Ænima

When I first listened to Ænima it was about four years ago. Instantly I was able to hear the emotion and darkness in each and every song. Now, today, Tool is my favorite band and mostly because of this one album. The album is quite lengthy, but it is relentless and pulls you straight into the music and never lets go. Maynard has a great voice that can change to almost a whisper in some songs. The album could definitely be called Metal, but it is more emotional and thoughtful than just any album. Danny Carey does a wonderful job with the drumming on this album. Perfection in plastic!

Tool's Aenema is a relentlessly heavy classic. This CD is quite old, but the music never ceases to be fresh. What kind of music is this? Well, it's metal, but it's more than that. If you brought together the energy of Metallica and added in the intellegence and wit of Pink Floyd, you might get something that sounds similar to this album. Maynard Keenan really drives the feeling forward, with his sublimely commanding voice, switching back and forth from a soft cooing sound to loud belligerent yells. The band adds in a good bit of metal, without leaving off the subtle layers and nuances of sound. Get this CD, and really listen to it. Listen to the unorthodox time measures. Listen to the powerful bass and guitar sounds. Listen to the intricate drum rhythms.

Intospective, questioning, yet not becoming sappy or too blandly heavy, this is a CD for those who truly love rock music. This is how metal should sound. Rock music with brains, with a heart.