TOOL — 10,000 Days (review)

Album · 2006 · Progressive Metal

4/5 · 2011-10-01
The Angry Scotsman

1,813 days in the making

Or about 5 years, in typical Tool fashion.

Time to eat some crow: At first, I didn't like this album and said stuff like "This sounds like Tool minus all the good" and it felt "10,000 days long", but I was 17 years old then. Years later, I listened again and really loved it. "10,000 Days" is Tool beyond question, it has the heavy guitars, prominent bass, trance like drumming and creative lyrics we expect from Tool, yet is a bit different from previous albums.

It's much less aggressive, both musically and vocally. There is not a harsh vocal to be found here. The post-rock/metal style touched upon with "Aenima" and "Lateralus" is really evident on this album. Atmospheric songs that gradually build to powerful climaxes, this is a very introspective album. It takes a bit of patience.

No surprise about this, as the foundation for the album is the 27 years, about 10,000 days, that Maynard had to watch his mother struggle through before passing on in 2003. Heavy, somber stuff for sure. There is a 17 minute, 2 piece movement dedicated to this, "Wings for Marie, Pt. 1" and "10,000 days (Wings, Pt. 2)" both of which build to powerful, emotional crescendos. Beautiful, moving music here.

Another 2 piece movement comes later on, "Lost Keys (Blame Hoffman) which must be a reference to LSD creator Albert Hoffman, and "Rosetta Stoned". The first part is a cool, spaced out song where a nurse and doctor talk about a mysterious patient with no physical trauma. Ends with the doctor saying "What's happened? Tell me everything" and we jump into "Rosetta Stoned" which tells us everything.

Maynard speaks quickly and some effect is used on his voice, so I had to look up the lyrics to understand most of it. When I did, a wild story unfolded about some guy tripping on Ecstasy and DMT outside Area 51 who is told by an alien he is the chosen one, who must spread the message to everyone. Too bad he forgot his pen. Fearing he's gone insane and was dying, (much like Hoffman's experiment with LSD) this is probably why he stumbled into the hospital with no ID and physically fine. Another lengthy post influenced song that takes some patience but is oh so rewarding.

The other songs are the rocking "Vicarious" about our obsession with seeing death and tragedy, long as it's not first hand. "Jambi" is a cool song with an awesome talk box guitar solo, "The Pot" is perhaps the weakest song, but still a good one for sure. "Intension" is a real mellow song in the same building style, though for a change of pace reaches a cool, trippy and melodic peak instead of a heavy intense one.

"Right in Two" is one of my favorite Tool songs, with truly great lyrics about how angels must look at us talking monkeys with bewilderment at how we use our gifts to kill each other over "pieces of the ground" and not realize that "Eden has enough to go around". Song has a beautiful tabla solo from Carey and ends on the album on a great note.

At least for me since I have removed the finale "Viginti Tres" from my computer. It's 5 minutes of noise, seriously. What an odd way to end an album, until you remember this is Tool so it's probably intended to be played with another song...my guess was "Wings for Marie, Pt. 1". This sync up was on youtube and it did work really well! Apparently, the true intention is to sync up Wings for Marie, 10,000 days and Viginti Tres all at once. After looking this up on youtube it really did work amazingly well, and kudos to these people but I simply don't have the care to do so.

Thankfully, Tool cut back on the deliberate filler here. "Lipan Conjuring" isn't bad actually, but just useless. Unless it's supposed to sync with another song which could be the case...if someone cares enough to find out let me know.

So, a more subdued, patient and psychedelic Tool album "10,000 Days" is another fine output. As usual the songs are all good and the purposely made filler/pretentious wankery is a bit of a buzzkill but that's Tool for you, and the music is top notch. Relaxing and powerful, humorous and deep this is another great album from Tool.

Four Stars

more than 2 years ago
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Doomster wrote:

more than 2 years ago

The title track is an utter masterpiece.

Xaxaar wrote:

more than 2 years ago

Bah, Rosetta Stoned makes that album something even more special, in my opinion. The only song I really dislike is The Pot. Honestly, if the album didn't have that song and unnecessary filler it would get a higher rating from me. In fact, I think I will give it some more listens again and see if I want to bump it up...it's been a while. And hey, it's been 5 years! Damn you, Maynard!!

Pekka wrote:

more than 2 years ago

I always listened to Rosetta Stoned thinking "ah, this riff is from Lateralus, this riff is from this-n-that..." Perhaps I hear it differently now after all these days.

The Angry Scotsman wrote:

more than 2 years ago

mmmm I love Rosetta Stoned, though it was perhaps the most challenging song.
I guess that was a bit pointed of me, I said "filler" to cover everything but I could've said segues or interludes...I do like many of them on Lateralus!

Pekka wrote:

more than 2 years ago

I don't think Lateralus has any filler, but Ænima of course has plenty. I've grown to like most of them though. I haven't listened to 10,000 Days in about 1,000 days, now it's time to do that. Never was a big fan of Rosetta Stoned, but otherwise I've been of the opinion that this is a strong album.

The Angry Scotsman wrote:

more than 2 years ago

As I said, neither did I! I really didnt like it all, sans 3 songs. You are right about that and I am glad they toned down some of the filler and pretentious wankery. Lateralus would be 5 stars easy without it : (

UMUR wrote:

more than 2 years ago

To be honest I don´t like it very much, but of course with Tool you can always count on super sound production and excellent musicianship and that helps some.