From a
positive standpoint, Tool may be one of the more popular hard rock bands of the day. Their music contains elements of progressive rock, metal, and a brooding artistic feel that has given Tool a strong fan base. Boasting
Danny Carey as one of the best drummers of the modern day, and the enigmatic
Maynard James Keenan as a front man. I'm personally not surprised the band has such a following.
Negative: I just personally can't get into them because no matter how much exertion the band and its producers put into the sound of each song, the riffs themselves seem to be based on a big block of air. In other words, if you sit down to play a Tool song on your acoustic guitar, you'll more than likely find yourself (A) playing a mid-80s Megadeth-style bass line or (B) alternating between two or three tedious barre chords that are right next to each other. The band is too slow to kick ass and too melodically limited for my taste. In other words, Tools music is artistically
not my cup of tea. But that in no way means that they are
not a good band regardless of all the negative reviews. (Better than Korn anyway)
Personal preference is all that matters.