Tool, in my opinion, are great for their overall package.
I don't think they sound the same as every other industrial/grungy band out there. Maybe on a very broad level. But there are intricaces within their music that make them defining.

The drumming surpases pretty much all other bands, on an overall level.
The vocals are seductive. They vary. Theres no set James Hetfield bark, nor is there a set Billy Corgan whine. Maynard has a unique voice where it's often delicately soft, but can become a powerful shout/scream too. Probably the coolest thing about his voice is that no matter where he sings, it's smooth.

Some people do cling to them, I'd agree with you there. But most people like them for their artistic style of hard/prog rock, which is hard to explain if you can't already hear it. It's one of those things. Just the way people love/hate Led Zeppelin.

I think it's impossible to explain what's great about Tool- whereas other metal bands have started to bore me, I can still listen to Tool and be blown away. For some reason, Tool is a band a lot of people (myself included, at one point) become obsessed with, and I can't really figure out why. Sure, they're talented musicians and all of what Merkaba said, but even if you don't bother to notice any of that the music is still so strangely compelling. Either you just have to get into it, or maybe it just affects certain people.

Maybe it's subliminal messages. That would explain why I went on a frenzy and bought every Tool album I could find.

Well, 1st you can start by mentioning Danny Carey!!!Danny Carey is a great drummer!!!:D
On your part of being "obsessed"...
...well, that's understandable too!!!Sometimes people get so excited when a band comes out and, although they like other bands still, this band really "satisfies" them most at the time!!!I was a BIG fan of Nirvana years ago, but I wouldn't called it being "obsessed", I just loved the band the most!!!I still like the band to this day, but I also include many other artists in my list of favorites, ya see?Talk later, cheers!!!:beer:

Nirvana

Tool>Nirvana

Only in your opinion.
That post served no purpose in this thread.
and don't turn around and tell me this post didn't serve a purpose.
Because i know, and was pointing out a total bullshit post.

God damn! Why'd you have to put so many up there!

I ultimately went with Pink Floyd.. but some honorable mentions are:

Beatles
Jimi Hendrix
Led Zep
Bob Dylan
Queen

I like pretty much every band you listed, but those are my favorites.

IT WAS SARCASM. Everyone is entitled to thier own opinion. And it's an inside joke between me and that person. My bad, didn't mean to bust your chops.

this was hard - if id had my way i would have voted for dylan, pink floyd, the who and frank zappa.

since zappa wasnt on the list much to my displeasure, i voted for the Who who were the first band i ever got into apart from the mothers and zappa.

still, i couldnt choose between any of the aforementioned artists as i love them all equally

This is a preference poll, your opinion has no value over anyone else's.