I always recommend Aenima for people who haven't gotten into Tool yet, then Lateralus. Often when people start off with earlier stuff they just dismiss it and don't see what's so great about it.

It's a difficult decision, but I think Lateralus is my favourite Tool album.

Really? I would have never guessed ... : P

I think this greatly depends on a lot of things, taste being the most obvious (but we can't account for that when making a recommendation). Not all bands improve from album to album. There are many bands whose early work outshines their later work. This statement seems more like a reflection of your own opinion about Undertow. ;) Which is fine, you're entitled to it. Just sayin'.

this, goddamnit.



i think Chancellor gets the **** end of the stick in the band, really :(. i mean, how many other bassists can give Tool's songs the feel that they have like that??

I agree. Chancellor does wonders with his guitars and effects. There have been moments where I was unsure that the sound I was hearing was even a bass. Pure brilliance, if you ask me. One of my favorite Tool tracks for the bass at the moment would have to be "Disposition". Typical, I know, but it always makes me think of transitional seasons. Sometimes, I think their more mellow songs like this move me more than any of their stuff.

The ending to Lateralus, Disposition/Reflection/Triad, would easily be top 5 greatest album endings of all time for me.

I don't know if I can agree with that, but the transition between "Lateralus", "Disposition" always gives me the chills.

So true. Chancellor is highly underrated. I think in a way he changed the image of the bass in that particular scene; he's not your typical bassist and he finds new (but still technical) ways to make the bass work as an instrument to suit him and Tool. The first time I heard the Schism bass riff I was hooked.

And yeah, Tool's mellower songs are amazing. People seem to forget this side of them, only concentrating on their 'heaviness.' But their music holds a lot of light and the mellow aspect of them is just beautiful.

I wouldn't bat an eyelid if Tool just did a really mellow album with one of those really deceptively complex rhythyms from Carey, with some nice subtle guitar work and Maynard using his quiet, almost whispering voice... Although they do heavy music and excel at it, they are way too talented a bunch to limit themselves....

Nah, I'd be disappointed if Tool released something like that. They need both their mellow aspects and their heavy aspects to work together. Without the heaviness... they wouldn't be so progressive and epic.