Customer Reviews

Lateralus

5 star:		(1,100)
4 star:		(175)
3 star:		(74)
2 star:		(53)
1 star:		(54)

 

 

Tool have proven themselves once again that they are far and away the best musicians out there today. "Lateralus" combines everything that makes this band great, including ultra-heavy guitar, thunderous bass, and of course, the impeccable drum beats laid down by Danny Carey. Maynard rounds out this group with his haunting lyrics and voice that ranges from creepy to full of rage and acidic hatred. "Lateralus" is the smoothest album I have heard in years, maybe ever heard. It is equal on a conceptual basis with Pink Floyd's "The Wall" and anything that Rush ever put out. Each and every song here is an epic unto itself, most of the tracks spiralling over seven or eight minutes, something that music today really lacks. Each song can keep you entranced until the very end, even throught the odd musical journeys that are the bridges and breakdowns. Everything about this album is perfect, there is nothing more to say than that. This is a must-have for anybody who likes metal, or any other type of music that wishes to push borders and tingle the senses.

Best tracks: "The Grudge", "Lateralus", "Ticks and Leeches", "Parabola", "Schism"

Finally, an album without distortion. Excellent production and as I read somewhere, Tool can claim this as theirs. One of the best albums I have heard in a long time. Reminds me of a heavier faster Pink Floyd.

I bought the limited edition double vinyl record version. Great looking package. The vinyl version is two records, very heavy vinyl, and the vinyl are picture discs that look really cool. Love the album. The only reason I am giving this version 3 stars is because the vinyl records skip alot, so i am unimpressed. The vinyl pressings are terrible and this purchase was not cheap. I guess the intention was maybe for this to just be a collectable item, and not actually played. Such a shame.

The same guy that gave this album 1 star and called it horrible also gave Godsmack a 5 star rating! That is hilarious...enjoy your Godsmack moshermaniac...If that makes you happy, then enjoy, but it's too bad, because you're missing out...I don't believe that Tool takes an "open-mind" or special brain power of any sort...it is harder listening, for sure, and if you can understand what they're doing technically, well I guess it helps in some ways and hurts in others...a lot of times music is more mesmerizing when you're blissfully unaware of what the musicians are doing technicaly...it adds so magic... and sometimes knowing what they're doing can let you into the fantastic world of creative and artistic music and that's satisfying in itself...Lateralus is much more complicated than most music, but in the end it all comes down to taste...if you don't like it you don't like it, but this is LIGHT YEARS ahead of a group like Godsmack in every respect...that's not really an opinion, that's definately a fact

I just think there is so much to get from this album...it really is an experience and you can take a lot from it and use it to do some good...I don't think it's dark at all, but that's just me

Tool is basically at the cutting edge of progressive and experimental rock and Lateralus is blatant proof of this fact. This music suceeds in blending and synthesizing sounds to create that complexity and sophistication that is becoming more common (and i'm glad)amongst contemporary music. This band simply knows how to take emotional content and translate it into music with hard intruments as their tools (no pun intended) - not to forget Maynard's vocals of course. I would listen to track 1 a few times if you want to get a feel for this masterpiece. In conclusion, it takes a refined ear to truly appreciate this stuff.

I'm not even a huge fan of the genre.I'm into The Tragically Hip,U2and Radiohead.I gotta say that this album along with the outstanding masterpiece Aenima which I give five stars makes me want to just crank up the volume and enjoy.Oh and(moshermaniac)someone that claims themselves to be open mined,usually isn't.

What makes Lateralus so great is the sound. Each track is a journey through vibrant, diverse tunnels of sound. Emotional lyrics and superb vocal work from Maynard (as always). I recommend this CD to Tool fans and any fan of just plain good rock music.

Must have cd for any fan of Tool and any fan of creative rock music anywhere!
Little mix up with the shipping, but it was promptly taken care of after I flagged the error.

right from grudge through the title track to reflection, this album is awesome. It's TOOL at it's best with some great riffs and amazing vocals. Excellent album and definitely timeless piece

I would personally rate this as Tool's 'Opus'! It is a musical journey and experience from beginning to end, I would put it up as our generations 'Dark side of the Moon'. Even today when I put it on, I have to listen to it from beginning to end, wonderfully performed and orchestrated. Definitely in my top 10 albums of all time.