Board 8 > Rank the Tracks Week 97: Tool's 10,000 Days (+Michael Jackson's Thriller result)

(+) Yeah! (+)

1. Rosetta Stoned (a stream-of-consciousness epic covering an hilarious topic with manic vocal delivery and constant tempo changes to achieve a pulse-pounding & cinematic sound while never at any point taking it seriously.)
2. Vicarious (harshly commentating on our obsessions with real life violence while also being one of the best straight-forward rockers they've ever put out)
3. 10,000 Days (Wings Pt 2) (probably the band's most eloquent song to date, telling a strong and emotional tale as a dedication to Maynard's mother. It combines moody guitar-driven symphonies and expressive lyricism with a gut-wrenching ambience that eventually and evolves explodes into a forceful arrangement, complete with an insane climax - a beautiful song that captures all the emotional complexity of the human condition.)
4. Jambi (I mean did you hear this god damn bridge though)
5. Right in Two (more commentary on violence this time from the celestial viewpoint, it's catchy though I like how the song opens up as the story unfolds and explodes into a more diverse and interesting song the closer it gets to the end.)
6. The Pot (deceptively simple instrumentation with obtuse lyricism full of analogies and adages. A brilliant composition that proves that Tool's vocabulary can still be unique and compelling while still basically making a straight-forward pop song.)
7. Wings for Marie (Pt 1) (of course it's a lot of build up for Pt 2 but it's got a great texture all its own too and Maynard's vocal delivery after the interlude is the kind of haunting that sticks with you awhile)
8. Viginti Tres (I love post-metal ambience, it's just really enjoyable to listen to and the atmosphere reminds me of Silent Hill with that dark, sinister bend)
9. Lost Keys (Blame Hofmann) (despite its low-ranking here I actually love this track as a both cinematic prelude to Rosetta Stoned but also as this wonky experimental ambient piece of tension and release that works really well in tandem with the song's theme and I like the spoken dialogue bits too)
10. Intension (not much to say about this one, I like it but it's like a less compelling Viginiti Tres to me - it obviously works better when you listen to Right In Two immediately after as intended and if I have to criticize the album just a little is that this album definitely has an obsession with musical preludes)
11. Lipan Conjuring (cool for trying something different but yeah it's pretty forgettable honestly)

Bowie > Smiths > Aphex

also you ranked wings 3 times and viginti tres zero

the section that begins "overwhelmed as one would be, placed in my position" and ends with my signature is one of maynard's best ever performances and that alone makes you nuts

man I really thought that was gonna go to Sing the Sorrow

you know

This is the second time in the last couple of years I have argued Rosetta Stoned is overrated among fellow Tool fans and... listened to it again and thought "you bastards are right, I should stop denying that song its greatness." I still agree with what I said though, I just underemphasized its greatness a little bit. There's too many people out there that seem to consider it in the same pantheon as Third Eye, Reflection, Lateralus, Wings for Marie Pt 2, (now I would add) Descending - all of their very best. I can't get on board with it.

Almost want to say fuck it and put it above Intension on my list, but I can't do it. That was the first Tool song I learned on guitar and it's basically the Disposition of this album and Disposition rules. But yeah, the part Steiner is talking about is what makes the whole song.

Aenima's up there with Lateralus for me, while 10000 Days is a respectable 3rd place.

Also before I forget, where's the Thriller results?