Afer five years of silence, Tool has emerged in 2006 to release one of the most highly anticipated albums of the year. Tool, a progressive rock band formed in 1990 in Los Angeles, California, released their fourth full-length studio album 10,000 Days on May 2. Tool completed their new album on Jan. 29, and it was then mastered by Bob Ludwig on Jan. 31. Tool’s current lineup includes Danny Carey on drums, Justin Chancellor on bass guitar, Maynard James Keenan on vocals and Adam Jones on guitar.
The meaning behind the title 10,000 Days originates from lead singer, Maynard James Keenan’s mother, Judith Marie Keenan. Keenan’s mother suffered a stroke that left her partially paralyzed and was forced into a wheelchair. The time between when she was paralyzed and when she died is approximately 10,000 days, which is 27 years. The two songs “Wings For Marie (Pt 1)” and “10,000 Days (Wings Pt 2)” are especially derived from Keenan’s mother and her disability.
10,000 Days is a phenomenal album which gives you something completely different than anything before. The new album features 11 tracks that reach over 75 minutes in length. The first single off the new album will be “Vicarious,” which is over seven minutes long itself. “Vicarious” hit the radio on April 17. Tool is known for being very experimental with their music and 10,000 Days is no exception.
Tool’s new album 10,000 Days is definitely different. It seems as though most Tool fans will either love the new album, or hate it. 10,000 Days is an album that you cannot judge quickly by listening only once. This is an album that you may find to be somewhat average at first, but it slowly gets better and better after each listen. Every song on the album is amazing, but some of the biggest stand out songs include “10,000 Days (Wings Pt 2),” “Jambi,” “Right In Two” and “Vicarious.”
Tool is currently touring the U.S. for the first leg of their tour, which will take up the rest of the spring and then will tour Europe throughout the summer. 45 shows have been confirmed for the tour to promote 10,000 Days. Good luck getting tickets to any show on the United States part of the tour, every show is basically sold out. Tickets for the May 21 show at the Orpheum Theatre in Boston reportedly sold out within minutes the tickets went on sale.
Most Tool fans will appreciate 10,000 Days for what it is, it cannot be compared to previous albums, it is something totally different. The new album will surely draw in many new fans for Tool just as every other album has. 10,000 Days is the first album Tool has released since their release of Lateralus in 2001. Lateralus did very well in the U.S., selling 2.3 million copies and received a Grammy Award in 2001 for the song “Schism.” 10,000 Days will surely be a successful album and be considered one of the best rock albums of 2006.
