RFC: Tool

Ok, since we're on non-classical, with the Yes and Linkin Park threads...

...anybody around here have anything to say about the band Tool? One of my good buddies from the Partch days swears by them, and actually got into the band through his son. I've done just a little listening (being able to scan virtually any CD or DVD at a Borders store and preview it is pretty addicting), and just wondered if anybody on meta is a rabid fan or a disgusted consumer of Tool.

Latest CD is "Lateralus", which I'm considering getting. I also saw an intriguing live CD from the tour following Trey Anastasio's solo album, but the tracks didn't make me want to plunk down the dough.

Cheers,
Jon

--- In metatuning@yahoogroups.com, "Jon Szanto" <JSZANTO@A...> wrote:
> Ok, since we're on non-classical, with the Yes and Linkin Park
threads...
>
> ...anybody around here have anything to say about the band Tool?

king crimson opened for them on a recent tour!

right now i'm more into queens of the stone age -- nirvana's drummer
gone progressive??

Jon,

I saw the tour King Crimson opened, and I actually really, REALLY liked _Lateralus_. So much so, that I took my son and my girlfriend to see the tour, and it did NOT disappoint. My reaction at the time was, this is The Jeffersion Airplane of this generation! And again, I was not disappointed. The crowd was friendly, optimistic, AND deeply skeptical about what we consider to be musically meaningful!

So, if you're looking for a model of who we should be measured against, I don't think you'll regret making the inquiry into what they're about.

Cheers,

Pete

ps microtonally, I don't think you'll find anything interesting, but culturally, maybe so. L, P.

Jon Szanto <JSZANTO@...> wrote:
Ok, since we're on non-classical, with the Yes and Linkin Park threads...

...anybody around here have anything to say about the band Tool? One of my good buddies from the Partch days swears by them, and actually got into the band through his son. I've done just a little listening (being able to scan virtually any CD or DVD at a Borders store and preview it is pretty addicting), and just wondered if anybody on meta is a rabid fan or a disgusted consumer of Tool.

Latest CD is "Lateralus", which I'm considering getting. I also saw an intriguing live CD from the tour following Trey Anastasio's solo album, but the tracks didn't make me want to plunk down the dough.

Cheers,
Jon

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[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

> ...anybody around here have anything to say
> about the band Tool?

My friend Adam turned me on to them in '95.
My friend Dan likes them.

I was at a conference recently where we saw
a music video by Tool, as seen on MTV, featuring
an animated sequence by psychedelic artist
Alex Grey. It was totally stupid.

I can hear that Tool classify as experimental
music, but they're way to 'dark' for my taste,
99% of the time. I have similar problems with
Radiohead (which I like better than Tool). I
try to evaluate music on the 3-point rating
scale, but sometimes the artistic point just
blots out the other two, no matter how hard I
try.

Oh, and incidentally, Jon, we cleaned dope with
jewel cases. I'm sure it was a lot easier on
LP jackets...

-Carl

--- In metatuning@yahoogroups.com, "Carl Lumma" <clumma@y...> wrote:

> I can hear that Tool classify as experimental
> music, but they're way to 'dark' for my taste,
> 99% of the time. I have similar problems with
> Radiohead (which I like better than Tool).

you find radiohead too dark 99% of the time?

----- Original Message -----
From: "Carl Lumma" <clumma@...>

> I was at a conference recently where we saw
> a music video by Tool, as seen on MTV, featuring
> an animated sequence by psychedelic artist
> Alex Grey. It was totally stupid.

Is that a good or bad thing?

When I played at Tibet House last Dec.,
there was also an Alex Grey show set up.
His paintings are amazing.

* David Beardsley
* microtonal guitar
* http://biink.com/db

> > I can hear that Tool classify as experimental
> > music, but they're way to 'dark' for my taste,
> > 99% of the time. I have similar problems with
> > Radiohead (which I like better than Tool).
>
> you find radiohead too dark 99% of the time?

Maybe more like 75% (of the time my mood doesn't
allow me to enjoy Radiohead).

Somehow, OK Computer manages to pull it off better.
I thought Kid A wasn't nearly as strong, and I
could record something better than Amnesiac in my
basement. Hail to the Thief (so far) seems to
recall OK Computer, and I like it more.

-Carl

> > I was at a conference recently where we saw
> > a music video by Tool, as seen on MTV, featuring
> > an animated sequence by psychedelic artist
> > Alex Grey. It was totally stupid.
>
> Is that a good or bad thing?

Bad.

By that I meant the whole video, though Alex's
section did not stand out.

> When I played at Tibet House last Dec.,
> there was also an Alex Grey show set up.
> His paintings are amazing.

To each his own.

Somebody was selling a sheet of 'Jesus Christs'
at the conference (MindStates), which I was
tempted to buy for old times' sake, but couldn't
afford. I believe the work is "Transcendental
Christ" (which may actually be displayed in NY?),
or some such.

-Carl

--- In metatuning@yahoogroups.com, "Carl Lumma" <clumma@y...> wrote:
> and I could record something better than Amnesiac in my basement.

Of course, the key to this is that you haven't.

Cheers,
Jon

----- Original Message -----
From: "Carl Lumma" <clumma@...>

> To each his own.
>
> Somebody was selling a sheet of 'Jesus Christs'
> at the conference (MindStates), which I was
> tempted to buy for old times' sake, but couldn't
> afford. I believe the work is "Transcendental
> Christ" (which may actually be displayed in NY?),
> or some such.

And what does this have to do with Alex Grey?

* David Beardsley
* microtonal guitar
* http://biink.com/db

--- In metatuning@yahoogroups.com, David Beardsley <db@b...> wrote:
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Carl Lumma" <clumma@y...>
>
> > I was at a conference recently where we saw
> > a music video by Tool, as seen on MTV, featuring
> > an animated sequence by psychedelic artist
> > Alex Grey. It was totally stupid.
>
> Is that a good or bad thing?
>
> When I played at Tibet House last Dec.,
> there was also an Alex Grey show set up.
> His paintings are amazing.

my good friend and musical cohort, didj/sax/vocalist (in my
acoustic/world project) brian donnelly, is also an incredible artist
and studied with alex grey. grey and donnelly are absolutely two of
my favorite artists . . . look forward to seeing the video someday.

> From: "Paul Erlich" <PERLICH@...>
> To: <metatuning@yahoogroups.com>
> Sent: Tuesday, June 24, 2003 3:37 PM
> Subject: [metatuning] Re: RFC: Tool
>
>
> --- In metatuning@yahoogroups.com, David Beardsley <db@b...> wrote:
> > ----- Original Message -----
> > From: "Carl Lumma" <clumma@y...>
> >
> > > I was at a conference recently where we saw
> > > a music video by Tool, as seen on MTV, featuring
> > > an animated sequence by psychedelic artist
> > > Alex Grey. It was totally stupid.
> >
> > Is that a good or bad thing?
> >
> > When I played at Tibet House last Dec.,
> > there was also an Alex Grey show set up.
> > His paintings are amazing.
>
> my good friend and musical cohort, didj/sax/vocalist
> (in my acoustic/world project) brian donnelly, is
> also an incredible artist and studied with alex grey.
> grey and donnelly are absolutely two of my favorite
> artists . . . look forward to seeing the video someday.

one of my roommates brought home an Alex Grey
painting that now hangs in our living room.
it's an amazing piece.

-monz

>>and I could record something better than Amnesiac
>>in my basement.
>
> Of course, the key to this is that you haven't.

I was afraid somebody would say something like that.

This is just a general phrase that I use to mean that
something sucks. My friend once remarked of the
expensive Dansko sandals we were selling: "I could
make better sandals in my basement". I've quite
taken to this phrase.

Currently, I don't have a basement. But I played a
40-minute thing here just two weeks ago that I think
is much better than Amnesiac. Sue me.

-Carl

> > Somebody was selling a sheet of 'Jesus Christs'
> > at the conference (MindStates), which I was
> > tempted to buy for old times' sake, but couldn't
> > afford. I believe the work is "Transcendental
> > Christ" (which may actually be displayed in NY?),
> > or some such.
>
> And what does this have to do with Alex Grey?

It's his work, transcendental christ or something,
that's on the blotter, and on display in NY.

-C.

This was Cages answer pretty much to someone who said he could do what he did

Carl Lumma wrote:

> >>and I could record something better than Amnesiac
> >>in my basement.
> >
> > Of course, the key to this is that you haven't.
>
> I was afraid somebody would say something like that.
>
>

-- -Kraig Grady
North American Embassy of Anaphoria Island
http://www.anaphoria.com
The Wandering Medicine Show
KXLU 88.9 FM WED 8-9PM PST

> This was Cages answer pretty much to someone who said he
> could do what he did

This bit, here?

> > > Of course, the key to this is that you haven't.

Boy, I hate that Cage.

-Carl

>grey and donnelly are absolutely two of
>my favorite artists . . . look forward to
>seeing the video someday.

What are y'all looking at that I'm not?

http://www.alexgrey.com/paint/canvas.html

Does he use the vein people in every single
piece? This is like the overlays out of
the anatomy section of an old Encyclopedia.

My favorite 'psychedelic' artist is
Navitrolla...

http://www.art.net/TheGallery/Navitrolla/

-Carl

--- In metatuning@yahoogroups.com, "Carl Lumma" <clumma@y...> wrote:
> Currently, I don't have a basement.

I had my suspicions, as they are not too common in the Bay area!

> But I played a
> 40-minute thing here just two weeks ago that I think
> is much better than Amnesiac. Sue me.

Oh, shit, are you going to be just like *Gene* now ("Sue me" seems to be his one response when up against something)? The point is: one of the very easiest things in the world is to sit back, say I can do better than this, or I have done better than that, and never put yourself out there as all the other artists do. It is fairly spineless, and it is a conceit.

All creative artists must have, somewhere in the core of their being, a goodly sum of courage. When one has one's work in the eyes and ears of others, one lays oneself bare. To sit back, and not just opine but offer the vaporware of purported masterworks is rather an insult to the aforementioned creative artists.

I don't mind, frequently welcome, and sometimes even ask for comments and opinions about things. But putting down the efforts of those who will lay themselves naked, while fully clothed in the confines of one's safe environs, is patently lame.

Regards,
Jon

----- Original Message -----
From: "Carl Lumma" <clumma@...>

> > > Somebody was selling a sheet of 'Jesus Christs'
> > > at the conference (MindStates), which I was
> > > tempted to buy for old times' sake, but couldn't
> > > afford. I believe the work is "Transcendental
> > > Christ" (which may actually be displayed in NY?),
> > > or some such.
> >
> > And what does this have to do with Alex Grey?
>
> It's his work, transcendental christ or something,
> that's on the blotter, and on display in NY.

On the blotter? I haven't touched that stuff in twenty years.

Is this it? http://www.alexgrey.com/a-gallery/c-christ.html

This painting is huge.

* David Beardsley
* microtonal guitar
* http://biink.com/db

----- Original Message -----
From: "Carl Lumma" <clumma@...>

> >grey and donnelly are absolutely two of
> >my favorite artists . . . look forward to
> >seeing the video someday.
>
> What are y'all looking at that I'm not?

There's a lot of detail and symbolism that
doesn't show up on the paintings on his web site.
Most of these paintings are huge, the size
of a wall in large room.

>
> http://www.alexgrey.com/paint/canvas.html
>
> Does he use the vein people in every single
> piece? This is like the overlays out of
> the anatomy section of an old Encyclopedia.

It isn't about veins.

> My favorite 'psychedelic' artist is
> Navitrolla...

Trippy.

* David Beardsley
* microtonal guitar
* http://biink.com/db

> Is this it? http://www.alexgrey.com/a-gallery/c-christ.html

No, but that's cool.

> This painting is huge.

Yeah, there's a lot of detail I hadn't noticed.

The one I was thinking of is apparently "Purple Jesus"...

http://tinyurl.com/f8xd

-Carl

--- In metatuning@yahoogroups.com, "Carl Lumma" <clumma@y...> wrote:
> >grey and donnelly are absolutely two of
> >my favorite artists . . . look forward to
> >seeing the video someday.
>
> What are y'all looking at that I'm not?
>
> http://www.alexgrey.com/paint/canvas.html

it doesn't come across on a pixelated scan, at least at that
resolution. the magic is in the detail.

> My favorite 'psychedelic' artist is
> Navitrolla...

the tennis player? :)

> http://www.art.net/TheGallery/Navitrolla/

psychedelic or surrealist? reminds me more of olbinski, of which my
parents own a few:

http://www.patinae.com/olbinski.htm

> psychedelic or surrealist?

There appears to be a connection. At the same
conference was Robert Venosa, who knew Dali.

> reminds me more of olbinski, of which my
> parents own a few:
>
> http://www.patinae.com/olbinski.htm

Cool.

-Carl

----- Original Message -----
From: "Carl Lumma" <clumma@...>

> > Is this it? http://www.alexgrey.com/a-gallery/c-christ.html
>
> No, but that's cool.
>
> > This painting is huge.
>
> Yeah, there's a lot of detail I hadn't noticed.
>
> The one I was thinking of is apparently "Purple Jesus"...
>
> http://tinyurl.com/f8xd

Wow, it really is on blotter!

* David Beardsley
* microtonal guitar
* http://biink.com/db