This is one of the great, great albums of the 90's. It has incredible balance, heart and ambition. At the time it was like nothing we had ever heard before. Thank you for lighting this fire for me again
"Third Eye" is my favourite Tool song. I can't get enough of it. The syncopated guitars at the end, with the "Prying open my third eye!" piling up on top of it and never quite falling on the same beat each time... it's masterful. They did something similar at the end of Rosetta Stoned in 10000 Days and I love both song endings for the same reason, but this one is SO... RAW. It's really, really good. This album grows on you after repeated listens, so I highly recommend that you come back to it in the near future. It's definitely worth it!
That ending of Third Eye was definitely a standout moment on Ænima for me as well. I can't wait to give Rosetta Stoned a listen when I get to 10,000 Days! And yeah, I've already given Ænima multiple listens since reacting to it. Its sound is just so heavy and addicting, it draws you in and you get obsessed haha. I can confirm it grows on you!
Love this album! Saw Tool this year, and they played "Hooker" and "Pushit". Amazing live. Maynard even changed the lyrics to Hooker with "in between sips of White Claw." 😂
Useful Idiot is the white noise of a blank space on a vinyl record playing. Message From Harry Manback is an actual answering machine message one of the band members received after they kicked a roommate out of their apartment for being an asshole, so he calls up and leaves a message wishing cancer upon them and death on their families. So they used it in a track on their album. Die Eier von Satan is a recipe for Mexican wedding cookies that has NO EGGS in the batter, spoken in German, I think to demonstrate how anything sounds evil in German. All in all these interludes generally add moments of whimsy to an album that deals with a lot of heavy shit, and keeps it from being overly oppressive, I think.
No, the call from Harry is about catching his girlfriend cheating on him and threatening the guy she cheated with. It's detailed in a reddit AMA and I believe in Harry's book.
There is an alternate version of Pushit that they performed on the live album “Salival” and it is very different from the Ænima version, but it’s so emotionally powerful and impactful and it is probably better than the Ænima version
If I had to choose I’d go Lateralus, but not by much. Ænima is right there as far as quality goes. Just comes down to preference. I like the more melodic, psychedelic sounding stuff. Those two are definitely their best albums though. Imo.
Yeah, certainly a lot of similarities between the two but Ænima leans more into the dark, slightly sinister seething tone, with some industrial elements too. That tends to be my preference with music, like you said it really comes down to personal taste. Both are such amazing albums though!
Lateralus holds a special place in my heart. Still remember my first listen back in 2001 when it came out, sat in my Ford Escort. Saw them a few times in the early 00s at Ozzfest 01 and 02. Goosebumps after each show. They were incredible live.
First time I heard Tool was "Schism" and my gf at the time said "This song reminds me of our relationship" and I was like "Zuh??!" We broke up. I still love tool though.
This album, to me, was really when they first started flexing their prog muscles and launched themselves into a new category that was simply "Tool". It doesn't get much better than 3rd Eye.
Yes! Eulogy is definitely the best track. Also, you should check out the Opiate EP when you get a chance. No deep dive into Tool’s discography is complete without it.
Message To Harry Manback is a voice message left by some guy pissed off at them for kicking him out. He was somebody's friend and he was kicked out for being too drunk? Man, please look it up but it's definitely someone pissed off with them who left someone in the band a voice message. There's a hilarious part 2 as well on their release Salival (2000). It's a way I guess to balance the seriousness of the album. Tool never wanna take everything 100% serious. And I love that aspect. Remind people to chill sometimes and enjoy shit. Sadly many Tool fans take things too seriously and don't even get the whole message the bands gives with each album. It seems to go over their heads and then they go out to the world to judge others and point fingers. They give Tool fans a bad name. We're known for being annoying online. Just look at how many subreddits mention Tool fans in a negative way. It's like a religion to some of us. Not me but just saying. The music is so powerful some treat it too highly and forget to laugh and not take it seriously.
Not to mention the song in German that's supposed to sound like it's straight from 1930's Germany is actually a cookie recipe. Die Eier von Satan, haven't listened to this album in years.
Pushit has been arguably my favorite Tool song from the first time I ever heard it. Which actually was 9+ months before literally *ANYONE* else, actually. They performed as an opening act for Primus on NYE 95/96. About half the songs they played were from AEnima, which wouldn't actually be released for the aforementioned 9 months. It was just unreal being there and hearing that for the first time. Absolutely blew my mind. BTW, if you're interested, someone put that show up on youtube: ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-t_nFCRJ4rqg.html I could probably write a 3-5 page paper on the symbolism and meaning of the various effects and lyrics of the song. lol. But that'd be way too esoteric and in-depth to type out in a RU-vid comment. heh.
That is really cool! So awesome that you got to be there, and thanks for sharing the video. I'll definitely have to give that a watch. If you ever write that paper on Pushit I'd totally read it, haha! You'd probably have some really interesting insights.
If I remember right, from Maynard's book, he mentions how he had writer's block leading into this album. What seemed to have changed everything was his psychedelic experience with natives in Arizona. Don't quote me, I might be remembering some of it wrong. But yeah, Ayahuasca possibly? It opened his mind up and he started also reading other things that helped expand his vision, I guess. He also saw a beautiful place in a dream where he eventually moved to, in Arizona. He remembers seeing nature and a small town. And when he got there, he couldn't believe it's what he saw. It resembled it so much. He simply moved out there and it helped him get away from the madness starting with the fans. The whole industry bs that comes with music too, I guess. Just got away from it all. To live more peacefully.
I think it was peyote (mescaline). In the song third eye there's a lyric that goes "Like phosphorescent desert buttons Singing one familiar song" Dried peyote cactus are referred to as buttons and they sometimes have a colorful flower on top, hence the term "phosphorescent".
Maynard also started a winery with his wife out in AZ. It is successful. I believe he won't tour during harvest any longer. He has mentioned he loves the labor because it keeps him grounded from the fame. He is inspiring to me on many levels.
"H" is one of my favorite Tool songs. The vocal performance reminds me so much of an 80s/90s pop/R&B song like Man in the Mirror, and the production lends an air of intimacy and vulnerability that I think really plays into the theme of the song. To me, the song is about not repeating the same mistakes with your child(ren) that your parent(s) may have made with you: "The snake behind me hisses, what my damage could have been, my blood before me begs me, open up my heart again."
H. has become one of my favorites actually since my reaction, might be tied with Eulogy for my favorite track on Aenima. It really is a perfect song, from that really dark and crushing start into Maynard's really melodic singing later on. Lyrically such a brilliant song too, I really like your interpretation of it.
Agree, H. is definitely my fave on this album. One of the strongest crescendos at the end of any Tool song, with the exception of possibly Undertow, Flood or Schism.
The apparent story behind Message To Harry Manback: Danny Carry was in a band called Green Jello for awhile (known as Green Jelly now). Apparently one of the members of the band had an Italian roommate and slept with his girlfriend and this is the angry message the Italian guy left on his answering machine.
This album changed my life! I still remember the first time I heard it, I was a freshman in high school and I fell in love with it right away. Great video, Molly! 👏👍🤘
Some albums take a few listens for me to get on board with, but I fell in love with Aenima on first listen too, it's just such a fantastic album in every regard. Glad you enjoyed the video!
You had the exact same reaction as I did when I heard this back in 1999 nothing but Goosebumps. This was pretty much my high school soundtrack. The voice at the beginning of Third Eye is Bill Hicks, a stand up comedian who was a legend for his political and culture rants. as well known for his getting high on acid and attacking his crowds verbally if he felt they were not a good crowd or if they tried to boo him for his takes on stuff. He died of Cancer in 1994. On the physical copy of the album they have a drawing of him in the liner notes with the line :Bill Hicks - Another Dead Hero. The song AEnima is based in part on his stand up album Arizona Bay which was recorded in 1992-93 but released posthumously in 1997.
So fun and cool watching people's reaction by listening bands for the first time that I used to listen on highschool in the 90's and early 00's. I really like your reviews and the tone of your voice. Keep up the good work!
I have fond memories listening to this album while jogging through the neighborhood at night while in highschool with my portable CD player. This album has a vibe that just gets me going. Jimmy is my jam. Love the content🙏 let's goooo.
This is my favorite Tool album, even after Lateralus held that top spot for many years. Aenima has this loose gritty vibe that they smoothed over on later albums. But I think songs like "Hooker With A Penis" are so unique. Aenima is elegant, emotional hard rock, but maintains that punk vibe from their early albums.
Elegant hard rock is a great way of putting it! Tool always amazes me how they make their music so intense, but it always retains a sense of smoothness and refinement to its sound. So impressive!
@@mollyesanborn Yes, they have such an interesting duality-it's thoughtful and meticulous, but it also simply rocks. That's probably why they have such a diverse fanbase. Thanks for making fun videos, Molly!
Came here from the Deftones reacts and now went through all 3 of your Tool reacts- so glad you enjoyed Ænima! This album was my first exposure to Tool as a teen and I was looking forward to it while watching this series. This album put Tool on another level; even at a time in the industry with SO many legendary bands. I will say the last two Tool albums while worth listening are not exactly fan favorites- they both have stand out tracks for sure but it feels like a lot more filler and experimentation. However an amazing next Maynard album I can recommend is A Perfect Circle's debut "Mer de Noms" which is one of his most successful side projects. APC's tour in 2000 was my 2nd ever concert and first time seeing Maynard live and his vocals are even more incredible in person, they just completely surround you!
So glad that you're enjoying the videos! I'm looking forward to the next two Tool albums, and I've got A Perfect Circle on my list for future videos as well. I'm intrigued to hear another side of Maynard James Keenan outside of Tool.
Again you nailed the sound and feel of TOOL its not for everybody but those that give it a chance are given an opportunity to hear a band that is so unique and extremely talented. Just saw them two weeks ago and it was so emotional and overwhelming feel.
Intermission and jIMMY have the same riff structure Cesaro Summability is a formula for calculating infinite series. The baby seems to allude to cesarean section, even though the two concepts are spelt differently. I see it as the endless parent-child-parent-child sequence of humanity
As always genuine and expressive reactions. I feel like I'm sitting in a bean bag chair across from you listening to the songs...lol 😆 Can't wait for 10,000 days. I've been listening to TesseracT on heavy rotation recently and would love to hear what you think of them. They are a interesting atmospheric progressive metal band that masterfully uses polyrhythms and fascinating strong structures to produce grooves like few others. Their album Altered State is a masterpiece, all goosebumps.
I just saw Tool in concert on 01/19/22 San Diego I had 5th row floor seat center section it was my 4th time seeing them in concert. Always an awesome show!!
yes, it is their best album... people seem to dismiss it in favor of supposed "increasing complexity" on subsequent albums, but this one SOUNDS BETTER, has probably 4 of their top 10 songs (in my view at least) stinkfist, eulogy, aenima (my favorite tool song) and 46/2... i've noticed this with many prolific bands, first few albums are usually best (korn, deftones, system of a down)
Yeah, Ænima just sounds so freaking good. That's funny you mentioned those same four tracks! We must have a similar music taste. And I think you're onto something with the earlier albums thing as well. It's almost like on earlier albums bands have nothing to lose, no reputation to maintain. They throw everything they've got onto it, no fear of falling. Later on after establishing themselves a lot of times something is lost. Obviously not the case with every band but seems to happen a lot!
@@mollyesanborn i think it has to do more with what happens psychologically going forward... every artist comes out making the exact music they want to make, after any success they feel like they have to progress or evolve, to them it means tinkering with an existing sound and trying to add stuff to make it "better", more complex, or maybe even just keep themselves entertained and engaged because doing the thing you already did can be boring.... unfortunately those changes are frequently not for the better... plus it's hard to beat that early starvation angst as a motivating factor, that's when you get the most raw, driven sound... and it's hard to replicate once any level of comfort is achieved... the 3 bands i mentioned first 1 or 2 albums were just a punch to the face, unrivaled in angry enthusiasm thereafter
I got into Tool because of Sober. Even though Undertow is an uneven album, they had that unique atmosphere that set them apart of any band, but still, I wasn't betting much on the guys. It took me months to decide to buy Ænima, but when I saw that it was produced by David Botrill (of Peter Gabriel and King Crimson fame), I snatched it. Best decision ever. This album just blew me away, even though the filler tracks are kind of off-putting and some songs resemble one another one bit, the maturation was formidable. When Lateralus came out, oof! My favourite is Lateralus because I'm a prog rock oriented guy rather than a metal one. I recommend to react to King Crimson, specially the wetton and Belew eras. Red, Thrak, The Power to Believe, Discipline, Larks tongues in aspic. Great stuff.
Such a good take on Aenima! I love your enthusiasm and deep takes on albums! Also I *really* suggest you check out Mariner by Cult of Luna & Julie Christmas. I think you will really dig it.
Thanks, I appreciate that! Glad you're getting into the videos. And I know Mariner has been recommended before, I'll definitely have to give it a listen soon.
I have been eagerly waiting for your next tool reaction for ages :) Also apropos of nothing but the fact that I can't help but notice The Core in your DVD collection every time I watch your videos, you should check out Moonfall. It's so stupid, I hate it Also, there's a video on RU-vid of when tool played here in New Zealand and Serj Tankien got up on stage and did vocals on Sober. It's terrible quality because it was 2007, but that man produces THE most incredible sound. It still gives me chills 15 years on
I know, I went too long without a new Tool album. My Ænima reaction was long overdue! I love that you noticed The Core, haha! It's probably my favorite terrible movie. I hate that I secretly love it :p I'll check out that live performance you mentioned, anything involving both Tool and Serj is bound to be amazing.
Will you be reacting to movies too? I hope so, I'm a big fan of movie reactions also, and think you'd do great reacting to films. I know it's way more time intensive to do, so I understand if you don't want to though. Anyway, always look forward to your videos.
Glad you listened to this one 😊 Just saw Tool live the other day and it was great ☺️ they played some songs from here that I hadn't heard in a while. Btw 46 & 2 is one my favs
Unfortunate you miss out on some of the sick transitions in these tracks. Useful Idiot is just a long intro to Forty Six and 2 (separated for use as a single I imagine) And the Transition from Intermission to Jimmy was sososo satisfying the first time I heard it.
"Useful Idiot" isn't an intro to anything. It's a joke track that's the last track on side 1 of the vinyl release which is why it's called "Useful Idiot" since it sounds like Side 1 of the vinyl has ended and causes you to walk up to the player to flip the record.
Random comment, and I know it’s a dead medium, but I think you have a really good voice for radio. There isn’t any distracting regional accent and your enunciation is very clear…even your cute, unique way of saying acoustic. I suppose podcasts would be the more modern, logical option and these reactions are kinda like short podcasts anyway. If you ever considered doing longer formats, maybe include interviews, either with artists or other content creators, I think you’d do really well.
Thank you! I really appreciate the kind words. I've thought about doing some sort of podcast/livestream format actually, I think something in that format would be a lot of fun.
Yes, I agree! The three Tool albums I've heard so far all have their own unique qualities to them that shine, it's very hard to put one over another. Glad you're enjoying the videos :)
Tool has a album for whatever mindset your in. If I want to shed some aggression or frustration Opiate or Undertow burns it away. Laturalus connects you to the universe by way of the spiral. 10,000 Days is for Judith and if you feel melancholy or retrospectively it will guide you through and back again. Fear Inoculum it if your ready can bring you to the edge of 46&2. Ænima is stand alone for me it is the pack the entire Tool journey in one album. My playlist is diverse Beatles, Eminem,Band of Horse, Jethro Tull, Tori Amos, Pretty Lights, Primus, Soundgarden. Tool I listen everyday and is the discography I take to the proverbial "deserted island". OGT since 93' and still listen everyday.. Great reactions... Spiral Out..Keep Going 🤘😎🤘
Fun Facts : The Album is pronounced On - i - ma. Whenever Maynards voice becomes distorted and thin he is singing through a small megaphone into the mic, -Ions (negatively charged ions) is a combination of a Jacobs Ladder ( look it up) and Danny randomly banging on a busted drum skin held in hand to emulate thunder. That "jazzy" quality in Adams guitar playing is him playing with a metal slide on the ring finger, which he uses often for soloing. Third Eye is preluded by deceased outspoken Comedian Bill Hicks, whom the album is dedicated to. Dier Von Satan, translated from German "The eggs of Satan" and meant to emulate Hitler's Nuremberg rally. Message to Harry Manback is a phone message of an irate Italian man telling someone they are a "Pezzo Di Merda" or " piece of shit".
@@mollyesanborn Info straight from the horses mouth, lol, having met Adam Danny and Justin on a number of occasions. Tons of other fun facts about the band, should you require them.
It's definitely not pronounced onima. It's pronounced æni-muh, and you pronounce Æ like the A in "ass". Also, Message to Harry Manback is an actual phone message left to (presumably) Maynard's former roommate. Danny Carey has previously said this about it: "Message to Harry Manback is a recording of the words of an uninvited Italian guest who came to Maynard's house one day. A so-called friend of a friend of a friend of Harry's .... Before we finally managed to figure out that nobody really knew him, he had already emptied the fridge and run up a huge phone bill. He got kicked out of the house."
I love all their albums but for me, it's hard to choose between Aenima and 10,000 Days as my favourite. Also, if you're reacting to 10,000 Days, please do not pause between tracks 3&4, 7&8(especially) and 9&10. These are 2 parter tracks that need to be listened together for the full experience. Hope you enjoy.
Lets just say im old; 40. I got a chance to go to Lollapalooza 97. Korn, and tool was there. Life is peachy, and thia abum just came out by tool. Hell of a night. My ticket was olny $30! This was right before the onslaught of the internet, which ruined the music industry. Good times. Kids these days may never know..
Yeah, their best album by far. Hearing some of those segue tracks for the first time really displayed the types of nuances you didn’t hear any other rock bands doing.
@@mollyesanborn FYI - They recently released "Opiate2" (squared) with Justin Chancellor on bass (he joined Tool after Paul D'Amour left before the AEnima album) for the 30th anniversary of the song/album.
I still remember clearly the first time I listened to this album having not heard Tool before and it completely blew me away. I was in my early 20s at a time when I thought I had heard it all but boy was I wrong! This will always have a very special place in my heart
Ænima is definitely my favorite of theirs, surprised more people don't hold this album in more high regard. Any plans to cover A Perfect Circle in the future? If you haven't heard them before, they're kind of the feminine to Tool's masculine.
Amazing reaction from a whole álbum. Not easy to do it, but every comment was perfect for a first listen. I think Aenima is the best Tool album cause that mix between the angry ninty feeling and the mysterious atmosphere we love from the next records. Nothing left to do more than seeing your others Tool's reactions 🤓
Thanks, glad you enjoyed the video! I agree with your point on Aenima, it does blend that really clean and layered modern Tool sound with a grungier 90's sound. Can't wait to hear the rest of their music!
You should definitely check out Maynard James Keenans side project A Perfect Circle. Really great stuff. Definitely start with their first album Mer de Noms(French for Sea Of Names). Brilliant album from start to finish!!!!
Awesome reaction! As others have said, its great to see someone making the same facial expressions I did the first time I heard it too. You don't really listen to Aenima, it kind of punches you in the face you just accept that. Unlike Undertow, which is great in other ways, I think to really feel the pull of these songs you have to listen to them a bunch of times. There is pure genius in some of the arrangements - but I feel they get missed due to some of the more catchier aspects. OMG though - something you may not have considered, and I didn't see anyone else mention yet, but you should totally react to the videos for Tool's songs. They will blow your mind. I would say review all the albums first though. Can't wait for 10,000 days.
I agree, I think Undertow is perhaps a more accessible album in terms of drawing you in quicker. Aenima slowly pulls you into its world, where Undertow kinda grabs you right away. Both are fantastic. Glad you enjoyed the reaction, I'll definitely check out their music videos. Not sure if I'll do reactions to them or not, but I'll absolutely watch them!
I really enjoy your reactions alot. Tool is one of the greatest bands of all time. I love this album but my favorite is undertow. Maynard's voice is unreal and mind boggling, Adam's guitar playing is ridiculous, justin's bass playing is amazing and Danny's drumming is unbelievable. Just subbed. 🤘😱
Thanks so much, glad you're enjoying the videos! Picking a favorite Tool album seems like picking a favorite child, haha. Impossible! The three albums from them I've heard so far all have qualities I love that really make them shine, they're all brilliant for different reasons.
@@mollyesanborn your welcome. My reason for picking undertow is because it was my first tool album I ever bought and that was in 1995. Looking forward to more tool, korn and whatever else you react to. 🤘
Tool is hands down the best band of my lifetime, I'm just over 50 and I found Tool as a by-product of the Rollins Band tour before they released Opiate and I haven't removed Aenima from my regular rotation since the day it was released 30 years. As often as they put out albums I guess its a good thing I don't grow tired of them I wouldn't have anything to listen to. Good comments from a beginner Tool.
Yes! Finally! Also, it's pronounced: Ah-ni-mah Both the album title and track are a play on words. Like all of Tool's music, it's serious and funny at the same time. There's humor in everything. A way of saying, don't take life so seriously all the time. I think they once said many songs have a funny meaning to it too. It's very clear in some songs that it can be viewed in a sexual way, for example, but also a serious intellectual way too. We can discuss Carl Jung or laugh at enemas. 😁 Think for yourself. Question authority.
Awesome comment, that's exactly the energy I was getting across this album. One minute we've got cookie recipes in German and the next it takes a dive into human consciousness. I love it.
One of the comments brought me back to the time I dropped acid at the Aenima show in Arizona the video backdrop was trance inducing. I did however have a difficult time finding my way home, couldn't figure East from West.
This is by far my favourite Tool album. It has so much dark humour and playfulness running through it. Die Eier Von Satan's lyrics are just a recipe for a dessert called "The Balls of Satan".
This was my first Tool album and I LOVE it. I went back from there. I had heard sober and prison sex from undertow on the radio. This is my all time favourite album. I've never heard it put so perfectly before when you said there's so much power just simmering beneath the surface.
Glad you agree, it's what I love about Tool. They've got such a power to their sound but they know how to use just the right amount of it. Makes for really effective music!
