LATERALUS

Ok, I've put off adding any reviews at all, because, to be honest, there are probably people out there who are far more adept at this than me. It is my favourite album of all time, ever. And while you may notice I've only given it 4 stars I will hopefully explain my decisions and turn you on to a really brilliant album....

It took me a couple of months to really understand this album. There were a one or two stand out tracks, but over a period of time all the songs seemed to just get better. Parts of the songs (and even whole songs) that were originally meaningless (and unheard) seemed to open before me as if I were on a journey, and certain knowledge would only present itself when I was ready to understand it. It was a strange experience and one that has been totally unique in my musical explorations. Now I should explain why I only gave It 4 stars.

As a whole the album is pretty perfect. there are however, when listening, a few tracks I skip through. Mainly all the 'filler' tracks, eon blue apocalypse, mantra et al (they were irritating on aenima although they arent as intrusive on lateralus) also ticks and leeches, disposition and reflection (as a drummer I know ticks... is a good song, but it irritates me) disposition and relection are sleepy time songs and when I listen to Tool I don't want to sleep! The other songs however are outstanding. The title track is to my mind one of only a few 'perfect' songs that I have ever heard (acres wild by Jethro Tull being one that springs to mind). The other songs on the album are pretty faultless though. In short I gave it 4 stars because while most of the album is indeed perfect, there are parts that I can't say I like all that much. This is however the best album that Tool have made, they seem to have taken a retrograde step with 10,000 days (a fact that has been stated by the band in interviews) and I can only hope that their next album will be building on Lateralus rather than their other material.

Personally I could listen to the title track every day for the rest of my life and never get bored, and that is a privilege reserved for very few songs indeed. A truly great album, but flawed in a very small way. 5 stars would be a perfect album, this is as close to perfect as I ever hope to find. ENJOY!

As a foot note, there were rumours of an 'alternate' track listing to the one on the album. Called the 'holy gift' it was a tracklisting based on the fibonacci sequence. Just Google 'the depth of lateralus' to find the explanation....

The alternate track listing is 6,7,5,8,4,13,1,12,2,11,3,10. I burned this off as a cd, and the music did seem to flow in a more 'continous' manner. The only problem is, is that the band are known for their disinformation and hoaxes, so was this just a product of an overactive imagination? You decide......