UNDERTOW

A difficult album to review for me, cause there are some days when I think it is excellent, and others a subpar piece of work. Right now I feel it falls short of a masterpiece. Its definitely not on the Level of AEnima or Lateralus, and certainly a vast improvement over the Opiate EP. The whole thing flows very well thematically, moreso than Tool's latest outing, 10,000 Days, but it isn't as tight musically.

Intolerance - 3/5 - It has a feel reminiscent of the Opiate material, but feels more polished. Good, but nothing about it really stands out.

Prison Sex - 5/5 - This wouldn't have sounded out of place on AEnima. What a beautiful, emotional piece of work, even if it still sounds a bit messy compared to Tool's newer, polished stuff.

Sober - 5/5 - My favorite thing about this song is Maynard's performance. He is SO into it. He sounds so cathartic, you can really feel he means it as he screams "why can't we not be sober?" The song is perfectly dynamic, playing on a very spacious, minimalist vibe. Tool came out of this album with at least a few masterpieces.

Bottom - 2/5 - Ok, I'm not a fan of the guitar work on this song, and I don't feel the long slow build-up works very well. I prefer the live version with Zach de la Rocha on additional vocals to this one with Henry Rollins.

Crawl Away - 3/5 - This is somewhere between the emotional vehicle that is Pushit from AEnima and the more amateur sound that prevails on this album. Not a bad piece, just not a great one.

Swamp Song - 4/5 - I'm a pretty big fan of this blend of alternative rock, but don't come to this song looking for progressive elements.

Undertow - 3/5 - The vocals are beautifully cathartic, but somewhat unappealing as well. I don't feel like the guitar and bass playing on this song are at their peak maturity.

4 Degrees - 5/5 - Really, just a very good, catchy, alternative metal song. Its absolutely groovy, and I see no reason that it deserves any less than 5 stars unless you are reviewing its progressive elements.

Flood - 4/5 - The band is really trying something progressive here, but I'm not a big fan of the very minimalist first half of the song. The second half is very well done alternative metal.

Disgustipated - 3/5 - Nothing more than a fun sound effect exploration. Not to be taken too seriously.

Really, this album is woth picking up if you like Tool at all just for the standout tracks like Sober.