Cannot get into Tool

that was an awesome link! very cool, I'm in the process of burning my lateralus cd to my computer so I can change the order of the track listing, I'm very intrigue.  Personally never put quite that much thought into any music, but have had a tool obsession for the couple of years and it's not dying!
As for people not considering tool progressive, I don't understand why, because many of these people are porcupine tree fans(i find them similar in many ways), as so am I, and I would call tool waaay more progressive, they are pushing way more boundaries then pt.  Most of the pt prog sound comes from the production, where as tools comes from the song writing and composition, I think people just like to initiate massive threads like this one by trying to knock a superior band such as tool, genesis or elp, just for the hell of it. they obviously enjoy arguing(I do!) People will always hate on the popular ones even if they are great!

they are not big favorites of mine but they're undeniably excellent, and I'd think very appealing to those who like both heavy and complex music but haven't quite gotten fully into Prog

 

Tool totally changed the way I listen to music. For the better. I can't say that for any other band with the exception of Tool.

Tool's 13 minute Salival version of "Push it", is just one of the reasons.. If you haven't heard this masterpiece, I highly recommend listening to it here-  The instrumental portion starting at about the 9 minute mark is nothing short of mindblowing and I can listen to that segment for hours on end, and still want to hear it more. Intoxicating.

http://youtube.com/watch?v=CqUYWLJ_0Ko

And Tool's cover of Zeppelins  "No Quarter" is the best cover I have ever heard-..  It can be heard here. Includes Alex Grey artwork, Tool's artist.

http://youtube.com/watch?v=wAt2_H0F8Oo

Nobody has ever covered a Led Zeppelin song close to that good.

Tool did an amazing job of changing the song according to their own style, yet were still able to keep the mood of the original. Walking that fine line so effortlessly takes mega talent.

And what can I say about the acoustic guitar progression starting at 5:41 , it's so beautiful. And then the guitars go to a twisty winding distorted sound that ends at 6:17.. And of course the gulping bass guitar sounds intertwined with the guitar there.. At 5:50 the bass makes a gulping sound, then at 5:52 it has a higher pitch as if it's coming up for air, then just a second later at 5:53 the bass guitar makes another gulping sound that all just fits in so well with the guitar making for beautiful textures that just makes me shake my head in amazement giving me goosebumps..  That entire sequence is some of the best music I have ever heard.. Tool knows how to make subtle sounds like that, sounds that most people wouldn't notice. But if you give them the time to listen to, the rewards are so tremendous.Pure Magic

HughesJB4 wrote: ^How many times did you try listening to them?

Hercules wrote: Tried them, couldn't see anything really interesting, moved on. Not prog at all in my view. However, certainly not offensive and unpleasant like a few of the newer prog bands. Perhaps being nearer 60 than 50 doesn't help!

You challenged me, Ian, so...

schizoid_man77 wrote: Tool is masterliness!   They're subject matter stretches way beyond any "grunge metal"

They are subject matter stretches way beyond any grunge metal WHAT? Finish the sentence!!!

Yes, I also tought that Toll was a Prog-grunge band
Then I starte dto listen them a little bit more...
And I realized that they are crazy, but have a great Bass n Drum players

Tool takes a bit to finally hit you.  I dont think Ive ever listened to a Tool album on first listen and thought it was anything spectacular.  Just one of those bands that takes a couple listens.  I had a friend who was so persistent about his dislike for Tool.  After years he finally realized what it was all about and now he constantly praises them. The songs are very climactic, and when you get into them, its truly an emotional experience.

Whether they are prog or not, I will leave that to the experts, I always thought they had prog elements.  Who cares about the genre anyways, if you like it, you like it.

Its really hard to recommend songs, if your just starting out I would just put the album on from the beginning (skip the fillers too, lot of times they aren't necessary).  Lateralus and Aenima are the masterpiece albums, definitely start with those.

Though like everyone else says, if you dont like it, whats the big deal? Tons of other great bands to listen to.

If you can't get into them, just skip 'em and don't bother with it anymore.

I want to,but it might seem like I'm biased or something.