Undertow

Absolutely amazing album!

Great album

Like their unique hard rock style

The bonafide metal Tool.

Good c d

It took me a while to warm up to Tool. Being a long time fan of progressive rock tool seemed to fit that mold so I picked up "Aenmia" but it did not do that much for me. Then when "Lateralus" came out I kept seeing glowing reviews for it on progressive rock web sites to I decided to give Tool another shot. This time it clicked and I "got it". Since that time I have become a big fan and went back and picked up "Undertow" from their back catalogue. I don't think this one is quite as strong as some of the albums that came later, and the production is a bit on the muddy side compared to the later discs, but this is still a great album that introduced the band to the masses with the song "Sober" which is still a fan favorite. "Prison Sex", "Bottom", "Swamp Song", "Undertow" and "Flood" are all great grinding metal / prog that still sound unique. Maynard Keenan's vocals soar over it all like a roaring engine. I have grown to really appreciate this band and finally got the chance to see them live last year. "Undertow" is not their best, but it is certainly worth checking out.

Many comments on here about the vinyl muddiness that underpins this release, however i failed to hear any such flaw & instead found it a clear & defined record with the meatiest of bottom ends, bringing a smile to the face of this Tool fan. The songs we all know, but on vinyl this album comes alive & by the time i hit "Sober" at window shattering volumes i was in audio nirvana. All but a 5 star rating ( well, there is a whole side D devoted to cricket sounds) and a worthy addition to the collection. If you've got this on cd & own a turntable of respectable quality , do yourself a favour & check out this format, chances are you wont have heard the growls & grunt in the power & rawness that only analog can produce.

After their short 6 song debut CD "Opiate", Tool got the exposure they needed to come up with Undertow, my favorite of the four Tool CD's. Definitely rock, Undertow is still a moodier, mellower CD than the thrash and head-banging I usually listen to, but pure and true to fans of the rock genre. Released in 1993, Tool's Undertow was part of the refining process that brought metal back from the grips of the measured and more sorrow-ridden grunge tracks that grew out of the 80's. Melancholy and darker than their later works, with a touch of the de-tuning that Korn brought out of the closet for our metal-listening pleasure, Tool was smack dab in the middle of the 90's rebirth of rock and metal. This is one of my favorites for just kickin back and relaxing, nice background for reading, writing, or hot-tubbing. My favorite song would have to be Sober, which is a little mellower than the rest of the songs but has such a catchy melody that it seems to be the one that sticks in my head the longest. Prison Sex and Intolerance are also catchy, thrumming tunes; while Swamp Song and Flood are the darkest and moodiest of the collection. Surprisingly, the song the CD was titled after, Undertow, is not a favorite. It just seems to lack the life that Maynard James Keenan pumps into the rest of the tracks. Disgustipated seems to have two faces, on some of the comments I have seen it has long drawn out silences, but on my CD it wound out being only one second of silence and that's it; so I really don't have any comments on that particular track. All in all, Tool's Undertow is a piece I consider a "must have" mood CD for those times when you are feeling a bit bleak and depressed, but not ready to give up the fight just yet. Enjoy!

Questo è il debutto sulla lunga distanza di una band che ha pochi eguali per importanza e genialità, gente che può stare tranquillamente a fianco di Pink Floyd, Led Zep, Killing Joke, Zappa, Metallica o Queen (qui si parla di Genio, non di genere musicale). La pesantezza dei suoni, dei temi trattati, l'imprevedibilità delle melodie, una tecnica strumentale e vocale già notevolissime li resero da subito un culto assoluto. Un disco che da quando uscì non mi sono mai stancato di ascoltare.

Excellent quality happy with this purchase

Album is and sounds great, record was warped therefore only 3star rating.

Amazing press. Perfect sound

Good Album> in good quality