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. 'Released: May 1993. 'Released: 1993Undertow is the debut by American band, released on April 6, 1993. Produced by the band and, it was recorded from October to December 1992 at in Van Nuys and Grandmaster Recorders in Hollywood. The album includes some tracks the band decided to not release on their debut EP.According to, Undertow helped remain prominent as a mainstream musical style, and allowed several later bands to break through to the mainstream. It was released at a time when was at the height of its popularity, and was slowly beginning to gather mainstream attention. AllMusic saw the album's success in the 'striking, haunting visuals that complemented the album's nihilistic yet wistful mood.'
Aug 06, 2018 Undertow has its highlights, from the proto-djent time signature shuffles of Intolerance and Swamp Song to the radio ready soar of Prison Sex and Sober. However the latter half of the album drags considerably, with meandering songs that hint at the band's future path but without the fine-tuned efficiency later extended jams embodied.
As of 2010, Undertow has sold over 2.9 million copies in the United States, and is certified by the. Contents.Background Undertow was Tool's only full album release with original bassist.Comedian is noted as 'inspiration' in the liner notes, and Undertow is the only Tool album released while he was still alive. His presence would feature again on Tool's next album,., then with the, is credited in the liner notes with 'sledge hammer', probably relating to the 'three pianos and shotguns smashed with sledgehammers' on 'Disgustipated'. Adam Jones recalls a story in which the band purchased two second-hand pianos with the intention of blasting them with shotguns in the indoor parking lot of Grand Master Studio and putting the resulting sounds to tape. Apparently the woman running the studio was happy as long as they cleaned up the mess afterwards. Since the incident, Tool has been approached by other bands claiming to have seen the shotgun holes left by them in the carpark wall. The note from Tool that accompanied some censored versions.The album art was designed.
Photos in the of a nude woman, a nude thin man, and the band members with pins in the sides of their heads generated controversy, resulting in the album being removed from stores such as. The band reacted by releasing another version, which depicted a giant on a white background. This version of the album included a note from the band:“It came to our attention recently that many stores across our fine and open minded nation would not stock Undertow because of our explicit artwork. Although we loathe being censored, we want your money we still want you to hear our music, so we took it out. However, it is available to you at no extra cost. Fill out the form, stick it in an envelope, mail it in, and we will send you the original artwork. Love, Tool”The message on the photographs of the band members reads 'Trust me trust me trust me trust me trust me I just want to start this over say you won't go this is love I'll make weapons out of my imperfections lay back and let me show you another way only this one holy medium brings me peace of mind cleanse and purge me in the water twice as loud as reason euphoria I've been far too sympathetic no one told you to come I hope it sucks you down life feeds on life this is necessary.'
The songs the lyrics contained in the passage are from appear in this order: 'Sober', 'Crawl Away', '4°', 'Prison Sex', 'Flood', 'Undertow', 'Intolerance', 'Swamp Song', 'Disgustipated'. The only quote missing from the album is 'I'll make weapons out of my imperfections', a line from Maynard's original lyrics for 'Bottom' before they were modified by guest Henry Rollins.In some versions of the album, when the black CD tray is removed from the case, a picture of a cow licking what appears to be its genital region is revealed. In other versions of the album, released internationally, the picture of the cow licking the genital region is viewable without problems under the transparent backing of the disc case. The photo of the cow is accredited in the album's liner notes to have been taken by Danielle Bregman. The ribcage is also on the front cover of the album, but the obese woman is absent from the booklet; only the members of the band are depicted.'
Pet pig, Moe, appears on the back cover amid an array of forks standing on end. Reception Professional ratings Review scoresSourceRatingA−2/5favorablegave the album a positive review, stating 'With its technical brilliance, musical complexities, and aggressive overtones, Undertow not only paved the way for several bands to break through to the mainstream adolescent mall-rage demographic, it also proved that metal could be simultaneously intelligent, emotional, and brutal.' In 's review of the album, David Brown awarded it an A- and said 'Like many of its brethren in the alternative-metal corps—, and —Tool can crunch and lumber about with the best of them. What put this L.A. Band a notch above the rest are better songs (with actual verses, choruses, and hooks-check out the terrific 'Prison Sex') and the hints of vulnerability in singer voice'.In an bibliographical article of the band, reviewer Tim Grierson called the album the 'Essential Tool Album' and stated 'It may be impossible to describe the impact that Undertow had at the time of its release in 1993.
Searching, angry, liberating and scary, Tool's full-length debut emerged during a period in rock music when Seattle bands like and were expressing alienation through grunge riffs, inspiring lots of copycat artists. Undertow expressed alienation, too, but the album's imposing waves of misery and dread seemed to come from an entirely different planet than grunge, providing a startling counterpoint to the trendy sounds of the era'. A less positive review came from writer Andrew Perry, who said 'Bereft of the irony, danger and maverick punkiness of grunge's finest, Tool ultimately will only help Alice In Chains reassert the trad metal market. Which really isn't what we deserve.' Accolades PublicationCountryAccoladeYearRankRawUKAlbums of the Year1993690 Essential Albums of the 90s1995.VisionsGermanyThe Best Albums 1991–961996.Pause & PlayUSThe 90s Top 100 Essential Albums199911Classic RockUKThe 100 Greatest Rock Albums of All Time200187(.) designates unordered lists. Track listing All lyrics are written by, unless otherwise noted; all music is composed by,.
Standard No.TitleLyricsLength1.' . Keenan. Henry Rollins7:145.' Crawl Away'5:306.'
Swamp Song'5:317.' Undertow' ( )5:228.' Disgustipated' ('Disgustipated' ends at 6:45.
Sounds of crickets chirping can be heard for seven minutes and five seconds until 13:50.)15:47Total length:69:13'Disgustipated' is track 69 on most pressings in North America (tracks 10–68 are silent; tracks 10–67 are one second each in length, and track 68 is two seconds). It also appears as track 39, track 10 (mostly in Europe and Australia) or as a hidden track following 'Flood' on track nine. On certain Japanese imports, 'Disgustipated' is track 70.
In all cases, however, it is listed as track 10 on the album itself.Japanese edition No.TitleLength10.' Opiate' (Opiate does not include 'The Gaping Lotus Experience')5:20Total length:74:35Australasian bonus disc No.TitleLength1.' Opiate' (Opiate does not include 'The Gaping Lotus Experience')5:204.' Prison Sex'4:506.' Jerk Off'4:187.'
Prison Sex'5:018.' Bottom'6:24Total length:40:40Personnel. Epstein, Dan (April 6, 2018). Retrieved March 24, 2019.
Reed, Ryan (April 6, 2018). Retrieved March 24, 2019.
^ Gennaro, Loraine (1994). Guitar School. Retrieved April 7, 2006. ^ Theakston, Rob. Retrieved January 18, 2019. Just as grunge was reaching its boiling point and radio-friendly punk-pop loomed on the horizon, Tool released Undertow, which firmly reinforced metal's prominence as a musical style.
With its technical brilliance, musical complexities, and aggressive overtones, Undertow not only paved the way for several bands to break through to the mainstream., it also proved that metal could be simultaneously intelligent, emotional, and brutal. July 2, 2001. Archived from on October 15, 2006. Retrieved May 14, 2007.' Aenima' and 'Undertow' are currently double Platinum. Retrieved August 12, 2011.
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^ Beaujour, Tom (2008). 'Chapter 2 – Undertow (1993)'. Revolver presents 'The Book of Tool': 22–24. ^ Griffin, J.R. Retrieved May 13, 2007. It came as no surprise when Walmart and Kmart refused to carry the album.
Rather than miss out on a large audience, Tool decided to censor itself and released a plain white album cover that contained nothing more than a giant bar code, the band's name, and the album tracks. Richard Harrington (April 6, 1994). The Washington Post. Archived from (fee required) on November 5, 2012. Retrieved February 2, 2008.
Epstein, Dan (April 6, 2018). Rolling Stone. ^ Tim Grierson. Retrieved May 6, 2009. ^ David Browne (May 28, 1993).
Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved April 23, 2012.
Rolling Stone. Retrieved April 23, 2012. ^ Andrew Perry (May 1993). Retrieved October 29, 2019.
Retrieved May 22, 2007. Retrieved September 12, 2019. ^. Retrieved March 6, 2018.
Retrieved March 6, 2018. (in Dutch). Retrieved September 12, 2019. Retrieved August 10, 2019. (in Dutch). Retrieved September 12, 2019. Retrieved March 8, 2020.
August 12, 2019. Retrieved August 10, 2019. If necessary, click Advanced, then click Format, then select Album, then click SEARCH.External links Wikiquote has quotations related to:. at (list of releases). at (list of releases).
ReleasedApril 6, 1993RecordedOctober – December 1992 at, and at Grandmaster Recorders,Length69: 07Language, Toolchronology'(1992)Undertow'(1996)Undertow is 's first full-length album, released in 1993. When this album was released, was at its most popular, and was slowly beginning to become popular. Undertow helped continue as a leading musical style, and allowed several later bands to break through to the mainstream. Saw the album's success in the 'striking, haunting visuals that complemented the album's nihilistic yet wistful mood.' It was eventually certified by the on,.The album was recorded between October and December 1992 at Grand Master Studios, and includes songs that the band decided to not release on their previous EP,. Contents.Track listing CD All songs written by Tool unless otherwise noted.1.
'Intolerance' – 4:53 2. 'Bottom' - 7.13 (Tool, Henry Rollins) 5. 'Crawl Away' - 5:29 6. 'Swamp Song' - 5:31 7.
'Undertow' - 5:21 8. '4°' - 6:02 9. 'Flood' - 7:45 69. ' - 15:47'Disgustipated' is track 69 on most pressings in North America (causing most CD players upon reaching the end of track 9 to advance through tracks 10-68, which contain no data, at a rate of about 2 per second until track 69 is reached). ↑ Rob Theakston (July 2, 2001). Retrieved 2007-05-22. Just as grunge was reaching its boiling point and radio-friendly punk-pop loomed on the horizon, Tool released Undertow, which firmly reinforced metal's prominence as a musical style.
With its technical brilliance, musical complexities, and aggressive overtones, Undertow not only paved the way for several bands to break through to the mainstream., it also proved that metal could be simultaneously intelligent, emotional, and brutal. July 2, 2001.
Retrieved 2007-05-14.' Aenima' and 'Undertow' are currently double Platinum. Gennaro, Loraine (1994). Guitar School. Retrieved 2006-04-07. Retrieved 2007-05-22.
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