True, but their “sound” is quite dissimilar.
I agree that they have some stylistic elements that people are used to hearing as being totally opposed to one another (macho dude metal, whiny sensitive-dude banshee wailing) that creates the illusion that there is really a big difference in what they are doing.
I think Radiohead tends to go for more of a “retro” or “vintage” type of tone for it’s guitars and drums, while Tool tries for a more “modern” hard rock sound, but the other side of the coin is, they both are defining current rock production value in a similar way.
The guitar playing on a Radiohead album often reflects the influence of American bands like Fugazi or Sonic Youth, and similar sounding groups who are slightly more tonal (Pavement, Slint) who manage to keep their guitar parts very aggressive sounding while working outside of the power chord/pentatonic scale formulas that have became punk/metal/hardcore cliches in the ‘80s. I think Tool is obviously working from similar influences. For a band that is embraced by “metalheads” in America, it’s surprising that there is very little “chugga-chugga”, Metallica style palm-muted riffs, and realtively un-crunchy guitar tones. The guitars in these bands’ music sound very simlar to me.
I also hear Pink Floyd influences pretty strongly in both bands’ music.
I’m just saying I hear very simlar influences in these bands music, and to my ears, they sound as “similar” as any two bands do (like say, The Beatles and The Rolling Stones, who I think have some real obvious differences and simlarities, but are “contemporaries” and who worked in a very similar aesthetic realm). I think as time goes on, we’ll get a clearer picture of the similarities in the way they sound, especially since they are both very influential, and very much at the forefront of creative popular music. They are drawing from similar influences, and working with the same technology, and in a sense developing techniques for using new technolgy.
I think the big difference is that Radiohead tends to use some more complex, traditional harmony, while Tool keeps thing very primitive in that repsect. Tool also tends to focus more on repetition and tribal, percussion driven songwriting, but that’s not necessarily unfamiliar territory to Radiohead (“The National Anthem”). Still, those differences don’t sound very radical to me.
I also think they both suck. Joking… kind of… It all sounds pretty much like modern alternative rock to me. It sounds like stuff I’d hear on the radio. Probably the two best modern rock bands you might hear on mainstream radio.
Yes, your post on the similarity is EXACTLY what I was referring to. It’s more like a mindset similarity than a musical one. Not my cup of meat, I suppose.
Just got this today. It is AMAZING.
Just as a pre-warning… This probably will NOT convert you into a Tool fan, but if you happened to catch one (or three) of these shows during 2001 or 2002, you will probably be very interested.
I know I have waited since 2002 to relive this experience.
So if anyone wants to set up a trade of BnP, just PM me.
textfile below
-WB-
TOOL
November 16, 2002
Oklahoma City, OK
Cox Convention Center
Remastered Version with PCM Audio
This is an absolutely FANTASTIC DVD of the experience at a live Tool show. It is mind blowing at times. The guy running the cam does a great job of capturing every musician at the correct times, as well as including some of the very trippy footage that is taking place on the video screens on either side of the stage.
The audio is absolutely fantastic. It is PCM 16-bit.
This is the best Tool DVD that I have, but I have many other really great ones, including some very early footage.
Playlist/Chapters:
- Intro (Tuva)
- Cold & Ugly
- The Grudge
- (-) Ions
- Stinkfist
- Forty Six & 2
- Schism intro
- Schism
- Parabol
- Parabola
- Third Eye
(Intermission Cut) - Disposition
- Reflection
- Triad
- Lateralus
Video:
Recorded w/ Canon ZR50mc MiniDV
3.8Mb avg 2pass Canopus Procoder 2
Audio:
Audience recording PCM 16 bit
Audio
Tom Morello came out with Tool last night at Bonnaroo.
Or so I was told.
ICC…your new avatar?
You must read these reviews.
I could never get into these two bands. And these reviews pretty much break it down about why these 2 bands suck. Check it:
http://www.somethingawful.com/d/your-band-sucks/tool-worst-songs.php
And this is interesting too:
http://www.somethingawful.com/d/your-band-sucks/tools-10000-days.php
& this is quite funny as well:
http://www.somethingawful.com/d/your-band-sucks/radiohead-sucks.php
Be sure to check out his reviews on Coldplay and Mars Volta
Think for yourself, question reality.
And don’t take other peoples opinions as fact.
and cure sweaty hands.
kiss my ass you fucking tool.
I do think for myself.
And I don’t agree with what he says about primus or a lot of other bands for that matter.
Its just that I could never dig those 2 bands and he summed it up nicely for me.
not “digging” and feeling that way that douchebag that ICC quoted are two different things.
baleedat.
yep
i dont make sense anymore.
im a caricature of myself.
i dont believe anything anymore.
ive lost touch with love.
maybe thats a quote for “drunk and sONTed”…or maybe "type your thoughts…what thread am i in?
eff you, bastards.
I’ll be seeing Tool on Sunday.
Fifth (fourth? sixth?.. i forget…) time seeing them since 4 days after 09/11/2001.
Can’t wait.
Oh, and tickets are effin expensive!
i thought this guy was hysterical!
edit: oh, and i think Tool’s pretty…mm…okay. saw them a few months ago and though it was entertaining to be sure, it seemed a little too forced. like “look at how dark and deep and layered and scary we are! seriously, look! we’re dark and deep…see?” oh well. there’s no business like show business like no business i know…
that guy doesnt even review anything
he just rips on whatever band b/c he doesn’t like them
what a douche
it’s just an act i think. the guy can’t take himself seriously. if he does, that makes it even funnier!
Yeah, that’s how I saw it. He’s playing the role of “guy-who-hates-everything” and writing reviews of it. I do it too sometimes thought it’s not an act…I truly do hate everything.
Well except Phish. And ball-shaped cats.
DMT at a Tool show is just about too much.
What a show though. So many lights and videos.
^yeah, that’s definately NOT the place i’d take that stuff. unless of course you enjoy demons eating your eyes for several hours.
I hear Melt Banana is opening up for Tool on some dates.