STD_Caps wrote:Lateralus is amazing. 10,000 Days is nowhere near as good.

Out of curiosity, why don't you like 10,000 Days as much anymore? I remember you being quite suitably impressed when it came out. I still listen to it all the time and love it like a mother.

Some of 10,000 Days is great but, ultimately, it sounds little more like unreleased tracks from Lateralus. The jump from Aenima to Lateralus was considerable and 10,000 Days didn't create further expansion. I was a five year wait for a lesser album. And Maynard's vocals are definitely not as incredible. After the initial rush of 'oh yeah, Tool man it just ends up being more Tool. I'm sorry, but if you mark lateralus track for track style against 10,000 Days, Lateralus will kick the shit out of it. Not different enough and in no way superior. Why would I want to listen to it when I can Lateralus????

(As I can't listen to Lateralus, I do listen to 10,000 Days - but I know what I'd prefer...)

It's very strange, because whilst I agree with everything you've just said and you have very valid points, I still really love 10,000 Days very very much. I don't know, perhaps I don't think the gap in quality between Lateralus and 10,000 Days is as considerable as you do, but I do agree that the jump between Aenima and Lateralus was a lot more significant. I mean, I can definitely say that I was a lot more blown away by Lateralus than I was by 10,000 Days on the first listen. On some levels I think 10,000 Days is a more emotional album than Lateralus - it's more angry in places and sadder in others - but Lateralus is dfefinitely more varied and colourful and just a bit more experimental. But simply as albums, I still think they are both amazing and I still listen to them all the time, still getting the great feeling from them as I always did. And whist Lateralus may be better than 10,000 Days, I can't think of any other albums by any other band I prefer to 10,000 Days.

Well, Jon, you're an obssessive. I don't think there is a huge dip in quality but, considering it's Tool, there is a shocking lack of progression.

That is a fair point. Although with the exception of Vicarious which does definitely sound like a Lateralus reject (as great a song as it is), I wouldn't say the lack of progression was shocking, just not that great. But on the other hand, I suppose after a five year wait from a band like Tool you do expect more. Perhaps the only songs that do show a good progession are Rosetta Stoned and Jambi perhaps, and the title track maybe. But it just never bothered me, and still doesn't. The songs on it are still brilliant and make me want to ejaculate instantly. But, well, as you say, I'm an obssessive.