Tool - Undertow

Tool - Undertow

• Shrink-wrapped

Arguably their finest album, this follow-up to <i>Opiate</i> showcases Tool at their best, assisted by clean, crisp production, without the muddiness of <i>Aenima</i>. Edgy guitar riffs are complemented by spitting, heavy bass, especially on "Sober" and "Crawl Away". Lyrically, Tool are at their vitriolic best, targeting religious hypocrisy ("Intolerance," "Sober"; always a popular theme), the loss of innocence and its consequences ("Prison Sex"), and deliberate ignorance ("Swamp Song"). Henry Rollins makes a guest appearance on "Bottom," which, along with "4 Degrees," deals with questions of identity. <i>Undertow</i> is also Tool's most musically adventurous album, lacking the occasionally numbing sameness of <i>Aenima</i>, and with considerably more sophistication than their previous work. Very highly recommended. <I>--Genevieve Williams</I>