Ænima
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Ænima | ||
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| Studio album by Tool | ||
| Released | October 1, 1996 | |
| Recorded | September 1995 – March 1996 at Ocean Way, Hollywood, California and The Hook, North Hollywood, California | |
| Genre | Progressive rock | |
| Length | 77:25 | |
| Label | Volcano Records | |
| Producer(s) | David Bottrill | |
| Professional reviews | ||
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| Tool chronology | ||
| Undertow (1993) |
Ænima (1996) |
Salival (2000) |
Ænima is the second full-length studio album by the band Tool. It was released on October 1, 1996.
Contents |
[edit] Overview
The title Ænima (American pronunciation 'onoma' as revealed by Adam Jones on a Radio interview, which can be downloaded from the band's website) is a combination of the words 'anima' (Latin for 'soul' associated with deep emotionality and the force of life itself, a term often used by Carl Jung) and 'enema' (anal cleansing), hence creating a new word for catharsis: cleansing of the soul.
Videos were made for both "Stinkfist" and "Ænema". At the time of its release, there was much speculation as to possibly offensive meanings behind the term "Stinkfist". For that reason, it was only referred to as "Track #1" on MTV and VH1, and VJs never actually referred to the song by its proper name. VJ Kennedy would often make fun of this, and would symbolically sniff her fist before playing the video. Stinkfist has been a popular choice for club DJs playing Tool because of its popularity, familiarity and suitability.
The track "Ænema" won the Grammy for Best Metal Performance in 1997.
The album was recorded and cut at Ocean Way, Hollywood, California and The Hook, North Hollywood, California from 1995–1996.
Ænima peaked at #2 on Billboard's Top 200 album chart.
Ænima was certified triple platinum by the RIAA on March 4, 2003.
The lyrics are not printed in the liner notes, but are available on the band's website.
The album contains a dedication (of sorts) to the late comedian Bill Hicks, proclaiming him "Another Dead Hero"; the final track, the thirteen minute epic "Third Eye", uses a few samples of Hicks' sketches — including "Drugs have done good things for us."
Psychologist Carl Jung was named as an influence.
The entire album (including the sound collages) was covered by a string quartet in 2006 as The String Quartet Tribute to Tool's Ænima, arranged by Eric Gorfain.
[edit] Track listing
All songs written by Keenan/Jones/Chancellor/Carey, except as indicated.
- "Stinkfist" (Keenan/Jones/Carey/D'Amour) – 5:09
- "Eulogy" (Keenan/Jones/Carey/D'Amour) – 8:25
- "H." – 6:07
- "Useful Idiot" – 0:38
- "Forty Six & 2" – 6:02
- "Message to Harry Manback" – 1:53
- "Hooker with a Penis" – 4:31
- "Intermission" – 0:56
- "jimmy" – 5:22
- "Die Eier von Satan" – 2:16
- "Pushit" (Keenan/Jones/Carey/D'Amour) – 9:55
- "Cesaro Summability" – 1:26
- "Ænema" (Keenan/Jones/Carey/D'Amour) – 6:37
- "(-) ions" – 3:58
- "Third Eye" (Keenan/Jones/Carey/Chancellor/Hicks) – 13:47
Songwriting credits sourced from Toolshed website FAQ. Tracks 4, 6, 8, 10, 12 and 14 are interludes.
[edit] Personnel
- Danny Carey – Drums
- Justin Chancellor – Bass
- Adam Jones – Guitar, Producer, Art Direction
- Maynard James Keenan – Vocals
- Bill Hicks – Guest vocals
- Chris Pitman – Synthesizer
- Karen Mason
- David Bottrill – Keyboards, Producer, Engineer, Mixing
- Joel Larson
- Concetta Halstead – Producer, Design
- Jeff Novack – Photography
- Eban Schletter – Organ
- Kevin Willis – Producer, Art Direction, Paintings
- Alana Cain – Model
- Keith Willis – Artwork
- Mark Rappaport – Effects Consultant
- Cam de Leon – Artwork, Computer Illustration
- Jeremy Glasgow – Assistant Percussionist
- Fabrico DiSanto – Photography, Photo Assistance
- Marko Fox (member of ZAUM) - Vocals on "Die Eier von Satan"
- Gudrun Fox – Translation of "Die Eier von Satan"
- Billy Howerdel (A Perfect Circle) - Guitar Tech, 'Pro Tools' technician
[edit] Miscellanea
- North American pressings of Ænima had a lenticular cover (Cam de Leon's Smoke Box). The cover art could be optionally replaced by one of two inside covers that also functioned with the lenticular cover. One was a touched-up version of Cam de Leon's Ocular Orifice painting, and the other featured a picture of a nude contortionist sitting on a carpeted floor in a position that suggests he or she is performing autofellatio or autocunnilingus, but the person's back is to the viewer and thus it is not confirmed what he or she is doing. This picture might be a reference to a sketch Bill Hicks had about autofellatio. The jewel case tray was also lenticular, and displayed an image of California before and after a major earthquake, presumably a nod to the lyrics of the quasi-title track and a Bill Hicks sketch. European pressings of the CD featured a standard case, and the insert contained the covers of fictional Tool releases.
- "Die Eier von Satan" is a hash cookie recipe spoken in German. The title translates to "The Eggs of Satan", although "Eier" is a double-entendre in German as a slang word for testicles.
- The track titled "Message to Harry Manback" is according to drummer Danny Carey "a recording of the words of an uninvited Italian guest who came to Maynard's house one day. A so-called friend of a friend of a friend of Harry's ... Before we finally managed to figure out that nobody really knew him, he had already emptied the fridge and run up a huge phone bill. He got kicked out of the house."
- In Jungian psychology, the feminine aspect of a male that exists in the subconscious mind is called the anima, which appears in the dreams as a prominent female person. It is also the Latin word for "soul" or "mind" depending on context. (For females, Jung said an animus existed, which was instead male.) In the last LA show of the Ænima tour, Maynard says that Ænema is a combination of anima and enema. He refers to a process when someone has an enema and interprets the remains in a way similar to the way one would tea leaves.
- The lyrics in the song "Ænema" refer to California falling into the ocean after the San Andreas fault breaks. This is also an idea presented by Bill Hicks on his album titled Arizona Bay.
- The song "Useful Idiot" is actually the sound of a vinyl record reaching the end of a side. Because on vinyl pressings this track is at the end of the first side some people think this track is missing.
- The track "Intermission" is the chorus melody of "jimmy" played on a keyboard.
- "jimmy" is indeed written without a capital letter - see booklet.
- Vinyl copies of the album are rare, with sealed copies having sold on e-bay for well over $50000.
- "Cesaro Summability" is the name of the mathematical convergence of a Cesàro mean.
[edit] Charting singles
| Year | Single | Chart | Position |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1996 | Stinkfist | Mainstream Rock Tracks (U.S.) | No. 17 |
| 1996 | Stinkfist | Modern Rock Tracks (U.S.) | No. 19 |
| 1997 | Ænema | Mainstream Rock Tracks (U.S.) | No. 25 |
| 1997 | Forty Six & 2 | Mainstream Rock Tracks (U.S.) | No. 22 |
| 1997 | H. | Mainstream Rock Tracks (U.S.) | No. 23 |
| Tool |
|---|
| Danny Carey | Justin Chancellor | Maynard James Keenan | Adam Jones |
| Paul d'Amour |
| Discography |
| Opiate | Undertow | Ænima | Salival | Lateralus | 10,000 Days |
| Popular Songs |
| "Prison Sex" | "Sober" | "Stinkfist" | "Forty Six & 2" | "Ænema" | "Schism" | "Parabola" | "Vicarious" | "The Pot" |
| Related articles |
| Tool tours | Progressive rock | Bill Hicks | A Perfect Circle | Peach | Pigmy Love Circus | Lobal Orning |
