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 Progressive metal |
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| Length | 77:23 | ||||
| Label | Volcano Records | ||||
| Producer | David Bottrill | ||||
| Professional reviews | |||||
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| Tool chronology | |||||
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Ænima is the second full-length studio album by the progressive metal band Tool. It was released on October 1, 1996 in CD format and in vinyl format the week before. The album was recorded and cut at Ocean Way, Hollywood, California and The Hook, North Hollywood, California from 1995 to 1996. It was certified triple platinum by the RIAA on March 4, 2003.[1]
Contents |
[edit] Overview
The title Ænima (pronounced /ˈɑːnɪmə/[citation needed]) according to guitarist Adam Jones is a combination of the words 'anima' (Latin for 'soul' associated the ideas of "life force" and a term often used by psychologist Carl Jung) and 'enema' the medical procedure.[2] Another fan theory is that it relates to Ægypt, a novel recommended by the band to fans.[3]
Music videos were made for "Stinkfist" and "Ænema". Promotional singles were issued for "H.", "Eulogy", and "Forty-Six & 2".[4] "Ænema" won the Grammy Award for Best Metal Performance in 1998.[5]
Several of the songs are short segues or interludes that connect to longer songs,[6] pushing the total duration of the CD towards the maximum of around 80 minutes. These segues are "Useful Idiot", "Message to Harry Manback", "Intermission", "Die Eier Von Satan", "Cesaro Summability", and "(-) Ions".
Themes of the album include Egyptian mythology in a seven-pointed star symbolizing Babalon, and sacred geometry in dividing the planet into grids related to chromosomes. Also the band claimed this album to be partly inspired by Bill Hicks (a comedian who the band felt was going in the same direction as them)[3]
[edit] Track information
Demo versions of the songs "Pushit", "Stinkfist", "Ænema", and "Eulogy" were recorded with Paul D'Amour on bass, before he left the band. These appeared online in early 2007.
Danny Carey labeled L. Ron Hubbard as the subject of "Eulogy".[7]
Speculation has surrounded the song "H." The "meaning" of this song has not been detailed by the band, as they do not regularly comment on such things. However on several occasions, specifically on November 23, 1996 during a show at the Electric Factory in Philadelphia, Maynard does grant some insight into the meaning of the song. Speaking to the audience he says, "Any of you ever seen those old Warner Bros. cartoons? Sometimes theres that one where the guy is trying to make a decision and he's got an angel on one shoulder and the devil on the other. Seems pretty obvious, right? The angel is trying to give him good advice while the devil is trying to get him to do what's bad for him. It's not always that simple though. A lot of times they're not really angels or devils but friends giving you advice, looking out for your best interest but not really understanding what's going to be best for you. So it kind of comes down to you. You have to make the decision yourself. This song is called H." A few other live shows around this time, one example being on February 23, 1997, Maynard has confirmed this by stating "This song is about choices". In the book, "Teachings of Don Jaun, a Yaqui Way of Knowledge", the author refers to a character named H. Keenan introduced this song in 1996 by referring to the shoulder angel and devil, and also said it's about a hurtful yet dependent relationship.[8] It is also of note that the song's working title was "Half Empty", as it was introduced during a mini-tour of California by the band in December 1995.
"Hooker with a Penis" refers to a fan who accused the band of selling out after their first EP.[9][10] "OGT" is taken to stand for "Original Gangster Tool".[11] Keenan whispers in the left channel throughout the song. At 1:41, "consume, be fruitful, and multiply" may be alluding to Genesis, which contains the phrase "be fruitful and multiply" six times.[12] During Lollapalooza 1997, a version of "Hooker with a Penis" remixed by Billy Howerdel in the form of lounge music played over the public address system between sets.[13]
The segue "Die Eier von Satan" has a heavy industrial guitar played over a reversed drum beat with an unusual, irregular time signature. The lyrical component of the song is in German, performed by Marko Fox, a member of ZAUM. He is backed by a sound that resembles a hydraulic press,[14] and crowd cheering and applause that increase in volume as the lyrics are read with increasing ferocity. These combined effects make the song sound like a militant[15] German rant[16] or Nazi rally.[17] While the sound and the word "Satan" in the title may suggest to listeners that the lyrics feature aggressive or even violent content, the speaker is merely reciting a cookie recipe,[17] for hashish or Mexican cookies.[6] The song was originally translated by Gudrun Fox. According to Blair McKenzie Blake, the maintainer of the official Tool website, "Die Eier von Satan" originally were cookies that "Marko Fox's grandmother used to bake for him as a child, without using eggs as an ingredient. The substitution for eggs is a magical incantation from the worm-eaten pages of some moldering grimoire."[18] This magical incantation ("sim salabim bam ba saladu saladim") is taken from the German children's song "Auf einem Baum ein Kuckuck saß".[19] According to the lyrics, the special ingredient besides this "incantation" is actually "a knife-tip of Turkish hashish". The title literally translates to "The Eggs of Satan"[15] or "The Balls of Satan," due to a German double entendre of "Eier", which means "eggs" and also serves as a slang word for "testicles". The experimentation in this song has been compared to that of Einstürzende Neubauten.[6][14][20]
"Pushit" is about an abusive relationship.[21] A slow version was performed live and appears on Salival.[22]
The song "Third Eye" contains samples of comedian Bill Hicks.[23] The title may be a reference to Hicks' saying that psilocybe mushrooms were being used to "squeegee [his] third eye clean."[24] The third eye is a metaphysical concept that may have to do with evolution of the human brain.[25] A goal of the album as a whole was to "open people up in some way and help open their third eye and help them on a path."[26]
[edit] Album artwork
The packaging for Ænima was nominated for the Grammy Award for Best Recording Package.[27] North American pressings of the CD were packaged in a custom lenticular jewel case (called a "Multi-Image CD case" in the liner notes) for the cover and interior disc tray. The cover art and other images in the liner notes can be set behind the lenticular "lens" to create an effect of sequential animation. European pressings of the CD featured a standard case, and the insert contained the covers of fictional Tool releases. In addition, there are no lyrics in the liner notes.
The special images used for the lenticular effect are:
- Cam de Leon's painting Smoke Box,[28] with animated smoke and encompassing eyes.
- A touched-up version of Cam de Leon's painting Ocular Orifice,[29] with the pupil of the eye animated to rotate completely around.
- A photo of a nude contortionist sitting on the floor performing self-copulation, with Alana Cain credited for this in the liner notes. [30] In the background is the band (left to right, Danny, Justin, Adam) seated on a couch, with a nude Maynard throwing a single rose to the ground in front of the contortionist. Another photo of the contortionist is also on the CD itself.
- An image of California before and after a major earthquake is in the jewel case tray — a nod to the lyrics of "Ænema" and the Arizona Bay Bill Hicks sketch. Additionally, a painting of Bill Hicks is in the liner notes, with the caption "Another Dead Hero".
- The inlay image of the US incorrectly depicts Oklahoma's panhandle. It is unknown whether or not this was intentional.
[edit] Reception
Ænima appeared on several lists of the best albums of 1996,[31] including that of Kerrang![32] and Terrorizer.[33]
[edit] Track listing
All songs written by Keenan/Jones/Chancellor/Carey, except where indicated. Although four songs were worked on before Paul D'Amour had left, he is not listed in the liner notes.[34]
- "Stinkfist" (Keenan/Jones/Carey/D'Amour) – 5:11
- "Eulogy" (Keenan/Jones/Carey/D'Amour) – 8:28
- "H." – 6:07
- "Useful Idiot" – 0:38
- "Forty-Six & 2" – 6:04
- "Message to Harry Manback" – 1:53
- "Hooker With a Penis" – 4:33
- "Intermission" – 0:56
- "jimmy" – 5:24
- "Die Eier von Satan" – 2:17
- "Pushit" (Keenan/Jones/Carey/D'Amour) – 9:53
- "Cesaro Summability" – 1:26
- "Ænema" (Keenan/Jones/Carey/D'Amour) – 6:39
- "(-) Ions" – 4:00
- "Third Eye" (Tool/Hicks) – 13:47 listen
[edit] Personnel
- Justin Chancellor – Bass
- Danny Carey – Drums and Percussion
- Adam Jones – Guitars, Producer, Art Direction
- Maynard James Keenan – Vocals
[edit] Additional staff
- David Bottrill – Keyboards, Producer, Engineer, Mixing
- Alana Cain – Model (contortionist)
- Cam de Leon – Artwork, Computer Illustration
- Fabrico DiSanto – Photography, Photo Assistance
- Gudrun Fox – Translation of "Die Eier von Satan"
- Marko Fox - Vocals on "Die Eier von Satan"
- Jeremy Glasgow – Assistant Percussionist
- Concetta Halstead – Producer, Design
- Bill Hicks – Guest vocals
- Billy Howerdel - Guitar Tech, 'Pro Tools' technician
- Joel Larson
- Karen Mason
- Jeff Novack – Photography
- Chris Pitman – Synthesizer
- Mark Rappaport – Effects Consultant
- Eban Schletter – Organ
- Keith Willis – Artwork
- Kevin Willis – Producer, Art Direction, Paintings
[edit] Charting
[edit] Album
| Year | Chart | Position |
|---|---|---|
| 1996 | Billboard 200 | #2 |
[edit] Singles
| Year | Single | Chart | Position |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1996 | "Stinkfist" | Mainstream Rock Tracks (U.S.) | #17 |
| 1996 | "Stinkfist" | Modern Rock Tracks (U.S.) | #19 |
| 1997 | "H." | Mainstream Rock Tracks (U.S.) | #23 |
| 1997 | "Ænema" | Mainstream Rock Tracks (U.S.) | #25 |
| 1997 | "Forty Six & 2" | Mainstream Rock Tracks (U.S.) | #22 |
[edit] Notes
- ^ Theiner, Manny (September 28, 2006). Concert Review: Tool's prog pleases populace. Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. “...from its triple-platinum 1996 release, "Aenima."”
- ^ Radio interview which can be downloaded from the band's website.
- ^ a b Joel McIver (2002). Nu-Metal: The Next Generation of Rock & Punk. Omnibus, 137. Retrieved on 2008-01-27.
- ^ The Tool FAQ, G25.
- ^ 40th Annual Grammy Awards - 1998. Rock On The Net. Retrieved on 2007-05-14.
- ^ a b c Craig Joyce (1999-10-01). Rough Guides Music: TOOL. Rough Guides, KeepMedia. Retrieved on 2007-05-21. “...“Die Eier Von Satan” being an interesting attempt at Einstürzende Neubauten-type experimentation, and the lyrics being a recitation in German of a Mexican wedding cookie recipe.”
- ^ The Tool FAQ, G27.
- ^ The Tool FAQ, G31.
- ^ Fruchtman, Edward (August 1997). "Never Wanted To Be Rock Stars But They Are". Circus 8.
- ^ Jon Pareles. "Mad at Everybody, Including Themselves", The New York Times, 1996-11-05. Retrieved on 2008-01-27.
- ^ The Tool FAQ, G43.
- ^ Macrone, Michael (September 1993). Be Fruitful and Multiply. Brush Up Your Bible. Retrieved on 2007-03-08.
- ^ The Tool FAQ, D7.
- ^ a b David Andrews (1996-10-25). Tool's Ænima: More songs about paranoia and death. The Daily Collegian. Retrieved on 2007-05-21. “...rhythms of "Die Eier Von Satan," which sounds like a hydraulic press. The song diverges briefly from the usual Tool sound, showing experimentation in an apparent homage to Einstürzende Neubauten, a German prototype to similarly revolutionary music.”
- ^ a b "Tool: A Trip to Rock's Darker Side" (fee required), The Columbian, 1998-08-20. Retrieved on 2007-05-21. "..."Die Eier Von Satan, or "The Egg of Satan," which sounds like A militant German speech."
- ^ Mark Jenkins. "Tool Could Use Some Retooling" (fee required), The Washington Post, 1996-11-29. Retrieved on 2007-05-21. "...a German rant on "Die Eier von Satan," ..."
- ^ a b "Tool of the devil or tuneful psychonauts?" (fee required), Anchorage Daily News, 2002-09-27. Retrieved on 2007-05-21. "Die Eier von Satan from 1996's Aenima sounds like a Nazi pep rally But is really a megaphone recitation of a cookie recipe in German..."
- ^ Blair MacKenzie Blake. Tool Newsletter, September, 2005 e.v.. Tool. Retrieved on 2007-05-21.
- ^ Frank Petersohn. Auf einem Baum ein Kuckuck saß (German). ingeb.org. Retrieved on 2007-05-21.
- ^ "Aenima: Tool" (fee required), What Magazine, 1996-11-01. Retrieved on 2007-05-21. ""Die Eier Von Satan" and is as hokee lokee as any Tom Waits or Einsterzende Neubaten tip of the ice pick could ever be."
- ^ Rick de Yampert. "Tool hammers 'prog metal'" (fee required), The Daytona Beach News-Journal, 1996-12-13. Retrieved on 2008-01-27. ""Pushit" is a chilling bad-love song in which we don't know if the narrator is victim..."
- ^ Troy J. Augusto. "Tool Review", Variety, 1998-04-02. Retrieved on 2008-01-27. ""Pushit" was slowed and bent into a somber mood piece..."
- ^ Don Waller. "Pix Mix Hicks Licks", Los Angeles CityBeat, 2004-11-25. Retrieved on 2007-05-21.
- ^ Bart Blasengame. Matthew McConaughey 1. Style.com. Retrieved on 2007-05-21.
- ^ Lewis Goldberg. "Finnegans Shake", New Times Broward-Palm Beach, 2006-06-01. Retrieved on 2008-01-27.
- ^ "Is anyone listening?", The Age, 2006-05-05, pp. 1. Retrieved on 2008-01-18.
- ^ The Tool FAQ, D11.
- ^ Cam de Leon. Smoke Box - digital composite. Happy Pencil. Retrieved on 2007-05-21.
- ^ Cam de Leon. Ocular Orifice - Photoshop. Happy Pencil. Retrieved on 2007-05-21.
- ^ The Tool FAQ G8
- ^ Tool - Aenima. acclaimedmusic.net. Retrieved on 2007-06-25.
- ^ Kerrang! End of Year Lists. Kerrang!. Retrieved on 2007-07-27.
- ^ Terrorizer End of Year Lists. Terrorizer. Retrieved on 2007-07-27.
- ^ The Tool FAQ, G13.
[edit] References
- Kabir Akhtar (2001-07-16). The Tool FAQ. The Tool Page. Retrieved on 2007-05-13.
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