Opiate (EP)
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| Opiate | |||||
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| EP by Tool | |||||
| Released | March 10, 1992 | ||||
| Recorded | December 1991 - January 1992 | ||||
| Genre | Heavy metal Alternative metal Grunge rock |
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| Length | 26:56 | ||||
| Label | Zoo Entertainment | ||||
| Producer | Sylvia Massy, Steve Hansgen, Tool | ||||
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| Tool chronology | |||||
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Opiate is an EP by the American rock band Tool. Released in 1992, it followed some two years of playing together after their formation in 1990, and preceded their first full-length album, Undertow, by a year. It is named after a quote by Karl Marx: "Religion [...] is the opium of the masses."[1] Opiate was certified platinum by the RIAA on April 1, 2005.
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[edit] Overview
Opiate features six tracks with seven songs, the seventh a hidden track entitled "The Gaping Lotus Experience". "The Gaping Lotus Experience" is located at 6:10 on track 6. On the vinyl pressings, side 2 is double grooved. Depending on where the needle falls, "The Gaping Lotus Experience" will play or "Cold And Ugly (Live)" will play. Both tracks are followed by some silence, then the record player will play the last two tracks.
Unlike their later releases, Opiate does not incorporate a progressive aspect. Opiate does, however, immediately display the band's technical prowess. Much of the album uses problems of society as a focal point. Topics range from extreme censorship, ethical choices, and religion as a form of control.
The first track, "Sweat," is quite indicative of their future work, dealing with a slightly more complex topic and making use of metaphorical lyrics. This song was also featured on Escape From L.A. soudtrack. The second, "Hush", is about censorship and political correctness, and is accompanied by a video featuring the entire band wearing signs that read "Parental Advisory: Explicit Parts" over their genitalia and buttocks. The song displays Tool's characteristic love of tongue-in-cheek satire, while also showcasing their willingness to express explicit ideas.
Track three, "Part of Me", deals with a common Tool theme of identity and control.[citation needed] The next two tracks, "Cold and Ugly" and "Jerk-Off", were recorded live at the Jello Loft on New Year's Eve 1991, the band's second public show. While the former deals with fear and coming to terms with it, the latter talks about anger and taking things into ones own hands rather than waiting for others to conform.[citation needed] "Opiate", the title track, is one of the band's most famous, and criticizes figures in organized religion who attempt to stand between the practitioner of a religion and his or her deity (the song specifically focuses on Christianity). Singer Maynard James Keenan has dedicated this song to Timothy Leary on multiple occasions and to Paul D'Amour on others, referring to him as "Paul of Love". During the outro of "Opiate", a ringing telephone can be heard briefly.[original research?]
[edit] Track listing
- "Sweat" – 3:46
- "Hush" – 2:48
- "Part of Me" – 3:17
- "Cold and Ugly (Live)" – 4:09
- Recorded on December 31, 1991 at the Jello Loft, Hollywood, California
- "Jerk-Off (Live)" – 4:23
- "Opiate" – 8:28
- Contains the hidden track "The Gaping Lotus Experience", which plays at 6:06 into track 6, referring to the number of the beast (666).
The night the live songs were recorded, Danny Carey played drums for all the bands that played; Pigmy Love Circus, Green Jellÿ and Tool[citation needed].
[edit] Personnel
[edit] Notes
- ^ Christopher W. diCarlo. Interview with Maynard James Keenan. Retrieved on 2007-05-04.
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