Tool (2) – Undertow

This is a superb pressing which I've owned since release. I'm not aware of the Coke bottle version being bootlegged- but there are lots of grey fakes knocking around that come in gloss sleeves, rather than the matt this arrives in, looking a lot like the original of the grey pressing which makes it harder to spot a fake. This original clear version in the matt sleeve has a Zoo Entertainment sticker with barcode on the rear; it's not printed on the sleeve.

It does sound surprisingly good considering it's almost one hour of music crammed in just one lp. Maybe due to that you'll notice some cracks and pops/a bit of surface noise between tracks. In my modest opinion it sounds slightly better than the original cd; same detail and instrument separation but with better bass response and punch.

Tool
Undertow
Zoo Entertainment
Vinyl, LP, Album, Clear
US
1993

Trying to the first time I listened to Undertow, I being knocked back by the intensity. The emotion, light and shade, anger with these points of rest…I could not resist pantomiming my own silent but violent lead signer karaoke as the ion of the musicians poured out of the speakers with this in intense channeling of energy. One fond memory was falling asleep one night listening to the CD and waking up startled to the sound of drums and Maynard chanting “This is necessary!”

With almost 30 years of history but an uncommon 4 studio albums released in that time (rumors starting to solidify for a 5 album to release in 2019). Tool has defined their own sound with many elements and influences but are perhaps a bit trapped by their own parameters from evolving much from the original template that started to take shape between the Opiate EP and Undertow. However, this has only pushed the band to think more creativity ‘outside’ while ‘inside the box’ so to speak. I think this revealed fresh interesting new projects surrounded in the same mysterious thickness fans expect without falling into pitfalls we’ve seen other bands fall into as they are pressured by contracts and mainstream trends.

The debut album seems to have been overshadowed from the following three. I don’t want to say underrated but if the only song you can think of from this album is Sober, I think you have a lot more to unpack if you go back for another listen.

This particular pressing presents an excellent reproduction of the music. Good dynamics. I was impressed with the strong bass response due to the album only being on one LP. There were a few pops on my copy and some light surface noise in the quiet ages when the volume is high. I would say it is right up there with the CD maybe a bit better just ‘cause it’s vinyl. One negative is that Disgustipated was removed to save space and also don’t expect 59 tracks of silence at the end either.

Killer tracks are the obvious Sober and Bottom although my favorites are the title track and the opener Intolerance. I rate the album as a whole: perfect.

Some have fallen away but most Tool fans I interact with continue to stick by the band and the various side projects not excluding a winery…I’ve been a little frustrated at the gap between albums but now I can feel a little excitement building as the next album release is imminent.

PS Let the rabbits wear glasses!

~CJ