I feel the same way, just don't like undertow as much as the others. Maybe I'm missing something but I struggle to get into it as well. So weird because between the other 4 I can't pick a favorite, pretty much whatever one I'm listening to is best lol
This album got me into Tool in 1995, but honestly, I listen to it the least and for me it's because of the production of it. Everything else after it has this giant sound to it that seems to be lacking on Undertow. Songs are great, but I don't like the way Massey has the bottom/deep end taking up most of the channels (If that makes sense? I'm not a technical guy with music). Adam's riffs are there, but they aren't front and centre like the stuff after it.
TL;DR - Different producer makes it feel like something is missing on Undertow. David Bottrill's production is more epic and the last 2 albums being self produced seemed to have learned from him.
The non-song tracks always added to it for me tbh. They’re a band from the era of albums. Obviously if I was listening on Spotify shuffle and one came on I might skip it, but when I used to listen to the album through, these tracks really helped create a vibe. Made the songs hit harder too.
Not a non-song track, and not from Undertow of course, but a great example of this is Parabol+Parabola vs just listening to Parabola by itself. Listening through Parabol first, as intended, makes Parabola’s opening hit hard af!
Cannot listen to parabola without Parabol. One time I was on my motorcycle and had my Spotify likes on shuffle. Out of 3k+ songs, Parabol came on shuffle and I had no way to queue up parabola while on the bike. It was the worst thing that’s ever happened to me in my entire life
Man I thought it was my number 1 but the more I listen to tool I can’t really pinpoint a number 1 album for my personal tastes. Fear Inoculum and Lateralus have been hitting hard for me recently. Honestly all their albums are amazing
I know that it’s not exactly in the same realm of heavy music, but it reminds me of Korn’s self titled album. Raw emotions that are so rough around the edges.
I understand that, at the time, they were classified as nu metal since many thought they sounded similar. It wasn't until Ænima when that label was thrown out.
It’s best that they weren’t permanently categorized as that, bc the more I read about nu-metal the more I realize that the general public seems to dislike it heavily. Outside of Korn I didn’t care for much else in that genre. And as I got older I definitely feel a sense of hatred for Fred durst’s voice.
I never liked nu metal (besides early Korn). I never understood the genre, and I think if tool kept the nu metal name, I may have never given them a full listen. Also, I have a hatred for Fred Durst's voice too 😭
Yeah, early Korn was my favorite. Anything with David on drums really. But then they leaned into going in different directions(which is cool to do) but not what I was into. It’s crazy to think that I owned Lateralus when it came out(I was 11) and didn’t really touch their music up until about 3 years ago when I heard Jambi come across Spotify. But at least I fully dove in after that 13 year drought. It’s like getting into a show with 5 full seasons and more to come.
I remember seeing the early music videos on mtv and it always seemed to be in the of the night. Pure rock nightmare fuel. But I was far too young to even grasp the music. With me reaching my age, FI has really been a contributing factor in me accepting that I’m not in my early 20’s with the energy of a Columbia drug lord. I restart 7empest about a dozen times until it clicks just right.
When I was young, I remember seeing the sober video and was traumatized 😂. Now I love the video and music. Also, I love the evolution of their music from heavy, like undertow to more atmospheric with FI. I can't get enough of Pneuma and the title track.
Dude, seriously tho! lol I didn’t look at playdoh quite the same way after that.
But yeah, that evolution from raw anger into a more refined and calm understanding of emotion has been amazing. The shift into such a calculated and beautiful at times tribal aura is euphoric for me. I love to sit back with earbuds in and close my eyes as I blast Pneuma and 7empest. But Descending holds its own permanent spot tho. And of course Invincible is the main catalyst in me not feeling alone in my thoughts on growing old. It’s one of the few songs that I’ve heard that really seemed to nail how I’m feeling. It even helped me be honest with myself that I’m not that crazy person anymore. Well, not as crazy I suppose. I’m not leaping over bonfires for stupid reasons anymore.
Banger of an album, and the opening 3 tracks played in order are 10/10s.
a dark, grimy, angry album that to me was a beautiful punch to the face of the emerging grunge scene at the time
also a little personal reason why I enjoy Undertow so much is Paul's bass playing.. crunchy like a jar of peanut butter with that distinct 90s metal tone
ugly and raw, the way it should be.
In 2005 I started a new job, and a few months later, this girl was hired as the second half to the same job. We shared a very small cubicle, and at one point I got up and noticed I could hear her headphones, so I paused to figure out what it was. She was listening to Undertow, and was on "Bottom".
one thing led to another, and this is our 12th year of marriage with 2 kids. Tool changes lives.
I really enjoy Sylvia Massy’s work - Undertow is among her best. So many almost hidden little magic pieces. Disgustipated is their best creepy closing track.
As a 50 year old, FI has been my favorite for a while, but at age 20, I liked Undertow even more than I like FI now. I still love it, and one of the reasons is the production is different from the others. Not better, just different. Hell, I’m pretty sure I got it from Columbia House, I’m old.
Least favorite, but I still really love it. It’s that classic early album before I think they really figured themselves out. Aenima is the moment Tool became Tool to me, but you need those first steps too.
They had the perfect amount of skill and wisdom to make music that was uniquely awesome sounding and just enough angst left for it to be funny and off the wall weird at times.
It’s the most raw. From a guitarist perspective I think it’s the “sloppiest”. I don’t mean that in a bad way. But later albums have such specific playing while Undertow feels a bit more free and emotional.
They were so young and angry, an excellent piece of Tool history and way of contrasting with FI how far they have personally gone.
Been listening to it a lot this year and Im finding those same life lesson gems that I love from Lateralus or FI, yet I can rock out a lot more. Ive also been trying to pay more attention to the base difference between damour and chancellor but Im no musician so its been difficult to dissect. I love the bass regardless.
Aenima was my first love and still my favourite and Lateralus wasn’t out at the time, so this was the one I listened to next. I like it when you hear earlier versions of a band. Undertow felt really raw, it also has simpler song structures. It’s sort of like a pre ok computer situation. They establish a solid song writing thing then go, right let’s see what we can do.
Might listen to it today actually.
An album that sounds like no other. I have yet to hear a record that SOUNDS the same. Production, tuning, mixing, how sounds were captured with crazy mics, etc.
Excellent album. I’ll never forget finding the hidden track at the very end (“and those little people were yours too”) and thinking it was so cool they did that.
It's one of the best grunge metal albums of all time.
It was the beginning of the greatest 3 album run of any band ever, IMO and part of the holy triumvirate of Tool albums.
I rank it as their 5th best album. It is still awesome of course but they have just come so far since then as musicians that it hardly sounds like the same band anymore.
This was my era of Tool.
I saw them at Nottingham Tock City opening for Fishbone and Maynard was actually outright scary. He just stood twitching and hard-stare-ing like a serial killer. I was transfixed.
A week or two later the Henry Rollins info newsletter came through the post recommending their debut album (cos he’s on it). I went into town and bought it that day.
Tomorrow is harvest day and to them it is the holocaust
And I sprang from my slumber drenched in sweat
Like the tears of one million terrified brothers and roared
"Hear me now, I have seen the light!
They have a consciousness, they have a life, they have a soul!
Damn you! Let the rabbits wear glasses! Save our brothers!
Can I get an amen? Can I get a hallelujah? Thank you Jesus
It’s weird, Undertow is either someone’s favorite or least favorite it seems. I think it is my least favorite EP, but it’s still a banger. Its just too close to “normal” for me, it lacks a lot of the weird prog influences that I think really define the Tool sound, sounds too much like 90s alt or grunge to me.
Sober, Prison Sex, and Intolerance are soooo good though don’t get it twisted.
It's simultaneously a 10/10 album, and my least-favourite TOOL album.
TOOL is probably the only band where even my least-favourite album of theirs can get a 10/10 rating from me. :)
I'm not a big fan, to be honest. I'm 45, so I was a teenager when it was released. Because I didn't enjoy it, I never really got into Tool until FI came out in 2019, which blew my mind. I went back and listened to all of their albums and realized Tool was my favorite band. Still don't care much for Undertow or opiate. Everything else, though, is brilliant. I'm always amazed at how much Tool fans seem to love it. Sounds like a completely different band to me.
Seminal. Their breakthrough debut lp.
Some of us were maybe 9 or 10 years old when Sober made the top 100’s in ‘92 (jjj hot 100, my older brother gave me the cassette version as a birthday present) and then hearing mother Mary and “fuck” in the same sentence = 10 year old naive mind blown and kissed goodbye. Took years later until I bought Aenima, primed at 16 for it :)
Yes
Facts.
Took a while for me to get into it. Can't live without it anymore.
Same here. Been my most played of 2024, prior to that I'd only given it a few run throughs
currently into the phase of "getting into it". so far i think i like it but not as much as the other albums
I feel the same way, just don't like undertow as much as the others. Maybe I'm missing something but I struggle to get into it as well. So weird because between the other 4 I can't pick a favorite, pretty much whatever one I'm listening to is best lol
You're right, it's missing interludes. So the songs get blended together instead of separated
This album got me into Tool in 1995, but honestly, I listen to it the least and for me it's because of the production of it. Everything else after it has this giant sound to it that seems to be lacking on Undertow. Songs are great, but I don't like the way Massey has the bottom/deep end taking up most of the channels (If that makes sense? I'm not a technical guy with music). Adam's riffs are there, but they aren't front and centre like the stuff after it. TL;DR - Different producer makes it feel like something is missing on Undertow. David Bottrill's production is more epic and the last 2 albums being self produced seemed to have learned from him.
The only Tool album where i still don't skip a song.
You listen to the whole 7mins+ of crickets/buzz on Disgustipated??? Me too lol It was daylight when you woke up in your ditch...
And of course those tiny people… were yours too…
Thats crazy
Well most of them have stupid shit like babies screaming and whales moaning
Where is the TOOL whale? Are you thinking about Gojira?
He’s talking abt Mantra I think. Which is a heavily distorted track of a cat meowing
Specifically Maynard’s cat being squeezed a little.
never knew this, thanks for the mental imagery, i will now picture a cat being lightly squeezed every time i listen to mantra
The non-song tracks always added to it for me tbh. They’re a band from the era of albums. Obviously if I was listening on Spotify shuffle and one came on I might skip it, but when I used to listen to the album through, these tracks really helped create a vibe. Made the songs hit harder too.
Not a non-song track, and not from Undertow of course, but a great example of this is Parabol+Parabola vs just listening to Parabola by itself. Listening through Parabol first, as intended, makes Parabola’s opening hit hard af!
Cannot listen to parabola without Parabol. One time I was on my motorcycle and had my Spotify likes on shuffle. Out of 3k+ songs, Parabol came on shuffle and I had no way to queue up parabola while on the bike. It was the worst thing that’s ever happened to me in my entire life
Oh my gosh, I’m so sorry you had to go through that. I wouldn’t wish that on my worst enemy.
Thanks for your support. I contemplated just wrapping me and my bike around the nearest tree right as the song ended but I persevered.
I Skip sober ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
My top 1 fav Tool album
Man I thought it was my number 1 but the more I listen to tool I can’t really pinpoint a number 1 album for my personal tastes. Fear Inoculum and Lateralus have been hitting hard for me recently. Honestly all their albums are amazing
Youuuuuuuu fourrrrrrrrr reeeeeeeeeee uuuhhhhhhh
Track 23 is too short!
I'm a track 47 guy myself
Fucking epic
This right here.
Well it got me into tool so it's good, along with that, I like how raw and heavy the album is.
I know that it’s not exactly in the same realm of heavy music, but it reminds me of Korn’s self titled album. Raw emotions that are so rough around the edges.
I understand that, at the time, they were classified as nu metal since many thought they sounded similar. It wasn't until Ænima when that label was thrown out.
It’s best that they weren’t permanently categorized as that, bc the more I read about nu-metal the more I realize that the general public seems to dislike it heavily. Outside of Korn I didn’t care for much else in that genre. And as I got older I definitely feel a sense of hatred for Fred durst’s voice.
I never liked nu metal (besides early Korn). I never understood the genre, and I think if tool kept the nu metal name, I may have never given them a full listen. Also, I have a hatred for Fred Durst's voice too 😭
Yeah, early Korn was my favorite. Anything with David on drums really. But then they leaned into going in different directions(which is cool to do) but not what I was into. It’s crazy to think that I owned Lateralus when it came out(I was 11) and didn’t really touch their music up until about 3 years ago when I heard Jambi come across Spotify. But at least I fully dove in after that 13 year drought. It’s like getting into a show with 5 full seasons and more to come.
For me, it was Sober/Eulogy that got into tool. I'm so glad I decided to listen more because they're my favorite band now
I remember seeing the early music videos on mtv and it always seemed to be in the of the night. Pure rock nightmare fuel. But I was far too young to even grasp the music. With me reaching my age, FI has really been a contributing factor in me accepting that I’m not in my early 20’s with the energy of a Columbia drug lord. I restart 7empest about a dozen times until it clicks just right.
When I was young, I remember seeing the sober video and was traumatized 😂. Now I love the video and music. Also, I love the evolution of their music from heavy, like undertow to more atmospheric with FI. I can't get enough of Pneuma and the title track.
Dude, seriously tho! lol I didn’t look at playdoh quite the same way after that. But yeah, that evolution from raw anger into a more refined and calm understanding of emotion has been amazing. The shift into such a calculated and beautiful at times tribal aura is euphoric for me. I love to sit back with earbuds in and close my eyes as I blast Pneuma and 7empest. But Descending holds its own permanent spot tho. And of course Invincible is the main catalyst in me not feeling alone in my thoughts on growing old. It’s one of the few songs that I’ve heard that really seemed to nail how I’m feeling. It even helped me be honest with myself that I’m not that crazy person anymore. Well, not as crazy I suppose. I’m not leaping over bonfires for stupid reasons anymore.
The best album.
I think… what is Henry Rollins doing in here?
He’s at the bottom, naked and fearless.
I understand his fear is naked.
he’s gone to great lengths to expand his threshold of pain…
Thing is, he can sink no further, and he cannot forgive you
Love it.
Happy cake day
Thanks!
Banger of an album, and the opening 3 tracks played in order are 10/10s. a dark, grimy, angry album that to me was a beautiful punch to the face of the emerging grunge scene at the time also a little personal reason why I enjoy Undertow so much is Paul's bass playing.. crunchy like a jar of peanut butter with that distinct 90s metal tone
Absolutely slaps
One of the five best records ever recorded
ugly and raw, the way it should be. In 2005 I started a new job, and a few months later, this girl was hired as the second half to the same job. We shared a very small cubicle, and at one point I got up and noticed I could hear her headphones, so I paused to figure out what it was. She was listening to Undertow, and was on "Bottom". one thing led to another, and this is our 12th year of marriage with 2 kids. Tool changes lives.
What do YOU think about Undertow? That's what matters.
Prison Sex is a religion, the rest of the songs can also be sent through the veins
Underrated
swamp song gets stuck in my head 😹
Seems like I've been here before, seems so familiar...
Sweat? From Opiate?
You know? If I didn’t like even one of their releases, I wouldn’t bother with this sub.
My first introduction to them so this album is close to my heart
I listen to this album religiously when I do paintings it puts me in a good mood
👍
I really enjoy Sylvia Massy’s work - Undertow is among her best. So many almost hidden little magic pieces. Disgustipated is their best creepy closing track.
It’s a banger
One of my top 5 tool albums
I see what you did there
My third favourite tool album, behind aenima and lateralus
As a 50 year old, FI has been my favorite for a while, but at age 20, I liked Undertow even more than I like FI now. I still love it, and one of the reasons is the production is different from the others. Not better, just different. Hell, I’m pretty sure I got it from Columbia House, I’m old.
The original cd liner pictures. Wowsah.
Least favorite, but I still really love it. It’s that classic early album before I think they really figured themselves out. Aenima is the moment Tool became Tool to me, but you need those first steps too.
It's my least favourite Tool record, but I still quite like it
They had the perfect amount of skill and wisdom to make music that was uniquely awesome sounding and just enough angst left for it to be funny and off the wall weird at times.
Hell of a debut and my favorite album of theirs still.
Hits hard and raw
Was so phenomenally awesome at the time - until arnema!. Sober got me into tool.
my favorite album by them and it has my fav song by them
One of the best. Great starting point. Everything after lateralus sounds recycled.
Good album, and worth occasionally revisiting, but they weren’t Tool quite yet. Justin made them whole.
Masterpiece as every Tool's album.
I almost died when Justin played Flood in Vienna. Bass nearly ripped my organs out of my body. yeah... COOL!
Their best work
Hands down favorite album. The raw, angsty energy is unmatched by anything tool has done.
It’s the most raw. From a guitarist perspective I think it’s the “sloppiest”. I don’t mean that in a bad way. But later albums have such specific playing while Undertow feels a bit more free and emotional.
They were so young and angry, an excellent piece of Tool history and way of contrasting with FI how far they have personally gone. Been listening to it a lot this year and Im finding those same life lesson gems that I love from Lateralus or FI, yet I can rock out a lot more. Ive also been trying to pay more attention to the base difference between damour and chancellor but Im no musician so its been difficult to dissect. I love the bass regardless.
🐰👓
I'm a really big fan of that noise in sober 😔
It's my personal favorite album. It's not their _best_ album (Lateralus) but it's the one I like the most.
Least favourite for me too
It’s Tool’s first album.
pretty good. Not a bad record for the time, and certainly a good starting place for their career
Yessssss
Game changer of an album, love the shit out of it!
Absolute banger of an album.
My first Tool album. Intolerance is my fave.
My least favourite album but Intolerance and Flood were amazing live
The same thing I feel about all Tool albums. I love it end to end.
I love every note 🎵🎶
Aenima was my first love and still my favourite and Lateralus wasn’t out at the time, so this was the one I listened to next. I like it when you hear earlier versions of a band. Undertow felt really raw, it also has simpler song structures. It’s sort of like a pre ok computer situation. They establish a solid song writing thing then go, right let’s see what we can do. Might listen to it today actually.
Straight into
An album that sounds like no other. I have yet to hear a record that SOUNDS the same. Production, tuning, mixing, how sounds were captured with crazy mics, etc.
TWO TIMES IN I’ve been struck dumb by a voice that speaks from deep beneath the peerless water
Way too much radio play when it "came out". Largely forgettable in my book. Doesnt hold a candle to "Lateralus". But still, it's Tool. 👽
nice
Best
It can’t be legendary; they’re not dead yet
Decent album but it didn't bring me BACK TO MY KNEES...oh wait
Excellent album. I’ll never forget finding the hidden track at the very end (“and those little people were yours too”) and thinking it was so cool they did that.
It's one of the best grunge metal albums of all time. It was the beginning of the greatest 3 album run of any band ever, IMO and part of the holy triumvirate of Tool albums.
My fear is naaaaaaaaked
Changed my life
My aunt would always get me a CD for Christmas as a kid. I asked for this one in 1996. Loved it ever since.
Insanely good debut album. They already had so much skill, energy and cohesiveness.
Best album for me no bloat just killer (besides the bit in disgustipated)
From audio standpoint it's pretty spicy in the treble, so I can't listen tracks on high volume.
Yeah
One of the albums with most visceral aggressive vocals all the way through.
I rank it as their 5th best album. It is still awesome of course but they have just come so far since then as musicians that it hardly sounds like the same band anymore.
This was my era of Tool. I saw them at Nottingham Tock City opening for Fishbone and Maynard was actually outright scary. He just stood twitching and hard-stare-ing like a serial killer. I was transfixed. A week or two later the Henry Rollins info newsletter came through the post recommending their debut album (cos he’s on it). I went into town and bought it that day.
I’m always surprised it’s not everyone’s favorite and it’s actually a lot of people’s least favorite.
It surrounds and drowns and wipes me away!!!!!!
It's a great alt-metal album.
Great bass slam
Prison Sex
Flood is still my favorite Tool song.
Great fucking album and the production is so good. Maybe my favorite produced album from them.
Phenomenal masterpiece
It's definitely a top 5 Tool record. Until they release a 6th. Then I'm 99% sure it will be demoted to a top 6 Tool record.
I think I will revisit this album today.
Raw, hard and heavy. Bottom and Crawl away got them thru a bitter divorce
Flood
We like it
Album, great. Legos, not so much.
I've got to great lengths to extend my threshold... of loving every second of this record. It changed my musical life!!!
It goes the hardest. Love it
Shit adds up at the bottom
Intolerance is one of the most intense opening tracks
Incredibly good album, 10/10. Still only my third favourite though cause aenima and lateralus are absolutely different gravy.
WHY CANT WE NOT BE SOBER😭😭😭😭
It’s bassy on the low end
compared to anything else that comes after? meh. still alright, just not the biggest fan
My 2nd favorite Tool album
FYI, if you have the physical cd of undertow, remove the black plastic where the cd sits, there is a pretty weird Pic under there.
Loved Paul’s sound on the bass
It was my gateway drug. Got me chasing these buttholes the rest of my life. Now everything is in shambles, but Tool never left.
Was my intro to Tool around '96. Instantly hooked. I still love it. Raw, aggressive Tool at it's finest. Not a single skip, ever.
Not my favorite, but still kicks ass
Lie cheat steal... great album
My favorites are probably Intolerance, Bottom, Flood, Swamp Song, and Sober.
Powerful, raw (compared to later efforts), hungry, angry. Fuckin love it.
It's better than fear inoculum
MY FAVORITE ALBUM OF ALL TIME
It was my first and I still love it
Tomorrow is harvest day and to them it is the holocaust And I sprang from my slumber drenched in sweat Like the tears of one million terrified brothers and roared "Hear me now, I have seen the light! They have a consciousness, they have a life, they have a soul! Damn you! Let the rabbits wear glasses! Save our brothers! Can I get an amen? Can I get a hallelujah? Thank you Jesus
Sounds like a different band to me personally, I can’t get into it right now but I could see myself trying it again in the future
It’s weird, Undertow is either someone’s favorite or least favorite it seems. I think it is my least favorite EP, but it’s still a banger. Its just too close to “normal” for me, it lacks a lot of the weird prog influences that I think really define the Tool sound, sounds too much like 90s alt or grunge to me. Sober, Prison Sex, and Intolerance are soooo good though don’t get it twisted.
Def in the top 5 of their albums
Hell yeah.
S’aight
Kickass
Love it.
Love it
it’s very very very very very very very good and i like it a lot
It’s amazing
Top 5 all time in my life
S tier album
Still my favorite of theirs 30 years later. I wish they would return to this style someday, but it’s pretty unlikely.
An album all about butt stuff? Count me in!
Only cd ive seen with hidden artwork below cd tray
Everyone likes it, next question.
Gas. Through and through. Hands down one of my favorite albums in general, not just Tool.
It's simultaneously a 10/10 album, and my least-favourite TOOL album. TOOL is probably the only band where even my least-favourite album of theirs can get a 10/10 rating from me. :)
my favorite album.
i usually overlook it. that's such a weird story isn't it? it sounds serial killery.
I like it.
Will always be my favorite album. I have a soft spot in my heart for 3-4 minute songs.
Fulla bangers
Love it
This album hits harder if you listen to it first, before the other ones.
Two things come to my mind: Sylvia Massy's impeccable production, and, the bass rig.
It was revolutionary when it was released. It is still an important recording in the progression of music.
Oh, it's the shit. The drop in Undertow is one of my all time favorite Tool moments, as is the end of Bottom.
I didn’t like it at first, and then I sat down and listened to it all the way through and I ended up falling in love with it.
I'm not a big fan, to be honest. I'm 45, so I was a teenager when it was released. Because I didn't enjoy it, I never really got into Tool until FI came out in 2019, which blew my mind. I went back and listened to all of their albums and realized Tool was my favorite band. Still don't care much for Undertow or opiate. Everything else, though, is brilliant. I'm always amazed at how much Tool fans seem to love it. Sounds like a completely different band to me.
Absolute bangers from start to finish.
There's something about the sound in Undertow and Opiate, I really enjoy their earlier sound a lot.
its one of their top 5 albums
Absolute poetry
Swamp Song kicks ass!
Don't get caught on it.
Banger. The album that brought my love of Tool
Seminal. Their breakthrough debut lp. Some of us were maybe 9 or 10 years old when Sober made the top 100’s in ‘92 (jjj hot 100, my older brother gave me the cassette version as a birthday present) and then hearing mother Mary and “fuck” in the same sentence = 10 year old naive mind blown and kissed goodbye. Took years later until I bought Aenima, primed at 16 for it :)
Underrated.
Mid
Great album, definitely my least favorite.