This is the perfect parenthesis before Fear Inoculum. The contrast will be so much greater. I absolutely love the raw energy of this version of Tool because it makes their evolution so much more evident. Sometimes I absolutely feel more like this Tool then I jump into all of their other moods but I always say... what a great f*cking band.
That stereo panning and the whispers freaked me out through headphones once. Riding a BMX, with headphones through an open paddock, and Maynard whispers "piece of shit" in my ear. I hadn't heard that lyric so clearly before. It was a brilliant moment.
This song always reminds me of how, when I was young, I used my wit like a switchblade instead of a scalpel. There’s an indignant attitude in youth. It manifests differently for everyone.
Technically this was Tool's very first single. There was a music video made, but don't think it every got any airplay (only Tool music video that actually features the band members).. In the climate of the late 80s/early 90s, the PMRC (Parents Music Resource Center) was a big topic in the artist community over censorship (lyrics, art work, music videos, comedy, etc)
Before you do Fear Inoculum, you need to do the Salival album. It has some pretty significant tracks on it. It's all live, except for the very last track "No Quarter" which was in studio. It's a Led Zeppelin cover and is ungodly amazing.
Dude, check out the JC Dobbs Philadelphia ‘92 performance of this song. Maynard’s vertical spiral on display. A small venue with about a dozen or so people. They played songs from Opiate and Undertow. Early, raw, angry Tool.
Very good assessment like usual. I love the assessment of how Paul’s bass work worked well for the narrative of tool back in the early days. That visceral, youthful, aggressive, angst of their early albums needed a bass player that complemented that. I don’t often revisit old Tool because I don’t relate to that as much anymore as I’ve gone older and I don’t want to relate to it anymore either. But it is good to have something that slaps you in the face and tells you to pull your head out your ass and tell you that there’s a lot of things that aren’t right in the world that need to be addressed and passiveness isn’t going to solve anything
Nice to see you made it to Opiate. You told me months ago you would get there. I've been following your reactions and have enjoyed them and your insight thoroughly. Keep up the good work and I believe you will be impressed with Fear Inoculum when you get there. First chance you get, you gotta go see them live! 🤘
Im 47 now and i remember hearing the EP and the next song from Tool was Undertow and than i was a Fan.This Band will be better and better.Good reaktion
Opiate and undertow were their grunge/alt metal/rock era but they still sounded different then anyone else in those category’s, Maynard apparently wanted to evolve the sound after one of his friends allegedly gave him and Paul LSD laced rum in the mid 90’s, he had a spiritual awakening, but also thought he was dying, but when he came down after DAYS, he thanked the guy that gave it to him and wanted to change the direction of the band, that’s why they became more spiritual after undertow, it’s ironic because the seeds of progression were already there after flood and they just went with it and ended up becoming the greatest progressive rock band and band in general of all time
At some point, you might want to check out the video to this song. It's pretty darn cool, imo. Love the reaction, as always. ❤️ It's interesting that you said the lyric is what to "play". My mind always heard what to "pray".
Worth saying: when you check out Jerk-Off, I highly, highly recommend looking up the live video of them playing the song in Indio, CA on 10/10/1999. The live version of the song has an absolutely beautiful interlude that adds a lot to it, and that performance has ones of Maynards very best live screams
It's always interesting going back on a band beginnings to see their metamorphosis. Been silent lately, but I'm still here enjoying your content bro. 😎👍
Ok, I know where this journey has taken you, I've been here for a lot of it, but it JUST NOW HIT ME that you haven't heard the actual song "Opiate" yet lol. Oh boy, can't wait
Yes! So glad you said everything you did in the video. I love watching your reactions because you somehow always manage to get to my current level of understanding of the song, on your first listen! I discovered tool as a teenager and I definitely agree with everything you said about Maynard’s anger, and development as a person. And also that you gave Paul’s tone a shoutout! I love Justin, but the lines written by Paul (stinkfist,eulogy,sober,this song,etc.) just have a certain drive/intensity to them where Justin’s are more melodic, and kind of soothing? If I’m ever in Chicago I’d love to buy you a beer or something hah
I think that the bass seeming to hit harder is a result of the cleaner guitar tones not filling so much sonic space on the earlier stuff. The bass has more room to move here and express nuance without a "talk-box-distorted-wah-wah-pedal-phaser-chourused-devil-honk guitar just carpet-bombing the entire temporal range of the tune (don't get me wrong, I live for that shit). It took me a long time as a musician to realize that the best way to "turn an Instrument up" is often done by taking down the levels on everything else with competing frequencies.
"And the bridge. F*** you, f*** you, you piece of sh... " 🤣 Seriously this EP goes so hard because they were told to put their hardest most aggressive songs on the EP to help get noticed. Kinda adds more than just the obvious censorship meaning to the line "people tell me what to play." But yeah, anti censorship... think for yourself, question authority.
Anger and aggression are definitely these 1st two albums..That's what attracted me to them. I always saw bands before all my friends. I found the bands that I love to this day. I've seen Pantera, well, I lost count but they were always here. Tool came here 4 times, so 3 here at least 4 at Pine Knob. All were like straight off the album. I've seen them make a mistake or two but only watching those on UA-cam. He calls Michigan his home state. Skullz seriously look up Passenger by The Deftones it's on their White Pony albums. Maynard sounds extremely strong in their recording. He basically carried the song. It's worth a listen ya know. Maybe you already watched it who knows it might be one of yours dear. Then.... Know your Enemy by Rage and they're killer live except the bruises from my ass to my knees. It was NUUUTTTS, 🤣😂
Love the reaction, as always. So obviously, I don't know your musical taste outside of these Tool reactions (and a couple of other reactions I've checked out here and there), but I checked out Manchester Orchestra after you mentioned them a couple of times and I dig them! I'd love to see you react to a band called Punch Brothers - a song called Familiarity (especially since you used the word in this video). They aren't really anything like Tool, but then again, they are in some ways. They are some of the best composers and musicians alive, in my humble opinion. They may not be in your wheelhouse, but I think you would appreciate them at the very least.
This track was used for their first music video, an amazingly honest and brutal track, Opiate is very underrated, the next song part of me might be my favorite besides the title track 🌀
Keep in mind this was their first kick at the can. Rule #1 when you're a young band. Get your music heard. If they started off with 7 min songs they'd have failed. The more successful they became the longer the songs grew which is seen with each additional album. By the time Fear Innoculum comes along, not one song under 10 mins and a Grammy winner coming in at 15. This is in no way saying natural song writing evolution, composition and the music at that time didn't factor in as well to a lesser extent but when your the band who's new album is the biggest deal of the year or decade, LoL, run time means less and less. They could write a 23 min long song a-la Pink Floyd's Echoes at this point. We might just see that yet.
Skullz, loving your channel! Would love to watch you react to Harry Mack Omegle Bars. If you “First Time Reaction to Harry Mack Omegle Bars” guarantee you that you’ll get over 1k new subscribers. ❤❤❤
As said before, this song is about the parental advisory process. Watch the music video for Hush, it's self explanatory. Recommendations on this topic: Dee Snyder testimony to Congress. 👌 Anthrax startin' up a pose (song) All bands had something to say on the matter.
Paul was perfect for early tool and the reason he was kicked out is because there was a lot of internal conflict between him and Adam during the making of Ænima, he didn’t wanna play bass anymore and wanted to be the lead guitarist, which is not what tool is all about, tool has never been about flashyness and solos, needless to say he didn’t share the same vision the rest of them had with the direction they were going and didn’t wanna play progressive, psychedelic music, so that’s why they brought in Justin, I respect both musicians alot but Justin gave new life to the band especially starting in lateralus
I was hoping to jump to fear inoculum 🤣🤣🤣 but u made a pause on their evolution ... What a plot twist hehehe .... Btw I'm so hyped to watch your reactions to that album ... Especially INVICIBLE 🍻🍻🍻🍻
I wish paul would of stayed in tool Justin's ok just love anything from opiate to anemia when it come to tool oh yeah there's a video for this song by the way
yeah, it may be worth tying the rest of the ep's tunes in with the other versions available for a fuller picture. there are decent demos of the two live track off the Opiate ep on here (ua-cam.com/video/__EojCLZEpQ/v-deo.html), Salival has a great live version of Part of Me (ua-cam.com/video/ZlKH28Qokro/v-deo.html) and Opiate has been given a recent makeover for its 25th birthday - awww (ua-cam.com/video/KY7cofvtbco/v-deo.html). then maybe finish off the other tunes from Salival and you will be finally fit for Fear Inoculum. peace.
I'm a massive Tool fan. It's mostly all I listen to. But I'm wondering if you'll feel the same way as I do about Fear Inoculum. For me it's boring, predictable, and too repetitive. I love Descending and Tempest. The rest of the album just doesn't do it for me tho. They definitely peaked at Lateralus.
It’s about Tipper Gore trying to put Parental Advisory labels on music back in the early 90s.
Ministry !! Lol
It's been so long...can't pull up the line... "Fuck Al Gore, fuck his ______ wife"
It's at the end of a live track, he names names !!
I got a parental advisory sticker on my opiate cd
This is the perfect parenthesis before Fear Inoculum. The contrast will be so much greater. I absolutely love the raw energy of this version of Tool because it makes their evolution so much more evident. Sometimes I absolutely feel more like this Tool then I jump into all of their other moods but I always say... what a great f*cking band.
"LIKE" Only way I could do it twice.
@@rite2beararms now you can like this comment if you need to do it THRICE. Prying open my third like!
Skullz this song was in response to the band being forced to put a PARENTAL ADVISORY sticker on their songs. ✌️
Yeah I think those stickers were still pretty new when they made the video for this song iirc
Thanks Tipper! It's one of my favorite songs on Opiate. I love Sweat it's great 💕
Which would've been ridiculous, sans this track, lol
That stereo panning and the whispers freaked me out through headphones once. Riding a BMX, with headphones through an open paddock, and Maynard whispers "piece of shit" in my ear. I hadn't heard that lyric so clearly before. It was a brilliant moment.
This song always reminds me of how, when I was young, I used my wit like a switchblade instead of a scalpel.
There’s an indignant attitude in youth. It manifests differently for everyone.
Thats a great perspective. I couldnt agree more
This whole album is just angst and energy in its most enjoyable format. 💚🌀💜
Maynard got his job as singer after Danny heard him screaming at someone to stfu in their apartment complex, and it shows
Technically this was Tool's very first single. There was a music video made, but don't think it every got any airplay (only Tool music video that actually features the band members)..
In the climate of the late 80s/early 90s, the PMRC (Parents Music Resource Center) was a big topic in the artist community over censorship (lyrics, art work, music videos, comedy, etc)
These old songs are the craziest, live...
Paul was incredible on the bass. Such a mean sound.
Yes and yes
And yes
Before you do Fear Inoculum, you need to do the Salival album. It has some pretty significant tracks on it. It's all live, except for the very last track "No Quarter" which was in studio. It's a Led Zeppelin cover and is ungodly amazing.
If you do No Quarter, please react to both the Zepplin version first & then the Tool version, but make sure it all in one reaction 🤘🏻🌀
MERKABA! The evolution of that song over the years alone is nuts.
And do Tool minus Maynard The Witness Gibson Guitar 🎸 Ad it is bad ass
Am I the only one who gets that song at the end of the video stuck in his head for like three days afterwards
If you loved Adam's work on this song I have good news for you, the next song "Cold and Ugly" has Adam's best solo, outside of Fear Inocullum that is.
I was going to comment prior that I knew you would like this one due to its straight forward message. BOOM NAILED IT!
Dude, check out the JC Dobbs Philadelphia ‘92 performance of this song. Maynard’s vertical spiral on display. A small venue with about a dozen or so people. They played songs from Opiate and Undertow. Early, raw, angry Tool.
Very good assessment like usual. I love the assessment of how Paul’s bass work worked well for the narrative of tool back in the early days. That visceral, youthful, aggressive, angst of their early albums needed a bass player that complemented that. I don’t often revisit old Tool because I don’t relate to that as much anymore as I’ve gone older and I don’t want to relate to it anymore either. But it is good to have something that slaps you in the face and tells you to pull your head out your ass and tell you that there’s a lot of things that aren’t right in the world that need to be addressed and passiveness isn’t going to solve anything
Exactly, well put
Those tacks or smudges on your wall, to right of the door, always makes me think there is dirt on my screen. Gets me every time.
The syncopation on this EP is amazing, that and the rawness makes a unique sound to its time.
Nice to see you made it to Opiate. You told me months ago you would get there. I've been following your reactions and have enjoyed them and your insight thoroughly. Keep up the good work and I believe you will be impressed with Fear Inoculum when you get there. First chance you get, you gotta go see them live! 🤘
Im 47 now and i remember hearing the EP and the next song from Tool was Undertow and than i was a Fan.This Band will be better and better.Good reaktion
Opiate and undertow were their grunge/alt metal/rock era but they still sounded different then anyone else in those category’s, Maynard apparently wanted to evolve the sound after one of his friends allegedly gave him and Paul LSD laced rum in the mid 90’s, he had a spiritual awakening, but also thought he was dying, but when he came down after DAYS, he thanked the guy that gave it to him and wanted to change the direction of the band, that’s why they became more spiritual after undertow, it’s ironic because the seeds of progression were already there after flood and they just went with it and ended up becoming the greatest progressive rock band and band in general of all time
At some point, you might want to check out the video to this song. It's pretty darn cool, imo. Love the reaction, as always. ❤️ It's interesting that you said the lyric is what to "play". My mind always heard what to "pray".
Yeah, I agree with checking out the video. It's...interesting 😂
🤘🏽🤘🏼🤘🏿 one of the best "parental advisory" songs
Love their music and your phenomenal breakdowns thanku so much love an God bless x
This whole album SLAPS 🔥 🔥🔥🔥🔥
Which album? This is an EP
@@Stringer13ell semantics.
@@zak2986 I hope TOOL don't wait another 13 years before they release a new banana
@@Stringer13ell same.
Worth saying: when you check out Jerk-Off, I highly, highly recommend looking up the live video of them playing the song in Indio, CA on 10/10/1999. The live version of the song has an absolutely beautiful interlude that adds a lot to it, and that performance has ones of Maynards very best live screams
It's always interesting going back on a band beginnings to see their metamorphosis. Been silent lately, but I'm still here enjoying your content bro. 😎👍
Thanks for this awesome reaction..... definitely one of my favorites
Ok, I know where this journey has taken you, I've been here for a lot of it, but it JUST NOW HIT ME that you haven't heard the actual song "Opiate" yet lol. Oh boy, can't wait
Best intro ever, hell yeah! 🤘
FUCK YEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEAH!!!
Yes! So glad you said everything you did in the video. I love watching your reactions because you somehow always manage to get to my current level of understanding of the song, on your first listen! I discovered tool as a teenager and I definitely agree with everything you said about Maynard’s anger, and development as a person. And also that you gave Paul’s tone a shoutout! I love Justin, but the lines written by Paul (stinkfist,eulogy,sober,this song,etc.) just have a certain drive/intensity to them where Justin’s are more melodic, and kind of soothing? If I’m ever in Chicago I’d love to buy you a beer or something hah
The only video with them actually in the video.
If you liked this, you're gunna LOVE Jerk-off, track 5.
The only Tool music video where the members are in the video is for this song.
This one was my ring tone for the longest time... love the way it opens and the point it makes!!!
Dude that opening bass riff is so fucking sick
Banger song about censorship.
Hey hey skullz 💀I’m here for it 😉🎶🤘🏽
I think that the bass seeming to hit harder is a result of the cleaner guitar tones not filling so much sonic space on the earlier stuff. The bass has more room to move here and express nuance without a "talk-box-distorted-wah-wah-pedal-phaser-chourused-devil-honk guitar just carpet-bombing the entire temporal range of the tune (don't get me wrong, I live for that shit).
It took me a long time as a musician to realize that the best way to "turn an Instrument up" is often done by taking down the levels on everything else with competing frequencies.
Great reaction!
Another quality reaction. I'm glad you're covering the early stuff too. "Part of me" is another great early song among many.
Jerk off is 🤌 - my favourite track off of this album by far
"And the bridge. F*** you, f*** you, you piece of sh... " 🤣
Seriously this EP goes so hard because they were told to put their hardest most aggressive songs on the EP to help get noticed. Kinda adds more than just the obvious censorship meaning to the line "people tell me what to play." But yeah, anti censorship... think for yourself, question authority.
Enjoying your TOOL journey, really anticipating your reactions to Fear Inoculum.
Anger and aggression are definitely these 1st two albums..That's what attracted me to them. I always saw bands before all my friends. I found the bands that I love to this day. I've seen Pantera, well, I lost count but they were always here. Tool came here 4 times, so 3 here at least 4 at Pine Knob. All were like straight off the album. I've seen them make a mistake or two but only watching those on UA-cam. He calls Michigan his home state. Skullz seriously look up Passenger by The Deftones it's on their White Pony albums. Maynard sounds extremely strong in their recording. He basically carried the song. It's worth a listen ya know. Maybe you already watched it who knows it might be one of yours dear. Then.... Know your Enemy by Rage and they're killer live except the bruises from my ass to my knees. It was NUUUTTTS, 🤣😂
Here for it 🔥🔥🔥
Great reaction fam 🤘😎
Yeah bro, you rock! Nice song drop too, I checked that out. Great for you guys! All the best, looking forward to the rest. ✌️
Love the reaction, as always.
So obviously, I don't know your musical taste outside of these Tool reactions (and a couple of other reactions I've checked out here and there), but I checked out Manchester Orchestra after you mentioned them a couple of times and I dig them!
I'd love to see you react to a band called Punch Brothers - a song called Familiarity (especially since you used the word in this video). They aren't really anything like Tool, but then again, they are in some ways. They are some of the best composers and musicians alive, in my humble opinion. They may not be in your wheelhouse, but I think you would appreciate them at the very least.
This track was used for their first music video, an amazingly honest and brutal track, Opiate is very underrated, the next song part of me might be my favorite besides the title track 🌀
Keep in mind this was their first kick at the can. Rule #1 when you're a young band. Get your music heard. If they started off with 7 min songs they'd have failed. The more successful they became the longer the songs grew which is seen with each additional album. By the time Fear Innoculum comes along, not one song under 10 mins and a Grammy winner coming in at 15. This is in no way saying natural song writing evolution, composition and the music at that time didn't factor in as well to a lesser extent but when your the band who's new album is the biggest deal of the year or decade, LoL, run time means less and less. They could write a 23 min long song a-la Pink Floyd's Echoes at this point. We might just see that yet.
Yes
Can you imagine if Kanye or Kyrie tweeted this song out during their situations.
Skullz, loving your channel! Would love to watch you react to Harry Mack Omegle Bars. If you “First Time Reaction to Harry Mack Omegle Bars” guarantee you that you’ll get over 1k new subscribers. ❤❤❤
As said before, this song is about the parental advisory process.
Watch the music video for Hush, it's self explanatory.
Recommendations on this topic:
Dee Snyder testimony to Congress.
👌
Anthrax startin' up a pose (song)
All bands had something to say on the matter.
Hell yeah
I have that shirt!
This song is about censorship/cancel culture, you got it.
That intro...
Paul was perfect for early tool and the reason he was kicked out is because there was a lot of internal conflict between him and Adam during the making of Ænima, he didn’t wanna play bass anymore and wanted to be the lead guitarist, which is not what tool is all about, tool has never been about flashyness and solos, needless to say he didn’t share the same vision the rest of them had with the direction they were going and didn’t wanna play progressive, psychedelic music, so that’s why they brought in Justin, I respect both musicians alot but Justin gave new life to the band especially starting in lateralus
@Skullz
I'm an angry 57 year old woman and it rings true for me.
Are you gonna react to the Salival album?
I was hoping to jump to fear inoculum 🤣🤣🤣 but u made a pause on their evolution ... What a plot twist hehehe .... Btw I'm so hyped to watch your reactions to that album ... Especially INVICIBLE 🍻🍻🍻🍻
PLEASE do 'You Lied' Salival version before FI ...PLEASE !
JK bro. love the out 😄
Still trying to figure out how that OGT kid wearing Vans could accuse Tool of “selling out” between here and Undertow.
My man you could've done the '92 Philly live version of this song afterwards and killed 2 birds with one stone. People always neglect wiggly Maynard.
This one has a video if you haven't seen yet.
I wish paul would of stayed in tool Justin's ok just love anything from opiate to anemia when it come to tool oh yeah there's a video for this song by the way
Such a short album. Perhaps you could put two songs on one video next time
The video for this is... ridiculous.
☕🐝🇺🇸
yeah, it may be worth tying the rest of the ep's tunes in with the other versions available for a fuller picture. there are decent demos of the two live track off the Opiate ep on here (ua-cam.com/video/__EojCLZEpQ/v-deo.html), Salival has a great live version of Part of Me (ua-cam.com/video/ZlKH28Qokro/v-deo.html) and Opiate has been given a recent makeover for its 25th birthday - awww (ua-cam.com/video/KY7cofvtbco/v-deo.html). then maybe finish off the other tunes from Salival and you will be finally fit for Fear Inoculum. peace.
The music video pretty much explains the song. Censorship
Hey Skullz.... I got nothing to say !
👍🔧
Maynard tweeted this song to Justin Biebers girlfriend when she had a pop at him
Back then, the PC culture was just in its infancy-before morphing into what it has become today.....
The "PC" culture this song references is pointed squarely at pearl-clutching religious conservatives.
I'm a massive Tool fan. It's mostly all I listen to. But I'm wondering if you'll feel the same way as I do about Fear Inoculum. For me it's boring, predictable, and too repetitive. I love Descending and Tempest. The rest of the album just doesn't do it for me tho. They definitely peaked at Lateralus.
Stop making financial gains off TOOLs accomplishments, and if you’re a fan of the band stop supporting this band-wagon bullshit
No dissection necessary. Hehe. Lot like Aenima didnt much dissecting either.