Undertow (Tool album)
Undertow | ||||
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Studio album by Tool | ||||
Released | April 6, 1993 | |||
Recorded | October – December 1992 | |||
Studio |
Sound City Studios, Van Nuys, Los Angeles, California Grandmaster Recorders, Hollywood, California | |||
Genre | Alternative metal, progressive metal | |||
Length | 69:13 | |||
Label | Zoo Entertainment | |||
Producer | Sylvia Massy, Tool | |||
Tool chronology | ||||
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Alternative cover | ||||
![]() The censored artwork edition, sold in periodic stores in the United States. |
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Singles from Undertow | ||||
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Professional ratings | |
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Review scores | |
Source | Rating |
About.com | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
AllMusic | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Entertainment Weekly | A−[3] |
The Rolling Stone Album Guide | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Spin | favorable |
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Wikiquote has quotations related to: Undertow (Tool album) |
Undertow is the first full-length studio album by American progressive metal band Tool, released in 1993. According to Allmusic, Undertow helped heavy metal music and progressive rock remain prominent as a mainstream musical style, and allowed several later bands to break through to the mainstream. It was released at a time when grunge was at the height of its popularity, and pop punk was slowly beginning to gather mainstream attention.[2] AllMusic saw the album's success in the "striking, haunting visuals that complemented the album's nihilistic yet wistful mood."[2] As of July 7, 2010, Undertow has sold 2,910,000 copies in the US and been certified 2x Platinum by the RIAA.[5]
The album was recorded between October and December 1992 at Sound City Studios, Van Nuys, Los Angeles, California, and at Grandmaster Recorders, Hollywood, California, by Sylvia Massy. Some of the songs featured on the album are songs that the band decided to not release on their first EP, Opiate.[6]
Album information
Undertow was Tool's final release with original bassist Paul D'Amour.
Comedian Bill Hicks is noted as "inspiration" in the liner notes. His presence would feature again on Tool's next album.
Chris Haskett, then with the Rollins Band, is credited in the liner notes with "sledge hammer", probably relating to the "three pianos and shotguns smashed with sledgehammers" on "Disgustipated".[7] Adam Jones recalls a story in which the band purchased two second-hand pianos with the intention of blasting them with shotguns in the indoor parking lot of Grand Master Studio and putting the resulting sounds to tape. Apparently the woman running the studio was happy as long as they cleaned up the mess afterwards. Since the incident, Tool has been approached by other bands claiming to have seen the shotgun holes left by them in the carpark wall.[8]
Artwork
The album art was designed by Adam Jones.[6] Photos in the liner notes of a nude obese woman, a nude man of normal weight, and the band members with pins in the sides of their heads generated controversy, resulting in the album being removed from stores such as Kmart and Wal-Mart.[9][10] The band reacted by releasing another version, which depicted a giant bar code on a white background.[9] This version of the album included a note from the band.
The message on the photographs of the band members reads "Trust me trust me trust me trust me trust me I just want to start this over say you won't go this is love I'll make weapons out of my imperfections lay back and let me show you another way only this one holy medium brings me peace of mind cleanse and purge me in the water twice as loud as reason euphoria I've been far too sympathetic no one told you to come I hope it sucks you down life feeds on life this is necessary." This passage contains lyrics from all of the songs of the album.
In some versions of the album, when the black CD tray is removed from the case, a picture of a cow licking what appears to be its genital region is revealed. In other versions of the album, released internationally, the picture of the cow licking the genital region is viewable without problems under the transparent backing of the disc case. The photo of the cow is accredited in the album's liner notes to have been taken by Danielle Bregman. The ribcage is also on the front cover of the album, but the obese woman is absent from the booklet of the musical album; only the members of the band are depicted.
Adam Jones' pet pig, Moe, appears on the back cover[8] amid an array of forks standing on end.
Track listing
All music written by Danny Carey, Paul D'Amour, and Adam Jones. All lyrics written by Maynard James Keenan, unless otherwise noted.
Standard | |||
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No. | Title | Lyrics | Length |
1. | "Intolerance" | 4:54 | |
2. | "Prison Sex" | 4:56 | |
3. | "Sober" | 5:06 | |
4. | "Bottom" (feat. Henry Rollins) | Keenan, Henry Rollins | 7:14 |
5. | "Crawl Away" | 5:29 | |
6. | "Swamp Song" | 5:31 | |
7. | "Undertow" (![]() | 5:22 | |
8. | "4°" | 6:03 | |
9. | "Flood" | 7:45 | |
10. | "Disgustipated" | 15:47 | |
Total length: | 69:13 |
Bonus track on Japanese import | ||
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Track listing | ||
No. | Title | Length |
11. | "Flood (Live)" | 7:45 |
Total length: | 75:52 |
"Disgustipated" is track 69 on most pressings in North America (tracks 10–68 are silent. Tracks 10-67 are 1 second each in length, and track 68 is 2 seconds). It also appears as track 39, track 10 (mostly in Europe and Australia) or as a hidden track following "Flood" on track 9. On certain Japanese imports, "Disgustipated" is track 70. In all cases, it is listed as track 10 on the album itself.
Personnel
The band members are listed under aliases in the liner notes.
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Additional musicians
Production
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Release history
![](../I/m/Tool-Undertow-note.jpg)
Region | Date | Label | Format | Catalog | Distributor | Notes |
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United States | 1993 (1) | Zoo Entertainment | Vinyl | ZP11052-1 | BMG Music | Grey vinyl (promotional) |
ZP11052-1 | Clear vinyl (promotional) | |||||
(original release) |
CD | 72445-11052-2 | ||||
Cassette | 72445-11052-4 | |||||
Vinyl | 72445-11052-1 | |||||
CD | 72445-11073-2 | Barcode cover | ||||
Cassette | 72445-11073-4 | Barcode cover | ||||
CD | D 153661 | BMG Direct Marketing | ||||
Canada | BG2-11052 | Columbia House | ||||
Germany | 72445-11052-2 | BMG Music | ||||
United States | 1996 (2) | Volcano Entertainment | Vinyl | 72445-11052-1-RE | Repress | |
CD | 61422-31073-2 | Barcode cover | ||||
Europe | 1993 | 7243 8 46690 2 | Virgin | |||
United Kingdom | Music For Nations | CDMFN 246 | ||||
Canada | 1999 (3) | and Tool Dissectional |
61422-33010-2 | BMG Music Canada | ||
United States | Vinyl | 61422-31052-1 | Sony BMG Music | Released in the original Zoo sleeve | ||
Europe | CD | 0550032 | ||||
Japan | June 27, 2001 | ZJCI-14006 | Avex | |||
United States | 2004 (4) | Vinyl | 61422-31052-1 | Sony BMG Music | ||
Japan | May 10, 2006 | CD | BVCQ-21070 | |||
Europe | May 15, 2006 | 82876536472 |
- The promotional vinyl did not include the final track "Disgustipated" so that the entire album could fit onto one disc. Because it is promotional, it is possible that it was released before the regular pressing, therefore, only the year is listed.
- The year 1996 represents the year that Volcano Entertainment began using its own logo on releases which formerly used the Zoo Entertainment logo. In reality, 1996 reissues with the Volcano logo may not have actually been widely distributed until early in 1997.
- The year 1999 represents the year that Tool's Tool Dissectional label was used in conjunction with Volcano. Strong evidence supports a North American reissue date of July 1, 1999, however, the European ones are unknown. To be cautious, only the year is given for all releases of this nature.
- The year 2004 represents the year that Sony BMG was created. These reissues contain artwork that depicts Sony BMG as the distributor. Since Sony BMG's pressing schedule is not known, the actual release date may be sometime in 2004 or 2005.
Charts
Albums
Year | Chart | Position |
---|---|---|
1993 | Billboard 200 | 50 |
1993 | Top Heatseekers | 1 |
Singles
Year | Single | Chart | Position |
---|---|---|---|
1993 | "Sober" | Mainstream Rock Tracks | 13 |
1994 | "Prison Sex" | Mainstream Rock Tracks | 32 |
1994 | "Sober" | Mainstream Rock Tracks | 23 |
Sales and certifications
Region | Certification | Certified units/Sales |
---|---|---|
United States (RIAA)[11] | 2× Platinum | 2,910,000^ |
Canada (Music Canada)[12] | Platinum | 100,000^ |
^shipments figures based on certification alone |
Accolades
Publication | Country | Accolade[13] | Year | Rank |
---|---|---|---|---|
Raw | UK | Albums of the Year | 1993 | 6 |
Raw | UK | 90 Essential Albums of the 90s | 1995 | * |
Visions | Germany | The Best Albums 1991–96 | 1996 | * |
Pause & Play | US | The 90s Top 100 Essential Albums | 1999 | 11 |
Classic Rock | UK | The 100 Greatest Rock Albums of All Time | 2001 | 87 |
(*) designates unordered lists.
References
- ↑ Tim Grierson. "Undertow Review". About.com. Retrieved May 6, 2009.
- 1 2 3 Rob Theakston (July 2, 2001). "Undertow Review". AllMusic.com. Retrieved May 22, 2007.
Just as grunge was reaching its boiling point and radio-friendly punk-pop loomed on the horizon, Tool released Undertow, which firmly reinforced metal's prominence as a musical style [...] With its technical brilliance, musical complexities, and aggressive overtones, Undertow not only paved the way for several bands to break through to the mainstream [...], it also proved that metal could be simultaneously intelligent, emotional, and brutal.
- ↑ David Browne (May 28, 1993). "Undertow Review". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved April 23, 2012.
- ↑ "Tool: Album Guide". Rolling Stone. Retrieved April 23, 2012.
- ↑ "British Rock Royalty Add More Awards". RIAA. July 2, 2001. Archived from the original on October 15, 2006. Retrieved May 14, 2007.
..."Aenima" and "Undertow" are currently double Platinum...
- 1 2 3 Gennaro, Loraine (1994). "Tool Guitarist Adam Jones is a Master of Many Trades". Guitar School. 03: 16. Retrieved April 7, 2006.
- ↑ "The Tool FAQ". toolshed.down.net. Retrieved August 12, 2011.
- 1 2 Beaujour, Tom (2008). "Chapter 2 – Undertow (1993)". Revolver presents 'The Book of Tool': 22–24.
- 1 2 Griffin, J.R. (1994). "Tool on Videos, Censorship, Art, And Why You Should Never Let A Guy Named Maynard Put You in a Cage". Axcess. Retrieved May 13, 2007.
It came as no surprise when Wal-Mart and Kmart refused to carry the album. Rather than miss out on a large audience, Tool decided to censor itself and released a plain white album cover that contained nothing more than a giant bar code, the band's name, and the album tracks.
- ↑ Richard Harrington (April 6, 1994). "Keeping Those Risque Covers Undercover" (fee required). The Washington Post. Retrieved February 2, 2008.
- ↑ "American album certifications – Tool – Undertow". Recording Industry Association of America. If necessary, click Advanced, then click Format, then select Album, then click SEARCH
- ↑ "Canadian album certifications – Tool – Undertow". Music Canada.
- ↑ "Undertow". Acclaimedmusic. Retrieved May 22, 2007.