and as the walls come down...

generally, it takes me a while to get into a new Tool album (or any really good, really different album for that matter), but after three weeks, i am still experiencing a bit more trouble with 10,000 days. on the one hand, there music is unmistakably Tool, crazy time signatures, double-bass, and all, but by the same token it seems far too.....not Tool. having listened to the album three times all the way through, i can say that it is growing on me, but not at a promising rate. i can't put my finger on it, but something just doesn't click for me on this one. my first impression, which kind of still holds for me, was that the album wasn't as "new" as i had expected it to be. instead of being that sound which inspires people until the next Tool album comes out, i thought they were showing influence other bands have had on *them*. i haven't delved into Meshuggah yet, so i cannot say if there is anything to that theory. i mean, how can you *not* show your influences, right? so, yeah, nevermind that idea. if they're making the music they want to be making, that's all that matters.

this isn't to say that i don't like the album. there are some really outstanding moments on this record, and maybe a few more listens to help me see more of the full picture. i find that a live show can really help clarify and convey a musician's work, but unfortunately, i, along with surely countless other local Tool fans, did not have $300+ for scalped tickets. oh well, they'll be back this fall.

i have, however, found a band that i did like right off the bat. during a late saturday night Steak 'n Shake run (don't ask), i happened upon one of the University of North Texas radio station's "popular music" programs. strangely enough, i had the radio on and not some cd. yeah, go figure. KNTU, a delightful aberration upon the barren airwaves of the DFW metroplex, generally plays jazz like 90% of the time or something, the exceptions being on the weekend evenings whereupon they broadcast "not-jazz". so, as i await in rapt anticipation the delivery of a VERY NECESSARY chocolate shake, a song by the band Follow the Train comes on. this song in question is called 1939 from their ep "The Great Disturbance", and it had me immediately. i don't know what they're putting in the water over there in Louisville, Kentucky (surely all those coal mines would've had wide-sweeping affects long ago, right?), but it seems to nurture good, refreshing music...or musicians, whatever. the point is that this atmospheric and haunting music is breathtaking, and if it is, in fact, inspired by the surrounding landspace, cricks, hollers, lush music scene and all, of Louisville, i need to book my ass over to them there parts, post haste.