O Tool, Where Art Thou?

     Over the past several years, several articles have appeared in many music publications anticipating the release of a new album from the band Tool.  I consider this endless speculation to be wasted column space that could be better spent writing about records that have come out and shedding light on bands that people might not be familiar with.

     The endless if and when of the release of this album kind of makes me wish that it never comes out just to see how long people will keep writing about it.  Don't get me wrong, I would love to hear a new Tool album.  I have been a massive fan since my youth and I've paid for the overpriced tickets and the $50 T-shirts but leaving all their fans in the lurch, looking for a new record, does kind of give me the chuckles.  I wouldn't put it past the band to be putting everyone on when they keep saying that a new album is on the way.  They were friends with Bill Hicks so I could certainly see them pulling off some sort of hi-jinx like that.

     I'm also guessing that no one has considered the fact that the band may have run their course and might be satisfied doing the occasional tour and hitting the festival circuit as a greatest hits act instead of working their asses off to put out a record that no one will buy but still endlessly bitch about.

     Tool records have never just happened and shouldn't be rushed.  This is another instance of art clashing with commerce.  The machine of consumerism needs to be fed with dollars right this moment and will not wait.  And really, who buys records anymore?  Why would the band go through the time and expense of writing, recording and releasing a monster of a record for no one to buy it?

     To this day, I am surprised that the average metal fan can hang with what Tool has going on.  From the odd, ambient soundtrack type songs that take up every other track on their records to the sheer length of their albums, I can't see the average fan having the attention span to go beyond adding the new single to their Spotify list and calling it a day.

     The band has said, in interviews, that it has scratch tracks and longer jams fleshed out and they're just waiting on lyrics to be written so the songs can be pared down and completed before recording. This is a process that can take as long as is needed in order for the band to get what they want.  If this decade plus wait between albums isn't evidence enough, Tool is a very methodical band that will work at their own pace until they are satisfied that what they have created is bulletproof.

     Add to that the fact that they are all grown ass men with their own lives and families to take care of.  And they've had to deal with the various lawsuits that they've been party to over the past few years.  There's nothing like having a meeting with a lawyer to suck the creative will right out of you.

     When and if the next Tool album ever comes out, I'll be the first in line to pick it up but until then, I'll sit back and enjoy everyone losing their minds over it not coming out.