10 Best Hard Rock Albums Of The 90s
3. Aenima - Tool
The word visionary is tossed around a lot these days, though I believe few would argue with it when applied to the bafflingly talented Tool. A band that somehow manages to contain four musicians at the absolute top of each of their fields, Tool have garnered a huge reputation as one of the most impressive and transcendent bands around. It says a lot about it then, that Aenima is often considered their finest work.
Stinkfist, Forty-Six & 2 and, the somewhat memorably named, Hooker With A Penis are all tracks instantly recognisable as Tool because, to put it honestly, there are no other bands out there that can create music like they do. Armed with the best drummer in modern music in Danny Carey and the creative lyricism of Maynard James-Keenan, Tool are a band who methodically build their albums to their fullest potential. Each album is an event and much of that hype comes from fans considering the brilliance of Aenima.
The album feels like a whole piece, a connected and inter-weaving artistic endeavour that has paid off perfectly. It is a treat to hear musicians with such superhuman talent play together at the peak of their powers, and Aenima certainly fits that bill.