Tool: Every Album Ranked From Worst To Best

3. Undertow

tool laterus
Volcano Records

1993's Undertow is the album that brought Tool into the public eye, and for good reason.

As the band's first full length album (Opiate was an EP), it was groundbreaking, re-introducing the idea of progressive metal to a mainstream audience that was still caught up in the fervor of the alternative music movement. Tool would, to some extent, be lumped in with that scene, notably playing Lollapalooza in 1993, as part of what was arguably one of the best lineups the festival boasted back during its relevant years. That year, Tool started out on the second stage, while Primus, Alice in Chains, and Rage Against the Machine were on the main stage. However, after Babes in Toyland left the tour, it was Tool who got the nod to move up.

That all corresponded with a brilliant single, Sober, and the accompanying video, which had constant airplay on MTV and was like no video really seen before. Using stop-motion animation, it was dark, gritty, disturbing, and completely captivating. Quintessential Tool.

Undertow, however, began Tool's flirtation with being a band the mainstream had trouble accessing. Walmart and KMart banned the record due to nudity in the artwork contained within, forcing the band to release a "sanitized" version in the U.S.  The second single, Prison Sex, received sparse airplay due to lyrical content. Still, standout tracks like Disgustipated, Bottom, and Crawl Away made Undertow an album fans sought out.

Undertow also marked the band's final album with original bassist Paul D'Amour.

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Primarily covering the sport of MMA from Ontario, Canada, Jay Anderson has been writing for various publications covering sports, technology, and pop culture since 2001. Jay holds an Honours Bachelor of Arts degree in English from the University of Guelph, and a Certificate in Leadership Skills from Humber College.