This album has been submitted by a user and is not included in any edition of the book.
Ænima (/ˈɑːnɪmə/ AH-ni-mə) is the second studio album by the American rock band Tool. It was released in vinyl format on September 17, 1996, and in compact disc format on October 1, 1996, through Zoo Entertainment. The album was recorded and cut at Ocean Way Recording in Hollywood and The Hook in North Hollywood from 1995 to 1996. It is the first album by Tool to feature bassist Justin Chancellor, who replaced original bassist Paul D'Amour the year prior. The album was produced by David Bottrill. The album debuted at No. 2 on the Billboard 200 chart upon its initial release, selling 148,000 copies in its first week. It was certified triple platinum by the RIAA on March 4, 2003] The album appeared on lists of the best albums of 1996 in Kerrang! and Terrorizer. The track "Ænema" won the Grammy Award for Best Metal Performance in 1998. In 2003, Ænima was ranked the sixth most influential album of all time by Kerrang! Rolling Stone listed the album at No. 18 on its list of The 100 Greatest Metal Albums of All Time. The title Ænima is a combination of the words 'anima' (Latin for 'soul' and associated with the ideas of "life force", and a term often used by psychologist Carl Jung) and 'enema', the medical procedure involving the injection of fluids into the rectum. The packaging for Ænima was nominated for the Grammy Award for Best Recording Package. North American pressings of the album were packaged in a custom lenticular jewel case (called a "Multi-Image CD case" in the liner notes) for the cover and interior disc tray. The cover art and other images in the liner notes can be set behind the lenticular "lens" to create an effect of sequential animation. European pressings of the CD featured a standard case, and the insert contained a catalog of sixteen fictional and humorously titled "other albums available by Tool".
One of the darkest, most ominous, complicated, twisted, and yet, in some strange way, gratifying masterpieces. It could only have been born in the 90s. Another unforgivable "oversight" on the original list
I'm not a big Tool fan, but this album is just *that* fucking good. I remember seeing the video for Stinkfist on rage when it first came out, and just couldn't get enough of it. I was only 12 and could barely comprehend its brilliance. The song is a journey, with really distinct parts that tie together so well, and the video clip just tops it off. Fucking masterpiece. And the rest of the album isn't far behind. I still listen to it every other week. It reminds me of the mid-late 90s, when I was getting exposed to all this new music, trying pot, surfing on weekends, trying and failing to impress girls... it's the sound of my youth. I should repeat: I'm not really a Tool fan, I've heard their other albums *maybe* once each, but I totally GET this one. I swim in it. I drink it. I escape into it. I listen to it and forget about the rest of the world, forget about the daily bullshit 40 year olds put up with. 5/5.
Honestly surprised this didn't make the original list, because TOOL is such a "music lover's band", but a great addition that harkens to other entries such as NIN, Bauhaus, and King Crimson.
No explanation needed, since this was the album I introduced to you all. This is why I listen to music and create it.
Amazing album! Atypical rythms, loud but hypnotizing
I personally think I prefer the proggier Lateralus, but this is still such a classic album that I'm shocked the list didn't already have.
With songs such as Stinkfist, Message to Harry Manback, and Hooker with a Penis... how can you not give this a 5?
TooL is just freaking awesome. I understand that it's not everyone's cup of tea, and I understand that many people might find it pretentious nobish music, but I can rock to this ANY day. One of the best live acts I've ever seen, and Ænima will always be my go-to TooL album.
Nice choice. Thanks for suggesting.
People who like Tool REALLY like Tool. Definitely a band with a cult following. There have been songs here and there that I've thought were decent, but overall Tool's discography doesn't quite mesh with me. I don't dislike it, but I don't love it. I can sorta respect what they are doing though, they do seem to be trying to do things to the beat of their own drum and there are some surprising moments in the album that I would not have expected. Lyrically and thematically some of the juvenile humor is kinda cringe to me though. From the New Yorker: "There is a superficial similarity between Tool’s career and that of another nineties band that spiralled out into its own world. Radiohead, after a rock hit of its own (“Creep”), became one of the most celebrated British bands of all time, expanding its palette and ambition while cultivating a hip and highbrow sensibility. By contrast, there is something unpretentious about Tool’s artsy experiments, which have enough snap and snarl to sound terrific coming out of even the tinniest car speakers, and which seem calculated to delight both drug-addled weirdos and hyped-up dudes in skater jeans." I suppose I am fully into the hip and highbrow sensibility camp.
I'm a TOOL.
I am a TOOLER
TOOL are expert architects of strange temples. That much is clear when Maynard's voice resonates from behind an edifice, or we find ourselves in atria neither suited for nor inhabitable by humans. That isn't the whole record, but whether the sensory organ is ear, heart, or third eye, it sees what it sees, not polyrhythm ratios. Sex is about angles; Doesn't make it math.
Never listened to Tool before. Positive surprise, energetic and creative.
Not a huge fan, but these guys are extremely talented musicians like a few in the history of music.
I’m surprised that this was not on the list. Tool is one of the most respected prog/alt metal bands. This particular subgenre of metal is not my favorite, but I still enjoyed this album quite a bit.
Really good album from TOOL. Really all that you would expect a metal album to be. Definitely listen to again.
Yeah, why *wasn't* there any Tool on this list? The band that launched a thousand imitators. I consider myself a pretty casual fan, and it's been a while since I listened to this one, but I'd consider either this or one of the next two ("Lateralus" or "10,000 Days") to be the definitive Tool album. It can get a little weak in spots, but it's got the trademark, mind-bending riffs with some noise and middle eastern influences. Shout out "Die Eier Von Satan", a cookie recipe recited in German over scary music. RIP Bill Hicks. Favorite tracks: "Eulogy", "Forty Six and 2", "Third Eye"
Not my favorite Tool album by a long shot, but they are pretty undeniable. I'm enjoying Nu-metal more as I get older.
Never a big Tool fan... Maybe that staticky ancient com system microphone voice wasn't a huge cliché back in 1996, along with many other kind of hacky dark rock tropes. Not terrible, not half bad really but not something I need a lot of in my life.
Serious hard and heavy rock in the Sabbath zone. Shane the good lyrics are a little muffled. Not a bad choice for inclusion in the list.
When I decided to continue this journey with the user submitted albums, I told myself I wouldn't force myself to listen to something that had no appeal for me. But then I realized that I would be a little sad if people didn't at least give the album I submitted a chance. So, I've modified my approach: I'll at least listen to a sampling of an album and then decide whether to listen to the whole thing. So that's what I did with this one. I listened to 4 random songs on it. And to be honest I can sort of see the appeal. There's more going on than I thought. But at the same time I confirmed this really isn't for me. Maybe if I was in a very particular mood, but overall I'm just not a fan of this style. 2 stars.
If you submitted this, don't take this review personal. I find this band extremely cringe, and I really couldn't care less about the gimmicky stuff with pi and the golden ratio that their fans put so much emphasis on. 3/10
Would really like to like it, but after giving many chances to Tool, its definitely not my style
If you like Pearl Jam and FNM then this is for you. I however don't.
A close friend in the early 2000s was into Tool, so I heard quite a bit of their music then. It never really was my thing even though I did occasionally listen to one of their albums on my own. I can’t remember if this was one of those or not, but no doubt I’ve heard much of this before. Tool still isn’t a love connection for me, but I will say that I appreciate their music and was surprised they were not on the official 1001 list. That seems like an oversight so I’m glad someone out there put it on this list. The first half of this album felt a little as expected to me, but then the second half reeled me in. And I found the closing track Third Eye completely mesmerizing.
Angry music for math nerds
It is like Linkin Park but good...
A much more focused and intense (almost hardcore) effort than I was expecting from the band having only listened to 'Lateralus.' While I still prefer the more long-form efforts of the latter, this was an exhilarating listen and gave the band some room to shred and let loose for a bit. The interludes could be dropped (they're solely in the throwaway filler camp), and some of the arrangements tightened, but this LP still fucks heavy overall and that's what I needed today.
Rating: 6/10 Best songs: Pushit, Ænema
I keep trying, but took still don't do anything for me
Yeeeah, this should have made the original list. Nuanced, adventurous and deeply dark. Thanks for sharing. Fave Songs: Stinkfist, Forty Six & 2, Eulogy, H.
Alternative metal, progressive metal. Ni fu ni fa.
Apparently I tried to get into TOOL about 10 years ago. I found three of their albums in my library, each of which showed a handful of plays. It must not have taken because I have no memory of doing this.
A lot heavier on atmosphere and lighter on heavy than I would have anticipated. Rating: 2.5 Playlist track: Forty Six & 2 Date listened: 01/10/24
I love the dark angsty vibe of Tool. Tracks like Stinkfist are exceptional and convey a powerful mood. Unfortunately after Stinkfist, there isn't anything that really delivers at the same level of the first track. I compare this to Fear Inoculum and 10,000 Days, which i think are much more engaging, with greater consistency track by track, that really have some exceptional standouts. This shows promise, but there's not enough to be excited about.
Nokkuð gott, ekki þeirra besta samt.
I am not a tool fan
The first song is named "stinkfist", looking through the other song names they're even worse. screams aimed at edgy 13 year olds as they didn't spend any effort on the actual music.