Πέντε χρόνια μετά την κυκλοφορία του Lateralus, οι Tool αποφάσισαν να χαρίσουν ακόμα ένα δίσκο αινιγματικό αλλά και πανέμορφο στην ανθρωπότητα. Το 10,000 Days, πέρα από τις εμφανείς διαφορές του από τον προκάτοχο του, είχε και μια ομοιότητα μαζί του: περιείχε κι αυτό ένα καλά κρυμμένο μυστικό.

Το μυστικό αυτό δεν ήταν η ιστορία πίσω από τον τίτλο του. Το γεγονός ότι οι δέκα χιλιάδες μέρες αντιστοιχούσαν στο χρονικό διάστημα κατά το οποίο η μητέρα του Maynard ήταν καθηλωμένη σε αναπηρικό καροτσάκι, μέχρι και τη μέρα που πέθανε το 2003. Το ανεύρισμα που έπαθε όταν ο Maynard ήταν 11 χρονών, προκάλεσε μερική αναπηρία, η οποία τη συνόδευσε στα τελευταία 27 χρόνια της ζωής της. 27 χρόνια επί 365 μέρες ίσον 9855, άρα 10,000 μέρες βασάνων.

Το μυστικό θα έπρεπε να είναι κάτι όχι τόσο προφανές. Πού είναι, λοιπόν; Η Blair, webmaster του toolband.com, ανακοίνωσε ότι οι 4 ατομικές φωτογραφίες των Tool που βρίσκονται στο booklet, μπορούν να χρησιμοποιηθούν ως ένα είδος puzzle. Από κει και πέρα ξεκίνησαν οι εικασίες και οι ανακαλύψεις. Η πιο βάσιμη είναι αυτή που θέλει τον αριθμό 11 να βρίσκεται και στις 4 φωτογραφίες στο ίδιο σημείο κάθε φορά. Στην κάτω δεξιά γωνία, όπως βλέπουμε. Στη φωτογραφία του Danny, οι μίσχοι των δύο λουλουδιών σχηματίζουν το 11. Σε κείνην του Justin, στο ίδιο σημείο υπάρχουν 11 κεριά. Στη φωτογραφία του Maynard και οι δύο δείκτες του ρολογιού που βρίσκεται σε κείνο το σημείο δείχνουν το 11. Και στη φωτογραφία του Adam, στην κάτω δεξιά γωνία υπάρχουν 11 γυάλινα δοχεία. Ντάξει; Αυτό ήταν; Μάλλον όχι.

Πάμε στο ενδέκατο και τελευταίο τραγούδι του δίσκου. Τι είναι αυτός ο τίτλος; Viginti Tres. Κάτι μου θυμίζει. Α, ναι, είναι ο αριθμός 23. Με μερικές ψυχεδελικοπαρανοϊκοαρρωστημένες αναζητήσεις και αντίστοιχα συμπεράσματα, καταλήγουμε στο συμπέρασμα ότι, ο αριθμός 23, εφόσον έχει σχέση με συγχρονικότητα και διάφορες λοιπές ‘υπερφυσικές’ ικανότητες, μάλλον θα έχει να κάνει με το συγχρονισμό κομματιών του δίσκου. Και ω! του θαύματος.

Τα 5:02 του Viginti Tres μαζί με τα 6:11 του Wings for Marie (Pt 1) μας κάνουν σύνολο τα 11:13 του 10,000 Days (Wings Pt 2)! Χμμ.. Ας τα ενώσουμε. Έχουμε, λοιπόν:

Wings for Marie (Pt 1)  + Viginti Tres = 10,000 Days (Wings Pt 2)

Ας τα παίξουμε ταυτόχρονα σε διαφορετικά κανάλια ήχου. Συγχρονίζονται τέλεια και ακούγονται πολύ ωραία. Ας τα μιξάρουμε σε ένα κομμάτι. Ακόμα πιο τέλειο!

Κάπως έτσι σκέφτηκαν αυτοί που ανακάλυψαν το μυστικό. ΑΝ ήταν αυτό το μυστικό. Η αλήθεια είναι πως άκουσα τα αποτελέσματα των πειραματισμών (και το δικάναλο και το μιξαρισμένο) και όντως ακούγονται πολύ όμορφα μαζί και σίγουρα συγχρονίζονται αρκετά.

Αυτό που δυναμώνει αυτή τη θεωρία είναι και το artwork. Το εξώφυλλο του album, δουλειά και πάλι του Alex Grey, παρουσιάζει τρία πρόσωπα ενωμένα σε ένα πρόσωπο. Αυτό και μόνο, θα μπορούσε να είναι μια ένδειξη που λέει “Για να βρεις το μυστικό, πρέπει να ενώσεις τρία τραγούδια σε ένα”!

Για τη μουσική του δίσκου δε θα πω τίποτε, μπορείτε να κρίνετε, όπως και για τους στίχους.

Tracklist:

1. Vicarious – 7:06
2. Jambi – 7:28
3. Wings for Marie (Pt 1) – 6:11
4. 10,000 Days (Wings Pt 2) – 11:13
5. The Pot – 6:21
6. Lipan Conjuring – 1:11
7. Lost Keys (Blame Hofmann) – 3:46
8. Rosetta Stoned – 11:11
9. Intension – 7:21
10. Right in Two – 8:55
11. Viginti Tres – 5:02

Artwork:

 

Lyrics:

Vicarious

Eye on the TV
’cause tragedy thrills me
Whatever flavor it happens to be

Like:
"Killed by the husband" …
"Drowned by the ocean" …
"Shot by his own son" …
"She used a poison in his tea,
Then (she) kissed him goodbye"
That’s my kind of story
It’s no fun til someone dies.

Don’t look at me like I am a monster
Frown out your one face, but with the other (you)
Stare like a junkie into the TV
Stare like a zombie while the mother holds her child,
Watches him die,
Hands to the sky cryin "why, oh why?"

Cause I need to watch things die from a distance
Vicariously, I live while the whole world dies
You all need it too – don’t lie.

Why can’t we just admit it?
Why can’t we just admit it?
We won’t give pause until the blood is flowin’
Neither the brave nor bold
Nor brightest of stories told
We won’t give pause until the blood is flowin’

I need to watch things die from a good safe distance
Vicariously, I live while the whole world dies
You all feel the same so why can’t we just admit it?

Blood like rain fallin’ down
Drum on grave and ground

Part vampire, part warrior,
Carnivore and voyeur
Stare at the transmittal.
Sing to the death rattle.

La, la, la, la, la, la, la-lie (x4)

Credulous at best
Your desire to believe in
Angels in the hearts of men.
But pull your head on out (of) your hippie haze
And give a listen
Shouldn’t have to say it all again

The universe is hostile
So impersonal
Devour to survive
So it is, so it’s always been …

We all feed on tragedy.
It’s like blood to a vampire.

Vicariously, I live while the whole world dies
Much better you than I.

Jambi

Here from a kings mountain view
Here from the wild dream come true
Feast like a sultan, I do
On treasures and flesh never few

But I would wish it all, away
If I thought I’d lose you just one day

The devil and his had me down
In love with the dark side I’d found
Dabblin’ all the way down
Up to my neck, soon to drown.

But you changed that all for me
Lifted me up, turned me round

So I, I would wish this all away

Prayed like a martyr dusk to dawn
Begged like a hooker all night long
Tempted the devil with my song
And got what I wanted all along

But I
I would
If I could
I would
Wish it away
Wish it away
Wish it all away
Wanna wish it all away

No prize that could hold sway
Or justify my giving away my center

So if I could I’d wish it all away
If I thought tomorrow would take you away.

You, my piece of mind, my all, my center,
just trying to hold on one more day.

Damn my eyes!

Damn my eyes!
If they should compromise the fulcrum:
(If) wants and needs divide me
Then I might as well be gone…

Shine on forever
Shine on benevolent sun
Shine down upon the broken
Shine until the two become one

Shine on forever
Shine on benevolent sun
Shine down upon the severed
Shine until the two become one

Divided, I’ll wither away

Shine down upon the many.
Light our way, benevolent sun.

Breathe in union

So, as one, survive
Another day and season
Silence, legion. Save your poison.
Silence, legion. Stay out of my way.

Wings For Marie (Part 1)

You…
You believed …
You believed in movements none could see.
You believed in me

A passionate spirit
Uncompromised
Boundless and open
A light in your eyes
Then immobilized.

Broken
Fell at the hands of those movements that I wouldn’t see
Yet it was you who prayed for me.
So what have I done
To be a son to an angel?
What have I done
To be worthy?

Daylight dims leaving cold fluorescents
Difficult to see you in this light
Please forgive this selfish question, but
What am I to say to all these ghouls tonight?
"She never told a lie,
… well might have told a lie,
But never lived one.
Didn’t have a life,
Didn’t have a life,
But surely saved one."
See? I’m alright
Now it’s time for us to let you go.

10,000 Days (Wings Pt. 2)

Listen to the tales and romanticize,
How we’d follow the path of the hero.
Boast about the day when the rivers overrun.
How we rise to the height of our halo.

Listen to the tales as we all rationalize
Our way into the arms of the savior,
Feigning all the trials and the tribulations;
None of us have actually been there.
Not like you.

Ignorant siblings in the congregation
Gather around spewing sympathy,
Spare me.
None of them can even hold a candle up to you.
Blinded by choice, these hypocrites won’t see.

But, enough about the collective Judas.
Who could deny you were the one who
Illuminated your little piece of the divine?

And this little light of mine, a gift you passed on to me;
I’m gonna let it shine to guide you safely on your way,
Your way home …

Oh, what are they going to do when the lights go down
Without you to guide them all to Zion?
What are they going to do when the rivers overrun
Other than tremble incessantly?

High is the way, but all eyes are upon the ground.
You were the light and the way they’ll only read about.
I only pray, Heaven knows when to lift you out.
Ten thousand days in the fire is long enough;
You’re going home.

You’re the only one who can hold your head up high,
Shake your fists at the gates saying:
"I’ve come home now!
Fetch me the spirit, the son, and the father.
Tell them their pillar of faith has ascended.
It’s time now!
My time now!
Give me my, give me my wings!"

You are the light and way that they will only read about.

Set as I am in my ways and my arrogance,
(With the) burden of proof tossed upon the believers.
You were my witness, my eyes, my evidence,
Judith Marie, unconditional one.

Daylight dims leaving cold fluorescents.
Difficult to see you in this light.
Please forgive this bold suggestion, but
Should you see your Maker’s face tonight,
Look Him in the eye, look Him in the eye, and tell Him:
"I never lived a lie, never took a life, but surely saved one.
Hallelujah, it’s time for you to bring me home."

The Pot

Who are you to wave your finger?
You must have been outta your head
Eye hole deep in muddy waters
You practically raised the dead

Rob the grave to snow the cradle
Then burn the evidence down
Soapbox house of cards and glass so
Don’t go tossin’ your stones around

You must have been high

Foot in mouth and head up ass
So whatcha talkin’ ’bout?
Difficult to dance ’round this one
’til you pull it out. boy,

You must have been so high

Steal, borrow, refer, save your shady inference
Kangaroo done hung the jury with the innocent

Now you’re weeping shades of cozened indigo
(Musta) got lemon juice up in your eye
When you pissed all over my black kettle.

You must have been high!

Who are you to wave your finger?
So full of it
Eye balls deep in muddy waters
Fuckin’ hypocrite

Liar, lawyer, mirror, show me. What’s the difference?
Kangaroo done hung the guilty with the innocent.

Now you’re weeping shades of cozened indigo
(Musta) got lemon juice up in your eye
When you pissed all over my black kettle.

You must’ve been…

So who are you to wave your finger?
Who are you to wave your fatty fingers at me?
You must have been out your mind

Weepin’ shades of indigo
Shed without a reason *
Weepin’ shades of indigo

Liar, lawyer – mirror, for you what’s the difference?
Kangaroo be stoned. He’s guilty as the government.

Now you’re weeping shades of cozened indigo
(Musta) got lemon juice up in your eye
Now when you pissed all over my black kettle.

You must’ve been high!

Eyeballs deep in muddy waters
Eyeballs deep in muddy waters
Ganja? P-lease!
You must have been out your mind

Lipan Conjuring

–

Lost Keys (Blame Hofmann)

Nurse: Excuse me, doctor, do you have a moment?
Doctor: A moment? What’s the question?
Nurse: More of a situation, a gentleman in Exam 3.
Doctor: What’s the problem?
Nurse: That is the problem: we’re not sure.
Doctor: You’ve got the chart?
Nurse: Right here.
Doctor: Hmm… not much here, is there?
Nurse: No doctor, no obvious physical trauma, vitals are stable.
Doctor: Name?
Nurse: No sir.
Doctor: Did someone drop him off, maybe we can speak to them? Let’s get some background on this fellow.
Nurse: No ID, nothing, and he won’t speak to anybody.
Doctor: Well, let’s say hello.

Doctor: Good morning, I’m Dr. Watson. How are you today? How are you today? Look son, you’re in a safe place, we want to help you, in whatever way we can. But you need to talk to us, we can’t help you otherwise. Now, what’s happened? Tell me everything.

Rosetta Stoned

Alrighty, then … picture this if you will.

10 to 2 AM, X, Yogi DMT, and a box of Krispy Kremes,
in my "need to know" pose, just outside of Area 51
Contemplating the whole "chosen people" thingy
when a flaming stealth banana split the sky
like one would hope but never really expect
to see in a place like this.
Cutting right angle donuts on a dime
and stopping right at my Birkenstocks,
and me yelping…

Holy fucking shit!

Then the X-Files being,
Looking like some kind of blue-green Jackie Chan
with Isabella Rossellini lips, and breath that reeked of
vanilla Chig Champa
Did a slow-mo Matrix descent
Outta the butt end of the banana vessel
And hovered above my bug-eyes, my gaping jaw,
and my sweaty L. Ron Hubbard upper lip,
and all I could think was:
"I hope Uncle Martin here doesn’t notice
that I pissed my fuckin’ pants."

So light in his way,
Like an apparition, [that]
He had me crying out,
"Fuck me
It’s gotta be
the Deadhead Chemistry
The blotter got [right] on top of me
Got me seein’ E-motherfuckin’-T!"

And after calming me down
with some orange slices
and some fetal spooning,
E.T. revealed to me his singular purpose.
He said, "You are the Chosen One,
the One who will deliver the message.
A message of hope for those who choose to hear it
and a warning for those who do not."
Me. The Chosen One?
They chose me!!!
And I didn’t even graduate from fuckin’ high school.

You’d better…
You’d better…
You’d better…
You’d better listen.

Then he looked right through me
With somniferous almond eyes
Don’t even know what that means
Must remember to write it down
This is so real
Like the time Dave floated away
See, my heart is pounding
‘Cause this shit never happens to me

I can’t breathe right now!

It was so real,
Like I woke up in Wonderland.
All sorta terrifying
I don’t wanna be all alone
While I tell this story.
And can anyone tell me why
Y’all sound like Peanuts parents?
Will I ever be coming down?
This is so real
Finally, it’s my lucky day
See, my heart is racing
‘Cause this shit never happens to me

I can’t breathe right now!

You believe me, don’t you?
Please believe what I’ve just said!
See the Dead ain’t touring
And this wasn’t all in my head.
See, they took me by the hand
And invited me right in.
Then they showed me something
I don’t even know where to begin.

Strapped down [to] my bed
Feet cold [and] eyes red
I’m out of my head
Am I alive? Am I dead?
Can’t remember what they said
God damn, shit the bed.

Hey …

Overwhelmed as one would be, placed in my position.
Such a heavy burden now to be the One
Born to bear and bring to all the details of our ending,
To write it down for all the world to see.

But I forgot my pen
Shit the bed again …
Typical.

Strapped down [to] my bed
Feet cold and eyes red
I’m out of my head
Am I alive? Am I dead?
Sunkist * and Sudafed
Gyroscopes and infrared
Won’t help, I’m brain dead
Can’t remember what they said
God damn, shit the bed

I can’t remember what they said to me
Can’t remember what they said to make me out to be the hero
Can’t remember what they said
Bob help me!
Can’t remember what they said

[We] don’t know, [and we] won’t know (x12)

God damn, shit the bed!

Intension

Pure as we begin
Pure as we come in
Pure as we begin
Pure by will alone

Pure as we begin
Here we have a stone
Gather, place, [erase, so / a razor]
Shelter turned to home

Pure as we begin
Here we have a stone
Throw to stay the stranger
Swore to crush his bones

Move by will alone

Spark becomes a flame
Flame becomes a fire
Light the way or warm this
Hope we occupy

Spark becomes a flame
Flame becomes a fire
Forge a blade to slay the stranger
Take whatever we desire

Move by will alone

Pure as we begin

Pure as we begin
Move by will alone
Leave as we come in
Pure as light, return to one

Move by will alone

Right In Two

Angels on the sideline,
Puzzled and amused.
Why did Father* give these humans free will?
Now they’re all confused.

Don’t these talking monkeys know that Eden has enough to go around?
Plenty in this holy garden, silly monkeys
Where there’s one you’re bound to divide it right in two.

Angels on the sideline,
Baffled and confused.
Father blessed them all with reason,
And this is what they choose?

Monkey killing monkey killing monkey over pieces of the ground.
Silly monkeys.
Give them thumbs, they forge a blade,
And where there’s one they’re bound to divide it right in two.

Monkey killing monkey killing monkey over pieces of the ground.
Silly monkeys.
Give them thumbs, they make a club to beat their brother down.
How they’ve survived so misguided is a mystery.
Repugnant is a creature who would squander the ability
To lift an eye to heaven, conscious of his fleeting time here.

Gotta divide it all right in two.

Fight till they die over sun, over sky,
They fight till they die over sea, over air,
They fight till they die over blood, over love,
They fight till they die over words, polarizing.

Angels on the sideline again,
Benched along with patience and reason.
Angels on the sideline again,
Wondering where this tug of war will end.

Gotta divide it all right in two.

Viginti Tres

Be patient…