Ο Paul D’Amour αποχώρησε, έχοντας προλάβει να αφήσει το στίγμα του στο μεγαλύτερο μέρος του Ænima. Ο δίσκος κυκλοφόρησε το 1996, κερδίζοντας θετικές κριτικές και το βραβείο Grammy για τη Best Metal Performance το 1998.
Ο τίτλος συνδιάζει τη λατινική λέξη anima, που σημαίνει ψυχή, με το enema, που είναι η ιατρική διαδικασία του κλύσματος. Ακόμα μια επίδειξη ιδιόμορφου χιούμορ; Πιθανώς. Ίσως και όχι. Οι προσωπικές ερμηνείες είναι ευπρόσδεκτες κι εδώ, όπως και σε ολόκληρο το δίσκο.
Το artwork περιέχει τις δημιουργίες του Cam de Leon Smoke Box και Ocular Orifice. 
Επίσης υπάρχει ένας πίνακας, στον οποίο απεικονίζεται ένας ασθενής που μοιάζει με το Maynard να δέχεται τη φροντίδα του γιατρού Bill Hicks, ο οποίος αναφέρεται ως Another Dead Hero. Μια φωτογραφία μιας ακροβάτη σε περίεργη στάση κοσμεί το cd. Υπάρχει, στο booklet, μια σειρά με 16 εξώφυλλα και τίτλους δήθεν κυκλοφοριών των Tool. Θα τα δείτε στο τέλος, στις φωτογραφίες, αλλά προσέξτε τίτλους για να καταλάβετε τη σοβαρότητα από την οποία διακατέχονται οι συγκεκριμένοι άνθρωποι: Two Weeners For Daddy, I Smell Urine, Iced Pee, Bethlehem Abortion Clinic. Παρακάτω ακολουθούν οι εικόνες που δεν υπάρχουν στην έκδοση του cd που κατέχω κι έτσι δε μπορώ να τις βάλω στο τέλος:
animated green eye
the blue man
sinking L.A.
angel-babies
Τα τραγούδια του δίσκου, όπως έχω πει πολλάκις, είναι διαθέσιμα για προσωπική υποκειμενική ερμηνεία. Ωστόσο, θα δώσω μερικές πληροφορίες για κάποια από αυτά.
Στο Stinkfist, περίπου στη μέση του τραγουδιού, μόλις που ακούγεται ο Maynard να ψιθυρίζει “chupa minha pica, pinto”, μια βραζιλιάνικη φράση που στα αγγλικά θα ήταν “suck my cock, bitch”.
To Eulogy μπορεί να “αφιερωθεί” σε πολλούς γνωστούς ανθρώπους. Οι περισσότεροι οπαδοί, υποστηρίζουν πως αναφέρεται στο Χριστό. Ο Maynard επαναλαμβάνει περί προσωπικής ερμηνείας του κομματιού, ενώ ο Danny καταδεικνύει ως στόχο του τον L. Ron Hubbard.
Το H. έχει ερμηνευθεί ποικιλοτρόπως. Ο Maynard έχει αναφερθεί στο αγγελάκι και το δαιμονάκι που βλέπουμε στους ώμους των πρωταγωνιστών στα cartoons, εξηγώντας για το συγκεκριμένο κομμάτι. Έχει πει, επίσης, ότι το όνομα του γιου του είναι Devon H., και, σε άλλη περίπτωση, ότι ο δοκιμαστικός τίτλος του τραγουδιού ήταν Half Empty.
To Useful Idiot περιέχει τον ήχο ενός δίσκου γραμμοφώνου που πάει προς το τέλος του. Στις εκδόσεις του Ænima σε βινύλιο, το τραγούδι αυτό ήταν τοποθετημένο στο τέλος της πρώτης πλευράς, με σκοπό να ξεγελαστούν οι ακροατές, νομίζοντας πως τελειώνει γρηγορότερα κι ότι απουσιάζει το κομμάτι αυτό.
Το κομμάτι Forty-Six & Two έχει αναδεικτεί ως πηγή έμπνευσης των Dream Theater για το κομμάτι τους Home.
To Message To Harry Manback με την ήρεμη μουσική και τα απαλά φωνητικά, εύκολα περνιέται για μπαλάντα. Αυτό, μέχρι να διαβαστούν οι στίχοι, οι οποίοι αποτελούνται από βρισιές, κατάρες και απειλές στα αγγλικά και ιταλικά. Το Harry Manback είναι πιθανότατα ένα ψευδώνυμο για έναν Ιταλό τύπο που είχε πάει στο σπίτι του Maynard κατά τη διάρκεια ενός party, προφασιζόμενος πως ήταν φίλος ενός φίλου ενός φίλου. Μέχρι που αντιλήφθηκαν ότι κανείς δεν τον ήξερε πραγματικά και τον έδιωξαν με τις κλωτσιές, αφού είχε προλάβει να αδειάσει το ψυγείο! Το μήνυμα αυτό, στάληκε στον τηλεφωνητή του τύπου από το Maynard.
Το Hooker With A Penis αναφέρεται σε έναν παλιό οπαδοό των Tool, ο οποίος είχε την άποψη ότι ήταν ξεπουλημένοι. Παίρνει πληρωμένη απάντηση όμως..
Το Intermission είναι το opening riff του επόμενου κομματιού, παιγμένο σε εκκλησιαστικό όργανο.
Το Jimmy, κατά το Maynard, είναι η συνέχεια του Prison Sex και παρουσιάζει το πως ξεπερνά κάποιος την κακοποίηση.
Το Die Eier Von Satan είναι το αντίθετο του Message To Harry Manback. Με τον τίτλο να αναφέρει τον ακατανόμαστο και τα σκληρά φωνητικά σε συνδιασμό με τα ‘βάρβαρα’ Γερμανικά και τις φωνές του πλήθους, φαίνεται να έχει κάποιο σατανικό νόημα. Αντιθέτως, οι στίχοι περιγράφουν μια συνταγή για μπισκότα. Ο τίτλος σημαίνει “Τα αυγά (ή τα μπαλάκια) του σατανά’” και η συνταγή έχει ένα μυστικό: δεν περιέχει καθόλου αυγά, αλλά λίγο τούρκικο χασίσι. Στα φωνητικά είναι ο Marko Fox των ZAUM και οι φήμες θέλουν τη συνταγή να ανήκει στη γιαγιά του. Πολλοί εκφράζουν την άποψη ότι το συγκεκριμένο τραγούδι σατιρίζει-κοροϊδεύει τους Rammstein..
Το Pushit είναι από τα πιο μυστήρια και δύσκολα να εξηγηθούν τραγούδια των Tool. Άλλοι το βλέπουν ως ακόμα μια εξιστόρηση των κακοποιήσεων που έζησε μικρός ο Maynard και άλλοι ως love song. Η τελική απόφαση δική σας.
Το Cesaro Summability έχει σχέση με την Cesaro Summation, αλλά μη με ρωτήσετε περισσότερα!
Το Ænema (μην το συγχύζετε με τον τίτλο του album!) είναι ολοκληρωτικά έμπνευση από τον Bill Hicks και το Arizona Bay του. Αναφέρεται στην κατάρρευση της Καλιφόρνια (συγκεκριμένα του Λος Άντζελες) στον Ειρηνικό και την ανάγκη για εκμάθηση κολύμβησης, προκειμένου να σωθεί κάποιος. Αυτά για όσους θέλουν μόνο την κυριολεκτική έννοια του τραγουδιού..
Το (-) Ions θα σου γεμίσει το σπίτι με μέλισσες, αλλά μη φοβηθείς. Τα αρνητικώς φορτισμένα ιόντα, πιστεύεται πως σε κάνουν να νιώθεις καλά, οπόταν μην ανησυχήσεις.
Το Third Eye ξεκινά με ένα απόσπασμα από το Positive Drug Story (από το Revelations). Μιλά για το άνοιγμα του 3ου ματιού, το ξύπνημα του πνευματικού εαυτού, αντικείμενο που είναι κοινό σε ολόκληρο το δίσκο.
Τα videos του Stinkfist και του Ænema, της τεχνικής stop-motion, είναι σκηνοθετημένα από τον Adam και συμβάλλουν στη δυσκολότερη ερμηνεία των κομματιών, λόγω των καλά κρυμμένων νοημάτων που περιέχουν.
-οι φωτογραφίες που ακολουθούν είναι δικά μου scans από την αυθεντική συσκευασία του cd-
Tracklist:
- Stinkfist
- Eulogy
- H.
- Useful Idiot
- Forty-Six & Two
- Message To Harry Manback
- Hooker With A Penis
- Intermission
- Jimmy
- Die Eier Von Satan
- Pushit
- Cesaro Summability
- Ænema
- (-) Ions
- Third Eye
Artwork:
Lyrics:
Stinkfist
Something has to change.
Un-deniable dilemma.
Boredom’s not a burden
Anyone should bear.Constant over stimu-lation numbs me
and I wouldn’t have
It any other way.It’s not enough.
I need more.
Nothing seems to satisfy.
I don’t want it.
I just need it.
To feel, to breathe, to know I’m alive.Finger deep within the borderline.
Show me that you love me and that we belong together.
Relax, turn around and take my hand.I can help you change
Tired moments into pleasure.
Say the word and we’ll be
Well upon our way.Blend and balance
Pain and comfort
Deep within you
Till you will not have me any other way.It’s not enough.
I need more.
Nothing seems to satisfy.
I don’t want it.
I just need it.
To feel, to breathe, to know I’m alive.Knuckle deep inside the borderline.
This may hurt a little but it’s something you’ll get used to.
Relax. Slip away.Something kinda sad about
the way that things have come to be.
Desensitized to everything.
What became of subtlety?How can it mean anything to me
If I really don’t feel anything at all?I’ll keep digging till
I feel something.Elbow deep inside the borderline.
Show me that you love me and that we belong together.
Shoulder deep within the borderline.
Relax. Turn around and take my hand.Eulogy
He had alot to say.
He had alot of nothing to say.
We’ll miss him.So long.
We wish you well.
You told us how you weren’t afraid to die.
Well then, so long.
Don’t cry.
Or feel too down.
Not all martyrs see divinity.
But at least you tried.Standing above the crowd,
He had a voice that was strong and loud.
We’ll miss him.
Ranting and pointing his finger
At everything but his heart.
We’ll miss him.No way to recall
What it was that you had said to me,
Like I care at all.So loud.
You sure could yell.
You took a stand on every little thing
And so loud.Standing above the crowd,
He had a voice so strong and loud and I
Swallowed his facade cuz I’m so
Eager to identify with
Someone above the ground,
Someone who seemed to feel the same,
Someone prepared to lead the way, with
Someone who would die for me.Will you? Will you now?
Would you die for me?
Don’t you fuckin lie.Don’t you step out of line.
Don’t you fuckin lie.You’ve claimed all this time that you would die for me.
Why then are you so surprised to hear your own eulogy?You had alot to say.
You had alot of nothing to say.Come down.
Get off your fuckin cross.
We need the fuckin space to nail the next fool martyr.To ascend you must die.
You must be crucified
For your sins and your lies. [sic]
Goodbye…H.
What’s coming through is alive.
What’s holding up is a mirror.
But what’s singing songs is a snake
Looking to turn this piss to wine.They’re both totally void of hate,
But killing me just the same.The snake behind me hisses
What my damage could have been.
My blood before me begs me
Open up my heart again.And I feel this coming over like a storm again.
Considerately.Venomous voice, tempts me,
Drains me, bleeds me,
Leaves me cracked and empty.
Drags me down like some sweet gravity.The snake behind me hisses
What my damage could have been.
My blood before me begs me
Open up my heart again.And I feel this coming over like a storm again.
I am too connected to you to
Slip away, to fade away.
Days away I still feel you
Touching me, changing me,
And considerately killing me.Without the skin,
Beneath the storm,
Under these tears
The walls came down.And the snake is drowned and
As I look in his eyes,
My fear begins to fade
Recalling all of those times.I could have cried then.
I should have cried then.And as the walls come down and
As I look in your eyes
My fear begins to fade
Recalling all of the times
I have died
and will die.
It’s all right.
I don’t mind.I am too connected to you to
Slip away, to fade away.
Days away I still feel you
Touching me, changing me,And considerately killing me.
Useful Idiot
–
Forty-Six & Two
My shadow’s
shedding skin and
I’ve been picking
Scabs again.
I’m down
Digging through
My old muscles
Looking for a clue.I’ve been crawling on my belly
Clearing out what could’ve been.
I’ve been wallowing in my own confused
And insecure delusions
For a piece to cross me over
Or a word to guide me in.
I wanna feel the changes coming down.
I wanna know what I’ve been hiding inMy shadow.
Change is coming through my shadow.
My shadow’s shedding skin
I’ve been picking
My scabs again.I’ve been crawling on my belly
Clearing out what could’ve been.
I’ve been wallowing in my own chaotic
And insecure delusions.I wanna feel the change consume me,
Feel the outside turning in.
I wanna feel the metamorphosis and
Cleansing I’ve endured withinMy shadow
Change is coming.
Now is my time.
Listen to my muscle memory.
Contemplate what I’ve been clinging to.
Forty-six and two ahead of me.I choose to live and to
Grow, take and give and to
Move, learn and love and to
Cry, kill and die and to
Be paranoid and to
Lie, hate and fear and to
Do what it takes to move through.I choose to live and to
Lie, kill and give and to
Die, learn and love and to
Do what it takes to step through.See my shadow changing,
Stretching up and over me.
Soften this old armor.
Hoping I can clear the way
By stepping through my shadow,
Coming out the other side.
Step into the shadow.
Forty six and two are just ahead of me.Message To Harry Manback
[words in brackets unclear]
Figlio di puttana, sai che tu sei un pezzo di merda? (1)
Hm? You think you’re cool, right? Hm? Hm?
When you kicked out people [out of] your houseI tell you this, one of three Americans die of cancer,
you know? Asshole. You’re gonna be one of those.I [don’t have the] courage
to kick your ass directly.
Don’t have enough courage for that,
I could, you know.You know you’re gonna have another accident?
You know I’m involved with black magic?
Fuck you. Die. Bastard.
You think you’re so cool, hm? Asshole.And if I ever see your fucking face around,
In Europe or Italy,
Well I’ll — That time I’m gonna kick your ass.
Fuck you. Fucking Americans, Yankee.
You’re gonna die outta cancer, I promise.[Bang bang / Deep pain]
No one does what you did to me.
You wanna know something? Fuck you.
I want your balls smashed, eat shit. Bastard.Pezzo di merda, figlio di puttana. (2)
I hope somebody in your family dies soon.Crepa, pezzo di merda, e vai
a sucare cazzi su un aereo! (3)(1) Son of a bitch, do you know you are a piece of shit?
(2) Piece of shit, son of a bitch.
(3) Die, piece of shit, and go suck dicks on a plane!Hooker With A Penis
I met a boy wearing Vans, 501s, and a
Dope Beastie t, nipple rings, and
New tattoos that claimed that he
Was OGT,
From ’92,
The first EP.And in between
Sips of Coke
He told me that
He thought
We were sellin’ out,
Layin’ down,
Suckin’ up
To the man.Well now I’ve got some
A-dvice for you, little buddy.
Before you point the finger
You should know that
I’m the man,And if I’m the man,
Then you’re the man, and
He’s the man as well so you can
Point that fuckin’ finger up your ass.All you know about me is what I’ve sold you,
Dumb fuck.
I sold out long before you ever heard my name.I sold my soul to make a record,
Dip shit,
And you bought one.So I’ve got some
Advice for you, little buddy.
Before you point your finger
You should know that
I’m the man,If I’m the fuckin’ man
Then you’re the fuckin’ man as well
So you can
Point that fuckin’ finger up your ass.All you know about me is what I’ve sold you,
Dumb fuck.
I sold out long before you ever heard my name.I sold my soul to make a record,
Dip shit,
And you bought one.All you read and
Wear or see and
Hear on TV
Is a product
Begging for your
Fatass dirty
DollarSo…Shut up and
Buy my new record
Send more money
Fuck you, buddy.Intermission
–
Jimmy
I met a boy wearing Vans, 501s, and a
Dope Beastie t, nipple rings, and
New tattoos that claimed that he
Was OGT,
From ’92,
The first EP.And in between
Sips of Coke
He told me that
He thought
We were sellin’ out,
Layin’ down,
Suckin’ up
To the man.Well now I’ve got some
A-dvice for you, little buddy.
Before you point the finger
You should know that
I’m the man,And if I’m the man,
Then you’re the man, and
He’s the man as well so you can
Point that fuckin’ finger up your ass.All you know about me is what I’ve sold you,
Dumb fuck.
I sold out long before you ever heard my name.I sold my soul to make a record,
Dip shit,
And you bought one.So I’ve got some
Advice for you, little buddy.
Before you point your finger
You should know that
I’m the man,If I’m the fuckin’ man
Then you’re the fuckin’ man as well
So you can
Point that fuckin’ finger up your ass.All you know about me is what I’ve sold you,
Dumb fuck.
I sold out long before you ever heard my name.I sold my soul to make a record,
Dip shit,
And you bought one.All you read and
Wear or see and
Hear on TV
Is a product
Begging for your
Fatass dirty
DollarSo…Shut up and
Buy my new record
Send more money
Fuck you, buddy.Die Eier Von Satan
GERMAN
Die Eier von Satan
Eine halbe Tasse Staubzucker
Ein Viertel Teelöffel Salz
Eine Messerspitze türkisches Haschisch
Ein halbes Pfund Butter
Ein Teelöffel Vanillenzucker
Ein halbes Pfund Mehl
Einhundertfünfzig Gramm gemahlene Nüsse
Ein wenig extra Staubzucker
… und keine EierIn eine Schüssel geben
Butter einrühren
Gemahlene Nüsse zugeben und
Den Teig verknetenAugenballgroße Stücke vom Teig formen
Im Staubzucker wälzen und
Sagt die Zauberwörter
Simsalbimbamba Saladu SaladimAuf ein gefettetes Backblech legen und
Bei zweihundert Grad für fünfzehn Minuten backen und
KEINE EIERBei zweihundert Grad für fünfzehn Minuten backen und
Keine Eier ..ENGLISH
The Eggs/Balls of Satan
Half a cup of powdered sugar
One quarter teaspoo salt
One knifetip Turkish hash
Half a pound butter
One teaspoon vanilla-sugar
Half a pound flour
150 g ground nuts
A little extra powdered sugar
… and no eggsPlace in a bowl
Add butter
Add the ground nuts and
Knead the doughForm eyeball-size pieces from the dough
Roll in the powdered sugar
and say the Magic Words:
"Sim sala bim bamba sala do saladim"Place on a greased baking pan and
Bake at 200 degrees for 15 minutes
…AND NO EGGSBake at 200 degrees for 15 minutes
…and no eggs.Pushit
I will choke until I swallow…
Choke this infant here before me.
What is this but my reflection?
Who am I to judge and strike you down?But you’re
Pushing and shoving me.
You still love me and you pushit on me.Rest your trigger on my finger,
bang my head upon the fault line.
Take care not to make me enter.
’cause if I do we both may disappear.But you’re pushing me,
Shoving me. Pushit on me.Slipping back into the gap again.
I’m alive when you’re touching me,
Alive when you’re shoving me down.But i’d trade it all
For just a little bit of
Piece of mind.Put me somewhere I don’t wanna be.
Seeing someplace I don’t wanna see.
Never wanna see that place again.Saw that gap again today
As you were begging me to stay.
Managed to push myself away,
And you, as well.If, when I say I may fade like a sigh if I stay,
You minimize my movement anyway,
I must persuade you another way.There’s no love in fear.
Staring down the hole again.
Hands upon my back again.
Survival is my only friend.
Terrified of what may come.Just remember I will always love you,
Even as I tear your fucking throat away.
But it will end no other way.Cesaro Summability
–
Ænema
Some say the end is near.
Some say we’ll see armageddon soon.
I certainly hope we will.
I sure could use a vacation from thisBullshit three ring circus sideshow of
FreaksHere in this hopeless fucking hole we call LA
The only way to fix it is to flush it all away.
Any fucking time. Any fucking day.
Learn to swim, I’ll see you down in Arizona bay.Fret for your figure and
Fret for your latte and
Fret for your hairpiece and
Fret for your lawsuit and
Fret for your prozac and
Fret for your pilot and
Fret for your contract and
Fret for your car.It’s a
Bullshit three ring circus sideshow of
FreaksHere in this hopeless fucking hole we call LA
The only way to fix it is to flush it all away.
Any fucking time. Any fucking day.
Learn to swim, I’ll see you down in Arizona bay.Some say a comet will fall from the sky.
Followed by meteor showers and tidal waves.
Followed by faultlines that cannot sit still.
Followed by millions of dumbfounded dipshits.Some say the end is near.
Some say we’ll see armageddon soon.
I certainly hope we will cuz
I sure could use a vacation from thisSilly shit, stupid shit…
One great big festering neon distraction,
I’ve a suggestion to keep you all occupied.Learn to swim.
Mom’s gonna fix it all soon.
Mom’s comin’ round to put it back the way it ought to be.Learn to swim.
Fuck L Ron Hubbard and
Fuck all his clones.
Fuck all those gun-toting
Hip gangster wannabes.Learn to swim.
Fuck retro anything.
Fuck your tattoos.
Fuck all you junkies and
Fuck your short memory.Learn to swim.
Fuck smiley glad-hands
With hidden agendas.
Fuck these dysfunctional,
Insecure actresses.Learn to swim.
Cuz I’m praying for rain
And I’m praying for tidal waves
I wanna see the ground give way.
I wanna watch it all go down.
Mom please flush it all away.
I wanna watch it go right in and down.
I wanna watch it go right in.
Watch you flush it all away.Time to bring it down again.
Don’t just call me pessimist.
Try and read between the lines.I can’t imagine why you wouldn’t
Welcome any change, my friend.I wanna see it all come down.
suck it down.
flush it down.(-) Ions
–
Third Eye
Dreaming of that face again.
It’s bright and blue and shimmering.
Grinning wide
And comforting me with it’s three warm and wild eyes.On my back and tumbling
Down that hole and back again
Rising up
And wiping the webs and the dew from my withered eye.In… Out… In… Out… In… Out…
A child’s rhyme stuck in my head.
It said that life is but a dream.
I’ve spent so many years in question
to find I’ve known this all along."So good to see you.
I’ve missed you so much.
So glad it’s over.
I’ve missed you so much
Came out to watch you play.
Why are you running?"Shroud-ing all the ground around me
Is this holy crow above me.
Black as holes within a memory
And blue as our new second sun.
I stick my hand into his shadow
To pull the pieces from the sand.
Which I attempt to reassemble
To see just who I might have been.
I do not recognize the vessel,
But the eyes seem so familiar.
Like phosphorescent desert buttons
Singing one familiar song…"So good to see you.
I’ve missed you so much.
So glad it’s over.
I’ve missed you so much.
Came out to watch you play.
Why are you running away?"Prying open my third eye.
So good to see you once again.
I thought that you were hiding.
And you thought that I had run away.
Chasing the tail of dogma.
I opened my eye and there we were.So good to see you once again
I thought that you were hiding from me.
And you thought that I had run away.
Chasing a trail of smoke and reason.Prying open my third eye