Lateralus
by Tool
  • Record Label: Volcano
  • Release Date: May 15, 2001
User Score
8.9

Universal acclaim- based on 641 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 580 out of 641
  2. Mixed: 3 out of 641
  3. Negative: 58 out of 641

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  1. DavidF.
    Oct 10, 2001
    10
    this Cd kicks ass, those who dont think so can suck it
  2. SierraG.
    Jun 10, 2002
    10
    I love Alien Ant Farm's new album "ANThology". It's like Michael Jackson joined a punk rock band! I love it! Rock on!!!
  3. JerothD
    Jul 4, 2004
    10
    Nothing short of absoltely INCREDIBLE. Finally a group has created an album that has surpassed the likes of Zeppelin and Floyd, this music isnt just amazing in its structure, it actually makes you see spirals and geometric shapes at parts of the album, and makes muscles in your legs twitch in rythm to the music, not main big muslec, but tiny intricate movements, feels like a wave of Nothing short of absoltely INCREDIBLE. Finally a group has created an album that has surpassed the likes of Zeppelin and Floyd, this music isnt just amazing in its structure, it actually makes you see spirals and geometric shapes at parts of the album, and makes muscles in your legs twitch in rythm to the music, not main big muslec, but tiny intricate movements, feels like a wave of moving muscles. So much for music being so powerfull that you hairs on your arms can stand up, they have taken music to a new level.… Expand
  4. RakS
    Mar 30, 2007
    10
    agree with Aaron W - this album is more of a soundtrack to your personal spiritual awakening. It will be with me forever... food for the soul and delivered with love
  5. ShannonK.
    Oct 1, 2001
    10
    Easily the best album I've heard in at least 5 years!
  6. BomarF.
    Jan 3, 2002
    10
    this is *real* music... uncompromising, brilliant, stunning, dark, iridescent, powerful, triumphant, original, intense, precise, vibrant, dynamic, and beautiful beyond words. Primal and cerebral all at once (no, that's not a contradiction!), with no compromises and zero waffling. Impeccable sense of sonic "space." And not one bit more technical than necessary--absolutely no filler this is *real* music... uncompromising, brilliant, stunning, dark, iridescent, powerful, triumphant, original, intense, precise, vibrant, dynamic, and beautiful beyond words. Primal and cerebral all at once (no, that's not a contradiction!), with no compromises and zero waffling. Impeccable sense of sonic "space." And not one bit more technical than necessary--absolutely no filler notes or filler songs. Tool made this latest offering WAY better than anyone would have ever asked them to...a labor of love... a 12-gauge shotgun blast through the heart of stagnation; a triumph of brilliance over blandness, of inspiration over asinine posturing; of creative vision over A&R guesswork; of artistry over sludgy, bloated, commercialized poodling-around. Buy it.… Expand
  7. DeanJ.
    Jan 3, 2002
    10
    Album of 2001 without a doubt. Listen to it once and you won't get it, listen to it more and the more you get out of it. There is no other band like Tool and there never will be, so glad they got over the legal crap. Very happy to see all the good reviews here, guess I will never understand the retard that gave it a 3!!!!
  8. DaveR.
    Feb 4, 2002
    10
    It is, the type of music that demands that you listen to the things you didn't hear the first 10 times. It is over the top on talent, and sound production is perfect. To those who hear it once or twice and say "yeah it's ok but it's bla, bla, etc.", failed to listen at all and are not connected with the depth of thought it takes to understand the musical arraignments. Or It is, the type of music that demands that you listen to the things you didn't hear the first 10 times. It is over the top on talent, and sound production is perfect. To those who hear it once or twice and say "yeah it's ok but it's bla, bla, etc.", failed to listen at all and are not connected with the depth of thought it takes to understand the musical arraignments. Or possibly too tied up with the "popular" instant gratification entertainment available to take some time to listen to one of the greatest compositions of sound ever created. … Expand
  9. AytekynA.
    Apr 13, 2002
    10
    The greatest album ever!
  10. DjJazzyJeffreyJJuniorslickwidit
    Jul 21, 2002
    10
    This album blew me away. One of the contemporary albums best i own, right up there w/ Aenima and Radiohead's OK Computer. It maybe hard to get into if u don't listen to tool on a regular basis, but hearing the amazing ax work and drum solos will turn any musician on. Maynard, as always, proves to be one of the best frontmen alive.
  11. DenverH.
    Sep 10, 2002
    10
    this cd is the greatest thing that has ever happened. TOOL is the greatest thing that has ever happened.
  12. ChrisC
    Jan 8, 2004
    10
    Lateralus is a cornecopea of incredible sound taking electric guitars and percussion to a level equal to early classical music, innovative all in its own, years and years ahead of it's time.
  13. ChrisM.
    Apr 28, 2004
    10
    this has to be one of the best cds ive ever gotten. tool certainly doesn't conform to the formulated music that is so common today. you hardly find a good band with songs longer than 4 and a half minutes. tool goes beyond 11 minutes, and the drummer is definitely the best drummer ive ever heard. the drum and guitar coordination to make perfect sounds is unbelievable, like in Schism this has to be one of the best cds ive ever gotten. tool certainly doesn't conform to the formulated music that is so common today. you hardly find a good band with songs longer than 4 and a half minutes. tool goes beyond 11 minutes, and the drummer is definitely the best drummer ive ever heard. the drum and guitar coordination to make perfect sounds is unbelievable, like in Schism and The Grudge. I could go on and on about the perfection of every song on this cd, but it'd take too long. so basically, tool kicks every band of the 90's and 2000's ass. all the pitiful bands with a lack of creativity and originality, and to all you that say tool makes boring and "overlong" songs, you can f*ck yourselves, because you obviously dont know the first thing about a good song, you dumbasses.… Expand
  14. AJJohnson
    May 5, 2004
    10
    one of my faves!
  15. DavidW
    Oct 30, 2005
    10
    I own over 300 albums, and this is my favourite. It takes a few listens at first, but persevere, listen the whole way through and enjoy the journey
  16. fleaisretardedpartdeux
    Mar 4, 2005
    10
    This album is an amzing display of talent, passion, and artistry in an amalgam of beauty. The user flew spends more time assailing things he does not understand. bassists who use picks are not good? He is a moron. Tool does not know their instruments? time shifts in precision lay that idiotic statement to rest.
  17. christiand
    May 30, 2005
    10
    es lo mejor la verdad q se podria decir q mi mentalidad ambio radicalmente despues de escuchar esta banda simplemente son una leyenda viva
  18. TheressaH.
    Jul 6, 2005
    10
    best album ever.
  19. MikeS
    Jul 13, 2006
    10
    This is one of the most accomplished albums in rock music history. Lyrically poignant, instrumentally perfect, with haunting vocals, numerous gooseflesh producing choruses, and impeccable musical timing this album is one to cherish.
  20. PhilP
    Aug 9, 2006
    10
    Amazing. One of the best rock records ever made. Simply puts other bands to shame. P.S. Fuck you Pitchfork..most of your reviews just take the piss and put the artist/s to shame and you clearly have no idea what your talking about.
  21. AlexD
    Jan 7, 2007
    10
    Far and away my favorite overall album. That is not to say that it began there. It took time and many cycles through my audio receptors to get there. I remember a time, after its initial release, that I thought "uh-ok. This is not what I expected". Then one day, I was listening. My mind was in the proper place and the pieces all came together. There was an alignment and it made sense. If Far and away my favorite overall album. That is not to say that it began there. It took time and many cycles through my audio receptors to get there. I remember a time, after its initial release, that I thought "uh-ok. This is not what I expected". Then one day, I was listening. My mind was in the proper place and the pieces all came together. There was an alignment and it made sense. If you don't get it, no problem. It's not for you. On a side note, I have noticed that INTP's (myself included) seem to be predisposed to this album in particular.… Expand
  22. NaveedS.
    Jul 9, 2007
    10
    Greatest rock album of all time, Tool appeals to all senses. Don't believe critics, believe users. Critics rate Lateralus like chicken mcnuggets, I rate it as music and art. When it comes to that, it's a 10.
  23. Bryan
    May 3, 2008
    10
    Great album..... I have no idea how pitchfork does there reviews (some are good, some are wayyyy off). This is one of the greatest albums I've heard.
  24. grug
    Oct 13, 2001
    10
    Best album of 2001. Note the flaw in metacritic...1 bad review and the score drops significantly...
  25. MattS.
    Oct 25, 2001
    10
    This album kicks ass, The bass and drums are tight and Maynard is as haunting as ever.
  26. JessieC.
    Oct 3, 2001
    10
    Phenomenal and mesmerizing!
  27. JamesN.
    Jun 27, 2001
    10
    They always evolve, from excellent to phenomenal....
  28. DonnieP.
    Jul 31, 2001
    10
    Lateralus is nothing short of a stellar effort that builds upon and (if such a thing is possible) transcends Tool's earlier works. Though I have been a Tool fan since the Opiate EP, I must admit that I was a bit disappointed with the overall pace of Ænima, their previous release. A part of me feared a repeat with Lateralus, and I had my finger poised over the scan button on my Lateralus is nothing short of a stellar effort that builds upon and (if such a thing is possible) transcends Tool's earlier works. Though I have been a Tool fan since the Opiate EP, I must admit that I was a bit disappointed with the overall pace of Ænima, their previous release. A part of me feared a repeat with Lateralus, and I had my finger poised over the scan button on my CD player to skip the indecipherable sonic filler that was all too prevalent on their last album. After experiencing Lateralus in it's entirety, I easily came to the conclusion that skipping tracks on this CD is not only stupid, but also completely unnecessary. It's rock-solid from start to finish. This is the first album I have owned in a LONG time that I can say that about. Truth be told, it's probably safe to say that it takes a more thoughtful sort of music fan to really appreciate the depth and intricacy of Tool's art. I challenge anyone who enjoys music to set aside some time, listen to this album with headphones, and not be gripped (and at times groped) by the sounds of this amazing band. Tool is the great "anti-hype", the mystery wrapped in an enigma that continues to defy the expectations of a capitalist recording industry, continues to garner the support of new fans without overmarketing themselves, and continues to provide the die-hard ones with sounds that are unmistakably TOOL. They are truly one of the greatest rock bands of all time, and Lateralus proves it beyond a shadow of a doubt. If they don't go down in rock history for this album, then something is really, really wrong with this world.… Expand
  29. SteveS.
    Aug 11, 2001
    10
    We wouldnt expect anything more beautiful and haunting at the same time than this album. The way it builds up from the 1 minute intro to maynard to the crushing blows of dannys drum at the end. The album is just clever, very clever. Everything you could ever want from music is here, beauty, anger, fluidness, anticipation. An awakening experience, as every Tool album has been.
  30. JonathanG.
    Sep 23, 2001
    10
    10...why?...have you listened to it?
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Awards & Rankings

96
#96 Best Album of 2001
1
#1 Most Discussed Album of 2001
6
#6 Most Shared Album of 2001

Critic Reviews

All reviews »
Metascore
75

Generally favorable reviews - based on 15 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 13 out of 15
  2. Mixed: 1 out of 15
  3. Negative: 1 out of 15
  1. Wall of Sound
    83
    A 79-minute sonic sojourn of hard rock delivered with an arty, fusion-conscious sensibility rooted most obviously from the likes of Led Zeppelin, Black Sabbath, and Jane's Addiction.
    Read full review
  2. Q Magazine
    80
    Ultimately, it's Tool's experimental, borderline progressive, edge that proves most rewarding. [Aug 2001, p.141]
  3. Dot Music
    90
    It is dense, it is long, it is complicated. It is also a magnificent triumph of artistry over blind anger.
    Read full review
See all critic reviews »