I absolutely love Tool but I somewhat regret buying this LP. The light weight of the vinyl leaves me unsatisfied. Also, the labels look like they were applied by a three year old. The labels were sloppily pressed into the record, cut/torn and don't even feature any artwork (a little boring to look at).

Undertow begs for the listener to see, hear and especially FEEL what it is all about. From the lyrics, art and the music itself you receive an explaination on what Tool thinks about life, isolation, love disguised as sex, sex disguised as an oulet to understanding oneself, politics and disorder.
In the begining of the album you hear what sounds like someone hitting a bong (hookah for our eastern friends) ironic huh, the first track is intolerance and you hear that sound when in actuality it is a scuba divers lungs filling up with water and suffocating. But I digress eveyone has an opinion on Tools music and regardless if I agree with what people think or not opinions are useful. I happen to have a tatoo of the minds eylet from aenema on my forarm... and I could go on and on about how it represents a minds eye and not a "regular" eye.
That's the thing about Tool you think you know what your getting from them and they surpass expectations in a vast majority.

It took me a while to warm up to Tool. Being a long time fan of progressive rock tool seemed to fit that mold so I picked up "Aenmia" but it did not do that much for me. Then when "Lateralus" came out I kept seeing glowing reviews for it on progressive rock web sites to I decided to give Tool another shot. This time it clicked and I "got it". Since that time I have become a big fan and went back and picked up "Undertow" from their back catalogue. I don't think this one is quite as strong as some of the albums that came later, and the production is a bit on the muddy side compared to the later discs, but this is still a great album that introduced the band to the masses with the song "Sober" which is still a fan favorite. "Prison Sex", "Bottom", "Swamp Song", "Undertow" and "Flood" are all great grinding metal / prog that still sound unique. Maynard Keenan's vocals soar over it all like a roaring engine. I have grown to really appreciate this band and finally got the chance to see them live last year. "Undertow" is not their best, but it is certainly worth checking out.

My soul must be iron... This record was so refreshing in 93. A band of true artists. The music is everything. This record rocks. Weird, arty videos that don't show the band at all. A frontman who is not a typical frontman. Performing Live, he is a shadow. Again, because it is the music, not the personalities or looks. I love that about this band. Buy it.

Tool formed in Los Angeles in the early '90's and in a very short amount of time got a record deal with Zoo Entertainment. They released an EP then this full-length "Undertow". They achieved great success as soon as their single "Sober" hit the air waves and nu-metal/progressive rock fans ate Tool up QUICKLY.

Singer Maynard James Keenan writes serious, powerful, intense, insightful lyrics and that, put with Danny Carey's bruising drumming riffs and Adam Jones's grinding ultra-loud bass riffs, sets "Undertow" as one of the best albums of the decade. The songs are long at times and in a way go off into their own world, but that's one side people love about Tool. They set the standard high and are known for doing things their own way and in their own time. They have much voice in the production, so it's done on Tool's time and sense.