Choice is Yours Vol. 56: Ænima vs. The Downward Spiral
Tool – Ænima (1996)
Vs.
Nine Inch Nails – The Downward Spiral (1994)
This edition of Choice Is Yours’ sole purpose is to make John Prolly’s head explode.
The Game is simple… if only one could exist which would it be? What’s more important… personal relevance, cultural significance, or simply being the better album all other things aside? Choice is yours…
- My Pal the Crook
December 8th, 2009 at 2:31 pm
The first true tie you’ve posted. This is un-namable. But if I had to pick, it’d be Trent. GodDAMN you this is a good match. :)
December 8th, 2009 at 2:32 pm
Downward Spiral all day…
December 8th, 2009 at 2:36 pm
Wow. TOUGH ONE. Hrmmm…
If it were Undertow vs. Broken or Opiate vs. Pretty Hate Machine, it’d be a no-brainer to go with NIN. Hell, even Lateralus vs. The Fragile. But Ænima is easily Tool’s best work.
Fuck. head. explosionssssssssssssssssssssssssss.
Ænima
December 8th, 2009 at 2:51 pm
I actually have to agree this one is really hard for me also. These are two different yet similar and totally evenly matched albums.
December 8th, 2009 at 2:52 pm
fuuuuuuuuuuuck.
Wow that is hard…. (thats what she said)
I think there are better Tool albums than Ænima… but The Downward Spiral is prolly the best NIN except maybe Further Down or the Fragile… fuck this is it.
Downward Spiral
December 8th, 2009 at 3:12 pm
Fuuuuuuck!
Both are the peak of their respective artist’s output. Tool have done shit all since that’s worth anything and NIN have been on a long glide downwards.
Overall, Tool cinch it for me…But only due to two things: memories associated with the album and seeing it performed live at the time, and that spine-chilling bit in H.
*n
December 8th, 2009 at 3:25 pm
(Lateralus was really really really good)
December 8th, 2009 at 3:43 pm
Ænima edges out this one, though they’re both pretty amazing albums.
December 8th, 2009 at 3:54 pm
Tool…like penski I have fond memories associated with the album. I went to a Tool show when I was young (my babysitter took me to see Tool and she took me to a Gwar concert…watch out who watches your kids people) and it blew my mind. Listening to NIN is probably what I would listen to more now… but you could take Downward Spiral and I would still be left with some great NIN. On the other hand, you cannot take this Tool album from me.Well, I guess you can pry from my cold, dead hands C.H style.
December 8th, 2009 at 4:14 pm
only one of those featured holographic artwork.
clearly the winner
December 8th, 2009 at 5:00 pm
Okdecay: That’s a lenticular not a hologram
December 8th, 2009 at 5:22 pm
The suppressed, angry teenager inside me says Downward Spiral. You pigs!
December 8th, 2009 at 5:53 pm
As good as Ænima is, I disagree with the idea that this album is their peak. I think Tool is one of those bands that prioritizes growth, and I agree with Prolly about the merits of Lateralus. The twin ‘parabol’ and ‘parabola’ have long been a favorite song couplet of mine…the depth to which they explore poly- and tribal- rhythms on that album is mind bending.
The fabulous live album ‘Salival’ also showcases the best cover of the Page/Plant classic ‘No Quarter’ I’ve ever heard…it’s amazing. I have a soft spot for unlikely covers (Dave Matthews Band does an amazing ‘All Along the Watchtower’) but this one takes the cake.
Tool are true musicians who have been unjustly miscast into the ‘nu’ or ‘alternative’ metal categories and they’re just now breaking out of that.
And this from a Nine Inch Nails fanatic.
December 8th, 2009 at 9:35 pm
WHAT THE FUCK, TOOL SUCKS, ONE OF THE MOST BORING BANDS, WHILE NINE INCHS NAILS DOES NOT GET THE RESPECT THEY DESERVE. THEY GET BLAMED FOR SHIT LIKE LINKIN PARK BUT TOOL IS ONE OVER HYPED BAND FOR NO REASON. NINE INCH NAILS ALL THE WAY!
December 9th, 2009 at 8:40 am
Tool. NIN / Trent had a few good albums in them…more good individual songs rather than the whole album. I’d have to agree with Prolly
December 10th, 2009 at 10:27 am
Personally, I never understood the appeal of Tool. Although maybe I don’t have enough psycho-emotional trauma in my life to “get” Tool?
NIN all the way on this one (until I get assaulted or something).