Maynard is definitely mailing it in compared to 10-12 years ago and their live show was always about him, the others are great musicians but there's *very* little charisma happening outside of MJK. I think that being a really part-time band that plays increasingly complicated music means that when they go on tour they have brushed up specific songs and they're playing them a certain way and that's the show. You don't just chuck something you tried during soundcheck into "The Grudge", and they probably don't all remember how to play, say, "Bottom".
In Maynard's defence, I think a lot of what motivated him to be the Tool Guy when he was younger is stuff that is harder and harder to keep going as you get older without turning into weird old dudes like Neurosis, who as much as I love are still on about the same stuff they were 15 years ago. He's obviously tried really hard over the years to come up with different kinds of outlets for a broader range of emotional expression than can really fit into Tool.
I liked Adam's sound less and less after Aenima, not sure if I can blame the Diezel for that. I think also as the songs got more complex and his style and chops developed his playing became a little less distinctive, especially with a lot of other guitarists trying to cop his sound and feel.
In Maynard's defence, I think a lot of what motivated him to be the Tool Guy when he was younger is stuff that is harder and harder to keep going as you get older without turning into weird old dudes like Neurosis, who as much as I love are still on about the same stuff they were 15 years ago. He's obviously tried really hard over the years to come up with different kinds of outlets for a broader range of emotional expression than can really fit into Tool.
I liked Adam's sound less and less after Aenima, not sure if I can blame the Diezel for that. I think also as the songs got more complex and his style and chops developed his playing became a little less distinctive, especially with a lot of other guitarists trying to cop his sound and feel.
