Tool: Vicarious - Dark Publications

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•	Tool - Schism
•	Tool - Parabola
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•	10,000 Days

Editorial Reviews:

Product Description
Studio: Sony Music Release Date: 12/18/2007

Customer Reviews: Read 36 more reviews...

5 out of 5 stars

Tool share an incredible video and great extras December 19, 2007
57 out of 63 found this review helpful

First, I don't see how people can complain that there is nothing new about a video that is being released for the first time! Where is the logic in that?

Now, to the actual review. The video for Vicarious is Tool's first entirely CG music video, running just a little longer than the length of the song of the same title on the 2006 album 10,000 Days [the extra length consists of ambient noise or silence, in terms of the audio track--the song has not been lengthened]. The video is very conceptual and well thought out by all counts, living up to Adam Jones' lofty legacy of directing and shaping Tool's surreal videos into deeply philosophical experiences. I won't take your time up here with any sort of analysis, but I will say that I recommend viewing the video repeatedly. For myself, the first time through I was aware of only a small fraction of what was going on in the video. Again, this is characteristic of most all Tool videos. One subtle thing that took me a long time to notice is the startling differences between the specters, and what their behavior is symbolic of. There are many such hidden gems in the video.

The extras on this DVD put the DVD singles for Parabola and Schism to shame. Foremost is "The Vicarious Documentary", directed by Camella Grace, documenting the creation of the video and revealing a lot of its hidden meanings. Some of the interviewees includes Alex Grey, Chet Zar, Kevin Willis, and many others, including much of the CG animation team from Hydraulx, who worked on the video. Alex Grey's comments are particularly revealing and it is great to see him make as long of an appearance as he does here. Pay attention to his comment about our culture.

Also included are two tracks of audio commentary set to the video, recorded by David Cross of Mr. Show fame (anyone remember where Puscifer got its start?). While they are worth not much more than a few good laughs, I have to say they are a step up in the comedy department from the commentaries on the previous two DVDs. That Cross goes to the liberty of naming the various characters in the video is pretty hilarious in itself. Take it all, of course, with a grain of salt.

Storyboards by Adam Jones and Alex Grey are included, as well as a brief segment on Alex and Allyson Grey's Chapel of Sacred Mirrors in New York City. Both are worth at least one watch; some of the shots of CoSM are particularly impressive, displaying some of Alex Grey's greatest art.

In all, I don't think anyone has a right to complain about this DVD. Tool never purported that live material was going to be included, so there was no reason to expect it. In addition, it is not right to think of this as paying ten dollars for "just a music video". Adam Jones' work really transcends the whole concept of a music video. It's more like a short film, set to a great song. If it were treated like "just a music video", it would be hard for Mr. Jones to get the kind of recognition he deserves, seeing edited cuts of the film on MTV every few hours. This kind of art doesn't deserve to be treated that way, and if you understand that and appreciate the work of Adam Jones and Tool, you have no reason not to pick this up.

4 out of 5 stars

THERE IS NO LIVE FOOTAGE December 17, 2007
30 out of 35 found this review helpful

Just so people aren't mislead by 2 other reviews here, THERE IS NO LIVE FOOTAGE (like they would include Swamp Song on the Vicarious dvd!)...

BUT, this dvd is definitely worth buying. Apart from the Vicarious clip which is excellent, you get more bonus stuff than their previous dvd releases for Schism and Parabola. The "making of" runs for 40 minutes and is informative with lots of interviews with people that made Vicarious. It also helps explain why it has taken so long for this clip to be made. The commentary with David Cross is suitably silly and I enjoyed watching Alex Grey's COSM section.

If you're a fan of Tool's you no doubt would have bought this by now anyway, but for anyone who has seen a low quality copy on youtube do yourselves (and the band) a favour and do it justice by buying the dvd.

Oh one more thing - there is no live footage.

5 out of 5 stars

Live Footage is REAL!!! November 23, 2007
27 out of 50 found this review helpful

I don't know what to say except I'm sure the code will be unlocked in no time. Try thinking unique remote code...think about the meaning of numbers.

Are you really surprised that "we" would put a hidden code on the DVD...are you surprised "we" didn't make it easy?

It is there...it's up to you if you're interested in unlocking it!!!

5 out of 5 stars

UNLOCK LIVE FOOTAGE...!!! December 18, 2007
23 out of 80 found this review helpful

For everyone who doesn't think there's live footage hidden on this DVD, here's how you unlock it:

First, let the introduction menu play all the way through once (it is about 3 minutes long, but will fade out & start over when it's done). While it is playing the second time through, enter on your DVD remote 0156. This is the difference in time between the DVD extended version of 'Vicarious' and the recorded version on '10,000 Days.' Then, go to the extras menu, select the commentary option & on the Mandy & Brandy screen, press left on your remote 21 times. Once you're done that, eject the disc &, while looking through the hole of the DVD at your TV (your screen should be glossy enough so you can see your reflection), sing the chorus to 'Vicarious' three times. Afterwards, insert the DVD again, this time UPSIDEDOWN, and a twenty minute live concert video should begin. If it doesn't, you've obviously done something wrong. I had particular problems counting to 21 exactly while pressing left, & hitting that B flat during the chorus. If you work at it long enough, it'll work.

1 out of 5 stars

Why Doesn't Tool...... December 16, 2007
9 out of 53 found this review helpful

Why doesn't tool ever release a FULL LIVE CONCERT, instead of all the "videos" of just a song or two? You would think they would want to give their fans what they want, a full live concert, not just bits and pieces of it.

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