What's The Point Of The Speed Bag?

Artwork Music: Tool

When it comes to artwork for the music, something stirred within me. It will be for my past (and my present) as a musician, but when I packaging music worthy of the name I can not applaud that, often, a pack that is well done only by buying the disc. For all other cases, needless to me tell me, there are cheaper ways to obtain decent mp3. Looking here and there in my collection, I found some gems of packaging.

Tool, Lateralus
One thinks of the West Coast and the Beach Boys come to mind or, at most, the funk / pop Red Hot Chili Peppers or the nu-metal by skaters. But in Los Angeles of the '90s a few steps from the grunge revolution, created the tool. Take the esoteric, alternative rock, math and a pinch of psychedelic prog, and you'll have roughly the recipe. After Aenima (1996), which he had consecrated the world, Tool Lateralus produce (2001), a masterpiece of musical eclecticism. Tool I have always been attentive to visual music, offering live real emotion of playing on optic backlit LED screens, and effects measured, and their work artwork for the albums are equally impressive. The booklet
Lateralus describes a full intentions: six different designs printed on glossy media transparent, overlapping combine to give the image of a complete man. As in an anatomy book alternative, the six levels outline the various layers of the human body: bones, organs, cardiovascular system, and even a mysterious level "spiritual." In the last layer, the brain reads the word "God". The artwork is by the great Alex Grey in collaboration with Adam Jones, guitarist and art director.

Tool, 10,000 Days
Five years later, there is still behind the artwork of Alex Grey new disc. I tell you the truth: when I arrived in my hands, I could not believe it. On a support hardcover depicting stylized eyes and a logarithmic spiral, the booklet is set, the opposite end of the pack, looking through two lenses, the pages of the booklet become stereogram, making 3D photos of the band members (by the great Travis Shinn photographer who has photographed almost every famous musician of the earth) and all the information you need except the lyrics, never appeared on any of the artwork Tool. The images, in turn, reflect and complement each other by composing a sort of puzzle, but whose meaning has never been revealed by the band. A clarification: the I'm talking about is not some special limited edition box set ... packaging is the standard that you find in any store. The work is so impressive (and I guess, damn expensive) that they have earned to Adam Jones in 2007, the Grammy Award for Best Recording Package.