Horses are terrible people

I can't seem to get enough of the new Tool album 10,000 Days.  While I wasn't a huge fan of Lateralus, but this album comes across so strong musically, it's hard to put down.  I've tried to not play it too much because I don't want to burn myself out on it, but I've not been to successful.  I've listened to it generally to and from work daily and most of the day at work.

I love how they take their time on the various songs, two of which weigh in at over 11 minutes in length.  Both Wings for Marie and 10,000 Days provide a very personal glimpse of lead singer Maynards struggle in dealing with the handicap and eventual loss of his mother.  So much so it gives me chills when in 10,000 Days as a testament as to the understanding extent of her faith, he describes the loss the world has suffered by her death and at the same time how her death was the end of her 27 years (10,000 days) of suffering.

While both Vacarious and Jambi come across as a bit of a disconnect from the album, songs written to be singles while the rest of the album is clearly not written that way, they do not distract and are very strong songs unto themselves. 

Many people may not be happy with the departure of the sound of Ænima to the more progressive sound of Lateralus and 10,000 Days, to me it's clear that they are growing musically as a band and offering a more compelling album.  From the complex rhythms and driving bass lines to the airy guitar riffs, 10,000 Days is for me, their best album to date.  Even Lipan Conjuring adds to the overall mood of the album for me and has grown on me since the first time I heard it and questioned its placement (and even inclusion on the album).  

BTW the whole overlay of track 4 on track 11+track 3 is pretty neat, though not something I find worth listening to repeatedly.  The synchronization at 9 minutes in is amazing and rightfully could be considered Part 3 of Wings.