TOOL’S “LATERALUS”: THE EPIC PIANO VERSION

Monday, August 24th, 2009 at 4:00pm by

Have you ever listened to Tool? Have you ever listened to Tool… on weed??? Have you ever listened to Tool played on a piano by one manon weed???

This is pretty fucking incredible. The fact that composer Adam Monroe was able to create a piano rendition of “Lateralus” is pretty impressive. That his version doesn’t just ape the original but includes a whole lot of his own flair is really fucking impressive. And the fact that he sings on top of it and nails the performance of this epic song is just… wow. I really can’t fathom how he stays on top of three different rhythms and melody lines all at once — left hand, right hand, vocals. This is no small feat given Tool’s penchant for having each instrument do its own thing, only each guy in Tool only has to focus on his own part while this guy is doing everything at once. You know those crazy buskers you see on the street sometimes who play drums with their feet, sing, and play two different instruments with their hands? It’s like that. Unbelievable.

-VN

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  • I’m not racist, but i hate Oceano

    This is what an orgasm sounds like.

  • groverXIII

    Damn… he nailed the vocals. The fact that he did so while playing the piano makes it that much more impressive. Tool may be a pretty divisive subject around these parts, but I think we can all agree that this dude is a badass.

    • metalguy

      fuck i read your comment while batman is playing in the background. you are now the joker on MS

  • Sin and Death

    Is there a higher quality version of this? Some of it seems to be lost to compression…

    That said, I’ve been on a Lateralus kick lately. Hearing this rendition complements the original song nicely, as well as giving a new perspective to the complexities in the song.

  • troe

    If you haven’t had the chance already, check out some of his other videos – he does some pretty impressive stuff.

    I remember the first time I listened to this, I was blown away by 5 over 6 poly-rhythm towards the middle of the song. It was one of those videos that I had to watch every day for a good couple of weeks, haha.

  • http://hoodedbeef.blogspot.com/ Dorian

    This is pretty awesome.

    “You know those crazy buskers you see on the street sometimes who play drums with their feet, sing, and play two different instruments with their hands?”

    Like this guy: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5-IC6qQ2tSY

    • Brian \m/(-_-)\m/

      or this guy, personal friend of mine
      http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=meHzBwn7HFA

      • evilJazz

        Thanks for the recommendation. That video was awesome. Just bought some of his songs over at broadjam.com

  • Chad E. Death

    “Have you ever listened to Tool? Have you ever listened to Tool… on weed??? Have you ever listened to Tool played on a piano by one man… on weed???”

    i only have one thing to say about this comment right here and that is

    BRILLIANT !!!

    that shit is hilarious ..

  • Sammy

    As much as I think the word “epic” has been overused to the point of losing its meaning, some things still deserve the term. Like four feet of champagne powder falling on my local snowboard hill in four days. And this performance.

  • anttichrist

    Dammit! “This video is unavailable in your country due to copyright restrictions” WTF!

  • Rik

    Yeah, I’m getting the copyright restrictions message too. How the fuck does that make any kind of sense?

  • bucketochicken

    Fantastic.

    Check out the “Vicarious” cover too – the syncopation part in the middle is giggly-good.

  • Mike

    This was just jaw-droppingly amazing. It made me feel better after that juggalo baby video. I have great respect for this guy because not only was the song played perfectly, he nailed the singing as well.

  • SourDeez

    Holy fucking shit. I need a fucking forklift to get my fucking jaw off of the fucking floor. Fuck.

  • Brutalizer

    Sickening.

  • Sandwiches

    I am impressed. No doubt about that

  • anttichrist

    Bloody typical. Here’s everybody jizzing their pants in unison over this, and i can’t watch it, due to some mindfucking copyright issue? Aaargh!

    • Chris

      I’m with you on this one. Further proof that God hates us and wants us to be unhappy.

  • MetalRod

    I e-mailed this to Axl yesterday.

    • Brutalizer

      I’m pretty sure that you are gay…….

      • Double D

        HAHAHAHAHA! Sorry, MetalRod, I’m not meaning to make fun. That dudes comment was just hilarious.

  • Kyle

    Damn, I got chills! (Or maybe it’s just the Slurpee I have right now! :P ) Still, the dude frickin’ nailed it! Awesome!

  • Butters

    This is fucking great.

  • http://www.facebook.com/people/Ryan-Black/622666904 Ryan Black

    I listened to this with full surround sound… probably the coolest thing ever done, and the ONLY time I’ve seen a Tool cover not suck.

  • http://www.facebook.com/people/Sanskar-Wagley/1376400331 Sanskar Wagley

    I’ve listened to this thing like 5 times TODAY

  • http://www.facebook.com/people/Sanskar-Wagley/1376400331 Sanskar Wagley

    I’ve listened to this thing like 5 times TODAY…I wish I was this talented

  • http://www.flamingtusk.com Zosimus

    Oh man, Tool’s been secretly writing Tori Amos songs this whole time.

  • http://www.facebook.com/people/Robert-Rhodes/1012548248 Robert Rhodes

    hahaha…Tori Amos. this is amazing.

  • your daddy

    most of my bitches play the piano. i guess that makes you one of my bitches!

  • Ian P

    You want to know what metal is?
    THAT is metal.

  • http://www.thejamminjabber.com thejamminjabber

    Dudes got talent.

  • West Virginia

    awesome

    just imagine how awesome it woulfd be with Maynard singing with him.

    Make a good album.

    • Ex.Nihilo

      This.

      That would be stupid awesome. This guy has some serious fucking talent. A+

      *goes and listens again*

  • bleak46n2

    greatest song in the world… hands down…
    atleast thats my opinion… LOL…
    i would love to hear ‘the patient’ though…

  • Factor

    I have a piano, but can only play Motley Crue, Metallica, and Journey. Can anyone in NYC suggest lessons so I can learn this? Thanks.

  • nairbs

    that was pretty fucking amazing..