Undertow (Tool album)

Undertow is Tool's first full-length album, released in 1993. When this album was released, grunge music was at its most popular, and pop punk was slowly beginning to become popular. Undertow helped heavy metal music continue as a leading mainstream musical style, and allowed several later bands to break through to the mainstream. Allmusic saw the album's success in the "striking, haunting visuals that complemented the album's nihilistic yet wistful mood." It was eventually certified double platinum by the RIAA on May 14, 2001.

The album was recorded between October and December 1992 at Grand Master Studios, Hollywood, California, and includes songs that the band decided to not release on their previous EP, Opiate.

Track listing
CD
All songs written by Tool unless otherwise noted.

1. "Intolerance" – 4:53
2. "Prison Sex" – 4:56
3. "Sober" - 5:06
4. "Bottom" - 7.13 (Tool, Henry Rollins)
5. "Crawl Away" - 5:29
6. "Swamp Song" - 5:31
7. "Undertow" - 5:21
8. "4°" - 6:02
9. "Flood" - 7:45
69. "Disgustipated" - 15:47

"Disgustipated" is track 69 on most pressings in North America (causing most CD players upon reaching the end of track 9 to advance through tracks 10-68, which contain no data, at a rate of about 2 per second until track 69 is reached). It also appears as track 39, track 10 (mostly in Europe) or as a hidden track following "Flood" on track 9.
On certain Japanese imports, "Disgustipated" is track 70, with a short live version of "Flood" as track 71.
The exact breakdown of "Disgustipated" is as follows:)

Percussion/Animal sounds - 0:00 - 1:10
Preacher - 1:11 - 2:32
Disgustipated - 2:33 - 6:45
Crickets - 6:46 - 13:50
Phone message - 13:51 - 15:47

LP
Side one
"Intolerance"
"Prison Sex"
"Sober"
Side two
"Bottom"
"Crawl Away"
"Swamp Song"
Side three
"Undertow"
"4°"
"Flood"
Side four
"Disgustipated"

Charting
Albums
YearChartPosition 1993 Billboard 20050 1993 Top Heatseekers1

Singles
YearSingleChartPosition 1993 "Sober" Mainstream Rock Tracks13 1994 "Prison Sex" Mainstream Rock Tracks32 1994 "Sober" Mainstream Rock Tracks23

Accolades

PublicationCountryAccoladeYearRankRaw UKAlbums of the Year  19936RawUK90 Essential Albums of the 90s1995*Visions GermanyThe Best Albums 1991-961996*Pause & PlayUSThe 90s Top 100 Essential Albums199911Classic RockUKThe 100 Greatest Rock Albums of All Time200187

(*) designates unordered lists.

 References 

Category:1993 albums
Category:Debut albums
Category:Heavy metal albums
Category:Tool (band) albums