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The only time I've bought a Tool album previous to yesterday was "Lateralus" back in 2001, which I ended up being sort of disappointed in since it wasn't as pummeling and punishing as the stuff I'd previously heard from the band. I didn't really give it enough of a chance, but at the time it wasn't my cup of tea. So I'm in Newbury Comics yesterday, and I see that Tool has an elaborately and pretentiously packaged new CD out, and the old tunes start going in my head again. Is it worth the risk? Will my misguided hopes end up in the bins of a used CD store? To my rescue came some NC employee who was giving out heartfelt music recommendations to everyone - he noticed that I was dwelling on "10,000 Days," and was so enthusiastic about the album (even though he hadn't heard it, he was completely convinced that it MUST be super) that I pretty much had no choice but to buy it. And I wasn't disappointed, it's a fantastic album! As this pitchfork review laments, it ventures into the realm of prog-art-metal...but I don't see that as a negative. Definitely an album to listen to all the way through, with maybe two or three stand-alone tunes. The album has a great ebb and flow of intensity and tension. The guitarist plays solos that seem to go nowhere, but that's part of the charm. Definitely lengthy - I'm usually not very keen on albums that go the the full 77+ minutes just because the room is there, but here's a case where it's the perfect length. It's a musical tour de force that I highly recommend.