Why does Tool seem more popular than Dream Theater?

I can't figure out why Tool, as avant-garde as it is, has sold more albums than Dream Theater. I know record sales don't determine how good a band is, but Dream Theater seems more accessible to the mainstream in terms of music style than Tool. Yet Tool seems to be vastly more popular cause of all the shirts, bumper stickers, hat, tats, etc. that I've seen. Is James LaBrie's vocals that big of a turn off to mainstream listeners? Is there something in Tool's music that attracts listeners?

i don't listen to Tool, but love Dream Theater...so i cannot answer your questions.

Tool appeals to potheads. Though alot of those people don't have jobs, their influence is immeasurable.

mc666 wrote:

i don't listen to Tool, but love Dream Theater...so i cannot answer your questions.

Me too....

mc666 wrote:

i don't listen to Tool, but love Dream Theater...so i cannot answer your questions.

That's what I was thinking as well.

To me, popularity means little. Look at the constant stream of boy bands and pop divas.

For me personally, I am not into Dream Theatre, but I do own and enjoy Tools music, even though it has declined more over the years. What is odd is I cant stand Maynard however, his views and his attitude leave much to be desired. Course it is the music we hear and all the rest is just background right?

I also must say that I have a good job and am not at all a druggy or pothead (as Tool fans are being catagorized here, mind you I am not disagreeing with that comment).

For me the music are very different to even try getting a comparison, and lets face it Tool is far from progressive compared to Dream Theatres music. Both are talented bands and both are very techincial, however I guess where Tool wins and DT loses for me is vocals. I just have not been able to get passed the vocals on DT but I enjoy Maynards unique voice.

To continue in contradicting myself. I feel that Tool is the lesser talent of these two, and for the most part are the idiots of the two bands as well. Dream Theatre just never made the cut for me.... I cant really say why outside of the voice.

mc666 wrote:

i don't listen to Tool, but love Dream Theater...so i cannot answer your questions.

Agreed

Quote :

Tool appeals to potheads. Though alot of those people don't have jobs, their influence is immeasurable.

:lol!:But more of a soft gentle chuckle.

Hmmm....

I'm guessing because Tool gets, to me, more mainstream exposure. I've seen & heard more of Tool's music on radio & TV than Dream Theater's, which could mean that some Tool fans haven't heard of Dream Theater, or simply don't know their music. Then again, mainstream exposure doesn't necessarily equal popularity.

My other theory is that some people prefer Tool over Dream Theater (duh).

Personally, I like both bands pretty equally, although if I had to chose one album or song between them it would be Lateralus and "Ticks And Leeches", respectively.

Not a big Tool fan. However, they've authored one of my favorite songs - Aenema. Lyrically and musically beautiful.

not much of a fan of either, but tool gets a lot of radio play in my town, while dream theater gets hardly any. way to go, clear channel radio!!!

"See you all in Arizona Bay."

That's a classic song. And a great bit. RIP, Bill Hicks.

That's right! "Learn to swim!"

Simple. Tool indulges in less technical wankery. DT bores the hell outta me.

The only Tool album I really like is Aenima but there's more music on that one album that I like than on all the DT albums combined. DT sacrifices melody and memorability for the sake of showing off IMO and that turns me off.

"F....L. Ron Hubbard..."

that may be true on individual songs, but not albums over all. DT crafts many quality songs with memorable hooks, riffs, & melodies. Tool just make their material more commercially available.

scottmitchell74 wrote:

I'm a big Tool.

Fixed that.

spectrefate wrote:

Tool appeals to potheads. Though alot of those people don't have jobs, their influence is immeasurable.

You summed it up pretty well I think.

Quote :

I have a big Tool.

Fixed for true accuracy!

I don't smoke pot, or do any drugs for that matter, I have a high paying job, and I think Tool is one o the best bands around. DT is far too hit and miss with me. They have maybe 2 CD's worth of decent material, while Tool has quite a bit more. No station around here plays DT at all, and very little Tool. I've always thought of Tool as an "intellectual band." Not that I think I'm an intellectual, far from it. DT, as has been said in this thread, has too much technical wankery for thier own good. Yes, they are indeed good musicians, but it always seems like they are showing off. I've never seen DT in concert, but I've seen Tool twice, and each time it was sensory overload! The music, the visuals, everything. Do I think Tool has some poor songs? Of course I do. But way fewer than DT does in my opinion. I liked Images and Words, and that was about it. I like everything Tool has put out.

Not disagreeing with anyone here, we all have our own tastes, but I like Tool much better than DT. I don't see that changing anytime soon either...

Isn't Tool the band with the claymation dood that has the supersonic hand?

Huh Huh Huh.... If I could move my hand that fast... I'd never leave the house... Huh Huh Huh, Huh Huh Huh

That's the one! That's what I always think of as well when I think of them! Mike Judge = Genius!

DT came out right when grunge was getting huge so many despised them for their technical knowledge. As popular as they were they would have been huge if they'd dropped about the time of Mindcrime. Tool hit at the right time and the marketing of them was huge.

emptytomb1 wrote:

DT came out right when grunge was getting huge so many despised them for their technical knowledge. As popular as they were they would have been huge if they'd dropped about the time of Mindcrime. Tool hit at the right time and the marketing of them was huge.

Good point.

Plus, Tool singing about perverse sexuality and belligerent teen anger is considered very "deep" to some.

I love DT while Tool is just O.K. IMO. I personally do not think that DT sacrifices any melody or memorability because I can recall many songs of theirs without having to listen to them at all and I am in no way musically inclined (I can't read or write it). After Scenes From A Memory they do tend to focus too much on playing their instruments more than song structure and James sometimes gets lost in it all but they still produce solid albums everytime. While I don't like them as much as I used to but they are still one of my favorite bands of all time. My favorite is a tie between Images & Words and Awake.

Well I personally dislike Tool and feel they are one of the most overrated bands on the planet. I will have to say they have some of the best fans out there though. People that like Tool think they're the best band in the world. I have tried to like Tool but it seems that most of the songs lack any sort of melody, where as DT has melody. Also with Tool all there last 3 albums all seemed to be recycled IMO. It sounds like they released the same album is what i am saying.

So saying that Tool is below avg. and DT is above avg.