2001.08.06 - Seattle, WA, USA @ The Paramount
Source A: DAT --- Sanken COS-11sPT Red Marks/120 > Sony PCM-M1
Taper: CatalystX
Gen: 1st from Master
Notes: This is most likely the best sounding recording of this particular show. Not only are the levels at the tightest gain but the vocals are crisp, guitars are clean, bass sounds life-like & the drums deliver the extra punch that gives this source the extra edge. There are numerous reasons why this recording came out so nicely. Would be almost difficult to snag a bad recording using the above source information. As for Tool, they were in good form this night as well playing, albeit a rather standard setlist with slight exceptions, but nonetheless delivered a great performance. It would be interesting to see a DVD of the VCD source with this audio source... I wonder if anyone has bothered? The audio is one of the clearest and vivid recordings from this leg of the tour. Hats off to the taper...
Maynardism: "We're glad we could make it down here tonight to share this moment."
CD 1
Time: 64:47
CD 2
Time: 40:32
Tuva
The Grudge
Stinkfist
(White Lines)
46 & 2
Parabola
Schism
Eulogy
<MJK messes up lyrics a little>
Disposition
Reflection
Intermission/cut
Sober
Pushit (alt)
Opiate
Lateralus
Source B: Mini Disc --- MDR-QR33L/S > Sony MZ-R55
Taper: Adam
Gen: 1st from Master
Notes: One of Tool's better performances. Really, Tool was shining this night. The recording is, pretty much, a very solid & interesting audience capture of Tool from this era. Surprising that the taper used headphones > MD microphone-in slot for recording purposes. Interesting. Listening to the overall quality, you can tell it is live. You can tell it there are certain strains of frequencies in the music caused by limitations of the recording microphones but it is a great listen. I burned a copy for a friend of mine & this is one of his favorite recordings of this show. It is nice. But, there are better sources of this performance that most people would enjoy listening to aesthetically than this source. I would like to note that Pushit seems to have taken on a different feel during this performance.
CD 1
Time: 75:52
CD 2
Time: 30:50
Source C: DAT --- Sound Professionals Premium Slimline Cardioids > Sony TCD-D8
Notes: Very pleasant recording to listen to. The initial beginning of the Grudge, the taper seemed to be cautious with the input and it is lower volume than the rest of the recording. This is quickly fixed. Sound is clean, tight, balanced & this is definitely an accurate capture of what it was like at this performance. Suppose the only slight complaint with this recording is that there are a few instances of volume fluctuation (by the taper). Although many people may feel that the Sanken source would be a bit brighter, one should not discount this recording as this too has numerous "pluses" although the intermission with Mr. Fripp is left out on the majority of DAT>CD transfers of this source. All in all, I would definitely recommend this in anyone's collection. Good addition.
CD 1
Time: 64:50
CD 2
Time: 36:52
Source D: Mini-DV --- Sony ECM 909 (external) > JVC GR-DVM70U
Source D: Master > VCD
Taper: ConcertVidz
Gen: 1st from Master
Notes: Very good audio + video for being sourced from a Mini-DV with Sony ECM microphones. If you really want the entire thing, you need to watch the video. Audio is decent but that is all as a result in a spectacular recording. The thing with this source is that it could actually have been so much better had the taper put it to DVD. However, this is probably the absolute best design of a VCD that I have seen from the Tool community. At the very end is even the taper's little trademark skit with other shows he had taped. The video captures some clear shots & close ups of Tool that leave little up to guesswork as far as what shoes Adam was wearing or what color MJK had his face painted, for example. All in all, worth getting to watch but not the end all or be all. When this VCD starts, you hear the Tuva Throat song which gives way to a monkey that runs up & grabs a little dog then smiles. Next thing you see is a very cool picture of the fliers that were out on the West Coast (or something) of a Tool/King Crimson creature wearing a gas mask. That fades then we see a shot of the Paramount Theatre from the outside with the band on the marquee. Yes, a very nice way to start a VCD. Shot pretty much from the center, there are some truly excellent close-ups & shots that very few tapers tend to get. Although many try. I really do not know what else to say. I think this is one of the better filmings of Tool to make its way into the trading scene in a long time. Check it out, don't take my word on it. There are no known VHS or DVD un-compressed videos of this available. Unfortunately.
Maynardism: "We're glad we could make it down here tonight to share this moment."