On September 17, 1996, Tool released its second full-length album, Ænima ( / ˈ ɑː n ɪ m ə / AH -ni-mə ). The band enlisted the help of producer David Bottrill, who had produced some of King Crimson ‘s albums, while Jones collaborated with Cam de Leon to create Ænima ‘ s Grammy-nominated artwork. The album was dedicated to stand-up comedian Bill Hicks , who had died two-and-a-half years earlier. The band intended to raise awareness about Hicks’s material and ideas, because they felt that Tool and Hicks “were resonating similar concepts”. In particular, Ænima ‘ s final track “Third Eye” is preceded by a clip of Hicks’ performances, and the lenticular casing of the Ænima album packaging as well as the chorus of the title track ” Ænema ” make reference to a sketch from Hicks’s Arizona Bay (the title track of the Arizona Bay Extended version of the album), in which he contemplates the idea of Los Angeles falling into the Pacific Ocean.
released Ænima
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