A perfect union of contrary things

Keenan, the lead singer and songwriter for the Grammy-winning alternative metal group Tool, labels himself a "world class multitasker" in his e-mail signature, and first-time author Jensen details all of Keenan's various enterprises-leader of musical side projects A Perfect Circle and Puscifer; owner and winemaker of the Caduceus Cellars winery; aspiring actor and comedian-in this entertaining biography, which also serves as a glimpse into one of the more important and influential bands of the 1990s. Sure to please Tool's many fans, Jensen's look at Keenan's development as an individual and an artist is comprehensive, covering Keenan's Midwestern youth and his time serving in the Army (which supported his subsequent time in art school), his life in Boston working in a pet store, and his move to Los Angeles in the late 1980s, where, along with bands such as Rage Against the Machine, Tool helped redefine the sound of metal ("The primal scream was the key to making it sound sincere") and carefully developed a radical stage show. Jensen is excellent at describing how Keenan used "a lyricist's talent for conflating the visual and the aural to create a provocative synesthesia." And she gets Keenan to step out from behind his carefully crafted persona to look back on his life and career and admit that "most of it was dumb luck and trust. You step over the edge into darkness. The bliss finds you." (Nov.) © Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved.

Keenan, best known as the singer for the band Tool, is an artist in every sense of the word. Born in the Midwest, he was raised to work hard and loved to sketch and sing. He chose to enter the U.S. Army after high school so he could get money to pay for art school. Several years and a move to Los Angeles later, he met many musicians and, because of his friendship with Tom Morello, almost became the frontman for Rage Against the Machine. Instead, Keenan formed Tool and obtained a record deal after playing only seven live shows. The journey from abject poverty to rock star is not the only focus of this book, however, as Keenan's success as a vintner and comedian are also examined. His longtime friend Jensen writes a chronological and fascinating look into his life. Sidebars include longer quotes from the musician and provide -further insight into specific events of his life. -VERDICT This book is for not only followers of Keenan's bands (Tool, A Perfect Circle, Puscifer) but also fans of the 1990s music scene, Lollapalooza, artistic endeavors of all kinds, and those wanting to follow one's own path in life.-Jason L. Steagall, Gateway Technical Coll. Lib., Elkhorn, WI © Copyright 2016. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.