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Mer de Noms

Emotive

aMOTION

Average Customer Rating:

Perfect!!	Customer Rating:
Really awesome songs... Best to keep things in the shallow end Cause I never quite learned how to swim Waiting for more....

one trick pony	Customer Rating:
Everything Maynard James Keenan puts out sounds the same. Sorry, can't get on the bandwagon with those who put their faith in APC.

Thirteenth Step

Customer Rating:

I think this album spoiled me. When Mer De Noms (2000) was released, I went to it with open arms because of its TOOL connection, but came out with folded arms, and an unsatisfied feeling. "3 Libras", "Judith", "Thinking of You", the production, the music and the playing had a fan in me, but to my ears it was all a little 'too' Tool. It felt like a thing to fill the gap between Tool albums. Not for Keenan. For me, as a listener. "3 Libras" I thought to be one of the best songs of that year, and hearing 'this side' of Keenan was refreshing and interesting. His vocal talents were never more appreciated until hearing A Perfect Circle's 1st album. I bought "Thirteenth Step" on Vinyl LP, because I prefer vinyl. :). "Thirteenth Step", to me, was miles beyond the first album. I was literally stunned, because here, A Perfect Circle had found their own sound, their own vision it seemed. A totally different album to their debut, with more textures and atmospheres, experimentation and depth. I sat back, only getting up to change the LP sides. When I got to "Pet" I had to listen to it 3 or 4 times in a row. Eyes lit up. Ears tingled. I have to say I have listened to this song at least 5 times a week since 2005, but not on Vinyl ;). And in accordance, "Thirteenth Step" still regularly rotates as CD's do in my player to this day. The album is 5 years old, I've owned it for 3 of those years, and I still think this is an almost perfect album. It just has so much going for it in the songwriting, the sound and production, and the level of musicianship going into it. And A Perfect Circle had found their own sound. You would think because Keenan was singing it, it automatically would sound like Tool. But that wasn't the problem for me with Mer De Noms. To me, a lot of it sounded like Tool. Too much, but just 'lighter' in execution. Not a crime at all. Just left me waiting for another Tool album. "Thirteenth Step" actually accomplished the reverse with me. When Tool's "10,000 Days" was released, I expected Tool to almost follow suit with A Perfect Circle, drastically changing their sound or how they do the things they do. And I have given "10,000 Days" multiple listens since its release. And I keep going back to "Thirteenth Step". It's not fair to compare the way different artists do the things they do, but at the same time, A Perfect Circle's second effort was leaps and bounds beyond their first. "10,000 Days" seemed like it was a step back to something before "Lateralus". And it left me feeling a little uneasy about the gaps in time between Tool albums, and .. well ... yeah. It's Tool, so you can't fault them truly. Constructively you can criticise the effort, but knowing full well that bands like Tool are completely rare and should be appreciated no matter what they do, because what they put into it is often miles beyond what is chosen 'acceptable' in music culture. Favourites have to be "The Package", "Pet", and "The Noose". But it's an album worth buying for the piece as a whole, for the sum of its parts added together. One of my favourite albums of recent years.

a little better than the first cd	Customer Rating:
this cd is pretty good especially if you like tool and apc. the best songs are weak and powerless and the outsider but this cd has better songs than the first cd. the instruments work well together and its relaxing to hear

An excellent work of art

Customer Rating:

I first heard of A Perfect Circle when I listened to the song "Judith" of their 2000 album "Mer De Noms" about 5 years ago, then a year later I heard "Weak and Powerless" which was featured on the MTV2 Headbangers Ball Vol. 2 compilation, and I soon fell in love with A Perfect Circle. Afterwards, I went out and bought the band's second full length release "Thirteenth Step" and it was without question one of the best albums I've ever heard in my life, and it became one of my favorite albums as well. Please keep in mind, this is coming from a guy who listens to Pantera, Slayer, Fear Factory, Sepultura, Megadeth, Testament, Machine Head, Kreator, Anthrax, Exodus, Overkill, Suffocation, Death, Nile, Atheist, Behemoth, Cannibal Corpse, Deicide, Krisiun, Opeth, Morbid Angel, Meshuggah, and other heavy bands like that, I've always been a sucker for good melodic rock, and these guys definately please my ears big time. Now as far as this album goes, "Thirteenth Step" is an excellent work of art, and it's also a fantastic, beautiful follow up to "Mer De Noms". From the opening track "The Package", to the breathtaking, ethereal closer "Gravity", these twelve songs on here are full of beautiful, spacious, and ominous atmospheres. I've also learned that the album title was a reference to the Twelve Step program. According to frontman Maynard James Keenan on the commentary for the aMotion DVD, the album is a concept album with all of the songs dealing with the problem of addiction from a different perspective. The musicianship on here is very impressive in every way. Billy Howerdel's guitarwork on here is just excellent. Whether it's soft, majestic, addicting, atmospheric melodies or heavy cruching riffs, this guy definately hits his spots, and when it comes to great melodies, Billy's got the stuff, no doubt about it. Jeordie White (you may know him as Twiggy Ramirez, the ex-bassist of Marilyn Manson) is just fantastic on the bass. His bass lines are just pulsating, hypnotic, and commanding throughout. Josh Freese's drumming can range from nice, soft peaceful beats to steady yet heavy pounding beats, it's all good. And of course, Maynard James Keenan's vocals are just absolutely amazing and beautifully melodic throughout. There is no question that he is one of modern rock's greatest vocalists of all time, and believe me, this album prooves it. "Thirteenth Step" opens up with "The Package" which starts off with some odd percussion noises, and soft, soothing guitar melodies, with Maynard's eerie yet majestic vocals slowly creeping in. I like when the song builds up momentum at the 4:08 mark with heavy, crunching riffs, and some roaring bass lines. From there, you know the album just grabs your attention, and it only gets better. The second track "Weak and Powerless" is a nice catchy chorus. Track three "The Noose" is very beautiful and majestic which features great melodic vocals from Maynard, and haunting yet relaxing guitar strings, and nice steady atmospheric drums, before gaining some momentum with heavier riffs at the 3:34 mark. Track four "Blue" is another favorite of mine which continues the journey with more hypnotic, addicting musicianship, while the next track and my personal favorite "Vanishing" is another soft, peaceful, and atmospheric song that brings Pink Floyd to my mind. This song features addicting, peaceful guitar melodies, soothing bass, nice steady drums, and eerie yet beautifully relaxing vocals from Maynard. The sixth track "A Stranger" is a nice, peaceful, and quiet ballad that features some marvelous accoustic strings that are quietly calming and peacefully embracing, and Maynard's singing is great as well, while track seven "The Outsider" is a more heavier song that features heavier riffage, and aggressive vocals especially during the chorus. Track nine is a cover of Failure's "The Nurse Who Loved Me" which is a pretty bizarre yet another good ballad, and track ten "Pet" which is another favorite of mine that includes crunchy heavy riffs, some nice melodic interludes, and there's even a nice catchy guitar solo as well. The soft, ethereal, and breathtaking closing track "Gravity" features some more quiet, soothing melodic guitar strings, and great vocals from Maynard as always, as well as a nice relaxing, and spacey sounding guitar solo around the 3:04 mark. A great beautiful song to end this beautiful musical journey. Jeremy's song ratings: 1. The Package (7:40) - 5/5 2. Weak and Powerless (3:15) - 5/5 3. The Noose (4:53) - 5/5 4. Blue (4:13) - 5/5 5. Vanishing (4:51) - 5/5 6. A Stranger (3:12) - 5/5 7. The Outsider (4:06) - 5/5 8. Crimes (2:34) - 4/5 9. The Nurse Who Loved Me (4:04) - 5/5 10. Pet (4:34) - 5/5 11. Lullaby (2:01) - 4/5 12. Gravity (5:06) - 5/5 Bottom Line: A Perfect Circle's "Thirteenth Step" is a beautiful, spacious, breathtaking, atmospheric journey from beginning to end. I definately recommend this album to any fan of A Perfect Circle, Tool, The Cure, or even Dream Theater and Pink Floyd for that matter, and especially to anyone who has a good open mind for good music. Well enjoy!!