A Perfect Circle - Mer De Noms
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Free Music Notes for Mer De Noms
Free Music Review: The Best Release of 2000
Hit: 5 Stars
I consider this the best record released in 2000, even barely edging out the stellar KID A from Radiohead. The other reviewers are definitely correct; while Maynard's voice is a welcome familiarity, A Perfect Circle is not simply Tool rehashed. Some distinguishing characteristics of APC include shorter songs, more melodic riffs, and less of a "progressive" feel. However, that by no means indicates that APC lacks originality or depth; they are clearly one of the best hard rock bands around, and MER DE NOMS is possibly the best hard rock release since SIAMESE DREAM nearly seven years earlier.The record kicks off with "The Hollow," a concise but brooding alt-rock tune featuring one of the best riffs I've ever heard; right off the bat you know that despite that familiar voice, this is NOT Tool: it sounds completely radio-ready (funny how garbage like The Calling and Nine Days dominated and kept this off the airwaves in the summer of 2000). "Magdalena" follows, a lustful song with a very prominent base and excellent vocals.
"Rose" is the album's most experimental track, but it works extremely well, and rates as one of the top three songs on here in my opinion. Everyone has heard the singles "Judith" and "3 Libras;" the former is a straightforward hard rock tune with Toolish lyrics (and honestly not the best indicator of the album's quality), while the latter is a simply beautiful composition with violins that focuses on lack of recognition from the opposite sex. "Orestes" is musically in the same vein as "Libras," and is probably my favorite track on this classic album.
Moving on, we find "Sleeping Beauty," a track that sounds something like a gothic Rush, and "Thomas," another fairly straightforward hard rock song. The interlude "Renholder" continues the musical theme from track 8 and introduces "Thinking of You," an interesting track that stands in contrast to the rest of the album but is still a fun listen. Closing things off are "Brena," Maynard's love song to his girlfriend (the lyrics are a little too overdone for me to handle, though), and "Over."
In summary, MER DE NOMS reveals itself to be an incredible record that I find every bit as good as AENIMA and LATERALUS (though it accomplishes this in a completely different style), and as any Tool fan knows, that's saying a LOT. So far, it seems everything Maynard has touched has been classic material, and it's not just idol worship driving me and other fans to state this. Let's hope that APC builds upon this sound for their next album (which is still a while off, I'm afraid) and, like Tool has, continues to surprise us just when we think they can't get any better.
4.9 stars
Free Music Review: Incredible Music, on-par with Tool
Hit: 5 Stars
...not to say that this band sounds like Tool, though. It most certainly doesn't, with the exception of the hit single "Judith."We knew Maynard could scream his lungs out from listening to UNDERTOW and AENIMA, but it turns out he's just as good at smooth, soulful vocals, as proven by this masterpiece. And to call this a masterpiece is no exaggeration; not only does Maynard have arguably the best voice of any post-Nirvana rock vocalist, but the the songwriting on this album is so far beyond incredible I may just have to give Billy credit for writing something that surpasses Tool's work.
If you've heard "Judith" and have yet to buy this album, I don't blame you, because it deceivingly makes APC seem like a bad Tool rip-off, complete with the anti-religious lyrics and griding riff. It isn't a bad song, but it's nothing to write home about. The rest of the CD is.
If you aren't convinced after hearing the introductory track, "The Hollow" (my personal favorite on the CD), you certainly will be after "Rose," the most complex and out-of-this-world rock song I've heard in my life. We then move on to the incredible "Orestes" and "3 Libras," two absolutely beautiful songs that blend together with subtly recurring melodies and lyrics that rival anything rock music has seen in decades, including Tool. The second half of the album is perhaps less accessible, but just as (if not more) interesting. "Thomas" is a wonderful rocker, while "Renholder" is an instrumental piece with obvious Eastern influences. "Brena" is a change of pace for Maynard as he sings a very well-written, if a little overdone, love song for his future wife. Finally, "Over" closes things up with a calm, eerie tone.
When all is said and done, there's no reason that any Tool fan, or any music fan at all for that matter, shouldn't invest [money] in this magnificient collection of music. I know that sounds familiar, and you can find a review saying something about "everyone should buy this, it's teh best" for just about any CD being sold on Amazon.com, but check out the sound clips (or even download a track or two), and you'll most likely discover that this album more than lives up to the hype. If there's one downside to this album (and Tool's albums alike), it's that once you get done listening to these thought-provoking and meticulously-written songs, it's almost impossible to enjoy the monotonous drag of Nickelback, Default, TRUSTcompany, Staind, New Found Glory, and all the other commercial bands that are dominating the airwaves in 2002.
Free Music Review: A Beautiful Album
Hit: 5 Stars
Mer de Noms is a beatiful, brilliant, rockin', mellow album all rolled into one. We got talented TOOL vocalist Maynard, the heart and soul of APC guitarist Billy, an excellent drummer in Josh, and a good bassist and overall babe Paz. What more could you want? Hollow-Out of all the fast songs, Hollow is the best. With it's infectious guitar riff and drums, and good vocal work from Keenan, it neatly packs all of Mer de Noms in one three minute masterpiece. One of the best songs on MDN, and one of the best songs ever! Magdelena-I really tried hard to like this song, but it's a little to slow and quiet for me. Nice lyrics though. Rose-I love this track, it's gothic and weird at the same time. I love how it switches from badass rock song to a slow whispering vocal parts. One of the best. Judith-A good song, but after a while it gets old. It has a great video though. Orestes-The second best track on here, it combines beautiful, haunting lyrics to a weird musical piece. I'm not sure what instrument that it though. Three Libras-In a word: sweeping. The heavy orchestra makes this song the mellow masterpiece it is. I bought the CD for this song, and it's still the best song on here. Sleeping Beauty-Ok, but not that great. Thomas-What? Is Maynard stuttering? I cannot get into this song, thanks in part to the bad singing. Plus, the music isn't all that great. Reinholder-(or however you spell it) It's almost instrumental, and it's a good song. It's really short, but the music is great. Thinking of You-A great song, I love the beat, and when Maynard keeps saying "Thinking of You" over and over at the end. A solid track. Brena-Ok, if a bit boring. Over-I cannot think of an album that ever ended a CD with a better song. (not even the almighty Incubus) It's simplicity rules, and the lyrics are basic but work in favor of this song. A, dare I say, SWEEPING masterpiece. It works on the same level as Three Libras, but simpler. I don't really understand my fondness for this one. It's just an overall great song. Mer de Noms is the perfect example of a mellow album. Even the harder songs sound soft and gentle, and each member uses their talent to the fullest. A few songs stumble towards the end, but all in all Mer de Noms is full of pure, great music. Simply to say, unless you're an all out Rap fan or a very old, very unambitous person, you should like it. This is the album that is secretly killing all bubblegum music. Buy it now!Free Music Review: Dark
Hit: 5 Stars
Alright, this band dosen't really sound like any of the Tool albums but that is not necasarily a bad thing. This album is very dark and at times depressing. Maynard's voice seems to be a little more rockish on this album than on any of the Tool albums. A Perfect Circle have had some trouble in the last few months. Paz (bass) left the group to join Zwan, Billy Corgan's new band which I find very iritatting. It was a dark time for APC until they found former Marilyn Manson bassist Twiggy Rameriez, thank God, someone good. Then if one member leaving wasn't bad enough Troy (guitar) left for Queens of the Stone Age (a band that i am very fond of). He has been replaced by fromer Nine Inch Nails guitarist Danny Lohner, another good one! Now to the album.The Hollow-A good start to the album. Kind of short but still very good. Maynard's vocals do not disapoint. 5/5
Magdalena-My farvorite song on the whole album. Very good bass intro and good lyrics (which you will understand as soon as you hear the song, maybe you will be able to relate to it). Very dark song. 10/5
Rose-Dark song, not nearly as good as Magdalena. 4/5
Judith-This song has definatly brought some contriversy to APC. Some of the lyrics about God could anger some people but if you have listened to Tool before you know that Maynard is not to fond of God. ONe note about this sone, one reviewer called this an attack on Christianity, that is far beyond the point. It is but one man's oppinion about God, he's not preaching it. Do not be iggnorent when listening to this song but be a warned if you are a really holy preson please for the sake of the music open your mind before listening to this song because it is very good, not to mention unique. 5/5
Orestes-Very, very dark. Strange. 4/5
3 Libras-A beautiful acoustic track about being over-looked. "I threw you the obvious/Just to see if there's more behind the/Eyes of of a fallen angel/Eyes of a tragedy". 5/5
Sleeping Beauty-Slower song, good, repetative. 3/5
Thomas-Another like Sleeping... but better. 4/5
Renholder-Interlude.
Thinking of You-Like Magdalena. 5/5
Brena-Good. 4/5
Over-Neat little ending. 4/5
This album is very unique and very dark (Mer de Noms means Sea of Names). Remember, this is not a side-project of Tool, it is a band called A Perfect Circle and the only thing they have in common is that they share the same vocalist. Their new album comes out this Summer!
Free Music Review: The best hard rock CD I've bought in years.
Hit: 5 Stars
I liked Tool, and was intrigued by Maynard James Keenan's intelligent lyrics and impressive vocal range, but not really enough to buy and collect Tool albums. Imagine my surprise when I heard A Perfect Circle's "Mer de Noms", and learned that Billy Howerdell had harnessed Maynard's energy and coupled it with a more mainstream, listenable brand of music. "Mer de Noms" is quite simply the best hard rock CD I've heard since the early 90's when some of the Seattle bands first burst on the scene. A Perfect Circle has the same kind of ground-breaking impact potential as early Pearl Jam, Alice in Chains or Soundgarden. One notable difference, though: APC is already at or near the creative peak that these Seattle bands didn't hit until their second or third albums, due to the already veteran status of Keenan and Howerdell.There really isn't a track on this album that you will get into the habit of skipping when you listen to it. The disc has an amazing tendency to grow on you over time; every time you listen to it you'll like it more. The disc's best song has to be "Judith", a track that seems on the surface to be anti-religion, until you realize that what comes off as an attack on religious faith is really self-loathing. The singer's inability to understand or cultivate a faith of his own, in religion or anything else, fuels his anger. The guitar hook, and the driving bass and drum backbone of this song, make it a treat you'll want to enjoy over and over again.
"Magdelena", "The Hollow", and "Sleeping Beauty" are similar radio-ready rock scorchers. Crank it up and make your speakers scream for mercy! The band shows their considerable versatility as they slow things down with "Three Libras" and "Orestes", rock ballads that are wonderfully crafted and beautiful.
The highlights are still not over, though, as the disc closes out with the brooding, powerful "Thinking of You" and "Brena". The last song on the album is the fitting final track "Over", with a unique musical effect reminiscent of a child's wind-up toy.
You may have heard Tool, but that doesn't mean you've heard A Perfect Circle. While linked by Keenan's vocals and lyrical influence, the two bands are completely distinct and unique. A Perfect Circle, more radio-friendly but just as edgy, may be just what you are looking for.