A Perfect Circle - Mer De Noms
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Free Music Notes for Mer De Noms
Free Music Review: Perfect indeed...more than perfect...
Hit: 5 Stars
When I first heard "Judith" on the radio, I thought "YES, TOOL ARE BACK! " Much to my chagrin, I found out it was only Maynard James Keenan's voice...the band was not Tool. At first I was disappointed, and there was something about the song that didn't make it quite as experimental or as progressive as Tool. But after listening to it, I have come to like A Perfect Circle's stripped down sound, and Keenan's voice does well to compliment Billy Howardel's solid songwriting. Troy, Paz, and Josh to round out the five-piece, the music this band have created on "Mer de Noms" is brilliant, heavy, and spiritual. Tool fans can certainly get a kick out of this until Tool's new album which they claim will be released later this year. Until then, I will pop in this CD. I love the music, and the lyrics are wonderful. "Judith" is already a great track, but my favorites include "Hollow," on which I love the vocal harmonies in the chorus, "Magdalena," "Orestes," and "3 Libras." The guitarplay between Troy and Billy shows great ability between the two of them to compliment each other, and Paz's bass and violin add an ambient atmosphere, making this a different kind of grunge music. The gothic stylings and grungy arrangements are balanced by classical ambient beauty and as I said before, the lyrics are incredible. They bring images to the mind that are likely to soothe the soul while at the same time questioning its existence. Strange, but in a good way. I love this album, and I hope that Keenan can continue with this band as well as Tool. But don't make the mistake of comparing the two. They are similar, but they rest on their own merits. The one commanility these bands share other than the lead singer...is musical talent! Excellent!Free Music Review: It's Dark, Creepy, Sexual, And Overwhelming
Hit: 5 Stars
MJK's "side project". Calling APC a side project anymore seems silly as they have mounted to one of the biggest alternative bands around. While Tool are silent the mass fans will listen to APC, mostly to enjoy MJK. Emotive marks their third CD, and while I have full support to MJK I would probably rather see a new Tool release. But APC are a smart outfit, a somewhat watered down Tool.
I say this because most of APC's songs are just 4 minutes long with standard layering and progressions...an intro, A section (verse), B chorus, C section (either a contrasting sect or a variable on the B/A sect) then back to the B chorus. This progression is found in 90% of pop songs, and is easy to follow, promoting the catchy chorus. Tool on the other hand use about 20 different sections intertwining, which is why so many people can't get into the music, or take their time. This more generic approach makes APC more mainstream, giving them more airtime on radio stations (how many times was Schism played, purely because it was the shortest and most accesible song on Lateralus, a rarity for Tool) and overall more popularity.
MJK's searing voice is present as ever, and just as disturbing. Mer De Noms holds a very sexual atmosphere, many lyrics talking about possesion and sexual relationships. Judith, the most well known on the album is a superb songs, framing the album. Three Libras is a new direction, calm and pleasant, two words no one would put with MJK. Magdelena is amongst my favourites, despite being a bit 'poppy' its a nice track, showing the sexual wants of MJK.
Mer De Noms is a solid album, anything framed with MJK's voice is worthy of 5 stars. Depressing and uplifting, dark but occasionally light and peaceful. Looking forward to a new Tool album (queston marks!).
Free Music Review: A five star debut
Hit: 5 Stars
I'll be honest, I never liked Tool. I always admired Maynard James Keenan and thought he was an amazing vocalist, but I never really got into Tool. Their sound just didn't appeal to me. But I when I heard Mer De Noms, I immediately fell in love with A Perfect Circle. In fact, I love A Perfect Circle so much that I can easily call them one of my favorite bands.Their sound varies significantly from Tool and other Hard Rock bands. A Perfect Circle's music is very brooding and eloquent...they create a very dark atmosphere that really pulls you into the songs. Maynard further proves how amazing a vocalist he is as he brings the haunting lyrics to life with hypnotic and trance-inducing vocals. His talent really shines in the amazing ballad "Orestes", the first single "Judith", and my favorite song on the album, "Thinking Of You". But as the name suggests, he's not the only member of the band. Billy Howerdel is a great guitarist and composer, Josh Freese is a very experienced drummer, and Paz Lenchantin and Troy Van Leeuwen are talented musicians as well.
Although I was completely blown away with this album, I can't confidently say that others will be as well. I'm sure many people bought Mer De Noms after hearing Judith on the radio or television and expected the rest of the songs to be just like it, but instead finding them to be much more mellow, and were disappointed. So my advice is to buy this CD with an open mind, and not to expect the hardest of rock, but instead very melodic and slow rock music that you can practically fall asleep to. I will admit that it has its flaws, but it achieves what it sets out to do and then some. Mer De Noms is a five star debut from a very talented band that we'll all be hearing from a lot more.
Free Music Review: Maynard Keenan's new band delivers on its debut
Hit: 5 Stars
I had first heard of A Perfect Circle back in late March of 2000. The thought of Maynard James Keenan in a band other than Tool was very hard for me to accept. A month later, when I heard that APC was going to open for Nine Inch Nails in their first tour to hit Philly in five years (a show I wasn't going to miss), I decided to look more into APC as a band. I downloaded some live files and loved what I heard. They were even better live, and these factors caused me to rush out and buy it on May 23rd.A Perfect Circle is chock full of experienced musicians. Billy Howerdell, who wrote all of the music, was a guitar tech for Tool and NIN. Their drummer, John Freese, is a former member of Devo. Their rhythm guitarist is a former member of the band Failure. And Keenan, of course, is a member of Tool. This experience shows on a beautifully orchestrated album that many have branded as "Tool Light," but it altogether different than Tool, and even better in some ways.
Mer De Noms is a melodic masterpiece. Not a single song is better or worse than the others. It is the most balanced album I have heard since Staind's "Dysfunction," without a single track that I feel the need to skip. Part of this is attributed to Keenan, who has arguably the best voice in today's music scene. No one sings quite like Keenan, and his high, floating voice perfectly compliments the dreamy harmonies of "3 Libras" and at the same time adds that famous Tool edge to the first single, "Judith."
Those looking for a new Tool album with its hard edge may be disappointed by Mer De Noms, but those with a open mind and a more broad range in musical styles will find A Perfect Circle's debut to be one of the best discs to come out so far in 2000.
Free Music Review: Haunting.......
Hit: 5 Stars
For all the rock albums I have, from "Mellon Collie" to "The Fragile" to "Aenima", this one holds it's own. It's right up there with all those classics. The first single, "Judith", sounds a lot like Tool, fitting since Maynard fronts both bands. It's an amazing song with a chorus you won't soon forget. Though Maynard will get most of the attention due to his Tool status, Billy Howerdel is the main man behind this project. His guitar skills are breathtaking. From iron-spiked riffs to soft acoustic melodies, he can do no wrong. The best song here, (and now, one of my all-time favorites) "Rose", is one that will have you hitting repeat for days. It starts out with dark-almost gothic-acoustic guitars, then Maynard's beautiful wounded voice carries the song into something beyond perfection. It's no real surprise that APC have a gothic feel at times, in an article with "Rolling Stone" Billy said some of his favorite albums are by Siouxsie and the Banshees and The Cure (I know some of you are absolutely clueless). The beautiful "Renholder" is a perfect example of that. It can also echo Tool's alt/metal work with "Judith", "Sleeping Beauty", "Thinking Of You", and "Thomas" rocking like Tool themselves. "The Hollow" opens up the disc and you get a feel of how the album is. "Magdalena" is great with it's sludgy bass line. "Orestes" is amazing and bleeds into the beautiful "3 Libras" with lush strings leading the way. I'm a HUGE Tool fan, but A Perfect Circle (in my opinion) are better. You can't ask for a better album; from start to finish this is a classic. I'm never letting this CD out of my sight.