A Perfect Circle - Thirteenth Step
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Music CD Cover
Artist: A Perfect CircleEdition: Music CD
Audio: English (Unknown); English (Original Language); English (Published)
Published: 2003
CD Release Date: 2003-09-16
Music Label: Virgin Records Us
Soundtracks:
- The Package
- Weak And Powerless
- The Noose
- Blue
- Vanishing
- A Stranger
- The Outsider
- Crimes
- The Nurse Who Loved Me
- Pet
- Lullaby
- Gravity
Free Music Notes for Thirteenth Step
Free Music Review: Excellence
Hit: 5 Stars
(As a side note - I AM over 13, but I didn't want to bother signing in)
Given the amount of reviews now on this album, it might seem a little pointless to submit this review. I got this album several years after it came out, but it's one of the best album's I have ever heard, certainly in a very long time, and I'd like to at least share my thoughts on this masterpeice.
Personally, I view this album as APC's best. Now, don't get me wrong, I adore Mer De Noms (I will not mention eMotive, because that may start me ranting, and I really want to review this without getting horrifically sidetracked) in so many ways, and for a long time I thought it one of the best albums I'd ever heard.
Only, when I heard Thirteenth Step, I was proved wrong. I like it more in that the songs seem to have more depth, more meaning, or perhaps the depth is just easier to grasp. It's atmospheric like Mer De Noms, but it's also disturbing and dark in a way APC's first album wasn't. I'm a fan of dark, moody, somewhat disturbing music, which is why it definately clicked for me. The whole concept of the album is taken from the 12 step program to help people come off addiction, and this theme seems to lurk all the way through it, popping up here and there, sometimes seeming to dissapear entirely only to surprise you again. And it's not an endless barrage of screaming, unlike some albums I've heard. True, they CAN be good albums, but recently I've definately liked a blend of mellow and heavy, rather than smashing and screaming and ranting all the way through. This is why this likely will NOT appeal to Tool fans. Let me straighten this out. APC is NOT Tool! They have different sounds and different approaches. Just because Maynard is in both doesn't make it the same band! If your not into slightly more mellow, if deeper, music, then I wouldn't recommend this. If you are, read on.
These are my general impressions of the tracks on this albums.
1. The Package. I... I'm sort of torn on this track. It's quite an interesting way to start the album, though perhaps not the best way. I like the track, in that I can't dislike any of the tracks on this album, and some of the lyrics, coupled with the music, makes it interesting, but I honestly never clicked with it like I did with the others. 3/5
2. Weak and Powerless. This is the other one I'm sort of... stuck on. A lot of people seem to like this track, but personally? I never really did. It'd fit in with Mer De Noms, but I just don't consider Mer De Noms and Thirteenth Step to be the same sound at all, and to me, this seems rather glaringly out of place. There's none of the atmosphere, and little of the depth. 2/5
3. The Noose. NOW we're talking! This is a haunting and beautiful track, plain and simple. I think the slow, almost muted sound to it is wonderful, and it's such a sad song, too. The opening line "So glad to see you well" sounds somewhat longing and nostalgic, and the entire sound just makes me want to burst into tears sometimes. It reminds me of failed attempts, and regressing back to one's old problems long after you thought you left them behind. The heavy part at the end is wonderful, and reminded me ever so faintly of 3 Libras from the first album. It's soft, it's beautiful, it's sad and it's frightening all at the same time. 5/5
4. Another very creepy song. It's not as sad as The Noose, indeed, it seems positively cheery at times, but there's just SOMETHING about the lyrics that makes this just the right edge of creepy. The lyrics "And she's turning blue, such a lovely colour for you." seems like a compliment, but it makes me wonder who is "turning blue" and why. It always reminded me of drowning and asphixiation, or, going with the theme of narcotic use, the way that heroin users stop breathing when they overdose, hense, "Turning blue". Such a very, very creepy song. 5/5
5. Vanishing. If you thought you couldn't get creepier... no, this is just the sort of thing that makes me look over my shoulder and get the creeps late at night. The harmonics with the voice is wonderful, and the slightly out of sync, distorted sound makes me feel a little dizzy at times, in a good way. There's not many lyrics to this, but it's still such a lovely track, and I think more lyrics might well have ruined it. Still, the song seems to tail off at the end, which is rather dissapointing. 4/5
6. A Stranger. I've never listened to this track much at all. It's a nice sounding peice of music, but personally, I don't like it so much. It seems a little out of place, a little strange considering the line up so far, but the lyrics are quite touching at times. 3/5
7. A heavier track, and one I instantly fell in love with. Now that the glamour has worn a little, I still find it a wonderful song. It's angry, but not in a screaming, flailing, discordant ear-bleeding way that just makes me want to cringe and turn the record off. It's contained just enough to give it proper form and and melody, but the lines "Medicated drama queen, picture perfect numb belligerance" give this a very furious feel to it. It's frustrated and angry without being ridiculous and impossible to listen to, and a very catchy tune to boot. 5/5
8. Crimes. Not a track I listen to that often, but creepy as all hell when listened to. The lyrics are hardly inspiring, true (1, 2, 3...) but they're not meant to be complex or deep meaning. The simplicity is what makes it a little creepy and unnerving. However, it still feels like more of a filler track than a proper contribution to the album. They could have done more with this, but they didn't. 3/5
9. The Nurse Who Loved Me. This is a very bizzare track, it has to be said. It's quite calm, not as disturbing as Blue nor as depressing as The Noose, but the strangeness of it makes it quite enjoyable. Musically, I wasn't too impressed, but it's quite a mellow little song, and enjoyable once in a while. 2.5/5
10. Pet. Which is deceptive, as it leads right up to the heaviest track on the album. Again, APC have managed to make this a furious and seriously disturbing track without losing any part of the melody. It alternates between soft and reassuring, almost sweet, but with an edge that is nothing less than dangerous. Then it throws you straight into the chorus. Despite what people say about political commentry, I really honestly don't think that's what it's trying to put across. This always reminded me of insanity and MPD, or an abusive relationship. Some lyrics sound quite normal, but the lines "I'll be the one to protect you from a will to survive and a voice of reason" shatter any pretence that this is anything but sinister. This song is excellent, no question about it. 5/5
11. Lullaby. I don't understand why people discredit this so much. This is more of an extension of Pet, and perhaps it would've been better to put it to the end of the track, rather than making it a new one. But still, it has the same general melody as Pet, sung high and with a heavy drum beat. It's the sort of thing that combines sinister with the sweet, much like Pet, and really quite a creepy addition to the previous song. 4/5
12. Gravity. This is a very nice ending to the album. The melody sounds a little more bright and upbeat than I would have preffered, but the lyrics are perfect. I admit, I don't listen to this track much, but listening to the album as a whole, this is a wonderful way to end it. Through all the darkness and despair, we finally come out of the dark and back into the light, with hope and a new beginning. I think more could have been done to make the melody deeper than it is, but lyrically, it's perfect. The final lyrics "Lift me back up to the sun, I chose to live." is poignant and sticks with the listener long after the song has finished, and makes one wonder if the entire album isn't based of a real life experience. One never knows. 4/5
All in all, this is a wonderful album. Although I found some tracks hit their mark better than others, as a whole, this is beautiful. It's not just the sound of the music one should listen to in order to appreciate it, but really THINK about the lyrics, the sound of the music. It's a very rewarding experience, and an excellent album for anyone who prefers their rock with a bit of mellow and creepy on the side.
Thirteenth Step Poster
A Perfect Circle Photos
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