A Perfect Circle - Thirteenth Step
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Free Music Notes for Thirteenth Step
Free Music Review: Excellent
Hit: 5 Stars
I don't have much time, because I will be studying for midterm, but I feel like reviewing this CD I've had since February.
Although more refined and less raw than "Mer de Noms", A Perfect Circle continues its tradition of thought-provoking lyrics and haunting music. Billy Howerdel and Maynard James Keenan are musical geniuses, but put together with their talented drummer and other guitarists, they make the best band. I've seen them in concert in SF, CA, and man, I will always remember them as my first concert.
"The Package" is a great opening track. While I was listening to the CD, it starts off softly before blaring off loudly. It totally rocked the seat out from below me.
"Weak and Powerless" was the first single. It was great, not awesome, but great at first, but after hearing it again a few months ago, I realized that this song contains actual musical depth. It is one of the songs I listen to most frequently from this CD (but I listen to all the songs). At the concert, Maynard dedicated this song to California's new governor: Arnold Schwarzenegger.
If you listen to the lyrics of "The Noose," you will find how powerful Maynard's words are. The lethargic-like beat of Josh's drums and soft hypnotizing guitar string creates a soothing atmosphere among the hopelessness of Maynard's voice.
"Blue" is supposed to be the third single, but I'm not sure. There's nothing too striking about this song, but I love it anyway.
"The Vanishing" wasn't a favorite song (since it's more instrumental) until I went to the concert. The concert opened up with this song, and coupled with the expert use of lights and shadows to create a haunting mood, instantly made this song memorable for me.
"The Stranger" is one of the softer songs on the CD, but still an awesome favorite. The cricket-like sounds in the background created a real atmosphere of being outside in nature at night. The guitar complemented the mood of the night. I loved it best when they utilized some deep drum sounds near the end, reminding me of thunder.
Being the second single, "The Outsider" was quite heavy. Although the band members loved the Bikini Bandits in the music video, I didn't like it too much. I don't recommend the music video. I like how this whole song matches APC's theme of haunting guitar "solos." Maynard really uses his voice, almost shouting.
"Crimes" is another instrumental piece, but I like listening to the drums, bass, and, as mentioned before, APC's musical theme. This song just screams out the style of "APC." I don't know what's up with the voices near the end though; sounds like people are talking.
"The Nurse Who Loved Me" was a cover of a band... I think it was called Failure. One of the softer songs with weird lyrics. When I first heard it, I hated it, since it didn't sound like APC. After a while, it grew on me. If you find that you don't like this song, I suggest going to www.aperfectcircle.net and download one of the concert mp3's of this song. I'm almost sure you'll love it, since it's the rock alternative version.
To me, "Pet" has to be the heaviest song on the album. It started off heavy and ended heavy. I got my friend addicted to that song. This song has political implications about how the whole of America seems to be asleep, oblivious to what Bush is doing with his Iraq war, or following along with his secret agenda. Excellent song; highly recommended. Billy's guitar really stands out near the end, taking turns with Maynard for the spotlight, like a tag team.
If you have listened to Tool's "Aenima" CD, you will notice a real similarity. "Lullaby" is like a different version of "Pet"; this is similar to "Jimmy" and the organ version called "Intermission." I didn't notice it at first until I actually sat down to analyze every song on the CD. The melody of the voice is an imitation of the guitar on "Pet."
"Gravity" is more mellow, heavy on the bass. The overall mood is more uplifting, giving a sense of hope and healing with Maynard's lyrics. Perfect way to end the CD.
Free Music Review: Not Mer De Noms, but who cares.
Hit: 5 Stars
Mer De Noms was one of the greatest debut albums for any band, let alone that of A Perfect Circle. I saw them preform a couple years back, and you relize when you watch them just how much they are really doing.That being said, i was skeptical when this album first came out, thinking it wouldnt live up to what Mer De Noms had planted in the music world. And at first listen, some of the songs may not jump out to you as they might have with Mer De Noms. But you need to stop the comparison there. This album is not on the same judging scale as Mer De Noms and doesn't intend to. I don't even think about Mer De Noms when this album is playing.
The songs are more complex and for the most part quieter and have more depth.
4.5/5 "The Package" is a great opener about a drug addict looking for his next fix. It sets the tone for the album, and you soon realize what the album will unveil at second listen.
5/5 "Weak And Powerless" is a great song, intended for radio play as a single. Like "Judith" from Mer De Noms, it might grab the most attention, but isn't the best song on the record.
5/5 "The Noose" in my opinion this is the greatest song on the record and second best song APC has written, trailing "3 Libras", and they are quite similar in tone. But i love the hard drum beat that enters in with the bridge.
5/5 "Blue" is another amazing song with a lot of depth and the bass playing on this song is great. The verse really lures you in and then the chorus completely envelopes you, and the more you listen the more you really hear what they are all doing as musicians and it gains more respect as a wonderful song.
3.5/5 "Vanishing" it maybe filler, because it doesn't have much meaning but it still is in perfect place for this album. Somewhat of an interlude and a break from all the other songs that really work well together. At first listen you may not like it, but the more you listen the more you'll enjoy the musicianship on this song.
4/5 "The Stranger" this song begins to bring you back into the album after the break of "Vanishing" it does a great job at bringing back attention to the lyrics which are sung softly and sweetly, almost hypnotic.
5/5 "The Outsider" this is the hardest song on the record. A great song for anyone who loved Mer De Noms, this is probably the only song on the album that could have been on the Mer De Noms album. The lyrics on this song are amazing and are top notch on this record. This is my second favorite song on the record.
2/5 "Crimes" the drums sound good, but there is no point to this song and any listener that is not a diehard APC fan or a fan of listening to drum beats will not enjoy this song.
2/5 "Nurse Who Loved Me" is a song you think will grow on you. But it doesn't, the lyrics are nice and the vocals are great, but the style of playing is in no way APC and is not wanted by the listener. "Crimes" gives you the feeling that the next song will be really hard and a good track but "Nurse Who Loved Me" is a huge let down. In fact, you might find yourself hoping they break out into a drum solo. Which they don't.
4.5/5 "Pet" awesome song, it seems like it should have come after "Crimes" instead of "Nurse Who Loved Me" i really love the song structure on this album. The ending of the song is the best part.
2/5 "Lullaby" is even worse than "Crimes" and has no place whatsover on this album. A waste of time. But that's what its supposed to be, so i guess it does its job.
5/5 "Gravity" exactly what your hoping for in a closer for the album. This is one of the greatest songs on the album, and reminds you of Mer De Noms, its a good reflection song, with great lyrics about being reborn.
This album may have a few songs that are just filler, but you get passed them quickly and love the rest of the album. This is an amazing album and deserves more credit than its gotten.
Free Music Review: After one listen to it I would have given it a 4 or 3...
Hit: 5 Stars
But then I was listening to it with a friend of mine and midway through the album he was about to cry. I asked him what was wrong, and he asked me "You know the twelve step program right?" Now, for those of you who don't know what this is, the twelve step program is a type of spiritual rehab that goes through twelve steps of recovery. He told this to me and explained that he had went through the program and he could relate to every song on here because of that. Thats when I realised what the album name meant "Thirteenth Step".
So I go home and I listened to it again the whole way through, and, knowing what I now knew, I wass truly moved by the album. Every one of the 12 songs represents one of the steps and here they are:
Step 1. The Package: 10/10: The intro describes the person befor he got into the program. It tells about taking my package, don't need another friend, taking whats mine, lie to get what I want, etc etc. Describing how much he relies on the drugs and how he would lie and what he would do to get "the package".
Step 2. Weak and Powerless 10/10: Now the addict is realising that he needs help with his addiction and is describing why its so difficult and that he feels "week and powerless.
Step 3. The Noose:10/10: At one point in the program you must go to people you know and talk to them about how your addiction has affected them. This song describes how the addict has to deal with the people he has harmed and even killed becaue of the addiction.
Step 4. Blue:10/10: Now he is describing how he saw the people he loved where suffering and he acted like they were fine and 'didn't want to know/keeping it in the dark/ignore the smoke/turning blue/I just sit and stare at you/ because I dont wanna know'
Step 5. Vanishing 8/10: At this point he is describing what it was like to be high on the drug and is looking back on it and missing the high 'disapear/ higher, higher/ into the air'
Step 6. A Stranger 8/10: This is someone who is unable to forgive the addict of all the pain he has caused and is acting like he/she doesnt know him 'You're just a stranger so what do I care'
Step 7. The Outsider 10/10: This is from the perspective of someone who doesn't know what its like to be an addict and is just like "Quit being such a baby and walk it off!" and acts like this person just wants attention and is threatening to commit suicide cuz he's weak. 'If you choose to pull the trigger/should your drama prove sincere/Do it somewhere far away from here'
Step 8. Crimes 4/10: Now the addict is recalling all of the crimes he has commited and is haing trouble finishing because of all the guilt '1...2...3...4...5...6...7...8...9...9...10...10...10...10'
Step 9. The Nurse who Loved me (cover) 7/10: Now the person is in rehab and is being delusional about a nurse who is helping him through the treatment and believes she is falling for him and is giving him shortcuts 'she has everything I need/pharmasy keyes'.
Step 10. Pet 10/10: This is from the perspective of the addiction and it is trying to get the addict back to his old ways and is trying to make him believe that the addiction is his only friend, the ony thing he can trust and love 'Pay no mind what other voices say/They don't care about you, like I do/Safe from pain and truth and choice and other poison devils/See, they don't give a f**k about you, like I do.'
Step 11. Lullaby 5/10: Now the addiction is taking controle and the addict is getting ready to back to his old ways
Step 12. Gravity 10/10: The addict finally realises that he needs help through his addiction and get rid of the pain forever
Overall: 102/120: about 92% As you can see, this is a very powerful album. However I must warn thee fans of tool; This is a lot more mellow than Tool. The only truely heavy songs here are 'Weak & Powerless', 'The Outsider', and 'Pet' and even they have their quiet moments. But keep in mind as well that these are exelent musicians and this band should not be overlooked. Thank you
Free Music Review: Clever got me this far, but tricky got me in...
Hit: 5 Stars
Tool frontman Maynard James Keenan's alter ego band, A Perfect Circle, is really starting to come into their own. Their debut album, "Mer de Noms", was an excellent piece of music, but still, it had the feel of a band that wasn't quite yet used to playing together. Some of the songs were stellar, and some just didn't quite feel right. However, the band's sophomore release, "The Thirteenth Step", is a huge leap forward, in every possible way.Musically, this album contains a bit more Tool aspects than "Mer de Noms". It's heavier, more intricate, and a bit more epic. However, this isn't just Tool Number 2. The music evokes a much different feel than that of Tool. It's more elegant, more melodic, more beautiful. As I mentioned before, the album does get pretty heavy in a few places, but overall, it's very peaceful and atmospheric.
There is a whole lot going on here, and it really draws you in. The musicians all work together to create dense atmospheres of stunning music. Billy Howerdel is just a fantastic guitarist, with an exemplary ear for melody. Whether he's cranking out a crunching riff, or a soothing melody, he never misses his mark. New bassist Jeordie White (you may also know him as "Twiggy", Marilyn Manson's former bassist) makes a good first impression, adding an extra layer of density with his commanding basslines. Josh Freese is amazing, as always, upping the complexity a bit from the last album, but always keeping it perfectly tasteful and elegant. And of course, Maynard is never anything but incredible. He has long been accredited as one of modern rock's greatest singers, and he churns out yet another stellar performance here.
The album begins with "The Package", the longest song here. It starts with some odd percussion noises, with Maynard's subdued vocals slowly creeping in. The song starts out slow and simple, finally building into a powerful, heavy dirge. At first, it seems like a bit of a slow way to start the album (generally, you want it to grab you right away), but after a few listens, it kind of makes more sense.
From here, the album only gets better. "Weak and Powerless" is catchy and melodic, with a great chorus, "Vanishing" and "The Noose" are soft and majestic, with some very subtle and beautiful instrumentation, and some eerie and mesmerizing vocals. "The Outsider" is probably the most "Tool-esque" thing here, with a crunching a riff, and a more aggressive vocal delivery. "Pet" is a kind of dynamic piece, with more heavy riffage, some very nice melodic interludes, and even an epic guitar solo. It's pretty catchy, too. "Crimes" and "Lullaby" are short drum-and-bass interludes, the latter featuring some wordless female vocals, to add a nice effect. "The Nurse Who Loved Me" is a really bizarre ballad, with some lulling string arrangements, and kind of odd lyrics. There's something really weird about the song that I can't quite put my finger on. It has this tranquil, calm-inducing effect, sort of like painkillers setting in, and combined with the lyrics (which appropriately seem to be about a mental patient falling in love with the nurse who brings him his medication), it's kind of surreal. I don't know, you just gotta hear it. The album ends with "Gravity", which is soft and ethereal. Great vocals here, and a very nice way to wrap things up.
Anyway, this is a really beautiful and well-orchestrated release. It is without a doubt one of Maynard's crowning achievements, easily ranking alongside "Aenima" and "Lateralus", and like those two masterpieces, simply describing it can never do justice to actually listening to it yourself. Every serious music fan should buy this right away. No matter your tastes, there is a good chance you'll be satisfied. And, if you want something that offers a similar experience, I recommend checking out a band called Sigur Ros.
(Btw, don't worry if this doesn't hook you right away. Like most of Maynard's work, it takes a few spins to fully sink in.)
Free Music Review: My new favorite album
Hit: 5 Stars
All I can say is that I am amazed by this album. It is a true work of art. All of the songs, except the two instrumentals and The Nurse Who Loved Me, are amazing. My cousin burned me this album last week and and for the past week, this is the only album I have been listening to. Even though this is my favorite album of all time, A Perfect Circle is far from my favorite band, mainly because of Maynard. I deeply respect his musical talents, but I honestly HATE the guy. I am a devote Catholic, so I am deeply offended by many of the songs he has written, including Judith and Eulogy(Tool). If you are a devote Christian, you're probably going to be offended by this band. I am greatly anticipating another Perfect Circle album, but I hate the fact that Maynard might put a blasphamess(spelling?) song on it. Hopefully it will be just as good as Thirteenth Step with no songs mentioning God or Jesus. Hers's what I think of the songs.
The Package(10/10) A great way to start off the album. Very mellow in the begging, but it gets harder about 4 minutes threw. I think it's about drug addiction, but if you listen to the lyrics, it kinda sounds like it's about a guy that is going to lie to his girlfriend(tell her he loves her even though he doesn't) just so he could have sex with her and leave her when he's done. So it could be about drug addiction or lust.
Weak and Powerless(10/10) I love the guitar in the beginning. The first single from the album.
The Noose(1000000/10) My favorite track off of this album. Very mellow and pretty. Amazing metaphorical lyrics. About someone with a bad past. Their life has gotten better and they've become a much better person, but they can't erase what they have done and what has happened to them.(your halo's slipping down to choke you now)
Blue(10/10} No, it's not the cheesy Eiffel 65 song. Very nice, but I'm starting to get bored of it.
Vanishing(10/10) The lyrics are weak, but Maynard's eerie singing makes up for it(I may be complementing his amzing singing talent, but i still hate the guy. You probably think I'm stupid because I listen to this band even though I hate him.)
A Stranger(10/10) Another mellow song. The crickets in the backround are very nice. It isn't as long as some of the other songs (3:15)
The Outsider(10/10) One of the harder songs on the album. It's an anti-suicide song. It's not one of those "don't do it, we love you" slow and mellow anti-suicide songs. It's more of an angry song like "don't do it unless you want to waste the rest of your life"(This song might offend you you if you are or know someone who is suicidal).
Crimes(4/10) Short. I don't really like it, but I could listen to it without complaining. All Maynard is doing in this song is counting from 1 to 10.
The Nurse Who Loved Me(6/10) I find the lyrics extremely stupid. Atleast the violins sound nice.
Pet(11/10) My second favorite track. This song and The Outsider are the hardest songs on the album. It's about how the government only tells us what they want to tell us, feed us with propaganda, and "protect us".
Lullaby(1/10) I find this short(about 2 minutes) track very annoying. One of three tracks I frequently skip. The others include Crimes and The Nurse Who Loved Me.
Gravity(10/10) Probably the only song on the track that is positive in any way. About someone with a bad past, most likely drug addiction, who wants to heal and repair his/her life.
And that's my review for my favorite album of all time. Other bands I recomend are Linkin Park, Staind, Story of the Year, Yellowcard, and the NEW(not the old and inmature) Blink 182. ROCK ON!!!! RAP SUCKS!!!!( Except for Mike Shinoda's rapping in Linkin Park, which actually has meaning and isn't about drugs, sex, and other stupid crap)
P.S. I'm not under 13, I'm 15. I just didn't want to sign in.