A Perfect Circle - Thirteenth Step
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Free Music Notes for Thirteenth Step
Free Music Review: A healing Album
Hit: 5 Stars
Thirteeth step, is the state in which they've spirtiually grown or evolved, which is the album as a whole. As the for the individual songs, are the twelve steps, being in the process of healing that lead to the manyard's plain climbing the plateau or the thirteeth step. I think the whole album is pretty much about Manyard falling in love. And in the process of loving another person, love has the power to heal. Step 1 being song #1 is the package that starts off with manyard being his usual sick self. He goes to feed the monster, what he craves, lust. He lies and all that to have sex but desires no sort of relationship.
Step 2 Manyard's outlet for his lust turns out to be more then a tool for sex but something more in song #2 weak and powerless. He has an unhealthy realationship that is hurting him more then its benifiting him. Still, suffering is neccisary for a person to grow, for ex. Jesus who was crucified. If a person dose not suffer but imitates a saint, then the spirtual state that person is in is not authentic.
Step 3 Song #4 The noose, being the halo that slips down and becomes a noose. About an opinion or judgment he makes on another person, possibly about himself. An angel that is in actuallity profane and dose not know it until manyard pulls the person or himself down to reaveal the true self. A person cannot heal if they believe there is nothing wrong with that person.
Step 4 Blue is the aura that metaphores the beautiy he sees in the girl hes in love with.
Step5 Vanishing, killing yourself in order to be reborn as we do many times in our lives. From the sperm to the born baby. From dependence to independence. Killing the sick self in order to be reborn into a more healthy person. I don know, its a really soothing song tho.
Step 6 I guess denial about this girl that hes fallen for. The struggles and stuff in a relationship.
Step 7 Song #7, The whole song is about the stupidity of suicide. Its dark but still positive being that he dose not agree with suicide being the answer.
Step 8 Crimes, him accending from step one to ten and being stuck for a while at step 9 and 10.
Step 9 Being in love. The girl that is healing him. The nurse with a small cup and pill. The girl with pharmacy keys.
Step 10 Possessing the girl into another unhealthy relationship. I guess his jealousy has taken over that drove him to have her all to himself.
Step 11 I think its a filler, because you need tweleve songs to get to the thirteeth step. Weird but sort of clever when at the end of pet, it goes, go back to sleep and continues with go back to sleep in lullaby and plays a weird sounding lullaby.
Step 12 The final step before growth. To surrender to God or the gravity and the unknown. People can choose to surrender or choose to sin against Him and move away from him. Manyard chose to surrender to the good. I thought this cuz in their lyrics, there are lots of relious themes.
This is mainly a healing album and the twelve steps in my point of view. Anyway, this album to sturr up this sort of thinking would prove that this is truly a deep, intellectual, beautiful album. And i keep saying album cuz its not worth just getting the singles. This album all ties into each other creating a whole which is now dieing being that everyone's downloading and burning mixed cds and stuff. This is like the height of what rock is now or somewere up there.
Free Music Review: APC comes full circle
Hit: 5 Stars
The modern radio era is dominated by bands that fancy themselves latter-day Sex Pistols but sound more like bad Green Day knockoffs. Into this musical climate, A Perfect Circle has injected a potent breath of fresh air with its sophomore effort, Thirteenth Step.The record doesn't overpower the listener. It has a quietness, a subtlety that makes it nearly impossible to fully appreciate on first listen. But with each subsequent listen, its layers are uncovered, slowly and deliciously. It's a masterpiece that comes full circle on the promise of the band's debut, Mer de Noms.
Thirteenth Step can be taken as a concept album of sorts, with each of the twelve songs exploring a different aspect of psychology and addiction. Opener "The Package" draws you in with quiet guitars and beats and Maynard James Keenan's gorgeous vocals. He's an addict looking for his next fix, and we're along for the ride as the music and voice go from an urgent whisper to a desperate growl and back again. It sets the stage for the journey to come.
The first single, "Weak and Powerless," is a standout. Like much of the record, it's clearly influenced by the new wave of the late 80's and early 90's -- there are points at which Keenan's voice seems to channel that of the Cure's Robert Smith -- yet strikingly original. It's disarming, with a haunting quality that carries throughout the record.
The musicianship is impressive. From band founder/guitarist Billy Howerdel to drummer Josh Freese to new bassist Jeordie White, there isn't a weak link. White, in particular, is a revelation. His confident, driving bass lines are just the right counterpart to Freese's rhythms; who knew that such a fine musician lurked within the former Twiggy Ramirez? The music and vocals both prove capable of holding back when appropriate, making the moments when they explode all the more powerful. The band is tight, skilled and creative.
As we've come to expect from Keenan in APC or his other project, Tool, the lyrics are cryptic, metaphorical and beautiful. They are consistently powerful, intelligent and thought-provoking as they explore the darker subject matter.
Among the quieter, more atmospheric tracks, "The Noose" stands out with its haunting guitars and poignant lyrics. The band showcases its sense of humor on Failure cover "The Nurse Who Loved Me," with Keenan stepping into character as the sad, delusional patient. The song is stark and surpising. String instruments provide an understated, elegant sound, and Keenan conveys just the right vulnerability and pathos.
There are heavier songs, too, and they are some of the best on the record. "The Outsider" is the most powerful, musically and lyrically, with Keenan's angry vocals lashing out and tearing loose. "Pet" can be taken as a political commentary on post-9/11 America and the war on terror; the music hits just the right notes from heavy to scary to gentle, to coincide with the alternately reassuring, commanding and ironic tone of the lyrics and vocals.
Perhaps the record as a whole is the recovery, the thirteenth step. It lingers in your mind and your soul, long after it closes with the oddly uplifting lines, "Heal me/lift me back up to the sun/I choose to live."
Free Music Review: Quality not quantity
Hit: 5 Stars
I've been a fan of Tool since 1993. I think Maynard is a genius and one of the only true "artists" left in rock music. For those who judge APC because of Tool, don't take their opinions and let them influence yours. Tool is the "masculine" side of Maynard and A Perfect Circle is the "feminine" side of him, as he described prior to the release of Mer De Noms. And he's right. So with that said, there's no way you could compare the two at all when it's meant to be different from the get-go. It's not even Maynard's band. The concept was thought by Billy Howerdel, who also writes the music for the group. And those Tool fans complaining the album is too short.. the album is TWELVE tracks long. Opiate had six tracks, Undertow had 10 and Lateralus had 13. If that's your basis of hating the album, I guess you'd be criticizing those beloved albums of yours too. The only Tool album that had a lengthly 15 tracks was (their best) Aenima, and that's without minusing the in between song "skits."That said, "Thirteenth Step" proves APC to be the best group around now. Starting off with "The Package" which is musically wonderful and even more so lyrically. "Weak and Powerless", although a single, doesn't do what most rock groups do nowadays: Release a single that sounds different then the rest of the album just to appeal to the masses and mainstream fans and just sounds out of place on the rest of the record. They can release a single that stays true to the album and can be widely liked without changing a thing around and not losing any artistic merit. THAT right there should prove them as artists well enough.
"The Noose" is chilling and might be the second best track on the album. It's lyrics are powerful and Maynard reminds us why we hold him is such high regards: Spectacular song writing, eery chilling vocals, and a deep message. Such is the case on "Blue" and "A Stranger", both beautifully written and performed songs.
"The Outsider" reminds me of Undertow-era Tool. It's a great song and the lyrical content is somewhat humorous. (Ending with: If you choose to pull the trigger/ should your drama prove sincere/ do it somewhere FAR AWAY from here.) "The Nurse Who Loved Me" is eery, sounding like something Hannibal Lecter might listen to in between choosing victims. It's actually a cover song but is done to perfection. "Pet" is another Tool-esque song, and (not for that reason) the best song on the album, in my opinion. By the end of the album, you think back to Maynard saying on the opening track, "Clever got me this far." It definitely has always gotten him farther, and "Thirteenth Step" continues the cycle.
"Thirteenth Step" should be judged by it's quality, not quantity. It's a very artful album, better then more then half the crap you'd find out there today. For those who appreciate deep, intelligent, artful music with perfect song writing and talented musicians, A Perfect Circle and anything else Maynard has been involved with is for you. For the rest who are still expecting APC to be a Tool clone, why don't you get it by now? Tool albums have always sounded different from one another, that's what makes the experience of Tool so amazing and unique. And the same goes for APC. Brilliant record as always.
Free Music Review: One of the best albums of 2003
Hit: 5 Stars
This is one of the best albums to come out this year, there have been a few band member changes since Mer de Noms, and it certainly shows.In contrast to their previous album, (which was good too, don't get me wrong), A Perfect Circle have become a lot more alterative and experimental, but still maintaining strong riffs and killer beats throughout. The album flows more as a cohesive whole that MdN and by the end you'll have a huge grin on your face.
Maynard James Keenan and Billy Howerdel have obviously really put their heads together for this album and it is now very obvious that this is certainly not just a "Side Project".
Track List:
1) The Package - What a great way to start, Maynard shows that he's still got it, able to soothe you with whispered melodies at one point, then rip you to shreds the next. The way this track explodes half-way through was very nice and you just felt the power rise through your whole body at that moment.
2) Weak and Powerless - This was their single, and for a good reason, it's probably the most consistent track and maintains a great strength throughout it.
3) The Noose - one of their most gentle songs. There are no real explosions of power in this one, but the beauty and heartfelt manner with which Maynard sings really makes this a strong track. Cool layering effect too.
4) Blue - Another consistent track, with a bit of a weak beginning, but once you get into it you'll love it.
5) Vanished - Probably the weakest track on the album as it doesn't really go anywhere or do anything, nice intro but decidedly weak when compared with the rest of the album.
6) A Stranger - This is one of my absolute favourites, gentle, soothing and absolutely beautiful, Maynard goes all-out with heart-wrenching lyrics and intonation, fading to the softest of whispers at some points. The two deep chords struck half-way through this track will make you pee your pants.
7) The Outsider - I really like this track because it picks off from the gentle attitiude and creates an aggressive and angry piece where the rage and disgust seem to come alive. The way that the line "Medicated drama queen, picture perfect numb beligerence" is said will send shivers down your spine.
8) Crimes - This is really just a filler so it ain't worth reviewing.
9) The Nurse Who Loved Me - It is at this point that you realise that Maynard is one screwed up dude. Totally shifting from anything he has ever done, this song has been adapted from another band and is funny, yet disturbing at the same time.
10) Pet - Probably my favourite track on the whole cd and one of the only "current issues" songs that I have ever heard Maynard do. The power in this track is juxtaposed with moments of soft menace, then ripping out agian with awesome riffs.
11) Lullaby - A continuation of Pet, but acting as a softer version, with memories of Parabol/Parabola from Tool coming in. It really acts as a filler more than anything else.
12) Gravity - A beautiful track that closes off the whole album very nicely.
Whew, so that's all of them. I would highly recommend this album, hopefully it will kepp me satisfied until the new Tool album comes out.
Free Music Review: Thirteenth Step
Hit: 5 Stars
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.