(rock) A Perfect Circle--Mer de Noms

[robnathanson]

This is the debut album from A Perfect Circle. the cd's title "Mer de Noms" is translated into english to mean "Sea of Names". This cd contains the bands original lineup of

Maynard James Keenan--vocals
Billy Howerdell--Guitars/backing vocals
Paz Lenchantin--Bass/violin
Josh Freese--Percussion and drums
Troy Van Leeuwen--Guitars

The band generated a lot of attention with Maynard, because of his involvment in the high profile band Tool. THis resulted in a high profile release, and many album sales.

The album doesn't disappoint. It is a powerfully driven, easily listenable cd, with (in my opinion) now bad tracks. Everything fits perfectly.

now for my track by track analysis:


1. The Hollow--a powerful, high energy track. Sometimes gives the listener the impression that the band is just another heavy, band, and nothing special. until Maynards voice comes in that is. Maynard always has very meaningful lyrics and a powerful voice, and he shows it off here. This song makesthe band sound like "Tool Lite" but I guarentee you'll be hooked after the first listen!
5/5

2. Magdalena--This song slows down considderably from The Hollow, but it is just as mind capturing. Maynard sings about the most beautiful woman imaginable, and what he would do to have her.
"I'd sell my soul, my self esteem, a Dollar at a time, for one chance, one kiss, One taste of you my Magdalena"
calling the woman an "earthly goddess" also adds to this. a beautiful track, simple, yet effective lyrics, a nice beat.
5/5

3. Rose--My personal favourite track on the album. very catchy, well put together lyrics and music. Altogether another beautiful track.Maynards lyrics describe, how he is refusing to lay down and give away his free will to others. AS I sadi, my favourite track...
5/5

4. Judith--The most Tool-esque song on the album. very heavy, very fast. Maynard at a vocal high. The songs theme is blind faith (following religion with no ambition) This was the First single from "Mer de Noms" and it was with good reason that Maynard didn't originally want it to be released--it sounds nothing like the rest of the album--for all of those who are easily offended by comments regarding religion (I'm not one) I'd say stay away. (Billy shouting out "**** your God" is a good example why)...for the rest of you, it is a highly enjoyable song, but not what APC is al about.
4.5/5

5. Orestes--slowing down considderably from "Judith" this is a much quieter, slower, and all around different song. If you enjoyed THirteenth Step (APC's second album) you'll enjoy this song, it sounds a lot like that album. Lyrically, I think this songs is about separating, and becoming more independant. The opening guitar riff/lick thing sends chills up and down my spine every time I hear it. It is an amazing song!
5/5

6. Three Libras--The best orgasm inducing somg on the album. it sounds like nothing I've heard before. amazing guitar work, excellent musicianship on all accounts, lyrically, one of Maynard's greatest works...and all around AWESOME song. Paz's violin on this song just adds to the extravagence.
6/5 -- 6 stars!!! The song is just that good!!!

7. Sleeping Beauty--Returning to the heavier edge of the music (although not reaching the peaks of The Hollow, or the more intense Judith) this is another Musically solid song. combining a perfect mix of the music, vocals, and rhythm. maynard (although never yelling) holds notes for long periods of time, without rest. another great song
5/5

8. Thomas--another slower song, not my favourite on the album, but well done indeed. I'm getting tired of typing, but trust me by my ratings.....they are high, but not easily earned. (I look at all aspects of the music, and these ratings are VERY well deserved indeed)
4/5

9. Renholder--read backwards as RE: D. Lohner (Danny Lohner) who briefly became APC's guitarist after Troy left. he recorded a number of songs on Thirteenth step, before quitting and being replaced by James Iha. There are no lyrics in this song.
3.5/5

10. Thinking of You--Maynards voice is amazing on this track (again) musically, it is NOT sloppy, but other songs sound tighter. an excellent track nonetheless, my third overall favourite on the album. (1-Rose, 2-Three Libras)
4/5

11. Brena--slowing down again, and another tight track, musically. Lyrically, I don't find this song the best, however that is just personal opinion. It's about Maynard's wife (girlfriend?).
3.5/5

12. Over--the final track. it's nothing special.Maynard is just repeating "been over, been over this before" and such stuff through the whole song.
1/5 (for the simple reason that it has a tune/words to it)

---MY OVERALL IMPRESSION---

This is an amazing record. If you are buying it basing it on Tool's music, you may be disappointed. This is NOT Tool. This band has a completely different sound. In fact, each song seems to have a different sound. This record may take some time to get into, although not as much as Thirteenth Step, but it is well worth the time spent listening to it. For me, I got into it the first time. It was, in fact, the first cd that I listened to, start to finish. It is an amazing album, and it's definatley worth $15 (or however much it costs)

OVERALL SCORE--
5/5 Musically
5/5 lyrically

you be the judge.

[PeEpHoLe_10]

great reveiw dude. i love that album.

[TheAxeslinger]

mmmmmm yummy yummy, this album is delicious. i could study these lyrics for the rest of my life. what an amazing breakthrough album

[Hababi]

I only liked a few songs off that one. I loved Oresta's and 3 Libra's, the rest I didn't like.

[sliver]

Cool review maybe a little bit too high IMO for some of the songs, but APC rocks anyway :thumb:

I'm pretty sure some of you're song meanings are off, I read in an interview that all of the songs off Mer De Noms were written to like religious leaders of the world--most of them are big metaphors :)

[robnathanson]

Maynard wrote all the songs...he ALWAYS uses big metaphors and hidden meanings and the like...I just went with how the songs spoke to me personally.

(and I'm 100% sure that Judith is about blind faith--Maynard and the rest of the band have stated this several times)

[Mekkalayakay]

I only have Thirteenth Step, but I might check out Mer de Noms. :thumb:

and great review by the way.

[Ecu]

I think Mer de noms is less perfect than 13th step, but it's already great music !

[Anti-Bush]

Great review! major :thumb:.

[Prodigal_Suns_Rock]

GREAT ALBUM! 5/5

[Frodo]

Great review.

Very enjoyable album. 3 Libras is just amazing, such an original song. Overall though I think I prefer Thirteenth Step.

[robnathanson]

I'm not sure which I prefer. I like Mer de Noms for the harder edge, and when I feel like doing something productive.
I much prefer Thirteenth Step to sit back and relax to though.

Overall I think I like Mer de Noms more (even if just for 3 Libras/Rose though.)

[brero]

MOst of the album is drowned in a sickeningly lush sound that have been mixed too much.

Judith is the only stand out song. It benefits from a proper riff and a directness that is acking from the other tracks.

[GraveCross]

I think you are giving the album a little too much credit, it isn't 5/5 material. Probably 4.5/5 or 4/5. 5/5 means it is perfect, which it simply isn't, 5/5 is like Lateralus.

[robnathanson]

actually, the only track that isn't perfect is over....and too a lesser extent renholder (although I love that too)

The CD is definatley Mindblowingly good, adn I challenge you to tell me why it isn't.


Originally posted by brero
MOst of the album is drowned in a sickeningly lush sound that have been mixed too much.

Judith is the only stand out song. It benefits from a proper riff and a directness that is acking from the other tracks.


You are thinking on a different level. Judith is definatley a stand-alone track...in the sense that it has a totally different sound than the rest of the album. every other song benefits from different areas--odd time signatures, violin work, orgasmic guitar work etc etc etc.

Judith is completely different from the album as a whole, and in my opinion is the only blemish on the CD....(even though it still rocks)


I stand by my 5/5 review

[chrisl84pia]

Originally posted by GraveCross
I think you are giving the album a little too much credit, it isn't 5/5 material. Probably 4.5/5 or 4/5. 5/5 means it is perfect, which it simply isn't, 5/5 is like Lateralus.

i love maynard, he is by far the most versatile and powerful singer. His singing style has so many faces, its beautiful. As for Lateralus, yea i agree. Schism from Lateralus is so good... it's like artwork.

[GraveCross]

Challenege me, well it's technically impossible to prove someone right or wrong in this argument, because these are pure opinions with no facts behind them. You can't really prove anything, but I will state my opinion on the matter.

For an album to get a 5/5, it needs to be near perfect. Which means that it needs to be one of the greatest albums of its genre/time/or whatever.

Comparing Mer De Noms to something like Aenima, or Lateralus for that matter, which are vastly better, shows that Mer De Noms is not near perfect. It is still a good album in all respects, but there are a lot of things out there that are better. Which means that it can't be at the top of the heap with a 5/5 rating.

It's a very good album, don't get me wrong, but it isn't 5/5. A 5/5 is a classic album, better then most everything out there. Mer De Noms is just not that good.

And none of the tracks are perfect. Saying that is simply ignorant. Nothing is ever perfect, even though they can be excellent. You do seem to give a couple tracks scores that they don't deserve though. Orestes and Sleeping Beauty are hardly at the same level of lets say Judith, 3 Libras, or Magdalena.

Plus, you gave something a 6/5. Not only is that unprofessional and immature, but it reminds me of pure stupidity a la Spinal Tap.

Remember the Amp that goes to 11? Well, it should be going to 10, and the same is true here.

3 Libra's should be a 5/5, and all your other 5/5s should be 4/5s. You have proven this by saying that 3 Libras is a 6/5, your scale is faulty, just like the Amp in Spinal Tap.

[robnathanson]

Originally posted by GraveCross
Challenege me, well it's technically impossible to prove someone right or wrong in this argument, because these are pure opinions with no facts behind them. You can't really prove anything, but I will state my opinion on the matter.

For an album to get a 5/5, it needs to be near perfect. Which means that it needs to be one of the greatest albums of its genre/time/or whatever.

Comparing Mer De Noms to something like Aenima, or Lateralus for that matter, which are vastly better, shows that Mer De Noms is not near perfect. It is still a good album in all respects, but there are a lot of things out there that are better. Which means that it can't be at the top of the heap with a 5/5 rating.

It's a very good album, don't get me wrong, but it isn't 5/5. A 5/5 is a classic album, better then most everything out there. Mer De Noms is just not that good.

And none of the tracks are perfect. Saying that is simply igno

rant. Nothing is ever perfect, even though they can be excellent. You do seem to give a couple tracks scores that they don't deserve though. Orestes and Sleeping Beauty are hardly at the same level of lets say Judith, 3 Libras, or Magdalena.

Plus, you gave something a 6/5. Not only is that unprofessional and immature, but it reminds me of pure stupidity a la Spinal Tap.

Remember the Amp that goes to 11? Well, it should be going to 10, and the same is true here.

3 Libra's should be a 5/5, and all your other 5/5s should be 4/5s. You have proven this by saying that 3 Libras is a 6/5, your scale is faulty, just like the Amp in Spinal Tap.


whats your damn problem with me?

get a life and quit your bitching. I am not the first person to do the 6/5 thing. 3 Libras is definatley the most amazing song in a long time, and merits top scores. who cares about professionalism? It's a friggin internet forum. we're here to have fun!

on to other things--Mer de Noms is in a different Genre than Tool, therefore, comparing this album to Ænema or Lateralus is useless. this album may not be you're cup of tea, but I know people who've changed their whole musical outlook because of this cd (among others)

quit being so condescending toward me and my reviews.

and I still stand by my 5/5 review.

[GraveCross]

I don't have any problem with you, I stated my opinion, and you challenged me. If anyone has a problem, it would be you.

Don't tell me to "quit my bitching" I will bitch as much as I want, thank you very much. Sure, you might not be the only one to do a 6/5 rating, but that doesn't make it alright. It is still stupid for the reasons I posted above.

You are right, this is an internet forum, but this is also a review forum, where people review CDs. There should be some standard of professionalism used when reviewing a CD. I fail to see how using an accurate scale is depriving you of fun on the forum.

Regardless, stop with the personal stuff. I never wanted it, I just want to discuss the album. You are the one who has to go and challenge people and whatnot. I don't want Sting to come in and have to intervene here again.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------

Just because Mer de Noms is in a different genre then Aenema (which is debatable), doesn't mean you can't compare them. Furthermore, that is irrelevant for the points I made. Aenema is a CD that is just awsome, truely deserving of the 5/5 rating. Whereas Mer De Noms is not as good as Aenema, regardless of the genre, it just isn't as good (my opinion of course). I didn't have to use Aenema, I could use any awsome CD in any genre, and my point still stands.

And I obviously stated that I liked the CD, and it was my cup of tea. However, it isn't as good as you are making it out to be, which is my main point.

I'm not being condescencing to you or your reviews. I am critiquing what you are doing because it has several fatal flaws in it, and you are blowing a roid over the slightest disagreement someone has with your rating.

You need to calm down and learn that people will have other opinions on CDs then you do, and they will voice them when you post a review. You need to learn to live with and tolerate those opinions, and not try to challenge them because you think they are some kind of threat to your review.

And Sting-Ray, I'm sorry this had to be posted here, but it does. I'll refrain from getting into any longwinded arguments with rob in the future. However, I feel that it is important that posters be allowed to voice their opinions about CD reviews, even when they don't agree with the main poster, without being challenged and attacked, like I was.

[BirdsOfFires]

To both of you whiny assholes:


EVERYONE HAS OPINIONS. NOW SHUT UP AND AGREE TO DISAGREE. YOU BOTH HAVE COMPLETELY VALIDATED OPINIONS.


TO sting ray:

Dude, please change the rating system to x/10 because it will stop these fruitless arguments. Then you could easily say that 10/10's are only for genre-gappers, i.e., albums that will get a person into a genre, or perfect albums within the genre.


To EVERYONE:

JUST REMEMBER, OPINIONS ARE LIKE BODY ODOR; EVERYONE HAS SOME, AND NOBODY LIKES ANYONE ELSE'S.

[robnathanson]

Originally posted by GraveCross
I don't have any problem with you, I stated my opinion, and you challenged me. If anyone has a problem, it would be you.

Don't tell me to "quit my bitching" I will bitch as much as I want, thank you very much. Sure, you might not be the only one to do a 6/5 rating, but that doesn't make it alright. It is still stupid for the reasons I posted above.

You are right, this is an internet forum, but this is also a review forum, where people review CDs. There should be some standard of professionalism used when reviewing a CD. I fail to see how using an accurate scale is depriving you of fun on the forum.

Regardless, stop with the personal stuff. I never wanted it, I just want to discuss the album. You are the one who has to go and challenge people and whatnot. I don't want Sting to come in and have to intervene here again.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------

Just because Mer de Noms is in a different genre then Aenema (which is debatable), doesn't mean you can't compare them. Furthermore, that is irrelevant for the points I made. Aenema is a CD that is just awsome, truely deserving of the 5/5 rating. Whereas Mer De Noms is not as good as Aenema, regardless of the genre, it just isn't as good (my opinion of course). I didn't have to use Aenema, I could use any awsome CD in any genre, and my point still stands.

And I obviously stated that I liked the CD, and it was my cup of tea. However, it isn't as good as you are making it out to be, which is my main point.

I'm not being condescencing to you or your reviews. I am critiquing what you are doing because it has several fatal flaws in it, and you are blowing a roid over the slightest disagreement someone has with your rating.

You need to calm down and learn that people will have other opinions on CDs then you do, and they will voice them when you post a review. You need to learn to live with and tolerate those opinions, and not try to challenge them because you think they are some kind of threat to your review.

And Sting-Ray, I'm sorry this had to be posted here, but it does. I'll refrain from getting into any longwinded arguments with rob in the future. However, I feel that it is important that posters be allowed to voice their opinions about CD reviews, even when they don't agree with the main poster, without being challenged and attacked, like I was.


I HATE MY COUSINS

Grave Cross, I apologize for all the useless crap that was posted here today. My cousins are down visiting for a week, and they were on the computer all day. (The only thread i had anything to do with was the snow day one in the Pit...and I made the Audioslave review too) I am logged onto MX 100% of the time, and they were posting all day. this is only my second post in this forum all day, and once again, I apologize to you for everything that went on today.

I'm Sorry, adn I hope you can forgive and forget...as fro my cousins, if they weren't 6 years younger than me, I would beat the **** out of them!

[BirdsOfFires]

This is the most pathetic excuse I've ever ****ing heard. I just lost all respect I ever had for you.

[BirdsOfFires]

SINCE THIS WAS AT THE BOTTOM OF THE PAGE AND APPARENTLY NO ONE SAW IT:

To both of you whiny assholes:


EVERYONE HAS OPINIONS. NOW SHUT UP AND AGREE TO DISAGREE. YOU BOTH HAVE COMPLETELY VALIDATED OPINIONS.


TO sting ray:

Dude, please change the rating system to x/10 because it will stop these fruitless arguments. Then you could easily say that 10/10's are only for genre-gappers, i.e., albums that will get a person into a genre, or perfect albums within the genre.


To EVERYONE:

JUST REMEMBER, OPINIONS ARE LIKE BODY ODOR; EVERYONE HAS SOME, AND NOBODY LIKES ANYONE ELSE'S.

[robnathanson]

Originally posted by BirdsOfFires
This is the most pathetic excuse I've ever ****ing heard. I just lost all respect I ever had for you.


too bad for you then.

The sad thing is--it's not an excuse, it's true!


EDIT: and I feel really bad about it

:upset:

[epifreak2002]

I got this album as a result of this review, and thanks for it. I was thinking about the lyrics to Magdalena, and I thought it might be about drugs or some other form of addiction. "I'd sell my soul, my self esteem a dollar at a time for just one taste of you my Magdalena." Addiction does not do wonderful things to a person's self esteem "My self esteem". Also, I could see saying "I'd sell my soul for you" but saying "my self esteem" hardly fits into the picture of something you'd say in the situation of singing to a girl (unless this is about an addiction to sex maybe....) Also the line "A dollar at a time" seems to indicate addiction. It doesn't really fit the image of romantic love, but if you picture going to a dealer and getting your satisfaction "a dollar at a time." It makes more sense.

Anyway, I may be completely off-base with this, but it's just a thought. And so I'm not just wasting space wondering about their lyrics, I'd probably give this a 4/5, because it's a great album, I don't think it quite reaches a 5, which to me represents an album that will change music forever.

[Wow]

Did anyone notice in the chorus of Magdalena, I think in the third time, instead of saying "My Magdalena", Maynard says "My Black Madonna."


Just wondering if I'm the only one.

[sting-ray]

thanks for the bump Wow. Now i get to see all the dirty stuff that was going down while i was gone....

- now, since there is too much dispute over the rating system i'll look into it again and most prolly change it. Until i change it the rating stays at /5.

- rob, if you are not banned, you got lucky.

- Both people involved in that flame fest were equally guilty, and i dont want to see anymore of this **** or some bannings will happen without warning.

[epifreak2002]

Originally posted by Wow
Did anyone notice in the chorus of Magdalena, I think in the third time, instead of saying "My Magdalena", Maynard says "My Black Madonna."


Just wondering if I'm the only one.

Sounds like a religious comment, as Madonna is used by the Catholics to refer to Mary. Also, I got curious and looked Magdalena up in the dictionary. Magdalena is a river in South America, which tells nothing; however the word Magdalenan can either be a reference to Mary Magdalin (the ex-prostitute who followed Jesus in the bible) or it can mean a reformed prostitute. So you can draw your own conclusions out of that. Oh, sorry for using this as a forum to discuss their lyrics instead of rating, but the conversation had already been started, so oh well...

[robnathanson]

Originally posted by sting-ray
thanks for the bump Wow. Now i get to see all the dirty stuff that was going down while i was gone....

- now, since there is too much dispute over the rating system i'll look into it again and most prolly change it. Until i change it the rating stays at /5.

- rob, if you are not banned, you got lucky.

- Both people involved in that flame fest were equally guilty, and i dont want to see anymore of this **** or some bannings will happen without warning.



Not only did I apologize, I also explained myself, and sadi I felt bad about it (all truthful)

Under my account only 1 post was made in this thread and a couple in the other, but it turned into nothing.

I'm sorry if you do not like that, but it's the way it is. I'm not trying to start anything here with you, but just calm down man.

[sting-ray]

i dont want you to be banned, you contribute greatly and you are cool. I was also relieved that you werent banned, because apparently GraveCross got banned... i get the impression that either you didnt get the right idea or i didnt clarify; either way its all good between us, i just have to minimize fights around here...

[epifreak2002]

^ awww..... I just love happy endings. (Sorry, I couldn't resist.)

[behemoth]

For what it's worth, in my opinion this album is more listenable than (and therefore preferable to) Aenima.

[robnathanson]

Originally posted by sting-ray
i dont want you to be banned, you contribute greatly and you are cool. I was also relieved that you werent banned, because apparently GraveCross got banned... i get the impression that either you didnt get the right idea or i didnt clarify; either way its all good between us, i just have to minimize fights around here...


ok, I misunderstood what you were on about...


I love you too (not in a homosexual way...more of a friendly way...meh, you know what I mean)

Thanks for the kind words!


-Robin

[Conor]

Maynard wrote all the songs...he ALWAYS uses big metaphors and hidden meanings and the like...I just went with how the songs spoke to me personally.

(and I'm 100% sure that Judith is about blind faith--Maynard and the rest of the band have stated this several times)Maynard did not write all the songs.

[Knifeboy]

Maynard did not write all the songs.

I'm pretty sure he wrote all the lyrics ?

[Drop-D]

great review, that is probably my top 3 favorite albums of all times

[ATC]

To both of you whiny assholes:

JUST REMEMBER, OPINIONS ARE LIKE BODY ODOR; EVERYONE HAS SOME, AND NOBODY LIKES ANYONE ELSE'S.

isn't it opinions are like arseholes.everyone has one.and not everyone gets some.

[ieatalotoftacos]

Everything off the album has biblical or mythical references. This album is definitely one of the few albums worth the high price that record stores charge. Personally, Brena is one of my favorite tracks off the album, and it deserves at least 4/5 stars. Orestes is my personal favorite.

[MxShredder]

I'm pretty sure some of you're song meanings are off, I read in an interview that all of the songs off Mer De Noms were written to like religious leaders of the world--most of them are big metaphors :)

That definatly makes sense, as Mer De Noms means sea of names

this album's probably somewhere between 4.5 and 5/5, the lyrics (as with all of maynards) are incredible

[joeysilvara]

Mer De noms is a fantastic album, so congratulations to you for reviewing it. In a world presently dominated by turd music, 'A Perfect Circle' stand out like a friggin beacon.
On a personal level, I would probably give this album a 4.5/5, which is just as well, cause 'Thirteenth Step' is actually a better album. Take nothing away from 'Mer', but to give it 5/5 leaves you no buffer fo something better, and thirteenth step is far more musically complex.
Oh, and for the guy who keeps crapping away about 'Aenima'...first of all, for fuucks sake, if you are going to keep on and on about an album you love soooo much, the least you can do is fucckin spell it correctly.
Secondly, I agree that Aenima is a better album, and surely warrants a 5/5 rating, but save your anger for Blink 182 pal, and leave the 'circle' pure from criticism. We are in debt to their musical genius.

[Dancin' Man]

This album is a perfect complimetn to 13th step. This has more power behind it and seems much mroe agressive while 13th step seems to be more thoughtful and deliberate. This has a more wild feel I suppose which is great. Orestes, 3 Libras and Magdalena are my top three I think but the whole album is perfectly constructed. I say this keeping in mind what was said about genre gappers because it takes the elements of prog such as strange instrumentation and modified time signatures but makes them listener friendly as Tool, The Mars Volta and Dream Theater have yet to be able to do (not saying I don't like those bands (well, DT isn't my cup of tea) but to most folks they are a challenge to enjoy). mer de noms = 5/5, 13th step = 5/5 13th step + mer de noms = 6/5

[sivA_x1]

GREAT overall album, magdalena is also a very good song, my personal favorite, the chours absolulty blows me away, GREAT album 5/5

[incubliss]

a great album, but in ways, i prefer listening to Thirteenth Step because it flows all the way through.

i believe that both alubms are 5/5 material, definately.

and i believe that this album is basically about religion. as someone has already stated.

[[EoN-BluE-ApocalypsE]]

You underscored 3 Libras by about 4 stars :D

[Sleepwalker]

Great review, I agree almost completely on it. The only thing I don't is that I don't like the score for "Over." It's extremely simple, yet a perfect ending for (ironically) A Perfect Circle ;) . APC is currently my favorite band, and this is probably my favorite cd (mostly for "Orestes" and "3 Libras") by them.

Supposedly, Maynard said he was finished with APC after this tour is over, and he's only going to be with Tool from then on. Can anyone confirm this? I love Tool, but love APC more (Billy Howerdel is an amazing songwriter, in my opinion), so I'm really hoping that my favorite singer and songwriter aren't "breaking up," so to speak.

[Theo]

Great review, I agree almost completely on it. The only thing I don't is that I don't like the score for "Over." It's extremely simple, yet a perfect ending for (ironically) A Perfect Circle ;) . APC is currently my favorite band, and this is probably my favorite cd (mostly for "Orestes" and "3 Libras") by them.

Supposedly, Maynard said he was finished with APC after this tour is over, and he's only going to be with Tool from then on. Can anyone confirm this? I love Tool, but love APC more (Billy Howerdel is an amazing songwriter, in my opinion), so I'm really hoping that my favorite singer and songwriter aren't "breaking up," so to speak.

Hmm that would suck. APC IMO are far better than Tool, which on many occasions I find unlistanable.

[Lumiere]

That's a thing I always find...APC fans usually hate TOOL (occasionally people will just dislike them greatly, or like them a tiny bit) and vice versa.

But anyway, I like APC but I find TOOL to be far superior.

[YouDontSeeMe]

Great review for a great album. The album is well put together, I can listen too it for hours, maynards voice is hypnotizing, Mer de noms to me is romantic, focusing on the soul.

[illuminati]

Great review for a great album. The album is well put together, I can listen too it for hours, maynards voice is hypnotizing, Mer de noms to me is romantic, focusing on the soul.

i can relate to that. :)

it's an enchanting album, great songs all the way through. i've been through the process of showing my friends the album, and they are falling in love with it aswell. it's a brilliant piece of art.

[rox0]

Probably APC's best album so far...

[Zipperface]

they are very exceptional songwriters and im glad to see im not the only one who thinks so. i love the softer songs they create because its so enrapturing. which is weird because usually i hate it when a band tries to be soft. this is a different story though seeing as how maynard and friends really compliment eachothers playing well. i hope to see some new material from them real soon. i LOVE THEM! (strange seeing as how i listen to stuff like Lamb of God)

p.s.
anyone who is offended by judiths lyrics remeber one thing, everyone is entitled to their own opinion. im christian and i think the sonf ****ing ROCKS!

[T-Web]

I just got this yesterday. It took me a few listens to like it but after that it was an amazing album. Its definately different from Thirteenth Step and id say that this cd leans more towards Tool's sound.

favorite tracks- Judith, The Hollow, 3 Libras

great review

[MrBrick]

I got this album as a result of this review, and thanks for it. I was thinking about the lyrics to Magdalena, and I thought it might be about drugs or some other form of addiction. "I'd sell my soul, my self esteem a dollar at a time for just one taste of you my Magdalena." Addiction does not do wonderful things to a person's self esteem "My self esteem". Also, I could see saying "I'd sell my soul for you" but saying "my self esteem" hardly fits into the picture of something you'd say in the situation of singing to a girl (unless this is about an addiction to sex maybe....) Also the line "A dollar at a time" seems to indicate addiction. It doesn't really fit the image of romantic love, but if you picture going to a dealer and getting your satisfaction "a dollar at a time." It makes more sense.
The song(Magdelina) sounds to me like it is about sexual desire, probably for a prostitute or stripper something along those lines("To witness such an earthly goddess that I've lost my self control beyond compelled to throw this dollar down before your holiest of altars"). It seems Maynard is using the old "Your body is a temple" metaphor to describe the woman's body, so throwing the dollar down before the altar is paying for her body. And of course, this would involve losing self respect for a lot of people.

[robnathanson]

I just got this yesterday. It took me a few listens to like it but after that it was an amazing album. Its definately different from Thirteenth Step and id say that this cd leans more towards Tool's sound.

favorite tracks- Judith, The Hollow, 3 Libras

great review
it's too soon to tell, but I think that every cd by this band will have a very diffrent sound from the last.

[MrBrick]

it's too soon to tell, but I think that every cd by this band will have a very diffrent sound from the last.
We should find out soon. eMotive comes out November 2

[MrBrick]

^^^
Ugh, I heard the 1st single off the new album and I was sorely disapointed. They absolutely butchered "Pet". It was atrocious. And the video was as subtle as an axe to the face. I like it when Maynard's songs are at least somewhat vague, a source for debate, not this obvious over the top crap. I just hope the rest of the covers(there are a lot on eMotive) survived the masacere.

*Sigh* So disapointed.

[robnathanson]

^^^
Ugh, I heard the 1st single off the new album and I was sorely disapointed. They absolutely butchered "Pet". It was atrocious. And the video was as subtle as an axe to the face. I like it when Maynard's songs are at least somewhat vague, a source for debate, not this obvious over the top crap. I just hope the rest of the covers(there are a lot on eMotive) survived the masacere.

*Sigh* So disapointed.
I'm very much looking forward to that cd...!!!

[MxShredder]

The song(Magdelina) sounds to me like it is about sexual desire, probably for a prostitute or stripper something along those lines("To witness such an earthly goddess that I've lost my self control beyond compelled to throw this dollar down before your holiest of altars"). It seems Maynard is using the old "Your body is a temple" metaphor to describe the woman's body, so throwing the dollar down before the altar is paying for her body. And of course, this would involve losing self respect for a lot of people.

I think the dollar is a symbol of self, like he's selling off something of himself for the woman (my soul, my self esteem, a dollar at a time"), I don't think the "dollar" is literally supposed to mean money. Also, it could be that the woman is a symbol of something else other than a person.

[MrBrick]

I'm very much looking forward to that cd...!!!
Hey so am I. Im just saying that counting bodies, that one song, sucked and I haven't heard anyone disagree yet. It could be an isolated incident so to speak.

[robnathanson]

Hey so am I. Im just saying that counting bodies, that one song, sucked and I haven't heard anyone disagree yet. It could be an isolated incident so to speak.
but the video was cool:p

[Magicaltroll]

i was pissed because i lost this album when we were moving about 1 year ago and i didnt get to listen to it. but i found it yesterday so ive been listening to it nonstop (of course)
and i think you did a great review :thumb:

[iBENezrocker]

First APC album i got, no regrets that album rocks so much. First tiem I'd ever heard Maynard. Love the song Judith

[Knifeboy]

Hey so am I. Im just saying that counting bodies, that one song, sucked and I haven't heard anyone disagree yet. It could be an isolated incident so to speak.

I disagree, counting bodies is amazing

[playwithfire]

Just to clarify, Orestes...is about Orestes. In Greek mythology Orestes is the son of Agamemnon and Clytemnestra. Agamemnon is king of the Greeks, and leader of the Greeks in the war against the Trojans. Well Clytemnestra has a lover named Aegisthus and they murder Agamemnon, so together with his sister Electra, Orestes murders both his mother; Clytemnestra and Aegisthus to avenge their father. So in the song when the lyrics say "One womb / One shape / One resolve" it's talking about how Orestes and Electra are from the same womb and both have the desire to kill their mother. When it says "Gotta cut away, clear away / Snip away and sever this / Umbilical residue that's / Keeping me from killing you" it's talking about how he has to break away from his mother, forget that she's his mother, and only think of what she did to his father, so he has the resolve it takes to murder ones own parent. The rest of the lyrics goes hand in hand with that myth.

Overall I love this album, but Orestes, Thinking of You, and Brena are my favorite songs.

[Iai]

He's spot on, you know. Orestes is also a famous play by Euripidies- I think. May have to check that.

Edit - It's actually Euripides. My spelling sucks. :)

[CleverRecords]

I scanned through the previous posts, so if i restate something someone else has already said I apologize.

Mer De Noms has got to be one of my favorite albums of all time. I have listened to this CD countless times and have yet to get the slightest bit sick of it. I think 13th step is just as good, but on a different level, since the difference in both sound and band members causes it to have a much different feel without losing its core APC-ness.

A side comment, if this belongs in a different thread I apologize once again: IN MY OPINION (there I said it), Lateralus isn't as good as Aenima. Don't get me wrong, Lateralus is a brilliant album, as is everything Tool has done. I like Aenima because it was the perfect mix between the two sides of Tool: The heavier Opiate-esque side and the meaning within a paradigm within an enigma (or somethin' like dat) side. This combination creates so amazing an album that I almost wet myself just thinking about it.

[back to the front]

i may have to borrow this from my friend. i've got 13th step and its great, i have yet to hear much of this album

[playwithfire]

It's a great album. It hits a little harder than Thirteenth Step, and imo the songwriting is slightly better, though both albums are amazing. It's got a nice mix of MJK's amazing vocals and lyrics, Josh Freese's drumming (his playing might not be as technical as Carey's in Tool's, but he's a very solid drummer, definitely one of my top three). Billy Howerdel is a good guitarist, and plays some catchy, heavy riffs, but Mer de Noms has a soft side too, it's just not as soft as Thirteenth Step and doesn't show it as often :p. This album also has a nice amount Paz' violin work, which always sounds good.