A Perfect Circle rocks. Maynard is a very talented vocalist and i like his vocal style. great review. Mer de Noms kicks 13th step in the *** though i must say. although PET IS AWESOME!!!!

[QUOTE=Zipperface]A Perfect Circle rocks. Maynard is a very talented vocalist and i like his vocal style. great review. Mer de Noms kicks 13th step in the *** though i must say. although PET IS AWESOME!!!![/QUOTE]

Mer De Noms is a good album, 13th Step is better. Sure, some awesome tracks on the debut, "Judith", "3 Libras", "Orestes", "Magdalena". But 13th Step is overall a better album. It really is a question of whether you like more heavy songs(mer de noms) or more laid-back stuff(13th step).

[QUOTE=HydrusGemini]I give the album as a whole, 9/10. It's definitely another Maynard masterpiece, though it did take a while for the album to sink in. Whether it's better than Mer De Noms is debatable, but it is worth hearing none-the-less. The above are just my lyrical and musical interpretations of each song. Likely they are absolutely wrong, but I tried.[/QUOTE]



hey uhm i just have 2 say that i luve this album its so original and different, it sets them apart. "blue" is an awesum song, i think its onw hose meaning will always be undefined, but if u just sit and listen 2 the lyrics thy're rele moving. When i heard "Crimes" i thought that maybe it was just an intro or a warm-up for the next song, but they had absolutely no relation wutsoever. I do like "Lullaby" tho. his voice and that ladys voice r kinda creepy, but i thot it turned out rele good newayz. i havent heard their other album so i cant compare the two, ill have 2 look it up now.

haha wtf ru giys talking about? tool and apc sound xactly the same. thats like saying u like korn, but u dont like slipknot??? confusing :confused: oya and i think i did this wrong sum1 let me noe if i did. gratzie.
~s.b.

[QUOTE=Mojo2004]hey...gd reveiw, bt i think "weak and powerless" deserves about 7 or 8 out of 10, not 5[/QUOTE]

I agree, it isn't the best song on the album , but it deserves at least 7/10.

Good review, I won't get into my personal ratings of the songs, that would just take up unnecessary space. To Christonastick, why the self degradation? How can you claim to be a fan of TOOL and then want to hear christian bashing music?

Just a sort of opinion I guess... Er... "The Noose"- I think that it is talking about Judas from the bible. The song is I guess Jesus talking in sorts... You know, Judas is in heaven, all fine and well having been forgiven and accepted again- but it seems a matter of time before it goes wrong... "Recall the deeds as if they're all someone else's atrocious stories. Now you stand reborn before us all, so glad to see you well."
So I guess the fact that he is in heaven and has his "halo" doesn't get rid of what he is or what he has done. "Your halo slipping down to choke you now."
Maybe?

NIN is a very good suggestion for APC listeners. Considering they are a band favorite. At least an APC band member's favorite.

[QUOTE=HydrusGemini]
"The Nurse Who Loved Me": A cover song from the band "Failure". Definitely the most unique (weird) song on the album. No guitar, no drums, just Maynard, a choir, and various orchastral instruments. I'm guessing most wont like it (though it has grown on me), but bonus points for having the balls to put this on the album. 7/10[/QUOTE]

Bonus points for having the balls to put the song on the record? Dude, it's Maynard. You might as well give everything a 10/10.

Please don't quote entire reviews in the future, just the bit you're actually referring to.

[QUOTE=dieandrockhard6]haha wtf ru giys talking about? tool and apc sound xactly the same. thats like saying u like korn, but u dont like slipknot??? confusing :confused: oya and i think i did this wrong sum1 let me noe if i did. gratzie.
~s.b.[/QUOTE]

Tool and A Perfect Circle have nothing in common besides Maynard. Both are great, but different.

Good reviews.

I just wanted to share my opinion here that the whole album is based around the theme of drug addiction, and a re-lapse into addiction after rehabilitation. The title "13th step" is a reference to the 12 step programme used in rehabilitation, perhaps the 13th step is the re-lapse, after the 12 step programme is complete.

I agree with the first review mostly, accept the noose is probably my favorite song on the album, also weak and powerless did not deserve 5/10, it was the song that got me into a perfect circle (but i am a tool fan so what do you expect) also i disagree that this album doesnt beat 'Mer De Noms', mer de noms to me was no where near as good, it had a few classics such as 3 libras, judith and the hollow, but 13th step is the successor...

Also the drug themed idea is looking quite accurate, id say weak and powerless was based around addiction controlling someones life 'Tilling my own grave to keep me level' (he is killing himself by taking the drugs to keep himself from going insane) 'Desperate and ravenous, So weak and powerless' (hes desperate for the drugs that are ending up making him feel worse)

there mays ways to look at it really, at one point i thought the song was about him digging himself a grave lol =P



(p.s. Crimes and Lullaby really are bad fillers, but ill turn a blind eye =D)

There's a fair few people here who'd like to do away with The Noose and Weak and Powerless. As much as I like all three, I'd probably replace Weak and Powerless, The Noose and The Nurse Who Loved Me with A Stranger, The Outsider and Vanishing.

Actually, now that you've done that, I'm finding it really difficult to pick 12 from across the two albums.

Hurrah.

*has them all*

pretty good review except i would of rated weak and powerless and blue higher

This review didnt do much for me at first. But after listening to it a few times it grew to be one of my favorite albums. Its also great to listen to when going asleep.

Blue was one of the tracks I didnt like at first, but I did grow to like it(the remix is pretty good too)

[QUOTE=Iai]I feel like the only person on these forums who hasn't posted in here yet. Hah.

I much prefer Mers De Noms - less filler, basically. Both albums are laced with pointless filler though. Like they're desperate to experiment and forget to write memorable, enjoyable songs. If you put the best tracks from both together the resulting album would be an utter classic.

Check it -

The Hollow
Magdalena
Rose
Judith
Orestes
3 Libras
Thinking Of You
The Package
Weak And Powerless
The Noose
The Nurse Who Loved Me
Pet

A 12 track classic. Most people would probably disagree with that list, including a few, getting rid of a few, but I'm sure most people agree with the general idea. Do we really need Over, Lullaby, and the like?[/QUOTE]




Yo, your right about those 12 songs, but what about the best song on 13th Step: The Outsider?

[QUOTE=HydrusGemini][img]http://www.aperfectcircle.com/images/album_13th.gif[/img]

For a little misc. information, APC is currently composed of Billy Howerdel (composer and guitar) Maynard James Keenan (words and vocals) Josh Freese (drums) Jeordie White (bass guitar) and James Iha (guitar). "Thirteenth Step" is their follow up album to "Mer De Noms (French for "Sea of Names"). For more biographical information checkout--
http://www.aperfectcircle.com
http://www.aperfectcircle.org
http://www.toolband.com

Ok, now here is my breakdown of A Perfect Circle's newest album, "Thirteenth Step" song by song:


"The Package": The lyrics, like most of Maynards, are fairly vague. On the surface, it seems to be about a character (Maynard?) who is struggling (or embracing/justifing) an addiction by "Feeding the monster". The addiction in this case is likely sex or simply taking advantage of others. The song starts off slow with a clean guitar and simple but deep bassline. At the chorus, the song get substancially heavier. Great Song 9/10

"Weak and Poweless": Unless you've been living under a rock for the last month, you've heard this single off the album. Nice bassline, catchy chorus, but also fairly repetetive. One of the least impressive songs on the album. 5/10

"The Noose": Beautiful, relaxing "meditative" intro. This song is nearly entirely driven by Maynard's voice and Josh Freeses drumming. The lyrics (again interpretable) are about someones "rightousness" being lost. People expect so much from this "character" that he/she is unable to follow up their current
deeds, and they are being (figuratively) crucified for it. Pretty song, but not up to "3 Libras" standard. 8/10

"Blue": Probably the worst real song on the album. Other than the chorus, the song is pretty boring. As for lyrics, I've yet to decide whether it's a love song, or about deceiving yourself about a loved one. It could also be about asphyxiating someone you loved/trusted. A very "meh" song. 4/10

"Vanishing": Very vague lyrics. It could be about anything from missed opportunities to death. It's kind of a "Chill-out, relax" type song. Musically, it's very diverse. There are an abundance of sounds, with no leading instrument. Average song. 7/10

"A Stranger": Nice, beautiful, mellow song. Simple guitar picking leads the way with Maynard backing them up. I'm not convinced, but the lyrics could be about someone who is deceived by addictive drugs and "formulate[ing] Denials of your [their] affect on me [him/her]". It could also be about someone is severely antisocial and their thoughts are eating them away emotionally. Another good song. 9/10

"The Outsider": The song that most fits the definition of "rock". Not to say it's generic, but it uses the average rock formula. Lyrically it's about someone who is either falsly suicidal for attention, or just a general anti-sucide song; "Why do wanna throw it away like this, Such a mess, I don't wanna watch you, Disconnect and self-destruct, one bullet at a time. What's your rush now everyone will have his day to die." Another above average song. 8/10

"Crimes": Pretty much filler material, barely even a song. The only lyrics are Maynard counting under his breath. He counts up to eight, then says nine 4 times and then ten 4 times. There's probably a meaning to it, but I leave it up to you to find it (if there is one). 2/10

"The Nurse Who Loved Me": A cover song from the band "Failure". Definitely the most unique (weird) song on the album. No guitar, no drums, just Maynard, a choir, and various orchastral instruments. I'm guessing most wont like it (though it has grown on me), but bonus points for having the balls to put this on the album. 7/10

"Pet": The "Judith" of Thirteenth Step. Heavy and Rhythmic. The lyrics come across corny at first ("Lay your head down child, I won't let the boogeyman come"), but a child fearing imaginary creatures is a good analogy for the likely subject, deception by organized religion. 10/10

"Lullaby": Another filler track. The song is basically Maynard whispering "Go back to sleep." and woman singing "oooh oh oh ooooh oh" over and over. 1/10

"Gravity": Personally, my favorite song on the album. Lyrics touch on the subject of drugs (or possibly deep meditation) giving a depressed/outcasted person a reason to live through a altered consciousness and spiritual awareness. Maynard really shows how beautiful his voice can be in this one, and the instruments emphasize the emotion tenfold. 10/10

I give the album as a whole, 9/10. It's definitely another Maynard masterpiece, though it did take a while for the album to sink in. Whether it's better than Mer De Noms is debatable, but it is worth hearing none-the-less. The above are just my lyrical and musical interpretations of each song. Likely they are absolutely wrong, but I tried.[/QUOTE]

I dont care if someone has said this already, i'd like to say it:

The Noose is the best song on the album. Along with "The Outsider," it makes this entire album worth buying. Not to say anything negative about the other tracks. Anyway, my take on The Noose: Halo's are gifted to angels and saints. If we all try to be saints and angels and good christians then we may get halos.

Well this song suggests that maybe the very thing we are striving for is what will bring us down or destroy us. Ultimately this song is about non-conformity to religion and "The Halo." This song asks what if this 'halo' is really like a noose but we have all be socialized to believe it is not. If a Halo were really a noose then all of us would have to reevaluate our lives and our morals and the way we live.

"Your halo slipping down to choke you now." This line alone implies to me that Halos, these "gifts" are what Maynard believes will actually be our downfall, thus, choking us.

Blue: I dont know why you dont like this song? Repetetitive: Yes. But it makes up for it with the atmosphere the instrumentals create. The song seems to be about the effects of Drugs and/or an addict in denial. Its pretty easy to see: "I just didnt want to know," "I close my eyes, Ignore the smoke, Ignore the smoke" And because of the subject matter and what theyre trying to create, the repetetiveness is a good thing; it creates the atmosphere.

I'd give the album 10/10. In fact, after careful reevaluation, i found i liked this album better than Mer De Noms. Judith, Rose, 3 Libras and Orestes are fabulous tracks, but on Thirteenth Step there are songs as just as good (or better. The Noose beats out 3 libras anyday. Orestes still beats all however) and there are more of them. Some songs on Mer De Noms just dont appeal to me, however i have yet to pick out a track (that isnt filler ie: Crimes) on 13th Step that i cannot enjoy.

10/10

PS: You got the credits wrong. Here we are:

Maynard James Keenan - Vocals
Billy Howerdel - Guitar
Josh Freese - Drums
Jeordie White - Bass
Troy Van Leeuwen - Guitar (Tracks 1, 5, 12)
Danny Lohner - Guitar (Track 3)

To my knowledge James Iha did not record anything on this album.

Album Rating: 3.0

This CD is awesome, no more debate :D