What bands would you suggest to APC fans? I'd say Tool and Radiohead.

Blue and the Noose are probably my two favorites off this album. Blue has that loving sound but the lyrics suggest otherwise, a nice ironic song. The Noose has a very melancholy feel to it without being emofied.

[QUOTE]What bands would you suggest to APC fans? I'd say Tool and Radiohead.[/QUOTE]

Radiohead? I dont think so at all. APC and Tool are two of my favorite bands, but I hate Radiohead.

Although I'm not too familiar with them..Maybe NIN would be a good suggestion?

GREAT review man! :thumb:
I've got this album but it doesn't do too much for me. The Noose is probably my favourite song.

<i>Thirteenth Step</i> is a very good CD. i personally like it more than <i>Mer De Noms</i>. Maynard has one of the greatest voices out there and it really shows on this album. All of the songs are great, especially <i>The Package</i>, the intro is purely mind blowing. it starts off slow and quiet, and the bass roaring through the speakers and progressively gets harder and harder until it "explodes" for lack of a better term. great CD. go buy it. 9/10

[QUOTE=Cambodia]Radiohead? I dont think so at all. APC and Tool are two of my favorite bands, but I hate Radiohead.

Although I'm not too familiar with them..Maybe NIN would be a good suggestion?[/QUOTE]

i'm not sure what to say. radiohead is great, i really like them, but i'm not sure i would reccommend them to all APC fans. they're a lot different than APC and Tool. i'd say NIN is a pretty good reccommendation.

[QUOTE=youcomebeforeyou]i'm not sure what to say. radiohead is great, i really like them, but i'm not sure i would reccommend them to all APC fans. they're a lot different than APC and Tool. i'd say NIN is a pretty good reccommendation.[/QUOTE]

And I'd say NIN suck.

[QUOTE=Theo]And I'd say NIN suck.[/QUOTE]

If this is the general content of your posts, you'll get banned pretty soon. Go careful.

[QUOTE=Bartender]If this is the general content of your posts, you'll get banned pretty soon. Go careful.[/QUOTE]

This is my general response when NIN are mentioned. But I will take your advice.

[QUOTE=Theo]This is my general response when NIN are mentioned. But I will take your advice.[/QUOTE]

It's not a problem if you don't like them, just give reasons if you're going to give your opinion at all. I had a quick look at your other posts though, and so far you're not a troll. So, welcome!

I think NIN are fine but the production could use a lot of work. I guess it has to do with the fact that Trent Reznor is kinda like Billy Corgan in that he is a control freak so anything anyone else says is wrong which means his production sounds good to him and he doesn't care if anyone else likes it. Anyhoo, I think Smashing Pumpkins, NIN, Radiohead and Tool are the best bands to combine if you want APC.

[QUOTE=Fast Fingers]I think NIN are fine but the production could use a lot of work. I guess it has to do with the fact that Trent Reznor is kinda like Billy Corgan in that he is a control freak so anything anyone else says is wrong which means his production sounds good to him and he doesn't care if anyone else likes it. Anyhoo, I think Smashing Pumpkins, NIN, Radiohead and Tool are the best bands to combine if you want APC.[/QUOTE]

I don't mind the production. And yeah, I like "Closer" and "Hurt". But overall nothing special, especially compared to APC.
I'd recommend Tori Amos and Bjork. :) and maybe Massive Attack.

I disagree with you on most of the content of your review. "The Noose" really shows off Maynard's very unique and talented vocals. "Weak and Powerless," though, has a good bass line to it, but even APC admitted they were 'weak and powerless' on their first single. Good review, though. I'd give it a 10/10, it's a very good album fillers included.

I agree with your review especially on the songs Pet, Gravity and The Outsider but I for one really enjoy Weak and Powerless (it really isnt as repettitive as you make it out to be). Overall i would say that Mer de Noms is a better album mainly because I miss the Christian bashing rage rock (the song Judith comes to mind) that is usually a big part of Maynard's message. Gravity is my favorite song on the album as well because it is so relaxing, almost like a drug. If you put that on late at night it is very intoxicating.


Keep writing good reviews, it is good to hear from someone who has a passion for good music.

Christonastick, it wasn't christian 'bashing'. Its about Maynards mother and how she kept her faith through terminal illness. Plus, Mer De Noms is far from 'Rage Rock'.

Also, 'A Stranger' is believed by many to be about christ.

[QUOTE=Fast Fingers]I think NIN are fine but the production could use a lot of work. I guess it has to do with the fact that Trent Reznor is kinda like Billy Corgan in that he is a control freak so anything anyone else says is wrong which means his production sounds good to him and he doesn't care if anyone else likes it. Anyhoo, I think Smashing Pumpkins, NIN, Radiohead and Tool are the best bands to combine if you want APC.[/QUOTE]

I think a bigger problem with NIN are his lyrics. He writes awful lyrics imo, I really don;t like his repetive angst. His music makes up for it, because it's awesome, as are his vocals.

[QUOTE=br3ad_man]I think a bigger problem with NIN are his lyrics. He writes awful lyrics imo, I really don;t like his repetive angst. His music makes up for it, because it's awesome, as are his vocals.[/QUOTE]

Well, "Hurt" has some pretty good lyrics, but please don't ask me to find another song with good lyrics. I also think Johnny Cash did a better job at it.

I dissagree with most of that review (except for the high ratings of the songs :)) The tracks are in this order (best to worst)
The Noose
Gravity
Weak and Powerless
Pet
The Package
The Outsider
Blue
Vanishing
The Nurse Who Loved Me
Crimes
A Stranger
Lullaby

I hate putting Crimes and A Stranger so low (because they're great songs) but they are not as good as the rest of the album. A million dollars is always better than 999,999 dollars. *nod*

a great album, and two accurate reviews.

i know i know, everyones opinion is different, but i would still rate Weak and Powerless a little higher. i do find myself at times, changing to The Noose, because i just can't be bothered with it at times, but on other times, i really love it. A Stranger, Pet and Gravity are the best songs on the album for me, the vocals on The Noose and A Stranger are near perfection.

i can't wait to hear the new Tool stuff, i'm sure it will amaze us all.

I second that. Penned for early 2005, isn't it?

yeah, or the summer of 2005 i heard aswell.

hopefully, they will then tour the UK, and i will finally get a chance to go see them live.

Yeah, last time they played in the UK was right in the middle of my AS exams, I think. Since I now know what I got in the exam I had the day after, I would've gladly risked missing it.

[QUOTE=OrbDragon]With exception of "A Stranger" I find this album 'weak and powerless'.[/QUOTE]

I don't mind "The Noose", but other than that this album does absolutely nothing for me as well. Mer De Noms blows this album away.

The nurse who loved me is a great song, and I can't understand how it got so low rankings from you reviewers.
But I think The Outsider is the best song.....aw heck, theyre all good!

"Weak And Powerless" and "Blue" deserve a higher rating than that.

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][b]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.[/b][/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]
[b]"The Nurse Who Loved Me":[/b] 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)

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?

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.

Well, I just picked 12 as a generic album length (and the length of both Mer De Noms and 13th Step)....but as long as it's under 80 minutes you can have as many tracks as you want. 15 would probably be a better length, so have them all. :thumb: