Thirteenth Step Norcross GA

Thirteenth Step

A Perfect Circle

Virgin Records, 2003

REVIEW BY: Sean McCarthy

ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED: 10/27/2003

You can almost hear Maynard James Keenan's creative tank edgetoward 'E' on A Perfect Circle's latest album. The guy has eitherbeen in the studio with A Perfect Circle or with Tool and touringto support each band since 1999. The results have so far beenfantastic with Mer de Noms and Lateralus rescuing and moving hard rock and heavy metal intothe new century.

Though APC has usually been more Billy Howerdel's project, it'shard not to bring Keenan to the forefront of the band, especiallysince he's the lead singer and especially since he has one of themost distinctive voices in rock. The band has always been a moremelodic alternative to the abrasive and sometimes industrialtendencies of Tool. With Mer de Noms, the band was able to balance their obvious lovefor progressive rock with some truly tight songwriting and musicalstructure.

Unfortunately, Thirteenth Step is a step back for A Perfect Circle. Thealbum limps out of the gate with three basic standard rockers. With"The Noose," APC takes another strike at religious hypocrisy, withKeenan singing, "Your halo slipping down." I'm all for exposing theflaws in any religion, but A Perfect Circle has done this alreadywith the beautiful "Judith" and Tool has addressed it in almost allof their albums.

The band succumbs to the trappings of the worst tendencies ofprogressive art rock in songs like "The Nurse Who Loved Me,""Crimes" and "A Stranger." These songs plod along with sludgyguitar licks and pretentious lyrics. To add to the progressive rockclichés, Keenan keeps mentioning "my precious" in at leasttwo songs on Thirteenth Step, forcing the listener to envision scenesfrom Lord of the Rings - another favorite topic for progressiverock and heavy metal bands.