FOOLED AGAIN! Thirteenth Misstep
Written: Sep 19 '03
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Product Rating:
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Pros: Maynard James Keenan's voice. I REALLY like the tenth track!
Cons: Generally slow paced and boring.
The Bottom Line: To me this album is inconsistent. Perhaps I wanted something more like Tool but only a couple tunes remind me of them.
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| daumco's Full Review: Thirteenth Step by A Perfect Circle |
Wouldn't you know it. I finally decide to review a band that most people would know about and it already has five reviews and it's only been out three days. Oh well, I'm going to do it anyway as a counterpoint.
Fooled Again
I did it again. I bought a Cd by an American Band, albeit not one of my favorites but with Maynard James Keenan from one of my favorites, Tool, only to be disappointed. I know it's not Tool but I was hoping. It's not that there aren't any good numbers on the album. Let's just say there is a paucity of interesting songs.
Now, I know that most of the five reviews I have mentioned are quite effusive in praising this release, with the exception of MattA75, who seems to follow my reasoning. The other reviewers really like this album and you may too. I just want to let you know that it's not a lock.
Thirteenth Step
An alternate name for this album could be 'Two Step', because that, it seems, is what you could do to most of this album. There were no lyrics within the packaging and it's too new to pull the lyrics off the internet, so I will dispense with any examples and comments about the lyrics.
Song / Track List
1. The Package (Howerdel/Keenan) - 7:40 ****
2. Weak and Powerless (Howerdel/Keenan) - 3:15 ***
3. The Noose (Howerdel/Keenan) - 4:53 ***
4. Blue (Howerdel/Keenan) - 4:13 ***
5. Vanishing (Howerdel/Keenan) - 4:51 ****
6. A Stranger (Howerdel/Keenan) - 3:12 *
7. The Outsider (Howerdel/Keenan) - 4:06 ****
8. Crimes (Freese/Howerdel/Keenan/White) - 2:34 **
9. The Nurse Who Loved Me (Andrews/Edwards) - 4:04 **
10. Pet (Howerdel/Keenan) - 4:34 *****
11. Lullaby (Howerdel/Keenan) - 2:01 *
12. Gravity (Freese/Howerdel/Keenan/Lenchantin/Van Leeuwen) - 5:08 ***
"The Package" has it's boring moments but it does pick up nicely about two thirds of the way through. Starts out sounding like someone is building something in the background then switches to a slow bluesy beat, until the 4:10 mark when we get some heavy guitar life. Good stuff, but to late to make this song a five star.
"Weak and Powerless" is a medium paced song with a plucky beat, not bad but nothing special.
"The Noose" is pretty much a ballad. now I sometimes like ballads but this didn't get it for me
"Blue" is another two step piece similar to the "The Noose" with a medium slow tempo featuring the typical guitars and drums
"Vanishing" has an interesting slow medium beat and some interesting background sound effects and a slight ethereal feel. One of the better songs!
"A Stranger" doesn't do anything for me! Call it psychedelic folk/ethereal/industrial
The Outsider" is another good song, which does give me the distinct feel of Tool. Medium fast varies throughout and has good drums and a whinning guitar.
"Crimes" is a short moderately interesting instrumental, which starts out like Queen's we will rock you
"The Nurse who Loved Me" another two step ballad, which sounds like it was sung through a megaphone. I really don't like this Gong Show song.
"Pet" gets my vote for best song. Has a nice varied pace and again reminds me of Alice in Chains as well as
Tool which is, of course, what I was after. Nice howling guitar effect on this one.
"Lullaby" another 'Bomb'
"Gravity" is a medium slow blusey rock piece with a reasonably catchy tune and beat
Credits
Devo - Vocals (bckgr)
Jarboe - Vocals
Jon Brion - Instrumentation
Josh Freese - Drums, Vocals (bckgr), Group Member
James Iha - Group Member
Maynard James Keenan - Vocals,
Danny Lohner - Guitar, Producer
Billy Howerdel - Guitar, Vocals,
A Perfect Circle is a side project of Tool's main man, Maynard James Keenan and former guitar tech Billy Howerdel. Thirteenth Step is their second release, their first being Mer de Noms released in 2000.
Conclusion
I'm afraid this cd will either be resold as a used cd or relegated to my seldom played 'B' CD tower. Yes there are some good songs but I've got a lot of more consistent CDs with more good songs to listen too. Rating - low Three Stars.
Similar Artists
Nine Inch Nails, Filter, Gravity Kills, Tool, Stabbing Westward, Silverchair, Fuel
Recommended:
No
Great Music to Play While: Going to Sleep
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daumco
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