Thirteenth Step by A Perfect Circle

Pros: 7 really great songs
Cons: 2 average songs, 1 horrible song, and 2 pointless fillers

For those who don't know, here's the quick story on A Perfect Circle. APC was formed in 1998 or so and was composed of Maynard James Keenan(Tool) on vocals, Billy Howerdel writing guitar and bass, and Josh Freese(Vandals) on drums. Paz Lenchantin ...

Pros: Jeordie Orsborne White on bass, eclectic mix of music
Cons: Some songs seem too short, like "The Noose"

Alright. I’m throwing away the fact that my favorite band in the world is Tool. I’m throwing out the fact that my favorite vocalist in the world is Maynard James Keenan. I’m throwing out the fact that this album is TOTALLY different than APC’s last ...

Pros: Um ... there are a few decent tracks on here.
Cons: It's quite dull.

Well. I've got some good news and I've got some bad news. (This cliché will never get old!) The good news: This is an album done by professionals. Three of these band members have come from several famous groups, including "Guns N' Roses" (Josh ...

Pros: Angelic and demonic.The best of tool meets it's softer side.
Cons: The albums to me are never long enough. In this case fourty minutes isn't.

I warn all: Mainly a verbatim of the lyrics from the songs off of this album [true some of these songs appear on APC's website-only 2 songs... state full-lyrics,but I wondered and decifered the rest by ear]...technically my review is in my comments of ...

Pros: Maynard James Keenan.. Rich, powerful, stimulating.
Cons: Nope.

Coming, as it does, near the end of one of one of the most musically drab years I can remember, “Thirteenth Step” comes as such a powerful blast of fresh air that I’m afraid my opinion might be somewhat skewed by the sheer novelty of it. I haven’t had s ...

Pros: All of the guys in the band. Rocks, yet is subtle.
Cons: Subtle, yet it rocks.

If you love Mer De Noms (APC's first CD) then you will be surprised to hear 13th. Step - nothing like the first at all. That could be a bad thing if you are lame and expect musicians to continually make the same noise over and over or... a good thing for ...

Pros: Maynards voice, A story like formation of the album. the sound, the riffs.. everything!
Cons: not a good album for singles, weak and powerless not my song of choice.

When I first heard Thirteenth Step I was disappointed. After listening to a couple times, ... I realized the entire album spans a story of a drug addict that is so sick of the world around him he spirals into depression and insanity, only to lift himse ...

Pros: Intricate, well crafted songs. Moody, dark ethereal production.
Cons: Perhaps too abstract for some?

A Perfect Circle's Thirteenth step provides a well recorded, atmospheric musical journey courtesy of some well crafted and detailed songs. The short review for the impatient is that I reckon this is a bloody good album. If you want a longer story, rea ...

Pros: Melodically beutiful and awesome drums (Josh Freese is the Awesome!!!!!!!!)
Cons: A few weak songs (but easily made up for)

I really hate reading those stupid 5 page reviews, which give a detailed description of every song so i will make this blunt. I love a perfect cirlce, ever since i heard that Marynard had a side project (Tool is the best band in the world, though with ...

Pros: A true work of art.
Cons: This is a negative term & does not apply.

After my long, anticipated wait for "Thirteenth Step" to be released my wait finally came to an end. I rushed right out to get it. It's obvious with the opening of "The Package" that APC has grown & matured. The progress of this band is overwhelming ...

Pros: You will not be disappointed!
Cons: I have no cons to report

Another perfect CD from A Perfect Circle. Thirteenth Step is completely mesmerizing! This phenomenal piece of work has taken me to heaven and back! Incredible arrangements, brilliant guitars and lyrics that pierce your soul! Billys brilliance, Maynards beautiful vocals and Josh's heartfelt pounding of the "wardrums" never cease to amaze me! Although I absolutely love the whole cd, a few of my favorite tracks are "The Outsider", "Blue" , "The Noose" and "Pet". Many heartfelt thanks for sharing your talents with the music world and I definitely look forward to the future.

Pros: The cover of Failure's "The Nurse who Loved Me," "Package" , "Weak and Powerless"
Cons: The subject matter was not original, the whole album was fragmented and pretentious, not definite

This review is not song- specific, but more of a general feel for the album, Thirteenth Step by A Perfect Circle.If you liked Mer de Noms you might like 13th step.
Overall, Thirteenth step does not have the energy or spark like MDN. In attempt to create a dark but fluid sound similar to that of the Cure's Disintegration album, Thirthteenth step comes out whiny and fragmented. I enjoy the first songs "The package", and "Weak and Powerless": those songs represented a darker yet definite APC.
Beyond those, I felt the album was not united. "The Noose" felt like "Judith" ( ie another anti-God song). The Outsider was preachy. Pet was especially annoying to me because it was yet another anti-war song. yawn. I enjoyed the ballad " The Nurse Who Loved Me" but it did not fit into the album to me.
If you are an APC fan then it is best to pick it up to keep up your collections. Otherwise, I would suggest you borrow first then decide if it's a good choice.

Pros: Vocals are perfect, musically amazing
Cons: NONE!

I am very confused by some of the negative comments I have ready, especially those accusing the album of being boring.

I have been a hardcore Tool fan for a long time. Anything I can get of Maynard between Tool releases is good by me, but this album really blew me away. I truly feel it is some of the best work I have heard from him. His vocals alone make this album one of the best out there. Musically, it is mesmerizing. It is an album that you have to listen to in a dark place with your eyes closed. Yes, it is slow paced, but that's the point. It has very subtle aggression to it.

If you are a fan of Maynard's and can appreciate something different than everything that is out there right now, buy it!

Pros: none
Cons: Don't buy the CD, it's on the radio constantly

A Perfect Circle has officially entered the contest to try and sound like every other hard rock band currently being allowed to produce music. Please don't buy into this awful genre of music, spare yourself the regret you'll feel when you look back on this CD purchase 6 months from now.

Pros: Amazing piece of art all around.
Cons: NONE!

My lord, what an amazing album! First of all, the artwork for this album is AMAZING, also, I like the slightly changed line up. (I.E. Jeordie White). What can I say? I mark for Twiggy. . . Heh. Anyways. . . The CD starts off with an epic track called "The Package". "The Package" takes you on a 7 minute and 40 second musical voyage. Awesome. "Weak & Powerless" is the first single off the album, but I don't really like it. "The Noose" is incredible, we're talking "3 Libras" re-incarnated, that sounds great to APC fans who have yet to pick up this album, right? It's the truth. Other stand out tracks are "Blue", "The Outsider", "A Stranger". All in all, a must have as it is a godsend for all poets, and any form or artists. . .