Thirteenth Step - A Perfect Circle > Reviews > One that slipped through the net

Author's product rating:   

Originality	Definitely a cut above the rest
Lyrics	Sublime
Quality and consistency of tracks	Flawless
How does it compare to the artist's other releases	Outstanding
Value for Money	Good

Advantages:	Its perfect .
Disadvantages:	No, really, its perfect .

Recommend to potential buyers:

yes

Full review

I was browsing through my very small catalogue of very poor reviews, and to my suprise I realised that I had reviewed A Perfect Circle's first album, Mer De Noms, but not their second. I'm sure I will be cursed for my sins, so im trying to rectify the problem before the man upstair catches on.

Anyway, this sophomore release from A Perfect Circle is a monster of sorts. Its soft, mellow, light, dark, brooding, heavy, hard. Its anything you want it to be. Thirteenth Step is the soundtrack to life, which isnt a huge energetic rollercoaster. No, life is reflective and calm....until something smashes you in the face and laughs as your dreams and hopes crumble. Thirteenth Step is decieving. It may seem all flowery and joyuss on the outside, but an evil beast lurks within. This is Satan if he were to discover the art of dance and practice Tchaikovsky's Swan Lake on the weekends.

Is it any good? Why, yes sir, 'tis very good indeed. You see, A Perfect Circle are a rare breed, as they can write brilliant songs while still keeping a wonderfully alternative, gothic and enigmatic aura to their sound. Yes, they are more mainstream than Tool, but when the band are this good, comparing them to their past musical endeavours is missing the point. To me, A Perfect Circle seem as far attached from Tool as they are to bassist Twiggy Ramirez' previous work with Marilyn Manson. And they prove it even more so with this release by toning down the whole 'agressive' aspect seen on Mer De Noms, thereby banishing any remaining resemblences to Tool. Capiche? Good. Now lets move on.

Track by track review? In all honesty, I can't be arsed. But a brief overview would go something like this: Every song is fantastic, encompassing a skill and adventurousness so rare in a sophomore release that it makes Thirteenth Step worth its weight in gold. Dark, brooding, complex, yet always strangely beautiful, A Perfect Circle will not only save you life, but they just might save metal while they are at it.