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Thirteenth Step
by A Perfect Circle

A Perfect Circle reviews
Critic Score
Metascore: 74 Metascore out of 100
User Score  
9.1 out of 10
based on 11 reviews
Read critic reviews
How did we calculate this?
based on 84 votes
Read user comments
Rate this album

Tool vocalist Maynard James Keenan's side project returns with a second LP on which he's backed by Jeordie "Twiggy Ramirez" White (Marilyn Manson), Billy Howerdel (Tool's guitar tech) and Josh Freese (Guns N' Roses).

LABEL: Virgin
RELEASE DATE: 16 September 2003
DISCS: 1 disc
GENRE(S): Rock

What The Critics Said

All critic scores are converted to a 100-point scale. If a critic does not indicate a score, we assign a score based on the general impression given by the text of the review. Learn more...

100
Alternative Press
Once again, A Perfect Circle have quietly produced a masterpiece that challenges the very nature of testosterone-fueled angst. [Nov 2003, p.110]
90
All Music Guide
Thirteenth Step is the sound of a musical and lyrical maturity that normally doesn't occur until a band's third or fourth albums.
Read Full Review
83
E! Online
Granted, Step doesn't have anything as effortlessly flawless as the classic single "Judith" from the band's last album, but it does have a number of songs ("Blue," "The Outsider") that are almost as bombastically beautiful.
Read Full Review
80
Drowned In Sound
Thanks to the calibre of the line-up’s musicianship, and Keenan’s ability to write lyrics that don’t insult the intelligence of his audience, the gems on Thirteenth Step outnumber the filler.
Read Full Review
80
Launch.com
By muting Tool's over-the-top attack, Keenan has more time to devote to deepening the textures throughout.
Read Full Review
75
Entertainment Weekly
[The] band's winding, off-kilter rhythms and contrapuntal guitar riffs create an ominous atmosphere. [19 Sep 2003, p.86]
70
Mojo
With greater degrees of deliberate construction than Mers De Noms, Thirteenth Step is more cohesive band effort, less ad hoc side project. [Nov 2003, p.132]
70
Rolling Stone
Sounds more like the dusky thrum of Disintegration-era Cure than it does any of the members' previous bands.
Read Full Review
60
Q Magazine
Amid such moments of clarity, however, there's the kind of meandering you originally expected from such an arty bunch. [Nov 2003, p.105]
50
Spin
It's more cerebral than aggressive.... A derivative effort that makes Keenan sound less talented than he actually is. [Oct 2003, p.105]
40
Blender
This is a classic 1970s-style headphones record that is both arty and unusually undisciplined. [Nov 2003, p.108]

What Our Users Said

Vote Now! The average user rating for this album is 9.1 (out of 10) based on 84 User Votes
Note: User votes are NOT included in the Metascore calculation.

l k gave it a9:
Great Album! Love it.

john s gave it a10:
one of my top 10 albums of all time. giving stiff competition 2 my other beloved albums from the likes of tori,jeff buckley and depeche m. what a voice! what a bunch of extraordinary good and honest songs! what a gem! a must.

brank l gave it a10:
Very good album. Almost ties Mer De Noms but still not as good.

kill sexy gave it a10:
the girl in Weak and Powerless video is so sexy. What is her name???

zach c gave it a10:
When I hear people talk about how similar Tool and A Perfect Circle are, it angers me. though they are cut from similar threads, A Perfect Circle has gone far and away from what Tool has become. Thirteenth step flows, like poetry or romantic language, it's melodies are etheral and serenly dark. Tool is mathematical, they are calculated and deliver either upon a hammer's stroke or a delicate segue. Thirteenth Step is one of the most amazing albums I've ever heard, lyrically brilliant, musically mastered and deep in spiritual reflection. Maynard proves that this is not a side project, nor just an offshoot of Tool, APC on this album defines themselves as something else entirely. Where Mer De Noms was a beautiful precursor to something upcoming, This album proved to be a progressive and emotional masterpiece. Just as Tool may have reached their musical zenith with Lateralus, I doubt whether A Perfect Circle can eclipse what they produced with Thirteenth Step. All in all, it's a damn brilliant effort by one of the best rock bands today.

nic r gave it a10:
OMG!!! Maynard captures soft but painfully melodic sounds in songs like weak and powerless. His voice has the amazing ability to go from soft to heavy in a hearbeat which is what really makes this album the best yet. Songs like vanishing, crimes and lullaby which were lacking lyrics gave off the emotinal side of the song. Much better than Mer De Noms which was also awesome... It took me a few listens to really get into it but i cannot stop listening now.... APC's dvd AMOTION has maynard explaining wat sum1 of the songs meanings are.. once i heard this i listened to the songs in a whole new way.. it just blew my mind.... I know this is a long review but i cannot express enough how perfect this album is.. 5 star

Gabor A gave it an8:
Struggles to be 50 minutes long. What is actually here though is very solid. Infinitly better than mer de noms.

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