Album Details

• Artist: A Perfect Circle
• Album: Mer De Noms
• Label: Virgin Records
• Year of Release: 2000
• ME Rating:
• Reviewed by: solitaryman on 2008-05-31

Given the daunting scope of Tool's touring schedule and expectations from fans and critics alike, it was a logical choice for Maynard Keenan to look for an additional outlet for his musical ideas. Luckily a friendship with Billy Howerdel (Once Tool's guitar tech) would develop into the project known as A Perfect Circle, a super-group of sorts but at the time a likely one-off project based on film scores and similar pieces of music Howerdel had been working on. Mer De Noms (Sea of Names) was their debut release back in 2000.

All these years later, it sounds as good as ever. Maynard is able to stretch his melodic side more with more soulful and emotive vocals, crooning more than shouting and growling ala Tool. Howerdel's songs are all sprawling yet tight, with worldly accents and an industrial mindset. There's plenty of big and beefy riffs, songs that play off of Maynard's lyrics and those that depend more on the progressing score and inventive musicianship. There's an air of proggressive intent throughout the album. The moods are mostly depressed but carry a weight of insecure beauty, or repressed vanity. To me most of the songs seem to deal with facing one's ego and overcoming the pitfalls of one's own mind.  

By now most people will know their thoughts on A Perfect Circle and mine have always been this; what started out (here) as a wonderful project and idea quickly turned into an average rock band. Mer De Noms is anything but average. Every song has something to offer and as a whole they gel wonderfully, never sacrificing one mood for the other until it's all but played out. One of the better rock albums of recent memory, Mer De Noms still doesn't fail to impress and engross.  

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