A Perfect Circle - Mer de Noms Review

A Perfect Circle has grown from what many considered a mere side project for Tool frontman Maynard James Keenan to a musical powerhouse unto itself with Mer de Noms being their best. 

"Mer de Noms" is a testament to the fact that A Perfect Circle is serious about what they do. The album is an exercise in moody melodicism, a musical vehicle that occasionally shifts into high gear but complements the bouts of speed with more relaxed, laid-back, and introspective passages.

The opener "The Hollow" is a rather fast-paced number, punctuated by Tim Alexander's driving percussion (official drummer Josh Freese takes control of the set for the remainder of the album) and guitarist Billy Howerdel's tuneful yet almost robotic guitar parts. On the other hand, there are moments like "3 Libras" where the sublime, mellow aspect of the band comes into focus in all its ethereal, string-laden glory (courtesy of Paz and Lucia Lenchantin on violin and viola, respectively). Where the band really shines, though, is when these two distinct halves merge to create one majestically hypnotic whole. Songs such as "Orestes", "Magdalena" and "Rose," all maintain a slow simmer of aggression that sometimes bubbles over but remains constantly enthralling.

Placid moments like the melodic bass riff that opens the "Brena" and the tinkling piano that drives the largely instrumental "Over" never fail to grab my attention

All in all, "Mer de Noms" is a stunning example of a side project gone oh-so-right. This is a well-crafted album that transcends and hopefully is only the beginning of A Perfect Circle's run.