vinylfanatics.com

**A Perfect Circle - Thirteenth Step**
★★★★☆

In the wake of Tool's interminable creative cycles, Maynard James Keenan's side project A Perfect Circle emerged as something of a revelation – a more immediate, emotionally accessible vessel for the enigmatic frontman's considerable talents. If 2000's *Mer de Noms* served as an intriguing introduction to this darker, more melodic incarnation of Keenan's vision, then 2003's *Thirteenth Step* stands as the project's masterwork: a haunting meditation on addiction, recovery, and the fragile nature of human connection that feels both deeply personal and universally resonant.

The album's genesis lay in the turbulent period following *Mer de Noms*' unexpected commercial success. While Tool remained mired in legal battles and creative stagnation, Keenan found himself increasingly drawn to the collaborative dynamic he'd established with guitarist Billy Howerdel. The pair had initially bonded over shared experiences with addiction – both their own struggles and those of loved ones – and *Thirteenth Step* became their unflinching examination of these demons. The title itself references the controversial thirteenth step of Alcoholics Anonymous, an unofficial addendum warning against romantic entanglements during early recovery.

Musically, *Thirteenth Step* represents a quantum leap in sophistication from its predecessor. Where *Mer de Noms* occasionally felt like Tool-lite, this follow-up establishes A Perfect Circle as a distinct entity entirely. Howerdel's guitar work is nothing short of revelatory – alternating between crystalline arpeggios and crushing walls of distortion with an architectural precision that recalls early Pink Floyd as much as contemporary metal. The rhythm section of Paz Lenchantin on bass and Josh Freese on drums provides a supple foundation that shifts seamlessly between whisper-quiet vulnerability and earth-shaking bombast.

Keenan, meanwhile, delivers perhaps his finest vocal performance to date. Gone are the primal screams and cryptic riddles of Tool; in their place, we find a singer willing to bare his soul with startling directness. His range here is extraordinary – from the barely-there whisper that opens "The Package" to the soaring melodic peaks of "Weak and Powerless" – but it's the emotional intelligence behind these choices that truly impresses.

The album's finest moments arrive early and often. "The Package" serves as a devastating opener, its gentle acoustic fingerpicking and hushed vocals masking lyrics of profound despair before erupting into a cathartic chorus that feels like emotional floodgates bursting open. "Weak and Powerless" follows as the album's most immediate hook – a radio-friendly anthem that somehow manages to make addiction sound anthemic without ever glorifying it. The song's central metaphor of tearing away from someone's "perfect" skin is both visceral and heartbreaking.

Elsewhere, "The Noose" stands as the album's darkest moment, its circular guitar figures and hypnotic rhythms creating a sense of inescapable doom that perfectly mirrors its lyrical content. "Blue" offers respite with its gossamer beauty, Keenan's vocals floating over Howerdel's shimmering guitars like morning mist. The epic "Gravity" closes proceedings with seven minutes of slowly building tension, its patient dynamics recalling the best of progressive rock while maintaining the band's distinctive emotional immediacy.

Not every moment hits with equal impact – "The Outsider" feels slightly overwrought, and "Crimes" never quite justifies its extended runtime – but these are minor quibbles with an otherwise exceptional collection. The album's sequencing is particularly masterful, creating an emotional arc that mirrors the recovery process itself: denial, anger, bargaining, depression, and finally, a hard-won acceptance.

*Thirteenth Step* would prove to be A Perfect Circle's commercial peak, spawning multiple radio hits and achieving platinum status. More importantly, it established the band as far more than a mere side project, proving that Keenan's talents extended well beyond Tool's progressive metal framework. The album's influence can be heard in countless alternative and progressive rock acts that followed, its template of combining emotional directness with musical sophistication becoming something of a blueprint for intelligent mainstream rock.

Twenty years on, *Thirteenth Step* remains A Perfect Circle's defining statement – a rare album that manages to transform personal pain into universal art without losing any of its specificity or power. It's a testament to the transformative potential of