Mer De Noms

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"A Perfect Circle is not a side project," proclaim the members of Perfect Circle. It's a caution worth heeding, since the most identifiable name in the band is that of vocalist Maynard James Keenan, lead singer of Tool. On the other hand, one wouldn't be much inclined to file this one under "side project" anyway. The musicians involved go to great lengths to create something distinctive, and if the uniformity of sound can be attributed to the fact that guitarist Billy Howerdel (whose previous songwriting credits include Tool, the Smashing Pumpkins, and David Bowie) is responsible for the lion's share of the music, well, the others aren't exactly marching in lockstep. Keenan's vocals here are quite different from anything heard from him before. Subtle, thoughtful, sober, they're a far cry from Keenan's work with Tool, which is what makes this album more than a side-project curiosity. Mer de Noms has a life all its own. --Genevieve Williams