Mer de Noms

"This is the debut album from A Perfect Circle. The band made rock history with it in 2000 as they stormed onto the Billboard Top 200, landing the #4 position. This marked A Perfect Circle's debut as the highest chart entry ever by a rock band's first album, selling over 1 million albums in the US.

This project is made up of singer Maynard James Keenan, who is also the vocalist for the rock band Tool. The other key member of A Perfect Circle is guitarist Billy Howerdel, who is the band's chief songwriter & producer. Billy has previously worked with Tool, The Smashing Pumpkins, David Bowie, Nine Inch Nails & others.

The Tool connection is evident, albeit in a slightly more laid-back way... However, A Perfect Circle are a separate entity unto themselves and "Mer De Noms" need not be judged by it's high pedigree of breeding alone. Indeed, its very good in it's own right!"
-MARTY

"Mer de Noms, their first album, echoes Tool's dark alt. rock dynamics in the stealthy riffing of Magdalena and Judith, but it is with gentler songs such as "3 Libras" or the Led Zeppelin-influenced "Renholder" that A Perfect Circle truly shine." **** (4 Stars)
-Q MAGAZINE