This album just makes me emotional every time I listen to it. It has some of the best vocals of Maynard's entire career as well as some of his saddest lyricism. This and Thirteenth Step are my favorite APC projects by a country mile, but between the two I honestly can't choose. They're pretty different but both excellent

This album is perfect.

Can't wait for you to listen to Thirteenth Step. It is, IMO, one of the best made albums of the 00s. Josh Freese's drumming carries so much weight, and the songs are unbelievable.

For White Pony, Deftones had a small 'writers block' and enlisted Maynard to help. Maynard had Deftones switch instruments amongst each other, and experiment with time signatures. Maynard also had them do other artsy weird stuff that Deftones just didn't resonate with haha. We got 'Passenger' from that. Just an EPIC time for music.

One thing I really like about your videos is that you remind me of certain long forgotten elements within albums I love and have listened to hundreds of times, elements that I'd completely let slide into my subconscious and muscle memory. Your fresh ears and new found interpretation really bring those notes I've taken for granted over the years back to the fore once again, and make me want to revisit them again with a more active attention to the sound. Thank you. Love your videos and keep up the great work!

This project is the brainchild of Tool's guitar technician Billy Howerdel. Whom also has a solo album just released this past summer.

I hope you do 13th Step. Mer de Noms is the fan favorite but 13th Step has amazing production and songs.

Soundtrack to my life from 2000-2001 and an album where each track is unforgettable for me. Every. Track. Is Timeless. You gave me flashbacks Molly 😅🥰

This brings back High school memories so much. Imagine being 16 & listening to Tool, then this pops out of no where. Man good times. Loved this album, it's so unique & unexpected. Flawless execution. I was hoping to see this review & glad to see someone else experience this for the first time.

my favorite part of the entire album is on the bridge of Orestes: "And I don't wanna feel this overwhelming" and the vocals bend upwards. 3 libras and rose are also in my top 3 from this album. I really like how this album mer de noms is mixed. a perfect circle also opened for NIN on their fragility 2.0 tour.

One of the best albums of all time.

"It's almost like this song is that one medicated peaceful moment on the album" ... Mind blown.

Absolutely amazing album. Cant believe its 22 years old already.

Wow Molly you've been very generous with new videos lately. I like that! :D

No matter how many times I hear Orestes, that last minute or so gives me chills very single time.

Super excited. Been in love with tool and apc since my parents jammed them kn repeat as a kid. Thankful I was born into a family with great taste introducing me to metallica, tool, apc, the strokes, portishead, and more. Hope you like this record as much as I do!

This version of APC Is Maynard James Keenan -vocals Billy Howerdel -Guitar former guitar tech for TOOL, APC’s producer and long time friend of Maynard’s Troy Van Leeuwen -Guitar and former member of the band Failure who are also long time friends of TOOL Paz Lenchantin -Cello, violin, bass and piano Renholder is a partial reverse of Danny Lohner’s name, a former member of Nine Inch Nails.= Red Lohner Josh Freese -Drums, also played drums notably, for Evanescence and Nine Inch Nails

Magdalena is such an awesome song. It's so heavy live.

Judith by A Perfect Circle and Wings For Marie Part 1 and 2 by Tool were both songs about Maynard's mother,(Judith Marie).Judith was a devoted christian, but she spent the last years of her life physically handicapped, and in the song "Judith" Maynard basically asks his mom "How can praise a God who put you in the state you're in"?, and several years later after she died, in the Tool song "Wings for Marie" Maynard is basically saying to God "Hey after all the crap you put my mom through, and all the time she's devoted to you, you better let her into heaven!" ("Give me my wings!")

Great album. 3 Libras is a longtime favorite. And Brena. And Orestes. And The Hollow.

They came out swinging with this debut and IMO it's their best album. Maynard with a new sound was so wild at the the time. Judith and 3 Libras are my favorite tracks. I like how their sound is heavy and hypnotic--the production on this album at times feels so grand and polished, almost a cinematic vibe. Solid album!

A curiosity is that one of the first options Billy wanted for the band was Siouxie Soux, since he mentioned that APC was a mixture of Siouxie and the Banshees and Ozzy's first 2 solo albums with Randy Rhoads, his guitar influence. While you are in the Tool world, I recommend Replicants, by former Tool bassist Paul D'Amour, who released a single covers album so far in 1995 by the same name.

Truly this is an all-time great album. Artistically and sonically it holds up against ANYTHING.

This album is in my top ten all time favorite albums. Been listening to it for 23 years and doesn’t get old. Great reaction!

Lots of people will say their favorite APC is 13th Step, but Noms is by far my favorite. A masterpiece of an album. Brena is his ex by the way and I'm fairly sure Sleeping Beauty is about her pill addiction.

I love the parallels you make to NIN, and Deftones here. Josh Freese, who drums on the majority of this album (track 1 was drummed by Tim Alexander (Primus)), also provides drums on NIN's Year Zero and The Slip and Billy, the guitarist and key songwriter toured as a guitar tech with NIN, so it's almost certain his time with them would have had an influence on his writing for this album.

Classic album. Still holds up. Orestes might be the best song ever written for me

The overall theming and atmosphere of this album were amazing. I actually prefer this one over the Tool albums.

Awesome album. My dad bought me this album the day it came out. He got me into TOOL when I was about 12 years old. It totally influenced my outlook on Rock, Metal and guitar music.

Haven't heard this one in the last couple years, still holds majestic!

They opened for Nine Inch Nails on the US Fragile tour, got to hear these songs a few weeks before the album came out! Still a favorite

Late one nite i found this CD in the sand on a beach. Took it back to my car drove up hwy 1. Never forget that nite. Magical album!

Summer/Fall 2000: my freshman year of HS and so confused about my place and where I fit in. This album helped me at that time tremendously. I can’t believe you’ve been listening to music I grew up with and giving my fav bands a chance (korn, rage against the machine, took, slipknot, faith no more) all helped me so much during the late 90s early 2000s

Mind-blowing that you're just discovering them; you have so much amazing music to look forward to. I've seen Maynard live multiple times; both of his bands are incredible. Enjoy the journey

"It almost feels like 2 vocalists on this part." Billy Howerdel, the guitarist and impetus of the band's formation, sings harmony on many of their songs.

Here Maynard embraced his inner Chris Gaines, a goth look, a tortured spirit, vampiric. I loved this album when it came out. 3 Libras and Orestes are phenomenal, they always make me shed a tear. Hauntingly beautiful. Although I prefer 13th Step, their definitive masterpiece. Mer is a bit spotty in places, 13th is perfect from beginning to end. Eat the Elephant is good too, although nowhere near as rocking as their first 2. Emotive is an album almost full of covers that I never got into, but you might want to check it out, as completion.

Genial! Saludos desde Argentina, reina.

Magdalena is my fav! Keep up the awesome work!! Can't wait for more Dillinger Escape Plan!!!

If I could describe APC’S sound on Mer de Noms, it’s like The Cure and Failure had a baby and made it listen to TOOL.

This album is on my top 5. I met Maynard and Paz when I saw them in Seattle when I was 15, that show blew my head off. Mer day noms is “a sea of names” in latin. It is inspired by Cocteau Twins album “Treasures” which has all songs as someone’s name, as does mer de noms.

Again I must say masterpiece. Love the vibe of this record.

Hell yeah!!! Awesome seeing this :)

The production of this album is world class

Such a great album. I'd listen to this when I was rollerblading and working out a lot 20 years ago. That and Deftones were such an awesome part of growing up, and being able to see all those great acts for like 20 bucks.

Sea of Names is such a Masterpiece of an album! Their absolute best work of art Thirteenth Step comes close but no cigar. Great Review as always Molly will you review my suggestion album? My Top 3: Rose Orestes Three Libras

i love this album.

Danny Lohner of NIN association helped record parts of this album. Track 9 Renholder actually came from an email- re: D. Lohner (Renholder backwards)

Molly is awesome! Very great reactions.

Korn is my all time favorite band, but this album is one of my favorites of all time. Definitely top 3. Orestes is basically the perfect song. I've been listening to the album since its release and it never gets old. Blown away more and more every time I hear it. Glad you checked this one out!

Glad you are starting your APC experience. Maynard can do no wrong and brings more talented musicians with him; nice to hear him in a different context and APC allows him to work with sounds and textures he couldn't with Tool. Really enjoy your reactions/reviews/analysis of my favorite bands/albums. I like the format you chose by listening to entire albums and it's so nice to hear your insightful/honest reviews with a nice logical analysis done with intelligence. Thanks for all the time/hard work you put in.

still holds up such a great record!

Judith was the first single released for this album, and within the first 5 seconds my jaw dropped and I believe I audibly muttered "Holy shit." Knew we were in for something special with this album, and I still get that same feeling to this day from that song, and this whole album. So distinct. Thirteenth Step is also a fantastic album, albeit different from Mer De Noms.

One of my fave albums, my fave music reaction goddess, it can't miss!

Judith followed by Orestes and 3 Libras, wow. Pinnacle of 2000s modern rock

I'm happy to read from some the comments that people still notice and appreciate just how well produced this album is. I don't know that I've found Maynard's voice as pleasing and emotionally communicative in some of his other projects as it is here. I wasn't able to connect with any of APC's other albums the way I did with Mer de Noms, it has a very open or vulnerable quality to it combined with being really easy to listen to front to back. I never felt like they were trying to impress upon the listener too much, even though it's not necessarily a laid back album, the more ambient tones or more somber melodies seem like they fit so nicely in each song that before you know it the album is over. I also think that can make tracks blend together a bit and not necessarily stand apart on their own but call me old fashioned, I think that's a good thing. One of the best introductory albums I can think of and extremely well produced for the time period.

I still jam to Orestes and 3 Libras, it was cool to see you react to them. Can't wait to see which one you hit us with next lol

The lyrics were written to be sung by Liz Fraser of Cocteau Twins and I'd love to hear that version.

Great album. One thing I've come to love most about this and their follow up is Josh Freeze's drumming. He has a way of choosing what and what not to accent that's really interesting and unexpected. One of many things to love about Mer De Noms

It's a great album, one of my favourite albums. If you like recommendations check out a band called Down, especially their second album Down 2: A Bustle in your Hedgerow, their lead singer is Phil Anselmo who used to be the lead singer of Pantera and all their band members have been in bands before they joined together and formed Down

Hi, molly. Here from México! A joyfull album and channel. Thanks!!

Great reaction. This is one of my favorite albums of all time and came out at a very meaningful time for me. Glad you can hear it over 20 years later and hear how great it is as well.

There is two voices, Billy Howerdale does supporting vocals. 🤗

now this is a great album! so glad you decided to react to it.

awh girl, I really love your videos. I'm always waiting for the next one of my favorites for you to listen to

I'll be watching your reactions and be reminded how good all these albums are and I'll have to go listen to them midway through your video hahaha. I come back to finish though.

Orestes from Greek mythology for deeper lyrical interpretation & ties back to his real life. Enjoying your reactions & I can't wait for the Thirteenth Step! (The live album version takes it up a notch imho - the Fourteenth Step? haha)

You're gonna love Thirteenth Step.

I hope you had a happy thanksgiving, Molly. Josh Freese doesn’t get enough love.

Yessss!!! Welcome to the wonderful world of A Perfect Circle. The greatest megaband of all time. This album has sat in my Top 5 Albums of all time since 2000…! At that time, it was so different than anything else that had ever been made. Instant Classic! Glad you got to finally experience it.

Great breakdown! After you’ve listened to the Thirteenth Step and eMotive albums, I highly recommend APC’s Stone and Echo: Live at Red Rocks. I keep it on repeat

One of my all time favorite albums. Absolutely flawless.

I snagged a leaked version of this off of Usnet several months before release. It was slower and heavier than the release version. I uploaded it all to Google Play Music and it replaced everything with the release. 😭

I saw APC live... they were as amazing live as they are on their albums... again.. thank you for your take on the album.... You really should look into doing a career in radio or something in that spectrum (I know I mentioned it before, but your voice has good tonal qualities and is very smooth in presentation.. )

I can not even explain how excited I am for you to do the rest of Korn’s discography. You’re such a breath of fresh air in the reaction community.

13th step is my favorite album i think you'll like it from a perfect circle. You also need to do Songs for the Deaf from Queens of the Stone Age

My favorite part of any of your reviews is when your feeling the groove!.

There is some excellent industrial tinged guitar sounds throughout the record which I think can perhaps be chalked up to Billy howerdel working as a NIN guitar tech in the 90s - at least to some degree. It's one of my all time favorites.

I remember the first time I heard this album. I was at a party in the early 2000s. It's incredible. I have seen APC many times live.

Finally! I recommended this one a couple of times here in the comments, I'm happy you gave it a listen Judith was the "mainstream" single from this one, its a powerful song but my overall favorite is 3 Libras for the meaning and feeling it trasmits

Probably my favorite of all time albums ever! 👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼👍🤘

All amazing musicians involved in this band. Glad your reviewing them.

Vibes from Tool, Deftones, A Perfect Circle, Porcupine Tree, Steven Wilson, Opeth, Mastodon and some older Nine Inch Nails, Faith No More, Korn and Depeche Mode albums, made My life something more.

Wait until you get to Thirteenth Step! That was A perfect circles best Album (in my opinion). Weak and Powerless, and The Outsider are the stand out's on that album.

Lmao. Just commented on another not seeing you had done them! Yes, APC carried me through my high school years. I'll find youll love them

Rose is such a triumphant song

Love this. You really should check out tools ep opiate. Just 6 songs. I really think you'd like Mr bungles California and Soundgardens superunknown

Ah, man, this album. ♥

Excellent choice. And you’re right about Thomas/Deftones. I never thought of that before but since you mentioned it here, I can’t unhear it!

The song Judith is about Maynard’s mother she had a brain aneurism that left her paralyzed and the song seems to be his frustration with the idea that his mother is still religiously devout despite all her suffering.

The Hollow might be my favorite song of all time

i was actually introduced to maynard's stuff through this album. it was part of my mom's album collection growing up, and then i found tool as a teen through youtube recommendations. i definitely listen to tool way more frequently than apc, but mer de noms is my go to when i want to feel really sad in a useful way 😅

Great video as always 😊

this is the first cd i bought after moving to another state after college. songs from this album still surface very vivid memories of driving around in early summer with the windows down, learning the lay of the land. and while i wasn't quite a teenager anymore they evoked such ecstatic yearning for what the future held.

😀 Yes! I know I say this a lot, but I knew you’d love this one. It’s fucking beautiful. How could you not? Mer de Noms means Sea of Names, in case you didn’t already know. I quite like the title, no matter how you say it. The cuts kill me. I honestly wish they didn’t make you do that. I like reading your face and body as much as I like to hear your insights. I’ll be waiting for a certain part to come up, and I’m watching you, and all of a sudden…cut! 😂 Well, I can’t wait to see you react to Thirteenth Step, and Eat the Elephant. Then it’s on to Puscifer. And, let it be known, you’re gonna love every bit of it.

You're right, the guitar work and also the vocals on this album are fascinating. I have a sweet spot for "Sleeping Beauty" and "Brena" . Best APC album for me.

This is on my top favorite albums ever rare to not skip songs and I don't skip any on this one. 💜

I love that expression on 12:04 like "Wtf?"

I can't wait until you start getting into fear factory. And now I'm probably the only one that's recommending that band but trust me when I say that they are a staple in the "tech death metal" genre. They have I think over a dozen albums now. So it's going to be a long deep dive discography for you. Trust me you'll love it

Not many bands have matched the absolute living I have felt the 3 times I've heard Maynard sing "IT'S TIME TO BRING THE FIRE DOWN" in the shows I've seen them in. This album is very important to me. But when you listen to 13th Step: it's probably the best-produced album ever? Oh man, it's special.