Thirteenth Step

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Thirteenth Step
Studio album by A Perfect Circle
Released September 16, 2003
Recorded Perfect Circle Studios, North Hollywood, California
January 2003 - June 2003
Genre Art rock, Alternative rock
Length 50:36
Label Virgin Records
Producer Billy Howerdel
Maynard James Keenan (Executive)
Danny Lohner (Tracks 3, 6, 9, 10)
Professional reviews
A Perfect Circle chronology
Mer de Noms
(2000)
Thirteenth Step
(2003)
eMOTIVe
(2004)
Singles from Thirteenth Step
  1. "Weak and Powerless"
    Released: December 3, 2003
  2. "The Outsider"
    Released: 2004
  3. "Blue"
    Released: July 27, 2004

Thirteenth Step is the second studio album by the American rock band A Perfect Circle. The album was released as a compact disc on September 16, 2003. The album was a success, reaching the #2 position on the Billboard charts in its premiere week, selling over 231,000 copies. The RIAA certified it as gold on November 4, 2003 and as platinum on March 24, 2006. The first single from the album was "Weak and Powerless", followed by "The Outsider" and "Blue". The tracks have their remixed versions on a 2004 remix album aMotion.

It has been speculated that the title is a reference to the Twelve-step program. According to Keenan on the commentary for the aMotion DVD, the album is a concept album with all of the songs dealing with the problem of addiction from a different perspective. He said that it refers in a way to his 13 years of residence in Los Angeles.[1]

"The Nurse Who Loved Me" is a cover of the song by Failure, originally featured on the 1996 album Fantastic Planet.

"Pet" has its follow-up, "Counting Bodies Like Sheep to the Rhythm of the War Drums", with the same lyrics, on the band's following 2004 cover versions album Emotive.

Contents

[edit] Track listing

All music and lyrics written by Billy Howerdel and Maynard James Keenan except where noted.

  1. "The Package" – 7:40
  2. "Weak and Powerless" – 3:15
  3. "The Noose" – 4:53
  4. "Blue" – 4:13
  5. "Vanishing" – 4:51
  6. "A Stranger" – 3:12
  7. "The Outsider" – 4:06
  8. "Crimes" (Howerdel/Keenan/Freese/White) – 2:34
  9. "The Nurse Who Loved Me" (Edwards/Andrews) – 4:04
  10. "Pet" – 4:34
  11. "Lullaby" – 2:01
  12. "Gravity" (Howerdel/Keenan/Freese/Van Leeuwen/Lenchantin) – 5:08

The Japanese version of Thirteenth Step includes an exclusive extended version of "The Package".

[edit] Personnel

  • Maynard James Keenan − Lead vocals, executive producer, artwork direction
  • Billy Howerdel − Guitar, vocals, production, engineering, additional photography
  • Josh Freese − Drums, backing vocals
  • Jeordie White − Bass, backing vocals
  • Troy Van Leeuwen − Guitar (on "The Package", "Vanishing" and "Gravity")
  • Danny Lohner – Guitar (on "The Noose"), additional production
  • The Section Quartet – Strings (on "The Nurse Who Loved Me" and "A Stranger")
  • Jarboe – Vocals (on "The Noose" and "Lullaby")
  • Devo H. Keenan – Backing vocals (on "Pet")
  • K. Patrick Warren – Instrumentation on "The Nurse Who Loved Me"
  • Jon Brion – Instrumentation on "The Nurse Who Loved Me"
  • Steve Duda – Digital engineering assistance
  • Andy Wallace – Mixing
  • Steven R. Gilmore – Sleeve art direction, design and digital photographic manipulation
  • Dean Karr – Cover Design & Photography

[edit] Charts

Album
Year Chart Position
2003 The Billboard 200 2
2003 Top Canadian Albums 1
2003 Top Internet Albums 2
Singles
Year Single Chart Position
2003 "Weak and Powerless" The Billboard Hot 100 61
2003 "Weak and Powerless" Mainstream Rock Tracks 1
2003 "Weak and Powerless" Modern Rock Tracks 1
2004 "The Outsider" The Billboard Hot 100 79
2004 "The Outsider" Mainstream Rock Tracks 3
2004 "The Outsider" Modern Rock Tracks 5
2004 "Blue" Mainstream Rock Tracks 19
2004 "Blue" Modern Rock Tracks 21

[edit] References

  1. ^ Chris Otts. "A Perfect Circle keeps spinning, churning out great music", The Crimson White, 2003-09-26. Retrieved on 2008-01-25. "Keenan told MTV that the title refers, on one level, to his now 13 years living in Los Angeles as a musician."