For the past couple of weeks, I’ve had A Perfect Circle’s “3 Libras” stuck in my head. I’m not complaing about it, I love this song. It’s crazy too, to realize that it’s been 25 years since their debut album, Mer De Noms was released. As far as debut albums go, it’s definitely one of the best. Interestingly, though “Judith” was the first single, the band actually wanted “3 Libras” to be the first one released. I always find things like that interesting. The video for “3 Libras” is really a beautiful one. Directed by Paul Hunter, who made his name in the HipHop/R&B world with artists like Eminem (“The Way I Am, “Superman”), D’Angelo (“How Does It Feel”), also directed videos for Marilyn Manson (“The Dope Show,” “I Don’t Like The Drugs…”), Hole (“Malibu”), Lenny Kravitz (“Fly Away”). The video for “3 Libras” is dark, haunting, and such a compliment to a great song. The way the cinematography and cameras pull the viewer in at certain moments, to the choice of color used throughout, and the sensuality, all these things make for a great video. I miss when bands would make videos like this. Take a few minutes out of your day and really explore the music video for A Perfect Circle’s “3 Libras,” you’ll really enjoy it!
I’ve been on a bit of an A Perfect Circle kick as of late. I’m pretty excited about the thought of new music from them. Especially since their last album, Eat The Elephant, was pretty disappointing. While going through my usual rabbit hole, I came across this fun video. If you are not aware, after A Perfect Circle went on “hiatus” in 2004, Billy Howerdel would go on to start a solo career. His first release was under the name Ashes Divide and the album, Keep Telling Myself It’s Alright. That year Ashes Divide was asked to be a part of Linkin Park’s Projekt Revolution tour. During one of the stops on the tour, the late Chester Bennington joined Ashes Divide on stage for a version of A Perfect Circle’s “The Outsider.” It’s a pretty solid offering and just shows that Chester could sing pretty much anything, and it sounded good. If you haven’t seen or heard this before you are in for a treat. And seriously check out the Ashes Divide album, it’s really quite good.
Ashes Divide w/Chester Bennington- The Outsider (Live):
I’ve been a bit behind on a ton of releases so I thought why not put a whole bunch of good stuff into one place. Part of the fun of Audioeclectica is the opportunity to share all sorts of different music/genres with you all. This batch is one of the most eclectic ones in quite a while. You’ve got rock, metal, alternative, and more. Enjoy these and let me know what you’re digging!
SINGLES:
The Barbarians Of California- Modern Fashion:
Last year The Barbarians Of California released their debut album, And Now I’m Just Gnashing My Teeth. It’s a total awesome throwback to the mid/late 90’s hardcore. Reminds me a bit of Snapcase, Strife and some other gems from the time. Their new single, “Modern Fashion,” is an absolute banger! Definitely check this out! Also it’s great to have Aaron Bruno and Eric Stenman back together! I grew up in the same area of these guys and their early hardcore bands were always a blast to hear and see!
Foreign Film- Santa Clara:
Are you a fan of the band Will Haven? If so then you’ll dig this for sure. Even if you aren’t a fan of Will Haven, I think you will dig Foreign Film. Made up of members of Will Haven, Foreign Film is a departure from the pulsating heaviness and instead brings about a most atmospheric and soundscape textured sound to the table. Combining influences like The Cure, Pink Floyd, Hum, and more, you can definitely hear the more cinematic approach to this. Really looking forward to more of this!
Greyhaven- Cemetery Sun:
Greyhaven is band I’ve recently gotten into. Really dig the heaviness of the band and the little intricacies found throughout the songs. There are moments when I listen to them that it reminds me of Every Time I Die with a bit more melody. This new song “Cemetery Sun” is a ripping track with soaring melodies and a whole vibe on its own. Their new album, Keep It Quiet is out October 10. Definitely be on the lookout for this one.
Paz Lenchantin- Hang Tough:
This is exciting. Paz Lenchantin formerly of A Perfect Circle, Zwan and Pixies is going to be releasing her debut solo album, Trieste, on October 17. If you are familiar with Paz, you know she is beyond talented. On her debut album, Paz mixes some really cool elements to make music that is very much aligned with a particular vibe. There’s rock throughout but the addition of folk, Latin, strings along with the drums of Josh Freese and guitars of Troy Van Leeuwen, makes this a really interesting one to vibe out to.
A little while back a friend of mine suggested I check out Soul Blind, and after doing so, I was hooked. If you are searching for a new band that really gets the 90’s sound in the right wat, Soul Blind is the one! This new track find the band embracing new ground by delving into some post-hardcore territory a la Quicksand and Deftones. Their new album, Red Sky Mourning, is out October 10.
ALBUMS:
Boneflower- Reveries:
I love when I listen to a band without knowing anything about them and it being awesome. That’s what happened when I first heard Reveries by Boneflower. The sheer intensity really drives this album. It’s chock full of emotion and musically the dynamic shapes makes for a very fun listen. If you’ve heard of the band Birds In Row, this band is for you! Definitely check out Boneflower and this album!
Chevelle- Bright As Blasphemy:
Chevelle is one of those bands that is quite consistent on releasing solid heavy rock albums. While this one might not be groundbreaking it’s still a really good album. Throughout the 9 tracks it’s very apparent that Chevelle is experimenting a bit with some different styles and textures. If the last album was the album Tool should’ve made, this new one is more in line with A Perfect Circle meets Helmet. There one song in particular that has me playing it on repeat and that track is called “Hallucinations.” What a great song! If you just want a solid heavy rock album, check out Bright As Blasphemy.
In Transmission- Betterment:
The post-hardcore genre has undergone a lot of changes over the years but, the one constant about the genre is the music is always emotionally charged and hard driving. And when I heard In Transmission’s new EP, that is exactly what I heard while at the same time adding a much deeper approach with atmospheric sounds to expand the space. Produced by Beau Burchell, Betterment is a record that shows much growth in the band as well as being songwriters. I really enjoy this one and think you will too.
Lucie Sue- Battle Station:
I’m always on the lookout for new music and the other day I got sent an album that again, I knew nothing about the artist and when I put it on, I immediately knew I was in for a treat. Lucie Sue is a force of nature for sure. Musically it’s got a punk rock edge, with a dash of Motely Crue swagger and sleeve, and a whole lot of 90’s attitude a la L7 or even Hole. Battle Station is one hell of a record that’s full of raw ferocity and razor sharp teeth that cuts through all the bullshit. I’ve been really enjoying this album and hope there’s a US tour soon!
I quite enjoy waking up with a song in my head. How it gets there is a story for another time. This morning I woke up with an instrumental part in my head and it didn’t take long to figure out what song it was. “The Noose” by A Perfect Circle is the song that started things off this morning and what a great track it is. It’s one of those songs that not only captivates you as your listen but, the lyrical content makes you think too. The Thirteenth Step is a concept album that pulls from the different aspects and perspectives of recovery and the 12 steps. “The Noose” definitely pulls from the step of making amends. It’s quite a song both lyrically and musically. This is one of those album/deep cuts that make an album strong and prove that a band is more than just the singles they release. One can hope that if A Perfect Circle regroups, and get back into writing/recording, that they find their way back to where they left off on The Thirteenth Step.
The other day I was having a conversation with a friend and we got to talking about how fast time has gone by. While in this discussion, it somehow evolved into how old certain albums are now. One of the ones that got brought up was A Perfect Circle’s debut album, Mer De Noms, which is now 23 years old. Crazy! I still remember the day it came out and spending hours upon hours listening to it. So much so that it became my go to album in the summer of 2000. Naturally, this made me go put the album on later and it’s still as good as it was the first listen through. One of the songs I’ve always loved on that album is the opening track, “The Hollow.” It’s a damn good song and one of my all time favorite track one’s. It’s got such a great impact to start the album off and all the little nuances about the song make it all the more intriguing each time you listen. Also something that many don’t know is that this is the only song on the album that Josh Fresse doesn’t play drums on. Instead Tim Alexander from Primus is the drummer on this song. Also, “The Hollow” was the third and final single released from their debut album.
This morning I woke up with a part of a song in my head and it took me a minute to realize what it was and then once it hit, I knew what I was going to write about today. The song I had in my head was “3 Libras” by A Perfect Circle. To this day, this song is still one of my favorites and when it gets to that part of the album it gives me chills. One of my favorite performances of “3 Libras” actually comes from their appearance on the Tonight Show with Jay Leno (that long ago). This one is a stand out not just for how well they rocked the song but, having Paz Lenchantin play violin throughout the song and having one of my all time favorite musicians, Danny Lohner join them on bass to round it out made it that much more memorable. Revisit this gem of a performance with me!
A Perfect Circle- 3 Libras (Live on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno):
When the news first broke that Billy Howerdel of A Perfect Circle/Ashes Divide was going to put out a solo album under his name, I became very intrigued. While reading about the making of the album, there was a quote of Billy’s that really stood out to me, “”This is me stepping back into my early teen self and making the record I would’ve made if I had the means and the knowledge when I first picked up a guitar — just in 2022.” I couldn’t love that statement more. I love that he went back to the well of what first really got his passion of music going and created an album that pays homage to those musical influences and inspirations but this record is one that can stand on it’s own during a resurgence of that sound.
What Normal Was is ten songs of goth tinged, dark pop, with melancholic tendencies and a sense of ambience that is both haunting and beautiful. Digging into his love for bands like The Cure, Depeche Mode and Siouxie and the Banshee’s, you can hear those bands in certain moments wheteher it’s a synth, vocal melody, bass line, guitar part or even a drum beat. But this isn’t a “copy” of those bands. Instead this is Billy making the album that he grew up wanting to make. I have a strange thing about wanting to go track by track as I feel like it gives the listener a preconceived notion but I do want to highlight a couple tracks. Opener “Selfish Heart” is one hell of a track to kick off the record. The vocal delivery on this song is superb. As the album continues tracks like “Free and Weightless,” “Ani,” “Beautiful Mistake,” “Poison Flowers,” and “Bring Honor Back Home” have all been standouts each time I listen. Closing song “Stars” is quite the contemplative track and one that gives the album an open ending to continue on this path at a later date.
What Normal Was is the type of album in 2022 that is not only needed but it’s a teaching tool for all these younger bands and “kids” who don’t quite understand how to make this type of music. The homage portion of the album and the desire to create something that you’ve always dreamed of makes this album work. It’s not just Billy stepping out of the shadow of Maynard and A Perfect Circle, this is Billy discovering who he is as a musician and songwriter. What Normal Was is a record that will grow on you after a few listens. There’s even a part of it that will make you want to seek out the bands and albums that helped to inspire this record. Personally, I can’t wait to hear what Billy Howerdel does next in his musical evolution.
Billy Howerdel of A Perfect Circle/Ashes Divide is preparing to release his debut “solo” album, What Normal Was on June 10. Ahead of the release, Billy will be releasing a new song each week until the album is released. Already “Poison Flowers” and “Free and Weightless” have been released (and they are pretty damn good songs). Now, we have the third song to be released “Beautiful Mistake.” Speaking on the song “We’re often too hard on ourselves,” says Howerdel in reference to the theme behind the song. “The Japanese philosophy Kintsugi, the Appreciation of Imperfection, inspired a new way for me to reflect on mistakes. Forgiving others can often be easier than forgiving ourselves.” This song is one of my favorites on the record. It’s got a very moody vibe that inhabits the best of the 80’s new wave era. Wait till you hear the whole record and in sequence!!!
Billy Howerdel best known for his work in A Perfect Circle is gearing up to drop his debut solo album, What Normal Was on June 10. Now, you might think “solo album?” wasn’t Ashes Divide his solo project? Well yes and no. This album was originally started as a follow up to the first Ashes Divide album but as time progressed and the songs began to continuously take shape, it just didn’t work in the realm that is/was Ashes Divide. This album is shaped quite differently. Billy mentioned about this album “This is me stepping back into my early teen self and making the record I would have made if I had the means and the knowledge when I first picked up a guitar—just in 2022. It’s that moment as a kid when you hear a record, close your eyes, and go somewhere else. That was the time I found my lane, so to speak. During the making of this album, a global pandemic’s chaos had a silver lining. It gave me time to tighten the songs into the place I’d hoped they could be. When I look back, I don’t think I’d change anything about it.” With that in mind, these songs pay homage and hark back to a time when music was making a huge impression on the life of Billy Howerdel.
Back in the year 2000 (how fitting for this since Conan used to have a segment on his show about “The Year 2000”), while A Perfect Circle was supporting the release of their amazing debut album, Mer De Noms, and while on tour with Nine Inch Nails, they made a stop to perform “Judith” on Late Night with Conan O’Brien. This performance is absolutely killer. Josh Freese is a beast behind the kit and was such an integral part of this band. It’s too bad he wasn’t involved in their recent return along with Paz Lenchantin on bass and Troy Van Leeuwen on guitar. Either way, enjoy this gem!
A Perfect Circle- Judith on Late Night with Conan O’Brien:
AUDIOECLECTICA 