A Political Circle

October 19, 2004 2:43 AM

Art rock/metal band A Perfect Circle are releasing a new album consisting of mostly politically orientated covers, including John Lennon's Imagine. With so many bands pumping out the politics recently why is this strange? Because for so many years the band, and frontman Maynard James Keenan (also the lead singer for Tool) have usually kept right out of politics, opting for a more mysterious and individualistic approach to their music. Interesting to read what some of their fans think?
posted by Jase_B (16 comments total)

winamp has an audio stream up of Imagine, and music video streams for Imagine and Counting Bodies Like Sheep to the Rhythm of the War Drums. if you've got the latest version, you can just check it out in the Media Library under the streaming media section.
posted by lotsofno at 3:40 AM on October 19, 2004

The best political abum to come out post september 11th has been NOFX - The war on errorism. Punk has always had the best politial music.
posted by Keyser Soze at 4:06 AM on October 19, 2004

for so many years the band, and frontman Maynard James Keenan (also the lead singer for Tool) have usually kept right out of politics

Not sure I agree completely... I've been going to Tool shows for over a decade now, and while I never heard Maynard say things like "so-and-so is bad, vote yadda ya," I have heard subtle references to his social/political slant at nearly every show (sarcastic bastard he is, gotta love him!). I haven't heard this album yet so with only a songlist to go by, none of which are titled Bush Bites or Vote Kerry, I can't understand some of the fans comments and disappointment. I also don't understand why some people think they should decide what an artist should produce. Personally I think Maynards involvment with APC is strange and too pop-ish for what I expect from him, but it's his choice to create and mine to decide whether I'll buy it or not. Beyond that I can't see the need to critisize or complain. Besides, Maynard is god! :)
posted by LouReedsSon at 4:08 AM on October 19, 2004

"....This item will be released on November 2, 2004. You may order it now and we will ship it to you when it arrives." - Well, if the band intended it's new album to have any effect on the coming election, I'd said they botched that.
posted by troutfishing at 5:14 AM on October 19, 2004

[this is not interesting.]
posted by glenwood at 5:48 AM on October 19, 2004

"Orientated." Oh dear.

Also, APS sucks.
posted by myeviltwin at 6:29 AM on October 19, 2004

Also, APS sucks.

If they brought back Paz on bass, they wouldn't.
posted by KevinSkomsvold at 6:31 AM on October 19, 2004

Err...APC. Durr.
posted by myeviltwin at 6:39 AM on October 19, 2004

I always confuse A Perfect Circle with A Certain Ratio. I was disappointed that it wasn't they who were releasing a new album.

On topic, Mavis Staples "Have a little faith," might be my favorite political song this year.
posted by octobersurprise at 6:45 AM on October 19, 2004

I *heart* mavis staples and the staples singers. Their version of "For What It's Worth" is astonishingly good.

And good for Tool. Individualism and political involvement are not mutually exclusive.
posted by jonmc at 7:04 AM on October 19, 2004

"Orientated." Oh dear.

Orientated
posted by biscotti at 7:35 AM on October 19, 2004

Wow, it's like MeTa.
posted by Ufez Jones at 7:42 AM on October 19, 2004

The cover was crap, the video was boring and unoriginal, Keenan's political musings are pedantic at best, and APC is a goddamn boring band. You post 'em, I shit on 'em.
posted by angry modem at 8:18 AM on October 19, 2004

Well, shut my mouth. Looks like if you're British, orientated is perfectly OK.

APC still suck though.
posted by myeviltwin at 8:50 AM on October 19, 2004

Art is political.

Simplistic, but more often than not, true.
posted by eener at 12:36 PM on October 19, 2004

Art rock/metal band A Perfect Circle

You meant to say emo, right?
posted by TungstenChef at 8:37 PM on October 19, 2004