A Perfect Circle – eMotive & aMotion By Zane Ewton

A Perfect Circle – eMotive & aMotion 

The track record of A Perfect Circle has been just about perfect.  They have released two fantastic albums despite being the side project of lead singer Maynard James Keenan.  Between this band and Tool, Keenan has been continually exciting and groundbreaking.  That may be why eMOTIVe is such a disappointment.  
 
It is very difficult to put down an album that is honestly from the heart and made to promote love and compassion.  Released in time for the November election, this was a protest album.  
 
The first misstep may have been in the choices for songs.  A covers album is a difficult thing to pull off, but A Perfect Circle took on some of the most well-known and beloved songs in popular music.
 
John Lennon’s “Imagine” is a song with a life of its own.  Many have tried to cover it, but nobody, with maybe the exception of Neil Young, have been able to replicate the original.  On eMOTIVe, the song becomes a slow dirge which loses the grace of the original.  A version of Elvis Costello’s “Peace Love and Understanding” meets the same fate as “Imagine”.
 
Marvin Gaye’s “What’s Going On” is another song that is too well known and loved to be redone effectively.  Nobody has been able to meet the incredible passion of Gaye’s original.  
 
The remainder of the album tackles some lesser known material to a stronger effect.  “When the Levee Breaks”, a Led Zeppelin song bears zero resemblance to the original is pretty, if not long-winded.  Keenan’s a-cappella version of “Fiddle and the Drum” demonstrates how interesting his voice is.  Without the bombast of a band behind him, he is still very captivating.
 
An argument may be made that the album is simply difficult to get into.  The problem here is that we are already into these songs.   New versions would have to offer something strikingly different from the original.  Unfortunately, the slower dirge-like compositions don’t provide the melody and feeling that made songs like “Imagine” so great to begin with.
 
The band will rebound with a stronger album of original music and the promise of new Tool is always a welcomed message.  It is definitely appreciated that the band found an important time to make a statement and put themselves out on the line.  That in itself is never disappointing.
 
Along with eMOTIVe, A Perfect Circle has taken the opportunity to release a DVD/CD combination titled aMOTION.  The DVD portion includes all of the band’s music videos; both edited and uncut, commentaries by Keenan and Billy Howerdel and behind-the-scenes footage.  The CD includes remixes of previous songs.
 
The DVD is excellent and will please fans of the band.  A Perfect Circle has been able to develop an outstanding visual aesthetic along with their music.  Not as ground breaking as any Tool videos but a different band requires a different vibe.  The remix CD can be taken either way.  Fans of remixes will enjoy different versions of “The Outsider” and “Weak and Powerless”.  
 
We need more bands like A Perfect Circle who are willing to take chances and stay concerned about all aspects of being a rock and roll band in the 2000’s.  The potential of what is to come is so great that this band could be the most exciting thing in music.
 

Listen to samples and Purchase the CD eMOTIVe online

Purchase the CD/DVD aMOTION online