Yes. I recall statements hereabouts and elsewhere along the lines of "why is there a shitty stupid cover in the middle of this", "the whole middle section sucks and puts me to sleep", "this doesn't have the teeth that MDN did, it doesn't feel vital". And of course "Fuck this where's the new Tool record".
It wasn't an album anybody was expecting. Most folks came around on it, sure, and I don't think it was ever universally loathed, but it did absolutely not have the balls-out the gate positive reception MDN did on release. I think everyone considered The Package a banger out of the gate though.
I wasn’t wired into the internet at the time, so that probably helped.
I always go back to thinking about Trent's quote about how he used to play an album over and over until he "got it" because he spent money on it, invested in it, and didn't have too many other albums. Today we have access to any song imaginable at any time via the device in our pockets and music is immediately – and often harshly – judged and if it doesn't click with people IMMEDIATELY after one spin, not only do they disregarded it prematurely, they go onto social media and loudly voice their opinion about how much it sucks. Granted, I've probably done this at some point, but I try to make an effort to let every new release from all of the bands I follow sink in for a few weeks before deciding that something sucks. Sometimes I'm disappointed at first and that feeling fades.
Ironically, I remember people hating on The Package because of Maynard’s dry-mixed vocals and how he says “lie.”
The APC.net board was absolutely awesome and chill but also really negative about TTS when it came out and as eMOTIVe was winding up.
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
I wouldn’t mind catching this cover live again...
I love that during a song about "putting your phone down and connecting with your surroundings" everyone has their cell phones out filming it, hahaha.
Oh people.
Guess they couldn't enforce the no recordings rule at this Jimmy Kimmel thing?
I was 11 years old when Thirteenth Step dropped so I only factor in my experience since becoming an APC fan ~10 years ago, but I always felt like I was a fringe APC fan for thinking Thirteenth Step was far and away their masterpiece and one of my favorite albums of all time. It's always been my understanding that Mer De Noms was the fan favorite by a long shot. It's nice to see that others fucking love Thirteenth Step. Except that goddamn certified maniac Krazy who has an opinion about "The Package" that isn't "holy fucking shit what a goddamn perfect piece of music." Madness.
I was just talking a couple days ago about how out of the ~8 times I've seen Maynard live, his strongest performance was the APC show I saw in Reno last year, and in particular about what a complete wreck I was when they opened with this killer performance of "The Package." It's tough to top that feeling I get at a Tool show and the lights go down and Tim Leary starts his speech or seeing Ween back to back in San Francisco opening with Did You See Me? on night 1 and an acoustic Birthday Boy on night 2 or having the live debut of Branches/Bones open in Bakersfield, buuuut... this is quite possibly my number one concert opening song experience ever. Sure blows "Annihilation" right the fuck out of the water lol.
The front cover looks like a Puscifer LP , ive listened to it once i cant figure it out, i never really got into Thirteenth Step either.
Seemed very different to Mer De Noms. Still listen to that quite a bit.
Mer De Noms was such a strong album, a sort of gloomy Dreampop/ethereal/metal? Dreammetal?? Was not really metal, more just hard rock.
Hard rock band with that classic Alan Moulder/Flood slightly shoegaze sound and odd slick production.
It was like if the Cocteau Twins or This Mortal Coil went hard rock . It was amazing . Definetly my favourite thing Maynard has ever done.
Magdalena is still such a breathtaking track.
Last edited by Exocet; 04-27-2018 at 07:15 PM.
Thirteenth Step is far and away my favorite album of all time. It resonates with me personally and has stayed with me since I was 16.
I always hoped that APC would never try to capture that same feeling because, to me, it’s inimitably honest and based on an experience that’s not something you’d want to go through again.
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
This album is very much a grower for me. The magic is slow-release but potent, though I don't think the cover art will ever do it for me.
Last edited by denuir; 04-27-2018 at 08:43 PM.
My guess would be that it’s deliberately over the top dramatic. Kind of how Maynard hides a lot of seriousness behind humor.
Listening to commentary on The Outsider video it sounds like all the pitches were getting darker and darker until they just said fuck it and did something spontaneous.
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
^^
They're probably shown on TV. The rest are just streamed on teh webz.
Indeed. After the first two songs, they stop recording altogether. It's almost like the mini-concerts are separated into two mini-mini-concerts - two songs for TV/YouTube and then three songs for the audience who made the trip. It was the same for NIN and the last time APC was on Kimmel.
Last edited by Toadflax; 04-30-2018 at 03:25 PM.
Yep, I have a couple pictures from the NIN one but no video. Probably because I had a crap phone.
https://instagram.com/p/gcJHdHEH28/
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Reading between some of the lines, I’d say it’s probably related to a rough patch after separating from his fiancée. According to his book, she cheated on him. He described Blue about him blinding himself to the reality about one of the women he dated on the aMOTION commentary.
Having said that, he’s explicitly said in an acoustic performance The Outsider was an outsider’s perspective on someone going through addiction and/or depression and having a “walk it off” attitude. He said in the same set that Weak And Powerless isn’t necessarily about drugs but could be emotional dependence.
I’m guessing it was probably based on his experience largely after that breakup. But again that’s all speculation.
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Why did this release this after? I’m not double dipping but if it were the first thing released on release day I would’ve bit. Their loss.