Mer de Noms
Studio album by A Perfect Circle
Released	May 23, 2000
Genre	Alternative rock Alternative Metal
Length	44:25
Label	Virgin Records
Producer	Billy Howerdel
Professional reviews
All Music Guide link Rolling Stone link Metal Reviews 87 / 100 link
A Perfect Circle chronology
Mer de Noms (2000) Thirteenth Step (2003)

Mer de Noms is the first studio album by the alternative rock band A Perfect Circle. The album was released as a compact disc on May 23, 2000. The title means "sea of names" in French. It was certified platinum by the RIAA on October 31, 2000. The album entered The Billboard 200 at No. 4 with 188,000 copies sold. Image File history File links Metadata No higher resolution available. ... A studio album is a collection of previously unreleased, studio-recorded tracks by a recording artist. ... A Perfect Circle (often referred to as APC) was an alternative rock band, formed by guitarist Billy Howerdel. ... is the 143rd day of the year (144th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... 2000 (MM) was a leap year starting on Saturday of the Gregorian calendar. ... This article or section does not adequately cite its references or sources. ... Alternative rock (also called alternative music or simply alternative; known primarily in the UK as indie) is a genre of rock music that emerged in the 1980s and became widely popular in the 1990s. ... Alternative metal is an eclectic form of rock music that gained popularity in the early 1990s alongside grunge. ... This does not adequately cite its references or sources. ... Virgin Records is a British recording label founded by British entrepreneur Richard Branson, and Nik Powell in 1972. ... In the music industry, a record producer (or music producer) has many roles, among them controlling the recording sessions, coaching and guiding the musicians, organizing and scheduling production budget and resources, and supervising the recording, mixing and mastering processes. ... Billy Howerdel in concert Billy Howerdel (born May 18, 1970) is the founding member, guitarist, songwriter, and producer for the band A Perfect Circle. ... The All Music Guide (AMG) is a metadata database about music owned by All Media Guide. ... Image File history File links 4_stars. ... This article is about the magazine. ... Image File history File links 2. ... A Perfect Circle (often referred to as APC) was an alternative rock band, formed by guitarist Billy Howerdel. ... Thirteenth Step is the second studio album by the American rock band A Perfect Circle. ... Alternative rock (also called alternative music or simply alternative; known primarily in the UK as indie) is a genre of rock music that emerged in the 1980s and became widely popular in the 1990s. ... A Perfect Circle (often referred to as APC) was an alternative rock band, formed by guitarist Billy Howerdel. ... is the 143rd day of the year (144th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... 2000 (MM) was a leap year starting on Saturday of the Gregorian calendar. ... The RIAA Logo. ... is the 304th day of the year (305th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... 2000 (MM) was a leap year starting on Saturday of the Gregorian calendar. ...

Overview

Most of the album's lyrics were dedicated to various people that frontman, Keenan, knew. For example, the song "3 Libras" was a song about nine people that Keenan knew that were under the Libra zodiac sign. Maynard states on the aMOTION DVD commentary that the song was in reality about all nine people, but titled the song "3 Libras" to have them argue what "3" it was about. The title of the album is French for "sea of names". The track listing consists of various names such as "Judith", "Breña", "Rose", "Thomas", "Magdalena", "Orestes." Some people consider this a possible motif for the album. Spirit of Libra Libra is an astrological sign, which is associated with the constellation Libra, as can be seen here[1] in the Southern Hemisphere near Scorpius and Virgo. ... In literature, a motif is any recurring element that has symbolic significance. ...

The runes on the front cover of the album can be translated to "LA CASCADE DES PRENOMS", which translated to English means "The waterfall of the first names."

Lyrical interpretations

The songs "Orestes" and "Judith" were about Maynard's mother Judith Marie Garrison. She suffered partial paralysis due to a brain aneurysm some 27 years before her recent passing. Judith was very religious and took her plight as a test from God and held resilient in her faith that she believes He (God) would reward her for her efforts. Maynard's mother is also referenced in Tool's latest album 10,000 Days, in "Wings For Marie (Part 1)" and "10,000 Days (Wings Part 2)". A cerebral or brain aneurysm is a cerebrovascular disorder in which weakness in the wall of a cerebral artery or vein causes a localized dilation or ballooning of the blood vessel. ... 10,000 Days is the Grammy Award-winning fourth full-length studio album by Tool. ...

The title of "Renholdër" is a backwards message: If read backwards (including the umlaut), it says Re: D Lohner. This is a nod to the former Nine Inch Nails guitarist Danny Lohner who was in an early version of the band. He works under the pseudonym Renholdër. Also, playing the song backwards, 22 seconds in, Billy Howerder says, in a high-pitched voice, "Hallelujah, Danny Lohner", as heard in this audio sample. The umlaut mark (or simply umlaut) and the trema or diaeresis mark (or simply diaeresis) are two diacritics consisting of a pair of dots placed over a letter. ... “NIN” redirects here. ... Daniel Patrick Lohner (born December 13, 1970 in Corpus Christi, Texas) , most commonly known as Danny Lohner is an industrial musician who plays bass guitar, guitar and keyboards. ... A pseudonym (Greek pseudo + -onym: false name) is an artificial, fictitious name, also known as an alias, used by an individual as an alternative to a persons true name. ...

The lyrics in the song "Thinking Of You" refer to masturbating to the idea of anal sex. Keenan explains this in the commentary for the aMOTION DVD. "The Hollow" is also sexual in nature. Woman masturbating, 1913 drawing by Gustav Klimt. ... Roman men having anal sex. ... aMOTION is a DVD and remix CD released by American rock band A Perfect Circle. ...

"Magdalena" was written about Mary Magdalene, an alleged prostitute by the church who more recently, thanks to extensive research and science, is thought to have been the wife of jesus instead. The penitent Mary Magdalene, a much reproduced composition by Titian. ...

The song "Breña" is about Keenan's former girlfriend, Jennifer Ferguson, whose middle name is Breña.

Track listing

All music written by Billy Howerdel, and all lyrics written by Maynard James Keenan. Billy Howerdel in concert Billy Howerdel (born May 18, 1970) is the founding member, guitarist, songwriter, and producer for the band A Perfect Circle. ... Maynard James Keenan (born April 17, 1964, as James Herbert Keenan) is an American rock singer. ...

1. "The Hollow" – 2:59
2. "Magdalena" – 4:06
3. "Rose" – 3:26
4. "Judith" – 4:07
5. "Orestes" – 4:48
6. "3 Libras" – 3:40
7. "Sleeping Beauty" – 4:11
8. "Thomas" – 3:29
9. "Renholdër" – 2:24
10. "Thinking of You" – 4:35
11. "Breña" – 4:24
12. "Over" – 2:21
13. "Orestes" (Demo) (Japanese Import Bonus Track) - 3:24

The Hollow - 2:55 The Hollow (Live) Judith (Renholdër Mix)- 4:24 The Hollow (Live) The Hollow (The Bunk Remix) Judith [Video] The Hollow (Acoustic Live From Philly) - 4:54 ... Judith is a song written, composed and recorded by American alternative rock band A Perfect Circle. ... 3 Libras is a song by alternative rock band A Perfect Circle. ...

Symbols

Inside the insert the track names randomly appear spelled out in symbols. The symbols can be seen in the background of the front cover. One way to decipher the symbols is to match the song titles using the normal alphabet with the song titles inside the insert.

The symbols which have popularly become known online as “APC Text”, “Mayan”, or “Elegant Mayan”, have become surprisingly widespread, appearing in tattoos, computer fonts, and independent artwork. The following is a key for ciphering and deciphering the symbols:

Image File history File links APCRunesKey. ...

Inside the insert there are twelve pictures (one for each song) and next to each one a song title, and beneath that a portion of the song's lyrics all written out in the symbols shown above. An example of this would be the drawing of the red octopus, which has the song name "Orestes" and "Sever this umbilical residue" beneath it.

Personnel

• Maynard James Keenan - Vocals, Gourd (Although incorrectly spelled in the album as "Gord")
• Billy Howerdel - Guitars, background vocals, lead vocals ("Renholdër"), bass, programming, keyboards, piano, production, mixing, engineering,
• Josh Freese - Drums, percussion
• Tim Alexander - Drums ("The Hollow")
• Paz Lenchantin - Violins, string arrangement, background vocals, bass ("Sleeping Beauty")
• Luciano Lenchantin - Viola ("3 Libras")
• Troy Van Leeuwen - End Lead Guitar ("Sleeping Beauty" and "Thinking Of You")
• Draven Godwin - Percussion ("Thomas")
• Kelli Shafer - Vocals ("Renholdër")
• Alan Moulder - Mixing
• Frank Gryner - Drum engineering
• Steven R. Gilmore - Sleeve art direction, design, digital photographic manipulation
• Sean Murphey - Photography

Maynard James Keenan (born April 17, 1964, as James Herbert Keenan) is an American rock singer. ... This does not adequately cite its references or sources. ... Billy Howerdel in concert Billy Howerdel (born May 18, 1970) is the founding member, guitarist, songwriter, and producer for the band A Perfect Circle. ... This does not cite any references or sources. ... Tim Alexander Tim Herb Alexander Described as one of the most innovative drummers in the drumming community, Alexander is known best for playing in the rock band Primus. ... Paz Lenchantin performing with A Perfect Circle Paz Lenchantin (born December 12, 1973 in Mar del Plata, Argentina) is an Argentine-Armenian-American musician who came to Los Angeles, California with her family at the age of four. ... Troy Van Leeuwen is an American guitarist who currently plays lap steel guitar, electric guitar, keyboards and sometimes bass in Queens of the Stone Age. ... Alan Moulder (born 11 June 1959) is one of Britains premier alternative rock record producers. ...

Charts

Album

Singles The Billboard 200 is a ranking of the 200 highest-selling music albums and EPs in the United States, published weekly by Billboard magazine. ...

The Mainstream Rock Tracks chart is a ranking in Billboard magazine of the most-played songs on mainstream rock radio stations, a category that includes stations that play primarily rock music but are not modern rock (that is, alternative) stations, which are counted in the Modern Rock Tracks chart. ... Modern Rock Tracks is a music chart in the United States that has appeared in Billboard magazine since September 10, 1988. ... The Mainstream Rock Tracks chart is a ranking in Billboard magazine of the most-played songs on mainstream rock radio stations, a category that includes stations that play primarily rock music but are not modern rock (that is, alternative) stations, which are counted in the Modern Rock Tracks chart. ... Modern Rock Tracks is a music chart in the United States that has appeared in Billboard magazine since September 10, 1988. ... The Mainstream Rock Tracks chart is a ranking in Billboard magazine of the most-played songs on mainstream rock radio stations, a category that includes stations that play primarily rock music but are not modern rock (that is, alternative) stations, which are counted in the Modern Rock Tracks chart. ... Modern Rock Tracks is a music chart in the United States that has appeared in Billboard magazine since September 10, 1988. ...

See also

• List of works in irregular time signatures