In a new interview Billy Howerdel from A Perfect Circle talks about progress on their next album. For those who want the tl;dr version: writing is pretty much done, and they are using Dave Sardy to produce it:
How is that process affecting work on the new recording?
It’s great to be able to sit back and have someone at the helm driving the computer. It frees me up to ask for things I’d like to see happen. There’s an ego thing in play at the beginning that says, ‘Yeah I wanna do everything myself.’ Sometimes it’s faster to do it yourself and having someone else’s opinion sort of derails that something you have in mind … and you feel you can’t get there quick enough. But it eventually will come to be, anyway. You’ll get there because, ultimately, it’s cool letting someone else have some input and letting go. Then it becomes a collaborative process. Our producer, Dave Sardy is very strong-headed; he has strong opinions. It’s great to work with someone who has made a lot of records, who has seen a lot of records being made. There’s a meeting of the minds there. It’s all interesting and exhausting, a wonderful endeavor.
“I feel like this record is … I don’t want to sound trite, but I am more proud of this than anything we’ve done.”
I feel like he is expected to say something like this for each record.
Yeah I guess you could call that “selling” the album… Standard obligation for anybody putting anything out I guess.
Look at all the hype before Deftones “Gore” came out… that album was a giant piece of shit. But every “music news” outfit said it was their best effort to date. Chino blasted it all over the place in every interview “This is our best and most interesting album so far.” <– Not an actual quote but something along those lines.
Means nothing until it hits the ears of the fans and then it's out of their hands completely.
Gore was awesome. Check your cynicism bro-tator-chip
Just my opinion BrotoType.
The only people I’ve consistently seen shitting on Gore have been the same people who were shitting on KNY, and so I’ve been taking most of their opinions with a strong grain of salt.
Sorry, saying “the only” is hyperbole; but it’s definitely seemed like a lot from what I’ve read around the web.
Koi No Yokan is easily one of their best albums. I feel like White Pony, Diamond Eyes and Koi No Yokan are the perfect Trilogy. I also love self titled Deftones. The only two albums I haven’t liked so far have been Saturday Night Wrist and Gore… Doesn’t make me love Deftones any less of course. I fucking love that band and can’t wait for them to release a new album that will likely blow Gore out of the water. Strangely, both of the albums I hate from Deftones are albums created when there was turmoil within the band. Stephen… Read more »
You say a lot of words… and I’m like, tired of hearing you say them?
Cool story bro.
Dave Sardy is an excellent producer at least. His sister Marcia was in my favorite band the Fall for a few years. I’m excited to hear MJK in non-Puscifer mode for the first time in years. The chances of it being average/poor are usually high when a band doesn’t function for years, but remember that Billy was saving up demos/riffs for years and years before Mer de Noms and the formation of APC…it’s a natural way for him to work, it seems, in the context of APC material.
It will also be interesting because a few years or more back there was an interview with Maynard where is said something to the tune of “LP’s aren’t the way to go anymore. People only care about singles so maybe an EP at most is probably the way we will go.” something along those lines. Will be interesting for sure but I’m not getting my hopes up.
early 2018 release? sooner than i expected
Better to get the pretentious drivel that it will be out of the way early in the year so that Tool can be focused on.
Oh no! Lesser Key might have competition now. 😉
I don’t think APC could have played a better set at Aftershock and they sounded amazing.
Not sure we can take the opinion of someone who claims Gore was a “Giant piece of shit” seriously.
who said gore was a piece of shit?
as someone who’s rose colored tool glasses came off long ago (also I’m Ogt…)…. APC was just meh.
Mayjay sounded good but RTJ and NIN blew APC off the stage. i think the people in tool land aren’t aware that so many bands are bringing it and not being lazy. you can’t just stand on your pedestal and let your fans worship you.
I don’t think there’s any lack of awareness there. I think most just don’t have the time/capacity to care about what other bands are doing. Comparing APC to NIN live is a bit unfair – it’s like comparing a Ferrari to a slightly sporty Honda: they’re not really in the same category.
NIN did a great job as well no complaints there. APC had a great set and sounded awesome I don’t think there’s any comparison to NIN and it’s weird that you think so little of that APC set…
As for GORE… Still a total pile of shit and that doesn’t have to be your opinion. Stop trying to create tension where there is none.
I’ve seen APC once, and they were average at best. Meanwhile NIN were a 9 or 10 out of 10 each of the 4 times I’ve seen them.
Perhaps I got APC on a bad day, but based on my personal experience the difference between the quality of those two bands live is huge.
I saw APC back when they did the album a night tour. I went to the Mer De Noms night with high expectations. Matt McJunkins fucked every single song up and Maynard sounded like shit.
Bands have off nights it happens… I saw Glassjaw two years ago in SF and they blew it out of the water just amazing show.
Saw them again at Aftershock the next day and they must have had a bogus mix or something because it sounded like they were all playing in different bands on one stage just a complete shit show.
APC is more like a late model lexus sedan with a dented fender
i only caught a few songs of APC. i wanted to get close for NIN. trent is really into it as are the
other members. so
its fun. heck. the whole day was good. gojira, mastodon. eagles of death metal. i’d rank APC below all
of those bands. there just isn’t any excitement anymore with regard to mayjay/tool, etc… for me at least.
I was really stoked on Gojira but I felt like their set was a little meh? However, Mastodon… do not fucking ever let me down. They are so great live I’ve seen them 7 times now. I don’t listen to their albums but live… I’m all for it… amazing. Last time I saw them was at Ace of Spades in Sacramento and for any of you that have been there you know how special that is. That place is so intimate. As for NIN… WOW! they are so amazing live. I really like Robin Finck and I know he’s “OG”…… Read more »
Any thoughts on Adam’s comment a few days back? Rehearsal for what?
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Today’s secret word* #theNonPolyPoly 🌀 ⚓️ 🎸 #TOOL #rehearsal
People have been reading for too much into the word “rehearsal”. I think it’s nothing more than the band practicing in the loft.
I believe based on the anchor emoji that it is a rehearsal for Danny and legend of the seagull man. Could be wrong
Was this twitter or instagram or something? If they are getting ready to launch a tour I can’t wait… I’ll be buying VIP again for sure.
I thought I had it all figured out , they were doing it all so vague and hush as to not have it leak early . I really thought it would be out this year or early next. I’m sure it will come eventually but I’m done guessing . Here’s hoping one more actually happens and if it does that is the pinnacle of their career
Yeah just let it go man that’s what most of us are doing. It will get here when it gets here. When it does get here… it will be amazing no doubt.
If Tool announced in a year or two that they are deciding to split up because they simply cannot create the new music to their standards, and are just sick of the struggle of trying to get the chemistry between them to work, I think I can say almost certainly that I would not be surprised at all now. Last year and this year has just left me with zero expectations. I believe that they are trying and all that, I just don’t think about it anymore, don’t discuss it with friends anymore like I used to, it’s just a… Read more »
I would be surprised. Because to me it sounded in Justin’s interview when he said they were “about 90% there” an that they were just gonna “bang it out” when they get back, that they are at the point where they are finally happy an ready with the material an may just have a few finishing touches to do until Maynard can have the all the material to write lyrics to. He sounded enthusiastic an more willing to talk about it rather then previous interviews where he would say “don’t ask that question”.
I think Tool are pretty close as well, though I think that there are availability issues for the next 6-9 months which will effect recording.
However, most fans are pretty cynical at this point. It’s not the first time one of the members has suggested they are close to completing the album.
Agreed. And I think MJK has known this is the case for 10 years.
Caught Camden (/Philly) last night. If the next album is represented by the new tracks in the set, most of the Tool-heads will loathe it and finally peel off. GOOD RIDDANCE. Dudes in the row behind me were shit-talking the set list in the middle of previously unheard tracks. I pointed to the door, and they left a half hour before the gig ended. Moronic metalheads whose fragile masculinity leaves no room in music for texture, nuance, dynamics… shouldn’t be at an APC gig anyway. Also, there’s absolutely no video or photos allowed at these gigs – even from phones.… Read more »