In a move that could very well have been disastrous, A Perfect Circle have released an album of covers entitled eMOTIVe. Supress that inward groan and give it a listen – it ain’t all that bad.  

Released on election day in the US, the album contains covers of songs that are about war and peace. Two originals that adhere to this theme have also been thrown into the mix.

Opening track, Annihilation is a cover of the 1982 Crucifix song, and is by far one of the strongest tracks on this album. It is chillingly eerie thanks to the simplicity of its delivery (vocals and a toy piano) and Maynard’s whispered vocals.

The first commercial release off eMOTIVe has been the cover of the John Lennon classic Imagine. This has received mixed reviews, but on the whole it is uninspiring and empty. While the arrangement is interesting, it is nowhere near as arresting as the original.

Peace, Love And Understanding sees Billy Howerdel take to the mic for the first time, and although the song begins rather dismally, it improves with the introduction of drums and strings into the mix.

The cover of Marvin Gaye’s What’s Going On begins with a muffled beat and Maynard’s vocal delivery is absolutely stunning. The musical arrangement of this track is innovative and appealing.

The first original on this record is Passive, a re-working of a song that Maynard and Trent Reznor collaborated on a few years ago. The song is presented with more conviction and energy than preceding songs. Definitely one of the highlights.
The re-working of Black Flag’s Gimmie Gimmie Gimmie is interesting, with its industrial feel and angry, evil-sounding vocals.

Devo’s Freedom Of Choice is transformed to suit the band’s sound, and it is quite an enjoyable listen, whereas Let’s Have A War (original by Fear) is forgettable and sounds awkward in its delivery.

Counting Bodies Like Sheep to the Rhythm of the War Drums is a remix of Pet, a track off the album of last year, Thirteenth Step. This industrial version is powerful and effective. It begins with a long, mechanical-sounding intro before Maynard begins yelling in the background. His subsequent alternation between clear, smooth lyrics and angry screams is effective and menacing.

When The Levee Breaks is one of the best tracks on here. It is an adaptation of the Memphis Minnie song (although the Led Zeppelin cover is more well known) and has been transformed into a piano-driven ballad. Daring, but it works wonders.

Finally, the cover of Joni Mitchell’s Fiddle And The Drum is sung by Maynard. It is haunting and beautiful and provides a poignant end to the album.