Emotive is the third studio album by the rock band A Perfect Circle. It was released on November 2, 2004, via Virgin Records to coincide with the US presidential election. Two singles were released in support of the album; a cover of John Lennon‘s “Imagine”, and Passive, a previously unreleased song originating from the defunct Tapeworm project. The album debuted at number two on the US Billboard 200 chart, though the band would not tour in support of the album, later entering a hiatus. It would be the band’s last studio release until 2018’s Eat the Elephant.
After wrapping up the touring in support of Thirteenth Step in the first half of 2004, the band had announced it planned to enter a long hiatus so that band frontman Maynard James Keenan could return to his original band, Tool, while guitarist Billy Howerdel pursued a solo career.
In July 2004, Keenan performed at Serj Tankian‘s (System of a Down) and Tom Morello‘s (Rage Against the Machine) Axis of Justice concert: an event for musicians to advocate for political and social causes. At the performance, Keenan announced that A Perfect Circle would be releasing a collection of political cover songs.
During the beginning of the touring cycle for Thirteenth Step, Howerdel and Keenan discussed potential ideas for a third studio album. An early idea was to record an album of cover songs, though they were initially hesitant, feeling they needed a meaningful reason to warrant doing it.
Keenan, who had been very critical of President George W. Bush during the touring cycle, proposed tying the concept together as a political-themed covers album, with Howerdel, while generally apolitical publicly, felt was worth pursuing in their post-September 11th attacks political and social climate. The two put their plans on hold temporarily and decided to move forward on the project as the band’s third studio album.
Tracklist:
- Annihilation (Crucifix cover)
- Imagine (John Lennon cover)
- Peace, Love, and Understanding (Nick Lowe cover)
- What’s Going On” (Marvin Gaye cover)
- Passive (written by Lohner, Keenan, Reznor, Howerdel)
- Gimmie Gimmie Gimmie (Black Flag cover)
- People Are People (Depeche Mode cover)
- Freedom of Choice (Devo cover)
- Let’s Have a War (Fear cover)
- Counting Bodies Like Sheep to the Rhythm of the War Drums (written by Howerdel, Keenan)
- When the Levee Breaks (Memphis Minnie & Kansas Joe McCoy cover)
- Fiddle and the Drum (Joni Mitchell cover)
A Perfect Circle
Maynard James Keenan: lead vocals (1, 2, 4–6, 9–12), backing vocals (7, 8), piano (2), arranger, production (exec.), rearrangement (1, 2, 6, 9–12)
Billy Howerdel: guitar (1–6, 8, 11), bass (2, 4, 8, 11), piano (1), harmonium (6), keyboards (1, 7), programming (1, 3, 7), backing vocals (2, 5, 10), lead vocals (3, 4, 7, 8), production, engineering, mixing, rearrangement (1, 3, 7, 8, 11)
Danny Lohner: bass (5, 6, 9), guitar (5, 9), arranger; keyboards and programming (1), backing vocals (6, 7, 10), producer, engineer, mixing, rearrangement (4, 10), instrumentation (10)
Josh Freese: drums (2–9, 11)
Paz Lenchantin: piano (2, 5, 11), strings (2, 3)
James Iha: guitar, keyboards and programming (7)
Jeordie White: bass (7)
Additional musicians
Charles Clouser: programming (3, 4)
Josh Eustis: drums (10), engineering, Rhodes piano (10), mixing
Jason Freese: baritone and tenor saxophone (10)
Production
Critter: engineering
Steve Duda: digital engineering
Steven R. Gilmore: design, photography, sleeve art, poster design
John Giustina: photography
David Mattix: assistant engineering
Matt Mitchell: digital engineering
Andy Wallace: mixing
