List of songs recorded by A Perfect Circle
American rock supergroup A Perfect Circle has recorded material for three studio albums, and has begun recording material for a fourth album scheduled for release in 2018. The band's music is mostly written by the band's two core members and founders, guitarist Billy Howerdel and Tool vocalist Maynard James Keenan, the former writing the music, and the latter writing the lyrics and vocal melodies. However, due to the commitments of its participants, band membership has fluctuated over time, leading recordings to vary when it comes to performance credits. The original incarnation of the band included Paz Lenchantin on bass, Troy Van Leeuwen on guitar, and Josh Freese on drums; though Primus drummer Tim Alexander had briefly stood in as a drummer prior to Freese in the band's initial live shows prior to releasing any material. Band collaborator and producer Danny Lohner and Marilyn Manson bassist Jeordie White were also members for a short period in the early 2000s. The band's current lineup features former Smashing Pumpkins guitarist James Iha, bassist Matt McJunkins, and drummer Jeff Friedl, the latter two also being contributors to Keenan's Puscifer and Howerdel's Ashes Divide projects.
After forming in 1999, the band released their debut album, Mer de Noms in 2000, featuring three singles, "Judith", "The Hollow", and "3 Libras", all of which hit the top 20 of the both the Billboard US Modern Rock and Mainstream Rock charts, and helped propel the album to platinum sales four months after release. [|A] follow up album, Thirteenth Step, was released in 2003, featured the band's best performing songs: "Weak and Powerless" topped the Mainstream and Modern Rock charts, "The Outsider", hit the top five in both, and both crossed over onto the all-format Billboard Hot 100 chart, at number 61 and 79 respectively. A third single, "Blue", also hit the top 20 of the Mainstream Rock chart. Initially planning to enter a hiatus after the second album, they stuck together to release a third album, a collection of radically re-worked, politically-motivated cover songs titled Emotive in time for the 2004 United States presidential election. Two singles came from the release, a cover of John Lennon's "Imagine" and "Passive", a song originating from the cancelled Tapeworm project with Trent Reznor of Nine Inch Nails.
After entering a hiatus in 2005, band activity was sporadic in the coming years. The band reformed in 2010, but would not release any new songs until 2013, with the single release of "By and Down" for their greatest hits album Three Sixty. After another period of inactivity, the band recorded a fourth studio album, Eat the Elephant, released on April 20, 2018. For the release, the band worked with an outside music producer, Dave Sardy, for the first time.
The large variations in composition and sound of the band's recorded material has led to them being described as many different sub-genres of rock and metal music, though critics generally agree that the band has been a major influences on modern rock. Reviewers from outlets such as AllMusic and Rolling Stone cited their work as rare examples of relevance and quality in contemporary rock music. with Music OMH even asserting that the band had "literally defined alternative rock as we know it."
Songs
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, the band's co-founder and primary lyricist, who balances his time between the band and Tool.
, the band's co-founder, guitarist and main core member.
toured with the band in 1999, but only had one studio contribution, The Hollow
, contributing almost all drum tracks for the band until 2011.
| Song | Performer | Writer | Album | Year | |
| "3 Libras" | Vocals: Maynard James Keenan Guitar, Bass: Billy Howerdel Violin: Paz Lenchantin Viola: Luciano Lenchantin Drums: Josh Freese | Maynard James Keenan Billy Howerdel | Mer de Noms | 2000 | |
| "A Stranger" | Vocals: Maynard James Keenan Guitar, Backing Vocals: Billy Howerdel Bass: Jeordie White Strings: The Section Quartet | Maynard James Keenan Billy Howerdel | Thirteenth Step | 2003 | |
| "Annihilation" | Vocals: Maynard James Keenan Guitar, Piano, Keyboard, Programming: Billy Howerdel Keyboard, Programming: Danny Lohner | Original: Christopher Douglas, Matthew Borruso, Sothira Pheng Rearrangement: Maynard James Keenan Billy Howerdel | Emotive | 2004 | |
| "Ashes to Ashes" | Vocals: Maynard James Keenan Guitar, Backing Vocals: Billy Howerdel Guitar: James Iha Bass: Matt McJunkins Drums: Josh Freese | Original: David Bowie Rearrangement: Maynard James Keenan Billy Howerdel | ' | 2013 | |
| "Blue" | Vocals: Maynard James Keenan Guitar, Backing Vocals: Billy Howerdel Bass: Jeordie White Drums: Josh Freese | Maynard James Keenan Billy Howerdel | Thirteenth Step | 2003 | |
| "Brena" | Vocals: Maynard James Keenan Guitar, Bass, Backing Vocals: Billy Howerdel Drums: Josh Freese | Maynard James Keenan Billy Howerdel | Mer de Noms | 2000 | |
| "By and Down" | Vocals: Maynard James Keenan Guitar, Piano, Backing Vocals: Billy Howerdel Bass: Matt McJunkins Drums: Jeff Friedl | Maynard James Keenan Billy Howerdel | Three Sixty | 2013 | |
| "By and Down the River" | Vocals: Maynard James Keenan Guitar,Keyboard: Billy Howerdel Bass: Matt McJunkins Drums: Jeff Friedl | Maynard James Keenan Billy Howerdel | Eat the Elephant | 2018 | |
| "The Contrarian" | Vocals: Maynard James Keenan Guitar, Bass, Keyboard: Billy Howerdel Drums: Jeff Friedl | Maynard James Keenan Billy Howerdel | Eat the Elephant | 2018 | |
| "Counting Bodies Like Sheep to the Rhythm of the War Drums" | Vocals: Maynard James Keenan Backing Vocals: Billy Howerdel Backing Vocals, Additional Instrumentation: Danny Lohner Drums, Electric Piano: Josh Eustis Saxophone: Jason Freese | Maynard James Keenan, Billy Howerdel, Arrangement: Danny Lohner, Keenan | Emotive | 2004 | |
| "Crimes" | Vocals: Maynard James Keenan Guitar: Billy Howerdel Bass: Jeordie White Drums: Josh Freese | Maynard James Keenan Billy Howerdel Josh Freese Jeordie White | Thirteenth Step | 2003 | |
| "Delicious" | Vocals: Maynard James Keenan Guitar, Bass, Keyboard: Billy Howerdel Drums: Jeff Friedl | Maynard James Keenan Billy Howerdel | Eat the Elephant | 2018 | |
| "Diary of a Love Song" | Vocals: Maynard James Keenan Guitar, Backing Vocals: Billy Howerdel Guitar: James Iha Bass: Matt McJunkins Drums: Josh Freese | Original: Ozzy Osbourne, Randy Rhoads, Bob Daisley and Lee Kerslake, Robert Smith Rearrangement: Maynard James Keenan Billy Howerdel | ' | 2013 | |
| "Disillusioned" | Vocals: Maynard James Keenan Guitar, Bass, Keyboard: Billy Howerdel Drums: Jeff Friedl | Maynard James Keenan Billy Howerdel | Eat the Elephant | 2018 | |
| "DLB" | Piano: Billy Howerdel | Maynard James Keenan Billy Howerdel | Eat the Elephant | 2018 | |
| “Dog Eat Dog” | Vocals: Maynard James Keenan Guitar, Bass: Billy Howerdel Drums: Jeff Friedl | Angus Young, Malcolm Young, Bon Scott | “So Long, and Thanks for All the Fish” single | 2018 | |
| "The Doomed" | Vocals: Maynard James Keenan Guitar, Bass, Keyboard: Billy Howerdel Drums: Jeff Friedl | Maynard James Keenan Billy Howerdel | Eat the Elephant | 2018 | |
| "Eat the Elephant" | Vocals: Maynard James Keenan Guitar, Bass, Keyboard: Billy Howerdel Drums: Jeff Friedl | Maynard James Keenan Billy Howerdel | Eat the Elephant | 2018 | |
| "Feathers" | Vocals: Maynard James Keenan Guitar, Keyboard: Billy Howerdel Bass: Matt McJunkins Drums: Jeff Friedl | Maynard James Keenan Billy Howerdel | Eat the Elephant | 2018 | |
| "Fiddle and the Drum" | Vocals: Maynard James Keenan | Original: Joni Mitchell Rearrangement: Maynard James Keenan | Emotive | 2004 | |
| "Freedom of Choice" | Vocals, Guitar, Bass: Billy Howerdel Backing vocals: Maynard James Keenan, Drums: Josh Freese | Original: Gerald [|V]. Casale, Mark Mothersbaugh Rearrangement: Billy Howerdel | Emotive | 2004 | |
| "Get the Lead Out" | Vocals: Maynard James Keenan Guitar, Bass, Keyboard: Billy Howerdel Drums: Jeff Friedl | Maynard James Keenan Billy Howerdel | Eat the Elephant | 2018 | |
| "Gimmie, Gimmie, Gimmie" | Vocals: Maynard James Keenan Guitar, Harmonium Billy Howerdel Bass, Backing Vocals: Danny Lohner Drums: Josh Freese | Original: Greg Ginn Rearrangement: Maynard James Keenan | Emotive | 2004 | |
| Gravity" | Vocals: Maynard James Keenan Guitar, Backing Vocals: Billy Howerdel Guitar: Troy Van Leeuwen Bass: Jeordie White Drums: Josh Freese | Maynard James Keenan Billy Howerdel Josh Freese Troy Van Leeuwen Paz Lenchantin | Thirteenth Step | 2003 | |
| "The Hollow" | Vocals: Maynard James Keenan Guitar, Bass, Backing Vocals: Billy Howerdel Drums: Tim Alexander | Maynard James Keenan Billy Howerdel | Mer de Noms | 2000 | |
| "Hourglass" | Vocals: Maynard James Keenan Guitar, Bass, Keyboard: Billy Howerdel Drums: Jeff Friedl | Maynard James Keenan Billy Howerdel | Eat the Elephant | 2018 | |
| "Imagine" | Vocals, Piano: Maynard James Keenan Guitar, Bass, Backing Vocals: Billy Howerdel Piano, Strings: Paz Lenchantin Drums: Josh Freese | Original: John Lennon Rearrangement: Maynard James Keenan | Emotive | 2004 | |
| "Judith" | Vocals: Maynard James Keenan Guitar, Bass, Backing Vocals: Billy Howerdel Backing Vocals: Paz Lenchantin Drums: Josh Freese | Maynard James Keenan Billy Howerdel | Mer de Noms | 2000 | |
| "Let's Have a War" | Vocals: Maynard James Keenan Guitar, Bass: Danny Lohner Drums: Josh Freese | Original: Lee Ving, Philo Cramer Rearrangement: Maynard James Keenan | Emotive | 2004 | |
| "Lullaby" | Vocals: Jarboe, Maynard James Keenan Guitar: Billy Howerdel Bass: Jeordie White Drums: Josh Freese | Maynard James Keenan Billy Howerdel | Thirteenth Step | 2003 | |
| "Magdalena" | Vocals: Maynard James Keenan Guitar, Bass: Billy Howerdel Drums: Josh Freese | Maynard James Keenan Billy Howerdel | Mer de Noms | 2000 | |
| "The Noose" | Vocals: Maynard James Keenan Backing Vocals: Jarboe Guitar, Backing Vocals: Billy Howerdel Guitar: Danny Lohner Bass: Jeordie White Drums: Josh Freese | Maynard James Keenan Billy Howerdel | Thirteenth Step | 2003 | |
| "The Nurse Who Loved Me" | Vocals: Maynard James Keenan Strings: The Section Quartet | Greg Edwards, Ken Andrews Instrumentation: Jon Brion, K. Patrick Warren | Thirteenth Step | 2003 | |
| "Orestes" | Vocals: Maynard James Keenan Guitar, Bass, Keyboards, Backing Vocals: Billy Howerdel Backing Vocals: Paz Lenchantin Drums: Josh Freese | Maynard James Keenan Billy Howerdel | Mer de Noms | 2000 | |
| "Orestes" | Vocals, Guitar: Billy Howerdel | Billy Howerdel | Mer de Noms | 2000 | |
| "The Outsider" | Vocals: Maynard James Keenan Guitar, Backing Vocals: Billy Howerdel Bass: Jeordie White Drums: Josh Freese | Maynard James Keenan Billy Howerdel | Thirteenth Step | 2003 | |
| "Over" | Vocals, Kalimba: Maynard James Keenan Piano: Billy Howerdel | Maynard James Keenan Billy Howerdel | Mer de Noms | 2000 | |
| "The Package" | Vocals: Maynard James Keenan Guitar, Backing Vocals: Billy Howerdel Guitar: Troy Van Leeuwen Bass: Jeordie White Drums: Josh Freese | Maynard James Keenan Billy Howerdel | Thirteenth Step | 2003 | |
| "Passive" | Vocals: Maynard James Keenan Guitar, Backing Vocals: Billy Howerdel Guitar, Bass: Danny Lohner Drums: Josh Freese Piano: Paz Lenchantin | Danny Lohner, Maynard James Keenan, Trent Reznor, Billy Howerdel | Emotive | 2004 | |
| "Peace, Love, and Understanding" | Vocals, Guitar, Bass, Programming: Billy Howerdel Strings: Paz Lenchantin Drums: Josh Freese Programming: Charlie Clouser | Original: Nick Lowe Rearrangement: Billy Howerdel | Emotive | 2004 | |
| "People Are People" | Vocals, Keyboards, Programming: Billy Howerdel Backing vocals: Maynard James Keenan, Danny Lohner Guitar, Keyboards, Programming: James Iha Bass: Jeordie White Drums: Josh Freese | Original: Martin Gore Rearrangement: Billy Howerdel | Emotive | 2004 | |
| "Pet" | Vocals: Maynard James Keenan Backing Vocals: Devo Keenan Guitar, Backing Vocals: Billy Howerdel Bass, Backing Vocals: Jeordie White Drums, Backing Vocals: Josh Freese | Maynard James Keenan Billy Howerdel | Thirteenth Step | 2003 | |
| "Renholdër" | Vocals: Maynard James Keenan Vocals: Kelli Shafer Vocals, Guitar, Piano: Billy Howerdel Vocals, Violin: Paz Lenchantin Drums, Percussion: Josh Freese | Maynard James Keenan Billy Howerdel | Mer de Noms | 2000 | |
| "Rose" | Vocals: Maynard James Keenan Guitar, Bass: Billy Howerdel Violin: Paz Lenchantin Drums: Josh Freese | Maynard James Keenan Billy Howerdel Strings Arrangement: Paz Lenchantin | Mer de Noms | 2000 | |
| "Sleeping Beauty" | Vocals: Maynard James Keenan Guitar: Billy Howerdel Guitar : Troy Van Leeuwen Bass: Paz Lenchantin Drums: Josh Freese | Maynard James Keenan Billy Howerdel | Mer de Noms | 2000 | |
| "So Long, and Thanks for All the Fish" | Vocals: Maynard James Keenan Guitar, Bass, Keyboard: Billy Howerdel Drums: Jeff Friedl Strings Arrangement: Dave Sardy | Maynard James Keenan Billy Howerdel | Eat the Elephant | 2018 | |
| "TalkTalk" | Vocals: Maynard James Keenan Guitar, Bass, Keyboard: Billy Howerdel Drums: Jeff Friedl | Maynard James Keenan Billy Howerdel | Eat the Elephant | 2018 | |
| "Thomas" | Vocals: Maynard James Keenan Guitar, Bass, Programming: Billy Howerdel Drums: Josh Freese Percussion: Draven Godwin | Maynard James Keenan Billy Howerdel | Mer de Noms | 2000 | |
| "Thinking of You" | Vocals: Maynard James Keenan Backing Vocals, Guitar, Bass, Programming: Billy Howerdel Guitar : Troy Van Leeuwen Drums: Josh Freese | Maynard James Keenan Billy Howerdel | Mer de Noms | 2000 | |
| "Vanishing" | Vocals: Maynard James Keenan Guitar, Backing Vocals: Billy Howerdel Guitar: Troy Van Leeuwen Bass: Jeordie White Drums: Josh Freese | Maynard James Keenan Billy Howerdel | Thirteenth Step | 2003 | |
| "Weak and Powerless" | Vocals: Maynard James Keenan Guitar, Backing Vocals: Billy Howerdel Bass: Jeordie White Drums: Josh Freese | Maynard James Keenan Billy Howerdel | Thirteenth Step | 2003 | |
| "What's Going On" | Vocals: Maynard James Keenan Vocals, Guitar, Bass: Billy Howerdel Drums: Josh Freese Programming: Charlie Clouser | Original: Marvin Gaye, Alfred Cleveland, Renaldo Benson Rearrangement: Danny Lohner | Emotive | 2004 | |
| "When the Levee Breaks" | Vocals: Maynard James Keenan Guitar, Bass: Billy Howerdel Piano: Paz Lenchantin Drums: Josh Freese | Original: Kansas Joe McCoy & Memphis Minnie Rearrangement: Maynard James Keenan, Billy Howerdel | Emotive | 2004 |