Online only: V is for very hushed

Tool front man Maynard James Keenan has referred to his second side-project Puscifer in many ways. He has called Puscifer a "playground for the various voices in my head", where "there are no clear or discernable goals." It serves as "an island of misfit ideas" where his "Id, Ego, and Anima all come together to exchange cookie recipes." Basically, Puscifer is Maynard's vehicle for making music without the expectations that come with being the front man of two successful metal bands, Tool and A Perfect Circle. On V is for Vagina, listeners find Maynard exploring some of his other musical ideas (while remaining perverse as ever). \nThe album opens with single "Queen B," an ode to the voluptuous, horned figure that adorns the album cover. The song roams over synthetic samples and vocal hums as Maynard raps, something that may surprise a few of his listeners.\n"Drunk With Power" finds an animated Maynard channeling his inner Tom Waits, with this dark carnival number of all things cacophony and of strange ambient sound. Animating his voice, Maynard sings about the role one in heat takes while waiting for his queen to come home.\n"Momma Sed" is the runaway highlight of the album. Written with Tim Cummerford and Brad Wilk of Rage Against the Machine, and featuring the acoustic and vocal stylings of Ainjel Emme, "Momma Sed" is driven by a catchy acoustic riff on top of a steady backbeat. A thundering Wurlitzer ushers in the chorus, with Emme's backing vocals complementing Maynard's low singing.\nConsidering the careful work and planning that has gone into Tool albums, this album may come as novelty to some listeners. V is for Vagina does offer different sonic textures than Tool and APC. It's a nice change, but the album doesn't come off as carefree as Maynard wants his listeners to believe. Maynard generally sounds hushed throughout, as he doesn't really let his voice loose like he has in his other bands. The music is generally good, but the range of dynamics doesn't stretch much. There are a couple songs that stagger, as the previous mixes of "Rev 22:20" and "The Undertaker" seemed to have more life on the "Underworld" soundtracks than they do here. Nonetheless, Maynard James Keenan has developed a loyal following, and his fans should enjoy this offering from his latest side project.