Review Summary: Marilyn Manson guts his sound successfully while keeping his shock rock style.
Marilyn Manson-with all of his oddities aside, truly has a talent for making catchy tunes while keeping a creepy, guitar-driven yet industrial feel to his music. From the heavy, industrial albums
Holy Wood (In the Shadow of the Valley of Death) to the more poppy, radio-friendly anthems of
Antichrist Superstar, Manson manages to make his music universally appealing while keeping it creepy and dark. Manson's music has always been haunting and gothic, but with Manson's latest attempt,
Eat Me, Drink Me, Manson keeps the dark, creepy aura while completely gutting his sound-making it harder, and more guitar-driven then ever. The industrial sound is remotely present, but isn't as prevelent and focused on in this album as it used to be.
Not only is the music more mainstream and guitar-driven, Manson has introduced an trendy 80s keyboard influence, which is easily apparent in songs like
Heart-Shaped Glasses (When the Heart Guides the Hand); where the keyboards and synthesizers give the song a new-wave feel while keeping the 'creepy' and 'dark' feel of Manson's music. Outside of Manson gutting his sound, the vocals haven't really changed much; he still moans, groans, echoes, and it still works with the music; especially in songs like
If I Was Your Vampire.
The songs are ridiculously catchy; in fact, Manson appears at the top of his songwriting skills even if a title of one of his songs is called
Heart-Shaped Glasses (When the Heart Guides the Hand). The lyrics stem from recent break-ups, his absence from music, and his obsession with Lewis Carroll. Manson bleeds his heart much better than he ever has-but this time, he makes some of the catchiest music he's ever created.
Putting Holes in Happiness has a simplistic, yet catchy chorus and the beat is rather addicting. So goes for the rest of the album.
Manson is a wonderful musician, and one of the last true rock stars, whether you can believe it or not.
If I Was Your Vampire is a complete epic, and Manson is possibly the only person who can pull off the multitude of styles in this album. Going from a cheap, 70s rock simplistic guitar riff to an 80s keyboard hook, the album seems a retrospective of the times, while keeping the shock rock style; even if this album has gone a bit more towards the typical mainstream. There's plenty other greats on
Eat Me, Drink Me, like
They Said That Hell's Not Hot, which incorporates a rather simplistic guitar riff into a catchy, easily radio-friendly song.
Are You the Rabbit? builds off of Manson's obsession with Lewis Carroll, while pulling fairy-tale like lyrics off in style with an all-around catchy song and hook.
Marilyn Manson may be moving away from his shock rock style; but it doesn't make Manson's music any less shocking or different. It's still strange and creepy, but Manson's passion has always been pure rock, and with Trent Reznor of Nine Inch Nails out of his hair, it seems as if Marilyn Manson can finally do what he wants. Even though it drags at the end,
Eat Me, Drink Me is a solid release that shows Manson progressing well and maturing his sound, while keeping the shock/industrial sound that made him a hit in the first place. Its a shame that most people will dismiss this album because its Manson, but actually listening to this album and giving it a chance will change what you know about the man behind the 'shock rock'.
DOWNLOAD:
If I Was Your Vampire
Putting Holes in Happiness
They Said That Hell's Not Hot
Heart-Shaped Glasses (When the Heart Guides the Hand)
Are You the Rabbit?
