Love him or hate him, but you got to admit he's got balls. Well, maybe not on the cover of the album, but to go as far as he's gone with his antics, it's pretty impressive. I'm actually surprised there aren't many reviews for more Manson albums on MX but oh well. This is my first review so hopefully it's good.
This is a concept album and is about a character called Omega, an alien that is featured on the cover of the album. Antichrist Superstar, Mechanical Animals and Holy Wood are all part of a story called the trypich, and is going to be released as a novel hopefully some day.
This is his 3rd full-length LP album after 'Portrait Of An American Family', 'Smells Like Children EP', and epic album 'Antichrist Superstar' after one listen of this album many hardcore Manson fans were most probably wondering what has happened to Marilyn Manson. Well kiddies, he has certainly evolved in his music. You see after Antichrist it seemed he has released most of his anger and has decided to make a Glam-Rock record. Some of the songs are very reminiscent of one his of inspirations, David Bowie, especially the introduction to 'I Don't Like The Drug's (But The Drugs Like Me) In case you didn't know, the band members got their names from famous female stars and notorious serial killers respectively. Anyway, on with the review.
Great Big White World -
Just by the opening echoed guitar riff, you know that he has changed. It is a rather slow song, and only really picks up in the chorus a bit. This song has great lyrics and Manson really shines in his singing. The guitar is rather basic and is a good beginner song to learn. The keyboard interludes and the overall playing throughout the song sound really good. A great opener to this album, it shows what is to come. 4/5
The Dope Show -
I'm sure you have all heard this song. This was definitely the most popular song from the album, and got voted best video by MTV as well. The verses are pretty much just vocals and a bass driven riff. The only guitar that is to be heard is power chords in the chorus. This song is extremely catchy; it has been stuck in my head forever. The song is about Hollywood and how when you are on the covers of magazines your beloved by the community and as you fade away people start to forget about, and focus on the fad of the time. There is a lot of keyboard synths in the song. The drumming is rather average. 4/5
Mechanical Animals -
This song was originally going to be released as a single, but never was. The reason is unknown and I think it is one of the best tracks off the album and would have been a great single. Opens with a catchy and rocking riff and then goes into the verse with Manson singing and bass and drums behind him. After the chorus is a really great fill/interlude between the verse and is Manson singing beautifully with great drumming and some acoustic guitar in the background. At around 3:40 the song hits its peak with a nice guitar riff and Manson repeating 'I'm so gone, playing the suicide king.' 4.5/5
Rock Is Dead -
This song was featured in the Matrix soundtrack and features little soundbites from the movie in the interlude. It was also performed at 98 VMA's with Manson naked covered in a mud like substance and only wearing a cowboy hat. At the end of the song they lit a cross made of TV's on fire. That certinanly didn't go down well with Christians. The song was also released as a single, and featured scenes from the Matrix. The song is rather bland and boring to me, but it is definitely a good choice as a single. 3/5
Disassociative -
This song is brilliant. The opening guitar reverbed guitar riff that echoes is excellent and the drums just come in at the right place. Manson's singing is definitely very emotional and you can definitely feel some pain in his lyrics and vocalwork. I really like Ginger Fish's drumwork on this track as it all fits well. The song is rather slow and quiet but picks up in the chorus with the power chords. At about 3:40 the song hits it peak like Mechanical Animals and the band comes in strong with Manson high-pitched screaming/singing. Definitely one of the best tracks on the album. The song ends on a rather weird noise, which continues on to the next song. 4.5/5
Speed Of Pain -
My favourite song off this album. So emotional and beautiful. A quiet and weird beginning until the soft acoustic guitar chords come in. It is just Manson and the acoustic guitar with backup singers in the background. The chorus is a distorted voice and works extremely well. This song has the best lyrics on the album I feel. At the end of 2nd verse there is a nice little drum fill. A great lyrical example out of this song is 'When you want it, goes away to fast, times you hate it, always seem to last, just remember when you think your free, the crack inside your ***ing heart is me' 5/5
Posthuman -
This is where the album starts to slip, but only for a short while. This song is just extremely boring to listen to I find. Maybe it just because it is after my favourite song on the album, I just can't put my finger on it. The only thing I like is the guitar riff and the drum work. I don't like Mansons vocals on this track. Nothing else to say about this song. 2/5
I Want To Disappear -
Another weak link of the album. The lyrics are really cheesy and boring and the whole song is just bland. The guitar is pretty interesting though, and so is the bass. They should have skipped putting this song on the album in my opinion because it certainly doesn't help out the album. One thing that is good is that the song is short clocking in at 2:56 so you get it over with quickly. 2.5/5
I Dont Like The Drugs (But The Drugs Like Me)
This song sure is interesting. Comes in with Manson singing 'I don't like the drugs, but the drugs like me' which is the main hook of the song. After that it is a pretty funky guitar fill, which sounds a lot like the start of David Bowie's ' Fame, so you can see he is influenced by him. This song was released as a single and has a really weird video. The verse's a driven by the guitar and bass riffs, and sound really good. As the song goes on the chorus sounds better and better when it includes a female backup singer in there. Good song. 4/5
New Model No. 15 -
This song reminds me of 'Posthuman' and 'I Want To Disappear' It contains cheesy lyrics, but has some interesting bits to it. The verses are really boring, but the chorus picks up the pace a bit with a great guitar riff and singing the title of the song over and over. It gets a bit repetitive after awhile but it is certinanly better than the two other tracks I listed. 3 /5
User Friendly -
This song certinanly shares a lot of similarities with a song 'Para-noir' off of The Golden Age Of Grotesque, with lyrics talking about using people for sex. It is a rather weird and groovy song, and is very poppy. The chorus is really catchy, but certinanly isn't as good as some of the other songs on the album. 3.5/5
Fundamentally Loathsome -
This is probably the slowest song on the album other Speed Of Pain. It reminds me of the circus because of the main riff. It is mainly driven by bass and drums. It certinanly picks up and gets heavier at about 3 or so minutes. When I first heard this song I really hated, but it has definitely grown on me, but it is in no way one of my favourite Manson tracks, nor is it a favourite off this album. 3.5/5
The Last Day On Earth -
This is a great song. It is extremely good when it is performed live. The song has great drumwork, and the lyrics are excellent. I can't hear much bass at all in it, but there certainly is some great guitar work. The chorus is really catchy, and is a one of the fan favourites. 4.5/5
Coma White -
My second favourite song of the album. The closing song of the album definitely is a great one. It was released as a single and got some negative attention in the media because the video was a reenactment of the Kennedy assassination in Manson's eyes. It starts with a basic but catchy guitar riff and Manson comes in singing with great lyrics. The chorus is definitely the best part of the song, as it talks about the Omega character. It is very catchy and is a great vocal delivery on Manson's part. This is a great way to close the album. 5/5
Overall, this is a great album. Sure there are a few boring and poorly done songs, but the good ones definately outweigh these. Go out and get this now if you want some good catchy music. Be warned though, this isn't usually what Marilyn Manson sounds like.
Recommended Tracks:
Speed Of Pain
Coma White
Disassociative
The Dope Show
