Marilyn Manson - The Golden Age Of Grotesque
My Thoughts: (Reviewed by O. Anderson)
This was the first Manson album I dared to pick up. Before this time, I had only downloaded other Manson stuff, and having been very impressed, I decided to make the purchase. At first, I was thoroughly satisfied. Mr Manson's taste for disgusting people was just a magnet for my attention. The songs seemed really catchy and clever, and I liked it.
As time went on, I became a bigger Manson fan, and eventually picked up the entire collection, save "Portrait of an American Family", due to the fact that I had downloaded the whole album already. With every listen of every album, though, it became clear to me that every Manson CD had some sort of meaning. "Portrait" was simply hardcore and perverse, and was the man's introduction into shock rock. Manson's second album "Antichrist Superstar" took a huge stab at Christians (obviously), and locked his position in the shock rock hall of fame. His third CD, "Mechanical Animals", either mocked or glorified, or both, the glam-rock genre. At this point, Manson's sales began to drop. His fans didn't receive "Animals" with much enthusiam, and it seemed that he was fading from his grotesque throne. However, Manson, being the clever salesman that he is, delivered "The Last Tour on Earth", which featured live versions of older songs, and, more controversially, a burning cross on the cover. With fan interest reviving, Manson waited a couple years, then released the horrifying "Holy Wood", which featured a grotesque Renaissance painting of the crucifixion of Jesus. This album raised so much controversy, that Manson was forced to release alternate cover art, and the Columbine incident was pretty much blamed on it, and a more disgusting single, "Disposable Teens". So, as it seemed, Manson had regained his title.
BUT, then he released "The Golden Age of Grotesque", and my judgment is based on the significance and meaning of his other albums. So, on to the point. "Golden Age" seems to venture away from the escense of Manson, like he was exploring some new territory, but for all the wrong reasons. Every album seemed to hold its own amount of genuine perversity, and it works. However, it doesn't for this one. "Golden Age" seems SO forced. Every song just doesn't seem right. It's like Manson has become controversial just for the sake of being controversial. This new goth-pre-World War II-Nazi-Germany just doesn't drive the act home. As far as the music itself goes, it's nothing special. I don't think I recognize one actual drum beat produced by a drum kit at all through out the entire album, except in one of the only really good songs, "Vodevil". His once clever lyrics are not so clever anymore, but just loud and forced. This is easily seen in "Kaboom Kaboom" and "The Better of Two Evils". It's not right. So, I wouldn't recommend this to someone looking to get into Manson, but I do like it enough to listen to it occasionally.
Key Tracks:
Vodevil
Spade
The Golden Age of Grotesque