Marilyn Manson - The Golden Age Of Grotesque
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Free Music Notes for The Golden Age Of Grotesque
Free Music Review: Awesome
Hit: 5 Stars
Marilyn Manson has been vilified, protested against, lied about, and blamed for numerous tragedies. Far from shutting him down, however, these things have simply fueled the fire. He proves it with The Golden Age of Grotesque.
Only time and endlessly repeated listening will tell for sure, but TGAOG may well top Mechanical Animals for the title of best Marilyn Manson record to date. From the very first listen, all of the tracks are extremely catchy and intense.
The absolute core of the Marilyn Manson sound is left untouched on this record-the basic lyrical style is the same, as is the guitar sound and style of the music-but the rest of it is shifted for a noticeably different effect.
Where in the past Manson criticized the things he spoke of, in The Golden Age of Grotesque he promotes them, and what he speaks of is edgy entertainment. He claims to have been inspired by `30s Berlin cabaret, an influence most apparent in tracks like "Doll-Dagga Buzz-Buzz Ziggety Zag" and the outstanding title track.
These things do not quite make a happy record; some depressing themes remain, and the music is still heavy, angry and haunting. Rather, it could be described as "deliciously evil." It is still clearly Marilyn Manson, but it's quite fun, head-bobbing and amusing to listen to.
The record fits best in the mood of a seedy bar or club, where it would promote the atmosphere while adding an uncommon dark tinge. This contrasts with Manson's previous works, often better listened to alone. The techno-inspired "Para-noir" would fit especially well in a club because of its trance-like vibe, meaningless sex theme and trippy guitar solo.
Surprisingly, Manson seems to touch on rap-metal in some of the tracks. It is quite brief and not explicitly "rappish," but it is odd considering his non-stop bashing of the genre. It is effective here, though, and adds variety.
Also, in a few of the tracks (including the aforementioned "Para-noir" and the first single, "mOBSCENE"), Manson uses female voices. There were several tracks on his other records where he did this, but here they serve the purpose of evoking what is presumably a dancer or a performer, not a relationship partner.
The record's only downside is a slight unevenness in quality. The second half of the record is not quite up to par with the first, though it is still excellently crafted and well worth buying and listening to.
It would have been better for them to spread the many standout tracks throughout the album rather than log-jamming them at the beginning.
Marilyn Manson has a history of great records, and The Golden Age of Grotesque is a great addition to it. It is infectious and different, and it takes cabaret-style entertainment to a whole new level.
Free Music Review: Anthem of 21st Century Rage. Life is a (SCAB)-aret!
Hit: 5 Stars
Worried that Manson may have diluted his harsh, grinding, eclectic, crawling-kingsnake vibe in favor of a more metal-swing approach? Fear not: the notion of 1930's cabaret music is more of a muse and guiding light than musical yardstick, and what we have in "The Golden Age of Grotesque" is vintage Manson, dark and spooky, with shrieking acid guitars and pounding bass slithering around Manson's trademark ghoulish sibilant whispers and screams. Sometimes the music sounds like a mutant T-Rex giving birth, and other times the band is tight and crisp and synthetic, but make no mistake: this is all about mood.
"Golden Age" starts with "Thaeter" (5/5), an appropriately sinister intro riff that sounds like some colossal wheezing proto-industrial bellows, ratchets up and launches "This is the New Sh*t" (5/5). This is pure Reznor influenced Mansonian acid-rock goodness, and sets the stage for the rest of the CD.
"mOBSCENE" (5/5) is a growling, riotous little number with what sound like a crazed zombie cheerleader squad in the background, and in my book zombie cheerleaders are a good thing, making this a rocking little number with lots of thumping power and shades of "Fight Song".
"Doll-Dagga Buzz-Buzz Ziggety-Zag"(5/5) is, with the exception of the title track, the strongest display of Manson's 1930's cabaret influence, and it bumps, grinds, and snarls, all while offering up toe-tapping good times. "Use your Fist and not your Mouth": (5/5) is my current favorite, everything you'd expect from vintage Manson: dark, pounding, delightfully cynical, offering up a riveting Mansonian political platform: "I'm on a campaign for pain/and when I get elected/I'm gonna wipe the white off your house/the smile off your face". I'd vote for him.
"Golden Age of Grotesque": (5/5) Starting off with a crashing, thunderous thump like some misshapen monster stomping upstairs from its dungeon lair, "Golden Age" defines the album with its wheezing, bellowing, lumbering hiss.
The remainder of "Golden Age" is equally impressive and Manson at his most cacaphonously refined; it is irrepressibly enjoyable. Of the rest of the tracks, I like "Ka-Boom, Ka-Boom" (penned to sate a studio suit who didn't think the other tracks 'rocked' enough; Ka-Boom is a charming little ditty that not only rocks but pokes fun at the song's inspiration: "I like a big car/cause I'm a big star/I'll write a big---rock n' roll hit") and "Vodevil".
All of this is nicely tied together with gurgles and shrieks and Manson's typical leathery flapping noises that call to mind some black winged drooling thing ready to settle on the faces of vulnerable sleepers. All of this makes "Golden Age of the Grotesque" another delectably sneering Mansonian jaunt into bombastic nightmare territory and a worthy successor to "Antichrist Superstar" and "Holywood".
Free Music Review: You drained my heart, and made a GREAT record...
Hit: 5 Stars
I may get a lot of flack for this...but I'm going to go out on a limb here and say that I like this album more than Antichrist Superstar!I know that Antichrist Superstar is supposedly his best album. But I disagree. I think THIS album shows that Manson wants to have a little fun instead of making an entire album full of anthems for the depressed teenager that is played out by so many artists today.
With the very first song, not the intro, on the record, a lot of people would go, "'This is the new sh*t'?! How original" But honestly, Manson already made some great records, why don't the fans out there let him have a little fun with his job?!
This album, to me, shows that Manson wanted to make a record that gets the party goin'! From start to finish, this album makes my trunk rattle all the way to class everyday!!
1. This is the New Sh*t: 5/5 - Great song! Great party song.
2. mOBSCENE: 4/5 - Another good party song. Not a standout though.
3. Doll-Dagga Buzz-Buzz Ziggety-Zag: 5/5 - How creative. Take an entire musical genre and make it something totally different yet very recognizable.
4. Use your fist and not your Mouth: 4/5 - Good tune.
5. Golden age of Grotesque: 6/5 - My favorite song on the album. It's darker, but it works great. Makes me hit my stearing wheel to the beat.
6. (s)AINT: 5/5 - Contrary to what others are saying, I love this song. It's all about having fun and rocking out. Sure the lyrics are a little unthoughtful...who cares, ROCK ON!
7. Ka-Boom Ka-Boom: 5/5 - You're right Manson, screw the record companies.
8. Slutgarden: 4/5 - Yep. Good stuff.
9. Spade: 6/5 - Another one of my favorites on the album. Just...goooood. Chorus ROCKS!
10. Para-noir: 4/5 - A lot of swearing...I LIKE it. Very true song.
11. The Bright Young Things: 4/5 - Creepy lyrics.
12. Better of Two Evils: 4/5 - Just plain truth here.
13 Vodevil: 5/5 - One of the most rockin' tunes on the album. "This isn't music, and we're not a band. We're 5 middle fingers on a mother f*cking hand" NICE!
All in all, this album is just awesome. His other stuff seems to be more of him trying to do good as a musician...now it seems he's just trying to make good tunes to rock out to. If you compare GAOG to his earlier work, then yeah, maybe it's not as good. But musicians have to grow and evolve with the times. You can't make the same stuff over and over. That's why Tantric didn't last, Creed and Nickelback were already doing it!
Trust me on this, don't expect Manson's earlier work to come through on this record, but get ready to slam your head and rock out to some great party music.
Free Music Review: GREAT! I LOVE A TRUE MASTERPIECE
Hit: 5 Stars
THIS ALBUM ROCKS! people may say that Marilyn Manson's carrier ended with Antichrist Supertar, but they're wrong! this album shows that the band is still kickin' a$$ and they havn't missed a beat. MArilyn Manson prooves time and time again that they can still rock and shock the world.
here's a run through of the songs:
#1. "Thaeter" 6/10: a great intro to the album and slightly disturbing.
#2. "This Is The New Sh*t" 10/10: this song is great. it's raw powerful and full of energy.
#3. "mOBSCENE" 20/10: this is most definantly my favorite MM song. it's really powerful and fun to listen to.
#4. "Doll-Dagga Buzz-Buzz Zigaty-Zag" 10/10: this song has some of the best and wierdest lyrics and it has a real Vaeudevill feel to it.
#5. "Use Your Fist And Not Your Mouth" 7/10: this is probably my least favorite song on the album, besides the first and the last songs, but it's still a really powerful song.
#6. "The Golden Age of Grotesque" 10/10: the title track of the album, this song is really bizarre (in a good way) and has some cool lyrics.
#7. "(s)AINT" 9/10: powerful and kind of erie.
#8. "Ka-boom Ka-boom" 8/10: the is name is kind of stupid but the song is really powerful.
#9. "Slutgarden" 9/10: a really powerful raw song that has some great lyrics.
#10. "Spade" 10/10: this song rocks! it's really cool and the lyrics are really strong.
#11. "Para-Noir" 9/10: the bass line in this song is awesome and the chorus is really cool.
#12. "The Bright Young Things" 10/10: this song is really fast paced and and has the coolest chorus: "we don't rebel to sell, it just suits us well."
#13. "The Better of Two Evils" 10/10: a great song with great lyrics.
#14. "Vodevil" 8/10: the last good song on the album, this song is a fast paced kick a$$ song.
#15. "Obsequey (The Death of Art) 5/10: strange and it's kind of a weak ending.
all in all this is a great album with powerful lyrics and cool message. though people will say it's not like MM's other work and it sucks, those people are just being close minded. of caurse it's not like MM's other stuff. if it was it would get old really fast. change can be bad, but in Marilyn Manson's case change is good.
Free Music Review: Splendid
Hit: 5 Stars
To the "Marilyn Manson needs Jesus" reviewer, I find myself having to ask: Just how stupid are you?The entire driving force behind Marilyn Manson is to try and snap people out of this dark-age dependency on religion and I have to say good luck to him, the sooner the better.
Now, about the album. Splendid, that's what it is. A brilliant new offering from the God of F**k. Some of the songs on this album are nothing short of visionary and 'The Bright Young Things' has become the title track on the soundtrack of my life!! Yes, it is that good.
Marilyn Manson really shines on this album, managing to transform his music into the industrial metal that enjoys so much success these days yet retain the dark edge that catapulted him into the limelight (and adorations of countless angst-ridden teens) in the first place.
Manson's penchant for meaningful and intelligent lyrics continues here with a passion and the chemistry between the leadman and his band cements together perfectly some of the most enjoyable and original work that I have listened to in a long time.
Thankfully, it seems that Marilyn Manson is going from strength to strength now that he is firmly established as one of the most talented living musicians and this album has risen the bar for others to follow.
A stunning accomplishment and a spirited tribute to the talent of Marilyn Manson. Given that each album he has released has been progressively better, I find myself waiting eagerly for news of future work because with this under his belt, the next offering should be nothing short of nirvana!!
Congratulations once more Mr. Manson!!
Having read a couple of other reviews since mine was posted, I realise that some of the stuff in my review may have upset some people. This was not my intention, neither was I aiming to rebuke the importance of freedom of religious choice. Far from it.
Apologies to anybody I may have offended.
However, in my defence, allow me to leave you with some words from the Reverand Manson himself:
"As a performer I wanted to be the loudest, most persistent alarm clock I could be, because there didn't seem like any other way to snap society out of its Christanity and media-induced coma."- November 1996