Marilyn MansonThe Golden Age of Grotesque
By
Mick Stingley,
Contributor
Tuesday, May 27, 2003 @ 4:55 PM
(Nothing/Interscope)
While the dull-witted masses of television-teat suckers
breathlessly await the results of “American Idol”,
MARILYN MANSON returns to the airwaves with their latest full-length CD since
“Holy Wood”, hopefully to lead a fiery insurrection on musical false-idol worship.
Trenched in his high-fashion Army-Of-Hell chic, steeped in creep and
looking like he means to out-glam The Murderdolls, one wonders: can Mr. Manson,
(and his eponymous wrecking crew of musicians), out-do and out-rock himself once again?
He has set himself a lofty challenge. The man in the “Dope Hat” who once shoved “Unicorn” lollipops into his nether region on stage might be the Anti-Christ he is often labeled as- or he might just be a weak Alice Cooper imitation Whether you like him or not, one thing is certain: stage antics and cool-looking clothes need great songs to make a Rock Star shine.
With his latest release poised to enter the charts at Number One- Marilyn, John 5, Madonna Wayne Gacy, Ginger Fish and Tim Skold have produced an exciting record….
“This Is The New Shit” offers the lyrical premise that it’s all been done before-
a post-millenium ‘fin-de-siecle’ for rock, which, on “Mechanical Animals”, he
already proclaimed is “Dead”. Check out the first verse and chorus-
“Everything has been said before/There’s nothing left to say anymore
When it’s all the same/you can ask for it by name
“Bubble bubble/bitch bitch/rebel rebel/party party
Sex sex sex/and don’t forget the violence
Blah blah blah/got your lovey-dovey sad-and-lonely
Stick your STUPID SLOGAN in
Everybody sing along
“Are you motherfuckers ready
For the new shit?
Stand up and admit!
Tomorrow’s never coming-
This is the new shit
Stand up and admit!
Do we get it? NO!
Do we want it? YEAH!
This is the new shit-
Stand up and admit!”
Given the title of the song, I am inclined to think Manson is jabbing away at
the ridiculous lyric excess of rap/Hip-hop driven pop-radio… but I’m hardly a poetry teacher: I’ll leave that to the college professors. What makes it for me is this familiar cache: It has a good beat and you can dance to it. Or something like that. It rocks
in the now-familiar “Marilyn Manson” style. Maybe nothing is shocking anymore-
maybe that’s the point- maybe there is only familiar territory to tread -
but as long as it rocks, that’s all that matters.
That said- here’s my song-by-song breakdown:
“mObscene” - with it’s chorus of girls, is a nifty little rocker.
“Doll Dagga Buzz Buzz Ziggety Zag” is a catchy faster-“Beautiful People”-style song that cooks, whatever the hell it means… the chug-a-chug guitar/drums make me think this guy likes Adam And The Ants more than anyone will ever say…
“Use Your Fist, And Not Your Mouth” - A little KMFDM for the mainstream…
“The Golden Age Of The Grotesque” - slowed-down “Dope Show”
“(s) AINT” – a stand-out track with Manson as the angry girl-using “star”
“Ka Boom Ka Boom”- stands-out, but, see above
“Slutgarden”- nice n’ creepy slow rock about porn and it’s effects on sex ; or maybe it’s just about strippers…
“Spade” – not about the comedian- but it doesn’t rock so much as it crawls; not bad…
“Para noir” – another song about fucking and hating, slow, gloomy…rocks on the chorus
“The Bright Young Things” – back to the “chug-a-chug” rockin’ … not bad…
“Better Of Two Evils” – see above
“Vodevil” – “Suck, baby, suck…” (hats off to Bowie)…and back to the rockin’ of the earlier “Lunchbox” style Manson with slicker production
“Obsequecy (The Death Of Art)” – throwaway “outro” with piano
Maybe “The Golden Age Of The Grotesque” is the “Caberet” of our time-
A pre-Neo-fascist paean to the end of the good times and the heralding of the evil that will soon take us over. Maybe this is the “Fall Of the Empire”…maybe not. In any case- Marilyn Manson has delivered the goods, “a la Marilyn Manson”. Perhaps Mr. Manson and company aren’t forging any new territory-
but I certainly think the path he is on is a more interesting journey than anyone else is taking us on these days… bring on the insurrection!
(comes with a bonus DVD – “DOPPELHERZ - A Film By Marilyn Manson” )
* * * *
xxdeadlambxx - 9/17/2004 4:02:06 PM I love this fucking CD. Of course, I love everything done by Mr. Manson, because he is a lyrical (and just a plain) genius. I'm sad that John 5 left the band... but hoping his band rocks, too. And Wtf? "Bubble bubble/bitch bitch/rebel rebel/party party..."
Bubble, bubble? It's BABBLE, BABBLE. Fuckers.
site - 2/24/2004 1:47:16 PM Marilyn manson is the greatest rock star of all time!!!!!!!! i love all his albums!!!!!!!!!!!
joey_2003 - 8/29/2003 4:21:23 AM manson is gud but every1 hates him giv him a break at least hes not afraid 2 b diffrent hes just bein himself n gettin rich 4 it so leave him the fuck alone just cuz ur all 2 scared 2 b urselves incase ppl dont like it who gives a fuck critisize him when ur in his place not when ur still a mutherfuckin nobody go fuck urselves cuz manson rulez!!!
megaskott - 7/3/2003 6:34:14 PM This another candidate for metal album of the year. MM goes back to his roots on this cd. Every song rocks. My fave is (S)aint. That song has some of the best lyrics that MM has ever wrote. After a couple lackluster efforts (Mechanical Animals, and Holy-wood), Manson is back!!!!!
Emily_Strange - 6/30/2003 10:44:08 AM Boy I sure did miss a lot while I was in exile. Great disc I fucking love it. He did a great performance on Ozzfest & he sounds better than ever. The DVD that came with the disc is very trippy maybe that is why I loved it so much.
toolbox_1 - 6/29/2003 7:00:39 PM nutsac, the only reference to "goat blowing" came from you, get back to your flock. baaaaaaaaaaa!
mmgoththug - 6/22/2003 7:56:28 PM hey nutsac...don't you think your name says enough??????????????????at least your boyfriend has more balls than you, you stupid fag.
mmgoththug - 6/22/2003 7:53:59 PM everyone who is not about manson should get the fuck off this site and go to milli vinilli's site. find something better to do with your time then goto an awesome site like this and cry like a faggott. Manson rules and always will.
dumshit - 6/15/2003 1:56:13 PM hellfire, i was just wonderen if that there feller had a penis, our if done did get his jimmy whacked?
sits_in_corners - 6/14/2003 8:28:00 PM manson is cool....his remixes are fucking awesome though...and i typically like his music....so....rock on.....even though rock is dead
CRACKHEAD74 - 6/14/2003 10:34:58 AM hey look, drink some poison and die you dumb cunt.
Violent_Sky - 6/13/2003 5:14:32 PM WTF IS TIM SKOLD DOING?? GET OUT OF THAT FUCKED UP BAND AND CONTINUE W/SHOTGUN MESSIAH . YOU ARE A SINGER WHO PLAYS BASS NOT A BASS PLAYER. KMFDM SUCKED AS WELL. vIOLENT nEW bREED RULEZ!!!!! TIM TIM IS MY HERO ..WEIRDORAMA PSYCHODOME ...I WANT MORE!
TheCraigus - 6/13/2003 12:35:54 PM Have heard mOBSCENE - not a bad song. The only thing that seems to be amiss about Manson especially on the last record, is that he appears to be treading water with the formula that, he's created. The image isn't as shocking as it once was (not that it was shocking anyway) - it justs seems boring now. Even some of the bands influenced by his music and image (Godhead and Murderdolls) appear equally as boring. I think it wouldn't be a bad thing for Manson to take a good break away from music and come back with some fresh ideas rather than rehash work he has already done.
Danimal_Lawless - 6/13/2003 8:21:06 AM I dont like Manson's stage show, i think its old. I dont like him much either. Or his "image". BUT, he has a good voice. AND, this album is an absolute Work of Art!!! This review doesnt even begin to reflect the energy that is produced in EVERY song. In fact, this review is pretty fuckin uninformative. If you are into HEAVY rock/metal polished off with awesome industrial finishes, then go and take a listen to this album. Unless you absolutely cant stand Manson's voice or the aforementioned mix of styles, you will like it. Fuck, you might even love it.
While the dull-witted masses of television-teat suckers
breathlessly await the results of “American Idol”,
MARILYN MANSON returns to the airwaves with their latest full-length CD since
“Holy Wood”, hopefully to lead a fiery insurrection on musical false-idol worship. 
