| Product: |
Marilyn Manson in general |
| Date: |
30.12.07 (57 review reads) |
| Rating: |
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Advantages: Interesting lyrics, opinions, I like the music. Intelligent guy.
Disadvantages: ------- a long review ------- sorry ------
Instead of ranting on about how great Marilyn Manson is and how much I Enjoy his music and how ignorant people can be (and can't they just, I can't even begin to describe how ignorant. Particularly many years ago while at school rock music and Marilyn Manson were 'weird' and those who did not conform to the normal 'nice happy pop music and dress top to toe in Adidas or whatever the trendy brand of the week was' were 'freaks' and got much hassle over nothing....(yeah yeah I'm a little bitter and twisted)
But these ignorant people seem to still make up the majority of today's population - I know there's people with brains who use them out there somewhere but I still find it worrying and hell it scares me a little sometimes.
I'll try and explain a few things. For starters just who is Marilyn Manson?
Well with the new-found 'popularity of rock music these days and a whole new breed of baby Goths and suchlike (seems to have suddenly become 'cool' again) Everyone seems to have an opinion about Marilyn Manson except for -of course- some of the older generation. Whether you like him love him or hate him, you must admit he's something..
The name 'Marilyn Manson' is the name of the band and of course the man behind it, who's real name is / was Mr. Brian Warner. Why then the name 'Marilyn Manson' ? picked from a hat ? Nope there's actually a reason.
Dichotomy. Opposites. The extremes of good and evil, love and hate, represented using the combination of the names of two public icons... Marilyn Monroe and Charles Manson.....made you think yet?
Originally named 'Marilyn Manson and the Spooky Kids' the band emerged from the underground scene in America around the early 1990's thanks to help from Trent Reznor of 'Nine Inch Nails' with the album 'Portrait of an American Family' The style of M.Manson's music began with a harsh more 'industrial' rock sound still found in -'Portrait of an American Family' and ' Smells Like Children ' but this grew and developed to find its way to a more 'conventional' rock sound, with more emphasis placed on the lyrics of the songs.
However I got my hands on the original spooky kids tapes.. ' After School Special ', ' Lunchbox ', and ' Family Jams '
Which while completely different to the modern Manson music are very very good, particularly the song 'Negative' from 'After School Special'.
There are numerous musicians who have influenced the band, and Mr. Manson's image evolves with each album, from 'Anti-christ Superstar' to the more experimental sounds of 'Mechanical Animal' which has lots of good guitar plus weird and wonderful electrical sounds. Then we reached ' The Golden Age of Grotesque' and isn't it just.
Now we have 'Eat me Drink me' which again has changed in both sound and style but the content is still in there and it still makes for good listening when your in the right mood for it.
Controversy once surrounded the name Marilyn Manson and the man wherever he goes still does to a point. Though in the past saw the band being banned from numerous venues, particularly across America due to upsetting religious groups and churches with his lyrics and opinions.
'God is just a statistic'
(Mechanical Animals.)
God is as many people as believe in him / her / it seems a good way of looking at it to me.
In the past so many of the Americans were 'upset' by Marilyn Manson they felt it necessary to protest outside of venues when he is performing.
So there you go. Antichrist super-star. Manons's 'image' and 'style' evolves with each album and there's always something a bit new and different in the roles and characters and themes he plays with. At the time of Antichrist the ideas were already in place and it was not a part he created but a role he readily accepted.
'Anti people now you've gone to far..here's your anti-christ super star..'
I think it all very unfair. Surely a person should be allowed to express his or her views and opinions just -Churches and religious people express their own views and are in the main not harassed about it.... you aren't forced to listen to this man and his music. Ah the American freedom of speech and such, but god forbid someone actually PRACTICE this in a manner the majority don't like...
...at least you don't get Marilyn Manson fans knocking on your door trying to bring you the joys of his music, like you get Jehovo' witnesses or whatever they are knocking at your door trying to spread the wonderful joys of jesus..and when was the last time you heard of Marilyn Manson fans and supporters protesting outside of churches when they hold their worship and sing their hymns? people ever consider that? It's ridiculous.
Marilyn Manson's work is far too often misinterpreted giving rise to strange stories of satanic rituals and other bizarre tales. These stories grow and multiply as Manson declines to defend himself against wild accusations and reports in the media or to justify his actions; preferring to let people draw their own conclusions and form their own opinions and make of it what they will. His lyrics actually condemn violence and particularly ignorance....if you listen.
They are simply the words of a man questioning society's 'morals ethics and values' while expressing opinions of the world we live in. For example another bit of trivia, the song 'Get your Gunn' was written as a reaction to the murder of Dr. David Gunn a man killed by pro-life activists in Florida while Manson was living there.
It's all in the interpretation, and all the distorted news in the media led to Marilyn Manson taking alot of blame for the Columbine incident in 1999. Manson chose even then not to jump into the media frenzy to try and defend himself, though he could have appeared on every single news and TV show in existence.....and probably made a mint in doing so. But he didn't - so is it really all about making tonnes of money to any extreme ?
I don't think so Instead he wrote about his view of the incident.."Columbine: Whose Fault Is It?" I found and read this May 28 1999, and found it to be an open and honest opinion on the whole matter, very worth the read. I think he does what he enjoys doing and makes his living from it - which lets face it most people would love to earn a living doing something we enjoy.
The first MManson music I ever listened to was Antichrist Superstar which I borrowed - only borrowed because of 'The Beautiful People' track which was, and still is a *classic* . Once I started getting hold of his albums ( I really liked the music) I started to listen more to the lyrics and look into who this guy was and what he was singing about. I found it re-assuring that someone had some of the same ideas and opinions about things I guess.
I consider Manson an intelligent man with some good points to make particularly after reading some of the things he has written and seeing / hearing / reading interviews he has done.
"Rock is deader than dead - Shock is all in your head - Your sex and your dope is all that we're fed - So f**k all your protests and put 'em to bed - God is in the TV..."
His version of 'Sweet Dreams' from the 'Smells Like Children' album is one of my favorite covers, and here's another bit of trivia:Was part of the soundtrack for 'House on Haunted Hill' A few other songs have also found their way into horror film soundtracks, 'Disposable Teens' in Blair Witch 2, 'Rock Is Dead' for 'The Matrix' , you'll find Manson in soundtracks of 'Spawn' and 'Dracula 2000' as well. Have also heard his music on a car advert though can't recall what car it was.
Holywood again moved away from the last album to a new theme though more backwards toward the earlier work in fact - in places - with great rocking loud some fast some slow but all *good* songs not just the 'Disposable Teens' track. Every album changes but the lyrics are always well thought-out and generously scattered throughout the music..here and there.
'Holywood' album Lyric Picks:
'Burning Flag'
"They want to sell it up - buy it up - dumb it down - a good god is hard to find - I'll join the crowd that wants to see me dead - right now I feel I'm alive for the first time..."
"you can point your gun at me - and hope it will go away - if god was alive - he would hate you anyway..."
A nice line for all the anti MManson self righteous bananas who feel the need to spread their narrow-minded opinions on how corrupting and dangerous this horrid man and his music are. There's alot of this to be found in his music throughout the albums...So yes fear the grown-up weird kid... HA !
But still I find it crazy when people can't see past the hype of the 'Shock Rock' label that the guy seems to have been pasted with by the media in the past.
NOW ?
Well I'm still thinking " The Golden Age of Grotesque " He got that much right, Rock is somewhat more cool and popular and some parents are worry. But I'd say this type of music is less harmful and more honest than some stuff out there, if the child or person is smart and have a mind of their own, if they have been taught to have their own opinions and think about their actions then there is nothing to fear from Artists such as Mariln Manson it's just that some seem to have forgotten how to enjoy music..how to think about music.
It could easily be argued 'pop' and 'dance' are far more harmful spawning a whole generation of young children dressing up in skimpy things more fitting on an 18 year old. Then you have your 'Gangsta Rap' type of music, don't get me wrong I like some of it I like alot of types of music artist old and new. As for 'Rap' mainly Eminem, and a few other bizarre artists but I don't like all the singing of guns and Hoe's and murder and being an asshole that many 'Rap' albums are packed with.
OK so there's swearing and such in Mansons music that's why the Parental Advisory stickers are slapped on there. Personally swearing doesn't particularly bother me at all is a daily occurrence in our house anyhow. Music is an outlet and if people can identify with it and it helps them along / makes them happy / they enjoy it then whats the problem ?
His latest album Eat me, Drink me is something different yet again compare this to antichrist superster and you may get confused. Overall I'd say a more thoughtful reflective soulful and most definitely 'Gothic' album. My first impression was it was alot more "commercial" especially the pop-sounding single 'Heart Shaped Glasses' which I didn't hear untill I bought the album.
I know the new album has not been well received by some but still. I gave it some proper play time and find it still makes the grade, and I still enjoy the music. Though it must be said the new album as VERY different from previous work it is hard to explain why this is so.....Just when you think you know where your at he changes direction once again.
I don't think this will be the most popular album that Marilyn Manson has produced. Plus I think the loss of Twiggy has had a big impact. But on reflection there is plenty to be found here with -good- lyrics as usual, plus some of the beats here and there are familiar to the Manson we think we have come to know and love...just well different.
Maybe it is time for change. maybe a move to shake off those attracted to the dark and shocking image that his fan-base has collected along the way. Maybe just another way of saying F**K you and doing the unexpected.
Whatever the reason it's in my collection and I like it. As for Mr.Manson I consider his opinions and music interesting and worth listening to. But that's just my opinion.
I'll finish for now by saying..you shouldn't let people make your mind up for you so take a moment to listen to the lyrics in the songs and look at what this guy is saying, ignore the publicity and all the media hype. This goes for other bands/artists to.
But look at the person behind the image of this 'evil shock rock man corrupting young people' make up your OWN mind...and no just because I like him and can relate to his songs I don't expect everyone to think the same as me. I just think people should not judge ANYBODY to quickly.
You'll find Mr.Manson at
www.marilynmanson.com
Thanks for reading.
(originally written on Ciao under same user-name in May '04 now revised)
Summary: Make up your own mind.
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