Marilyn Manson, 'The High End of Low'

Release date: May 26, 2009
Record label: Interscope
Official Web site: http://www.marilynmanson.com/

The buzz: While not quite the headline-making news of, say, Eminem returning, Marilyn Manson’s seventh studio album sees the singer reuniting with former bassist/collaborator Twiggy Ramirez for the first time in almost seven years. Ramirez was on-board during the band’s heyday, including the albums “Antichrist Superstar” and “Mechanical Animals.”

The verdict: A reunion wasn’t necessarily the best move on paper. Although it divided fans, 2007’s Twiggy-less “Eat Me, Drink Me” showed Manson finally moving away from the Nine Inch Nails playbook—instead of an industrial retread, there was a rawness to the record. “High End” continues that trend: it’s heavy on distortion, fuzzed-out guitars and dissonance, while keeping the lyrical focus on the typically outrageous (drugs, death, tortured romance). The record’s too long and a few songs are pointless dirges (“Wight Spider”), but it’s consistently twisted and there are a few real standouts: the minimalist electro-rock of “WOW” and the trashy glam anthem “We’re From America,” which jabs hard at the country’s hypocrisies and religious viewpoints (the chorus of “God is an excuse” probably won't nab it much radio play, however).

Did you know? “High End” has some interesting back-story: Before rejoining Limp Bizkit, guitarist Wes Borland was briefly a part of Manson’s band and scheduled to be the singer’s full-on collaborator. He quit after all of his songs were apparently rejected. Also, another rumor had R&B star Ne-Yo guesting on the album…which Manson later vehemently denied.

Add a comment