Record Review: Marilyn Manson 'The High End of Low'
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MARILYN MANSON
"The High End of Low"
Kindred spirits: Alice Cooper, Slayer
Show: Sunday at Nissan Pavilion. Show starts at 2:15 p.m. 703-754-6400. http:/
Marilyn Manson recently dared journalists "to write one more thing that you won't say to my face."
Fair enough: I love your new album, "The High End of Low."
I've never been a huge metal fan, but Manson's CD is really just that good in a rockin', pound-on-the-dashboard kind of way. (Of course, you may want to roll the windows up as the lyrics are not meant for G-rated consumption.)
It's easy to write off Manson as some shock musician, but that's not fair. His smoky vocals accompanied by carefully orchestrated electric guitars and the right amount of percussion drive home his messages. the music is catchy, foot-tapping stuff. Manson really is that smart.
The album's concept sprang from Manson's turmoil over the ending of his marriage to burlesque artist Dita Von Teese. And he is open about that on this latest set of tunes.
From the almost softly played "Running to the Edge of the World": "Sometimes hate is not enough/To turn this all to ashes/Together as one/Against all others/Break all of our wings to/Make sure it crashes."
Or from the rocker "Four Rusted Horses": "Everyone will come/To the funeral/To make sure I stay dead."
Manson may have suffered a punch that sidelined him, but he's back in the game.
-- Nancy Dunham
