Could Marilyn Manson be growing up? Lyrics like "we're on the line between the devil's tits" and a XXX-rated video for single "Heart Shaped Glasses" may signal the same old Manson, but the music on the shock-rocker's sixth album suggests otherwise.
"Eat Me, Drink Me," strips out the obvious industrial and metal elements of his previous work, leaving Manson and his band free to experiment with more ominous textures and sounds. It's positively spooky stuff.
The opener, "If I Was Your Vampire," sets the pitch-black tone, recalling the early dark goth of Bauhaus. The retro vibe remains fairly constant throughout the record, as elements of Pink Floyd, David Bowie and late 70s post-punk are apparent, but not overt. "Heart Shaped Glasses" could almost be called disco in the way that it cleverly marries funk, rock and dance beats. It's a similar (and surprisingly superior) form of the musical blueprint employed by hipster bands like !!! and the Rapture.
Admittedly, Manson's viewpoint (and hoarse croak of a voice) makes all of his work a take-it-or-leave-it affair, and "Eat Me" isn't likely to recruit new fans. But both the man and his band deserve credit for constantly pushing musical and philosophical boundaries.
That said, there's something primal and awesome in the f-bomb barrage unleashed during "Mutilation is the Sincerest Form of Flattery." For all the growth in Manson's music, a little shock value still doesn't hurt.
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