The last 200 reviews of Manson albums - I've read - went on about this was not a new Antichrist Superstar and Manson was still trying to do an album just as great as that. Now come on, A.S. isn't really a very consistent album. Sure it had some great songs and really great lyrics on it, but it was never a perfect album to sit down and listen to. And I for one wouldn't want a new clone of that album, so can we just leave it in the past?
I really like this new Marilyn Manson album. I can't say if it has to do with the return of lost son Twiggy Ramirez, but the new album is a fairly slow album with everything I like about Marilyn Manson on it. From slow dark ballads to the catchier up-tempo hit single in Arma-goddamn-motherfuckin-geddon, which is exactly that kind of in-your-face song that Manson always delivers. Four Rusted Horses almost sounds like a Depeche Mode track, meant in the very good way with a nice acoustic guitar.
Running To The Edge Of The World is one of those extraordinary slow longer tracks that takes this album higher and lifts it beyond the ordinary: "I can see a new beginning rise behind the sun but we can never catch up to it as fast as we run."
Unkillable Monster is easily my favourite on the album with a very nice melody and the lyrics: "How the fuck are we supposed to know when I'm a monster, with the way you refuse to die? How the fuck are we supposed to know if we're in love or if we're in pain?"
We're From America: "God is an excuse... God is an excuse... God is an excuse..." is an attack on everything Manson hates about America. Pretty amusing lyrics too, if you're not an american with your head up your own ass, I suppose.
But really these are just a few of the highlights. There is so much more great stuff on this album: Devour, WOW, I Have To Look Up Just To See Hell and many more.
This album is a bit more complicated than the average rock album, but it wins after a few spins. The slow tempo on many of the songs makes you listen more to the songs and the lyrics. I've read several reviewers dislike this album, but I can't really understand why. Many of the songs are about a broken relationship but it never gets too sentimental or anything. I think the new album is among his best output and I'm sure already that I'll be listening to this album for a long time.
You get 6 bonus tracks/remixes on the deluxe edition and they are very good and very acoustic, so you better buy that version, or else you'll regret it.
Rating: 
Band: Marilyn Manson
Record Title: The High End Of Low
This Release: 2009
Record Format: CD
Record Label: Interscope
Content Type: Record Review
Language: 
Updated: 2009-06-03 20:50
Created: 2009-06-02 14:58
