Marilyn Manson changes his supporting cast like most
bands change guitar strings and drumheads. Well, not
quite that much, but pretty close. John 5 is gone,
and Manson chose to work on his new album exclusively
with former bassist/now guitarist Tim Skold.
Eat Me, Drink Me is a more musically subdued album
than anything else in the band’s catalog. From
opener “If I Was Your Vampire” to lead
single “Heart-Shaped Glasses (When the Heart
Guides the Hand)” to the closing title track,
most songs are mid to slow paced. “Just A Car
Crash Away” brings to mind the quieter moments
of Holy Wood… “Are You the Rabbit?”
sways and swaggers in much the same way as “The
Dope Show.” “They Said That Hell’s
Not Hot” is a great, almost epic and upbeat
ballad. Jingly and danceable, “The Red Carpet
Grave” is certainly memorable. And in an odd
twist of fate, tons of guitar solos are layered throughout
the record. This is all well and good, and it adds
a nice touch. But it’s a travesty that virtuoso
John 5 didn't get to show us what he could do in this
regard while he was on board. It could be a "screw
you" from Manson to 5 for some reason, as in,
"Now that you're not in the band, I'm letting
guitar solos abound."
Lyrically, Manson is self-conscious and introspective
for the first time ever after going through a painful
divorce with burlesque model Dita Von Teese. Actress
Evan Rachel Wood is the new girl under his arm, and
he's in love and talking about it in song. Check out
the controversial video for “Heart-Shaped Glasses,”
and you’ll see that they’re more than
just “in love”; they’re, uh hum,
“in bed,” too.
The entire album is very raunchy musically, and very
sexually primal throughout. Put this in the CD player,
cuddle up on the couch or in bed with your better
half, and I dare you not to understand what I mean.
Tracks like “Evidence” and the aforementioned
“Are You the Rabbit?” are certainly songs
made for, well, “you know what”!
This isn’t really an immediate, attention grabbing
album, but Marilyn Manson certainly shows that he’s
still capable with yet another stellar outing.
Key Tracks: There aren’t many fillers, but
the standouts are “Heart-Shaped Glasses,”
“Evidence,” and “They Said That
Hell’s Not Hot.”
Reviewed by Chad Olson
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