I do a little vinyl therapy on Sundays. I like to put some actual records on the record player while I clean my room, lift weights and generally recharge. Fortunately for me, Rooster gave me the double l.p. version of Marilyn Manson's "The Pale Emperor".  The story of the travels of the album and how it got to me will be told someday, but I want to focus on the music.

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Marilyn Manson is no longer the kid in the back of the room screaming for attention. He is instead, the get who gets all the attention just by being himself. Manson is a star and the type of unique voice that you don't hear much anymore.  Manson's voice is front and center delivering some of his best lyrics ever. Manson doesn't need heavy guitars to be the heaviest guy in the room. Some tracks seem to be barely vocals and drums, with some sleazy guitar and bass making special guest appearances.

I often wonder what is lost on people who don't listen to an album as a whole and don't get to hear it properly. As I mentioned I listened to it on album, through one of those crappy $69 all in one turntable setups. When you get down to it, it's not that different from you listening to it on an Mp3 format. It's that feeling and sound that is evoked when it sounds like the music is actually going to bust your speakers that makes it so full of life.

The album was co-written with music score producer Tyler Bates. He did all of the music for Guardians Of The Galaxy (not the songs, the interstitial stuff). He and Manson put together a hell of a road trip album. I literally could hear each song painting a picture and Manson savoring each word like it was a piece of meat he was rolling around on his tongue.

The drum beats are almost of the novelty sort, with one sounding like a deconstructed version of The Beautiful People and another sounding like an acid trip version of The Dope Show.  I love this about Manson's music, it often sounds like the songs are written from the drums up, even though they aren't.  They are just treated as important, as another instrument  and not just a way to keep time.

If Manson never records another note, the Pale Emperor will serve as a fitting bookend with Antichrist Superstar.  This is an incredibly unique album. It's not for everyone. It's not metal, it's not rock, it's just pure Manson doing whatever the hell he wants. It sounds like he spent forever working on every word, and then not give a damn what anybody thinks about the finished result.  This will go down as one of my favorite albums ever.

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