Antichrist Superstar [PA] - Marilyn Manson > Reviews > World Spreads Its Legs For Another Star

Author's product rating:   

Originality	Definitely a cut above the rest
Lyrics	Thought-provoking
Quality and consistency of tracks	Mixed
How does it compare to the artist's other releases	Good
Value for Money

Advantages:	A new direction, Interesting ideas raised
Disadvantages:	Some songs are very below par, and this album is also slightly overrated

Recommend to potential buyers:

yes

Full review

Although I'm a huge fan of so-called "alternative" music, Marilyn Manson has never appealed to me as much as to some people. However, although he's not by any means my favourite artist, I do still appreciate and enjoy a lot of his music. This should hopefully allow me to write a fair opinion of my views on this album. Apologies for the length, I just find that the album warrants an in-depth examination more than most.

To start with, I feel I must explain the cult status of Manson. If any of you feel you are easily offended, I would strongly suggest against buying this album. Every song has either a blatant or hidden meaning relating to real-life situations or hatred, an even the cover art and interior pictures would be considered deeply offensive by Christians. I personally have no problem with this, however out of all the Manson albums, this is undoubtedly the most controversial.

This album, while not generally being his most popular, may in fact be my favourite. Aside from the fact that it has an amazing name, it features what is generally considered Manson's best song, "The Beautiful People," as well as the releases "Tourniquet" and "Man That You Fear."

Each Manson release seems to have a general trend in the majority of songs. The first album, "Portrait Of An American Family," was more geared toward heavy rock or metal, the admittedly-poor "Smells Like Children" was largely uncoordinated sounds and melodies, the popular "Mechanical Animals" was usually slower, softer songs, and "Holy Wood (In the Shadow Of The Valley Of Death)" tended to be slow and peaceful. This album gives me the impression of slightly heavy songs featuring a lot of weird sampling and melodic bits which, although they do not always work well together, (and in fact are sometimes rubbish), make the album more interesting and different from the norm. But it's still basically inspired by Nine Inch Nails, as the producing credit of Trent Reznor simply punctates this.

Although I have been informed in other places that a lot of people do not like track-by-track listings, I feel it gives a good impression of each individual song's style. Basically, the album is divided into three parts (or "cycles"): tracks 1 to 4 are dubbed "The Heirophant," tracks 5 to 11 (most of the album) "Inauguration Of The Worm," and tracks 12 to 16 "Disintegrator Rising." In my opinion, the first and final part contain some of the album's finest songs, however "cycle 2" has its share of interesting sounds.

Starting at the beginning, "Irresponsible Hate Anthem" is a song most people find annoying but that I find one of the best on the album. After Manson introduces the song in front of a cheering crowd, the song kicks in with a heavy, loud guitar riff and a shouting chorus of "F*** It!" The song is basically about Manson hating stuff, and is an angry look at society today; not a very original premise, but a good song nevertheless. ("Everybody's someone else's n***er, I know you are so am I. I wasn't born with enough middle fingers, I don't need to choose a side.")

Beginning with an odd bit of inteference, "The Beautiful People" slowly reveals its full potential with seperate instruments coming together to produce the finest Manson song. The song features an amazing riff and great vocals, as well as very noticeable, ever-present drumming. The song appears to be about capitalism creating societies where people are judged on their religion or background, and where discrimination is allowed against the minorities. A very good song that appeals to a large number of people, it is also very interesting and thought-provoking, while being a little too communist for my tastes. ("The horrible people, the horrible people, it's as anatomic as the size of your steeple. Capitalism has made it this way, old-fashioned fascism will take it away.")

Track three, "Dried Up, Tied and Dead To The World" is one of my worst songs on the album, and does not even begin promisingly. Odd samples that change with every portion of the song, from whines to distorted voices, do not add to it at all in my opinion, although I like the sound of Manson's voice in the chorus ("I'll be you lover, I'll be forever, I'll be tomorrow, I am anything when I'm high.") The song features talk of cutting off fingers (possibly in order to pay for drugs), and hints at drug use.

"Tourniquet" is a slow song that was released by Manson, and is another of my favourites off the album. A slow, melodic chorus and loud yet soft riff make this tale of sexual encounters and love a fantastic song that can be listened to in any mood. ("I wrapped our love in all this foil, silver-tight like spider legs, I never wanted it to ever spoil, but flies will always lay their eggs.") N.B., a tourniquet is "an instrument for arresting hemorrhage. It consists essentially of a pad or compress upon which pressure is made by a band which is tightened by a screw or other means." I didn't know that.

Heading into cycle 2, "Little Horn" features explicit lyrics linking the shape of a mouth to a "p**sy," and the arrival of some high deity. The song surprisingly kicks in with a cool yet distorted riff, and I find it one of the better songs on the album, however not as good as those I have noted as my favourites. Not a melodic song by any means, even the song title seems to imply innuendo. ("The world spreads its legs for another star, world shows its face for another scar.")

"Cryptorchild" is a sad song about a boy's experience of his mother's murder and his own rape by the murderer. ("Each time I look outside my mother dies, I feel my back is changing shape. When the worm (N.B., possible innuendo) consumes the boy it's never considered rape.") The song is certainly one of the album's stranger offerings, with high-pitched vocals for the chorus, ever-present samplings, and a completely different section in the middle which may or may not be sung by Manson- I really can't tell whether his voice has been distorted or if some guest vocals are being put into play. Even though I don't normally like stuff like this, I consider this quite a good song, and a daring attempt to be different. Very good lyrics as well, definitely one of the most thought provoking songs I've heard.

"Deformography" features potentially offensive lyrics regarding God, and is the story of how someone would take over another person whether they want them to or not. The song is slow and more regular than its successor, although still features background samples. Manson's vocals are deep and sombre, and the song is quite good, however does not appeal to me as much as a lot of the others. I find my attention drifting as the song becomes too similar towards the end to the point where I sometimes fail to notice its presence. ("You eat up my heart and all the little parts, your star is so sharp it leaves me jagged holes. (N.B., possible innuendo). I make myself sick just to poison you.")

"Wormboy" is certainly one of the most memorative tracks on the album for me due to its weirdness. Beginning fairly promisingly, the tune suddenly changes into one that seems contrastingly happy to the album's nature. Backing vocals are also used very inappropriately that seem to be adding to the happiness of song, and Manson's vocals in the chorus are pitched to high to be taken seriously. I'm not sure whether the song was intended to be a slight comedy interlude at the middle of the album, but the lyrics describe somebody's ascent into heaven, and his realisation that things would be better off in hell. No a particularly good song by any means unless you can fully appreciate the attempted comedy of it all and enjoy that. But unfortunately, I feel against the idea of someone as serious and influential as Manson producing something like this. ("When you get to heaven you will wish you're in hell. When will you realise, you're already here.") Aside from the word hell, this song also fails to meet any serious taboos unlike the rest of the songs. Still not one Nan'd like though.

Track nine, "Mister Superstar," is a song about disturbed superstar fans who would love to see their idols die, or they will do it for them (after killing themselves). The lyrics describe many types of star (from rock star to "porno" star), and relate the fans' desires to make love to them and become their friends. There is also a whispered section at the end in which Manson is asking if his idol can kill himself on TV which, along with other lines in this song, may be offensive to fans of any famous people who have famously died in these fashions. ("Hey Mister Big Rock Star, I wanna grow up just like you. I know that I can turn you on, I wish I could just turn you off.") As for the song, it comes in fairly long at around five minutes (the majority of songs on this album average just over four minutes), and begins with a soft riff overlaid with Manson's quiet voice. I quite like the song, especially the chorus, and Manson displays several different examples of his vocal talents throughout the song's run.

"Angel With The Scabbed Wings" begins with a great instrumental, and then becomes a bass solo to allow Manson to begin his vocals more powerfully. Certainly one of the album's finer tracks, it deals with drug abuse and the effects it has upon people. ("He is the angel with the scabbed wings hard-drug face, want to powder his nose"). It also deals with rape. The song does not get tiresome at all, and becomes even better towards the end when odd samples are allowed to flow in. Certainly worth listening to.

"Kinderfeld", I like the name, has a very odd start that features what sounds like a buzz saw and a laughing duck, and is very slow and light. Manson's vocals become all high again for the chorus that adds to the eerie effect of this song, and later on he begins to scream and talk with an odd voice that seems purposefully out of time with the tune. The song's meaning is very cryptic, and it basically attempts to tie together the theme of the worm boy who descended to Hell with the Disintegrator. ("When I got my wings and I never even knew it, when I was a worm, thought I couldn?t get through it.")

Onto cycle three and the title track, "Antichrist Superstar" begins brilliantly with an eerie orchestral sound of many voices wailing quietly at once being joined by the main riff. A good riff, it does unfortunately wear thin by the time the five minute song has finished. Featuring a spooky reprise of lyrics from "Cryptorchild" and more than its fair share of odd, high-pitched vocals, the song is one of the middley ones on the album. I don't dislike it, but then again I don't find it amazing. The song talks about, basically, the self-proclaimed Antichrist controlling people, and ends with another odd whispery bit. ("Prick your finger it is done, the moon has now eclipsed the sun, the Angel has spread His wings, the time has come for better things.")

Although generally one of the most disliked on the album, I believe "1996" to be in the better half due to its catchy guitar riff. The instruments are all played perfectly; the only problem is the lyrics. Very repetitive and not very clever, Manson basically proclaims to be "anti"-everything, stating conflicting ideologies which he is against. The song seems disrespectful to gay people (calling them "fa***ts"), and against the Pope. Still, I do think the song sounds really cool, and is not worth all the bad press. ("Anti-Satan, Anti-Black, Anti-World is on my back. Anti-gay and Anti-Dope, I am the fa***t Anti-Pope.")

"Minute of Decay" is memorable mostly for its bass solo which is not original or cool, but simply present throughout the song. The lyrics are about somebody depressed who feels death is his only option, and he expresses a desire to take the listener with him. The song is very dull and tedious as it never really sounds like it gets going, even when other instruments join on several occasions. One of the poorest on the album, in my view, just due to the fact that I generally find myself getting bored. Nice sampling from Reznor again though. ("There is no cue for what is killing me, I'm on my way down. I looked ahead and saw a world that's dead, I guess that I am too.")

Beginning with the kind of Manson intro I dislike (the kind of "yeah, let's state something to try and be clever" approach), the penultimate track on this album, "The Reflecting God," is quite a good song. It starts very slowly and quietly before throwing the listener into a memorable, catchy chorus ("I went to God just to see that I was looking at me.") The song deals with very anti-religious themes, suggesting that the singer has been to Hell & back, and that he is the true God. There is also yet another bout of swearing, in which Manson blurts out "Shoot shoot shoot motherf***er." Quite good, good enough to be contained on Manson's 1999 live album "Last Tour on Earth," but not fantastic. ("Let's jump upon the sharp swords and cut away our smiles, without the threat of death there's no reason to live at all.")

Ending the album in a song that holds very mixed views is "Man That You Fear." Released, this song is a very slow, light ballad-esque sample-athon that begins and ends very oddly. Personally, I really like the song and think it ends the album really well. Despite its slow, pleasant approach, Man That You Fear deals with abortion and other issues, as well as featuring even more swearing. Fans of Manson's heavier stuff that don't like the more mellow songs should probably avoid, but it should be given a chance. ("Peel off all those eyes and crawl into the dark, you've poisoned all your children to camouflage your scars.") The last couple of minutes of the song is basically voices distorted and played at different intervals that you really shouldn't listen to late at night. And of course, tracks 17 to 98 should be ignored completely.
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This album contributed five tracks ("The Reflecting God", "Antichrist Superstar", "Irresponsible Hate Anthem" and "The Beautiful People", to Manson's "Last Tour on Earth" official live album, while three songs ("The Beautiful People", "Tourniquet" and "Man That You Fear"), were released as singles. The album remains controversial, and will for some time, however a lot of underground, less popular material is far worse in content. For example, most black metal albums. I would recommend this album to a Manson fan, although for the causal listener it may be a bit too different and odd for easy listening. It was worth the price I paid anyway, and has a nice cardboard extra cover thing that makes it more appealing. Finally, a note on the booklet; many of the images are symbolic of some of the issues Manson discusses, such as an antichrist rising, and although they are essentially anti-christian, the colour scheme's nice.