After the huge success of 1996's Antichrist Superstar, Marilyn Manson became a huge rock star. A star with an obscene personality and looks and his attitude was mere "F*ck you" to the world over and over. With that success, Manson had to try something different with his next record. A year went by and no Manson. Another year went by and Marilyn Manson popped up, but with a different outlook on his music. The record, Mechanical Animals is a whole different sound with less heavy metal and more modern rock and a little pinch of disco.

Great White Big World is a great taste of Manson's new sound. It's a light sound, with light guitar strings floating and the bass never gets too heavy for the guitars to be overpowered. Vocally, Manson does tend to pace himself on here, but it never gets annoying at all. It sounds really good too; a few high-pitch moans and a depressing tone in his voice. A great song. If you want something more heavy, but not much, The Dope Show will satisfy. It has a classic rock feel with the old electric guitars, a few sparkling technical sounds and a bass that is gritty in it's deepness. Manson's vocals are of variety. He whispers enchantingly and the chorus is ever so majestic. "There's lots of pretty, pretty ones that want to get you high, but all the pretty, pretty ones will leave you low."

The album's title, Mechanical Animals is a song that falls short on many levels. The production is all messed up and has bad direction with the guitars and technical sounds and the bass just doesn't stand out that much. Drama queen vocals appear here; lots of girly-girl vocals from Manson. It may sound good the first listen, but it wears think afterwards. Rock Is Dead is what Manson is about. It's a heavy rock song, it has a great catchy bass line and the guitars are just so damn right. Manson is very catchy on this track with the "lalalala"s and his growls that appear in the chorus. This is one of the greatest songs on this album and you will find yourself at home. "Rock is deader than dead, shock is all in your head."

Disassociative is what it sounds like. It's a very technical song with lots of technology behind it. The bass is thick and heavy and the guitars cut through with it's blaring strings. Manson pulls off the depressing, slow-paced and utterly draggy vocals on this song because they fit so well. Just listen to what he says and you will be in bliss. "I can never get out of here, I don't want to just float in fear." The Speed of Pain is a very odd song. This song is very acoustic with the guitar and you get a weird technical sound for the chorus and thats it. Not too bad, but could use some more. Here, Manson does the slow-paced vocals and he does very well, but when the chorus hits, it's awful. This annoying technical voice comes on and it ruins the whole song for me.

Posthuman is a very edgy and fast song. I don't care too much for this song either. The production is pretty good, but could have been better without the touch of disco in it and the vocals are too off-balance for me. I think Manson had trouble finding a way to sing this song and he just went with something out of the blue. I Want To Disappear is a more balanced track with the same qualities of "Posthuman." It's an edgy and fast song with the bass pounding away while the strings of the guitars catch up. It does add a tiny number of disco, but it's very much enjoyable this time around. I actually like how Manson sings here. He matches well with the edgy tone of the song and he makes this song even more enjoyable. "Because it makes us feel like we are needed now, but I know I wanna disappear."

Another great song that is similar to "Rock Is Dead" is I Don't Like the Drugs, But the Drugs Like Me. I believe this is also another stand-out track because of it's murderous bass line and the striking guitar set-up. A very catchy sound and Manson is very catchy on this song with his snarling. The chorus is very catchy and you can't help but sing along. New Model, No.15 is a very disco song and starting at this song, the disco is in full swing throughout. The drum line is intense and the guitars sound okay too. But can you picture Manson doing a disco song? Didn't think so and Manson tries to follow the song. He does on some levels, but one slip he slips and he can't get back on track.

A song that sounds very boring, but comes off extremely catchy and enjoyable is User Friendly. It's a very classic sounding song with the gritty bass and guitars sounding sharp. Manson does a whispering tone and then he blurts out with an anthem-like vocals sound right dirty. "User friendly, f*cking dopestar obscene..I'm not in love, but I'm gonna f*ck you." A very slow song that drags so bad that it'll bore the hell out of you before it reaches the chorus is Fundamentally Loathsome. The song sounds very boring with a lukewarm bass line and the guitars are quiet, too quiet. Can you guess how Manson sings? No? Read the first line.

The Last Day on Earth has a beautiful sound. The guitars are very authentic and the bass line is just right at the right deepness of sound. Manson does do the draggy vocals and he does tend to pace himself a bit slow, but this works for the song and that makes the song enjoyable and it gets the message through. "I know it's the last day on earth, we'll be together while the planet dies." Coma White which is the last song, has one of the most rhythmic acoustic guitar tunes I've heard from Manson. It's beautiful and it sets the atmosphere for the song. Manson does get emotional on this song. No, he doesn't choke up, but the way he sings this song will just melt you. "A pill to make you anybody else, but all the drugs in this world won't save her from herself."

I don't think it was a wrong move for Manson because he wanted to do something very different and go in a new direction. Some people will like it while others won't. It's basically up to you. However, I do feel this is one of my least favorite albums from Manson. This isn't a bad album, but when you love Manson doing heavy metal music, you'll feel you don't belong in "Mechanical Animals." Again, it's a very strange sounding album that consists of more technology than in a robot and it focuses less on heavy metal and hard rock. "Mechanical Animals" do have some really good songs that will remind you of Manson which we all have come to love, but overall, if you like the "Antichirst Superstar" Manson, you may find yourself wondering where Manson went.

Great Music To Play While: going to space

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