Some of you (but probably not) followed along as I reviewed @PearlJam’s 5-nite run in Japan in 2003 on Monday. It was fun for me so I’m doing it again.

In honor of @marilynmanson’s “We Are Chaos” being released NEXT FRIDAY we are going on a tour of his 10 LPs, 1 EP, and singles.

His first record came out right after I turned 16. It was a staple in my 1984 Oldsmobile Cutlass Supreme.

The evil trippy Willy Wonka opening really grabs ya. And “Cale & Sodomy” and “Lunchbox” to kick things off? A damn fine record.

No wonder Reznor was attracted to him. . .

. . .Speaking of - how cool is it that both Manson and Reznor are northern Ohio kids? Canton and Cleveland, respectively.

Has the Mayor of @OhioCanton given Manson the key to the city yet? Named a street after him? Seems like a missed opportunity if not.

As strong as the opening of the LP is, the meat of the album is even more impressive.

Songs like “Cyclops,” “Dope Hat,” & “Get Your Gunn” are still way ahead of their time. The latter tune helped open my Catholic schoolboy eyes 2 the hypocrisy of the so-called “pro-life” crowd.

“Pseudo morals work real well on the talk shows for the weak. . .”

“Sweet Tooth.” I have never heard a song like this before, nor have I since.

And “My Monkey” is just so interesting. This record gets 4.5/5 stars!

And now for this truly legendary EP. Manson‘s most famous song is on this record, “Sweet Dreams.”

And yes, he did in fact make it *his* song. A la Hendrix and “All Along the Watchtower.”

It is a well-known fact that @marilynmanson is James Michael’s favorite artist. He asked if he could wear his “Smells Like Children” onesie as we started our Manson journey today in preparation for the new record’s release.

The reimagined “Dope Hat” (“Diary of a Dope Fiend”) is so cool and Halloween-y.

An equally cool cover that is on this EP that does not het as much attention as “Sweet Dreams” is “I Put a Spell on You.” Very good.

“Dance of the Dope Hats” is another amazing re-imagining of “Dope Hat.” Very dance-y.

A great EP that rivals most artists LPs.

4/5 stars!

And now for the masterpiece.

Let’s get this out of the way now:

5/5 stars.

A fun fact. . .This seminal work is the third in a backward trilogy.

“Holy Wood” (released 2 LPs after “Antichrist”) is 1st, then “Mechanical Animals” (released after “Antichrist”).

What is the plot of the trilogy, upu ask? Well, it is timely and timeless indeed.

from Wikipedia:

“The central storyline on the album revolved around a supernatural being who seizes all power from humanity in order to initiate an apocalyptic end event. . .

. . .a populist demagogue who is driven solely by resentment, misanthropy & despair, he uses his newfound position to destroy the world. The record can be seen as a social critique, utilizing this premise as a metaphor 4 the perceived fascist elements of conservatism in the US.”

“Beautiful People.”

I blew out my JL Audio 15 inch speakers in 2001 listening to the live version of this from “The Last Tour on Earth” on Main St. outside The Lab.

James also has a onesie with all of the lyrics to this song on it.

Appropriately enough, James and I walked by this shop on our walk and Manson review this morning.

As many of you know, I made my love for this record and @marilynmanson permanently known about a month ago.

Highlights of the meat of the record:

“Tourniquet”

“Cryptorchid”

“Wormboy”

“Angel with the Scabbed Wings”

If you are unfamiliar with Manson’s work, I highly recommend these four songs.

As we approach the end of the record I am reminded (yet again) of the beauty of “Kinderfeld.”

“Toys all smell like children
And the scab-knees will obey
I'll have to kneel on broomsticks
Just to make it go away

You are what you should fear”

“The Reflecting God” is one of the finest rock songs written in the past 30 years.

It really begs to be sat with and understood.

“Man That You Fear” is a strong penultimate tune:

“Peel off all those eyes and crawl into the dark,
You've poisoned all of your children to camouflage your scars -
Pray unto the splinters, pray unto your fear -
Pray your life was just a dream”

Well, really it’s the last *tune* as “Untitled” is more of an outro.

Anyway. . .this thread of @marilynmanson’s entire catalogue will resume tomorrow!

This is all in preparation of his new LP “We Are Chaos” which drops September 11th.