The Golden Age of Grotesque
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| The Golden Age of Grotesque | ||
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| Studio album by Marilyn Manson | ||
| Released | May 13, 2003 | |
| Recorded | ??? | |
| Genre | Industrial Metal | |
| Length | 57:40 | |
| Label | Nothing, Interscope | |
| Producer(s) | Marilyn Manson, Tim Sköld | |
| Professional reviews | ||
|---|---|---|
| Marilyn Manson chronology | ||
| Holy Wood (2000) |
The Golden Age of Grotesque (2003) |
Lest We Forget (2004) |
The Golden Age of Grotesque is the fifth full length album by Marilyn Manson released in 2003. It incorporates themes from the glamorous Swing era of the thirties, as well as from the Weimar Republic.
This album drew a mixed critical response. Although ending up in many critics' 'best of' lists for 2003, other critics consider this Manson's weakest album, proposing that it lacks originality and thoughtful lyrics compared to its predecessors.
Instrumentally, this album is more beat-driven and electronic than previous albums. This is perhaps due to Tim Sköld's presence — some believe this album's sound is at times reminiscent of KMFDM, with whom Skold had collaborated prior to recording with Manson.
Lyrically, this album is full of historical and pop references, much like Holy Wood. References include Peter Pan, Hitler, and Oscar Wilde. As in many of his other works, he makes use of word play and double-meanings, coining words like "gloominati", "scabaret sacrilegends", "vivi-sex symbol", "cocaingels" "mOBSCENE", "vodevil" and "para-noir".
The Austrian-Irish artist Gottfried Helnwein collaborated with Manson on this album. The cover and the artwork inside the album sleeve was created by Helnwein, and this artwork was also shown in his exhibitions.
Also included with some copies was a DVD titled Doppelherz (Double-heart), a short film directed by Manson.
The Golden Age of Grotesque has been viewed by many long-time fans as mildly disregarded, with its main ideas lost. The most enduring theme is chiefly notable in the single "This is the New Shit". The song was seen as poppy, with the chorus - and title - possibly referring to the fact that Tim Skold had joined the band, bringing with him a completely new and different style of music that featured industrial beats and sounds previously ignored in earlier Manson albums. While this could be regarded as Manson's attempt to sell to the masses, the song in fact is railing against contemporary music, i.e., 'the new shit', and goes so far as to spell out what Manson viewed the formula for mainstream success to be:
"Babble, babble, bitch, bitch, rebel, rebel, party, party, sex, sex, sex, and don't forget the violence, blah, blah, blah, got your lovey-dovey sad and lonely, stick your stupid slogan in, everybody sing along."
The album, probably misconcieved because of the parody that it has placed on its stereotypical audience, follows the evolution of Manson himself ("Thaeter") through to "Obsequey (The Death of Art)", or "art into a product". This album takes on dual layer storylines, first as a punk rock ballad spouting the notion to live life to its fullest in presumption that there is no future. The second storyline takes a parody to the idea that living life to the fullest has led us into a nihilistic stupidity, hence the "rebel to sell" references within 'The Bright Young Things' and the transformation into a commercially acceptable "happy" icon, Mickey Mouse (Manson posed as Mickey Mouse throughout the album's publicity.)
[edit] Track listing
- Thaeter
- This Is the New Shit
- mOBSCENE
- Doll-Dagga Buzz-Buzz Ziggety-Zag
- Use Your Fist and Not Your Mouth
- The Golden Age of Grotesque
- (s)AINT
- Ka-boom Ka-boom
- Slutgarden
- ♠
- Para-noir
- The Bright Young Things
- Better of Two Evils
- Vodevil
- Obsequey (The Death of Art)
Also included after track 15 in Australia, Belgium, Germany, Spain, Portugal, Brazil, México, Italy and Sweden:
In Japan:
- Tainted Love
- "Baboon Rape Party"
- "Paranoiac"
In United Kingdom:
- Tainted Love
- Baboon Rape Party
B-sides
- Mind of a Lunatic (Geto Boys cover)
[edit] Album
| Chart (2003) | Peak Position |
|---|---|
| The Billboard 200 (U.S.) | 1 |
[edit] Credits
- Chuck Bailey - Assistant Engineer
- Tom Baker - Mastering
- Jon Blaine - Hair Stylist
- Blumpy - Digital Editing
- Jeff Burns - Assistant
- Ginger Fish - Drums, Rhythm Direction
- Madonna Wayne Gacy - Synthesizer, Keyboards, Loops, Editing, Electronics, Melody Arrangement
- Ross Garfield - Drum Technician
- Ben Grosse - Producer, Engineer, Digital Editing, Mixing
- Marilyn Manson - Vocals, Producer
- John 5 - Guitar, Piano, Orchestration
- Tim Sköld - Bass, Guitar, Accordion, Keyboards, Producer, Loops, Artwork, Digital Editing, Drum Programming, Synthesizer Bass, Electronics, Beats
- Mark Williams - A&R
- Gottfried Helnwein - Art Direction
| Preceded by Body Kiss by The Isley Brothers feat. Ronald Isley |
Billboard 200 Number 1 Album May 31, 2003 - June 6, 2003 |
Succeeded by 14 Shades of Grey by Staind |
