The Golden Age of Grotesque (album)

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The Golden Age of Grotesque is the fifth full length album by Marilyn Manson released in 2003 with 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 (music)|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, Adolf 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 the 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 misconceived 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 story lines, 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.)


Track listing

  1. Thaeter
  2. This Is the New Shit
  3. mOBSCENE
  4. Doll-Dagga Buzz-Buzz Ziggety-Zag
  5. Use Your Fist and Not Your Mouth
  6. The Golden Age of Grotesque
  7. (s)AINT
  8. Ka-boom Ka-boom
  9. Slutgarden
  10. Spade
  11. Para-noir
  12. The Bright Young Things
  13. Better of Two Evils
  14. Vodevil
  15. Obsequey (The Death of Art)

Also included after track 15 in Australia, Belgium, Germany, Spain, Portugal, Brazil, México, Italy and Sweden:

  1. Tainted Love

In Japan:

  1. Tainted Love
  2. "Baboon Rape Party"
  3. "Paranoiac"

In United Kingdom:

  1. Tainted Love
  2. Baboon Rape Party

B-sides

  1. Mind of a Lunatic


The Cast:

MARILYN MANSON as himself and also known or referred to as "Herr Doktor". This is the creator of all vocals and OB ART manipulator of various instruments including: a burning piano, synthetic bass, mellotron, the saxophone and the mutilation of audio for personal use. He maintained some rhythm directive including (but not limited to) loops and snare drum rolls. There were also occasions where the one string guitar was implemented for dramatic purposes.

JOHN 5 as the lead guitar demagogue. He is responsible for rhythm, lead and dissonance in the field of guitar (including but not limited) to the 5, 6 and 7 string instruments. Piano and various orchestral elements were also choreographed by him using his guitar in a manner often viewed as inappropriate.

M. W. GACY as the chief chemist and philosopher of electronics, specializing in the field of keyboards and responsible for synthesizers, discoloration of words, loops, and political melody.

Introducing TIM SKOLD, who stars as the bassist. He is the shaper of electronics, loops, synth bass, keyboard and accordion. He is also responsible for OB ART constructivism of guitar and beat.

GINGER FISH as the live drummer and primal meter interpreter. Leader of all rhythm divisions of marching and big band korps.

Other Credits

  • Chuck Bailey - Audio engineer|Assistant Engineer
  • Tom Baker - Mastering
  • Jon Blaine - Hair Stylist
  • Blumpy - Digital Editing
  • Jeff Burns - Assistant
  • Ross Garfield - Drum Technician
  • Ben Grosse - Record producer|Producer,Audio engineer|Engineer, Digital Editing, Mixing
  • Mark Williams - A&R
  • Gottfried Helnwein - Art Direction

Singles

- mOBSCENE (2003). - This is The New Shit (2003) (It also appears as one of the songs compounding the "Matrix Revolutions" soundtrack). - (s)AINT (2004).