Customer Reviews

Holy Wood (Gamepieces)

5 star:		(232)
4 star:		(50)
3 star:		(21)
2 star:		(11)
1 star:		(12)

 

 

Manson has evoluted since their mainstream debut Portrait Of An American Family, produced by Nine Inch Nails mastermind, Trent Reznor. Since then, we've seen him transforming himself into the american-hated Antichrist Superstar, the beautiful-disgusting alien from Mechanical Animals, and the cynical rock star Omega from that album too. Now, Manson takes his act even further, and blends his two past albums with a new edge that will take 4 or 5 listenings to grow on you and fully expand its petals in your brain. Holy Wood is one depressing and violent take on today's stupid death worshipping through TV and the media in general. Those bozos who picked on the band and on different movies, blaming them for the Columbine massacre, are the same hypocrits that sell you prefabricated Talk Shows, sex driven commercials, and greedy religion; all in one beautiful package that pretendas to pass as morality. Manson shows no mercy to them, speaking about Eric Harris and Dylan Klebold (The Nobodies), Kennedy and John Lenons (In The Shadow Of The Valley Of Death), and seducing controversy and danger with no fear (The Death Song). Holy Wood sounds different from ACS and MA, but at the same time it owes its sound to them very strongly. This is not an album which will pass without notice, this is a hammer-in-the-head statement about our dumbness. We can live happily with our families or whatever, but we can be shot in the street by some idiot who doesn't like our skin color our our ideas, just because the whole media culture has posted standards for race, beauty, wealth and all those unnecesary subjects. Buy Holy Wood, watch Fight Club, and you'll get close to the whole idea.

Manson is one of the few mainstream artists that makes their audiences think and try to understand further things better than Hit Me One More Time or She Bangs or A.D.I.D.A.S., maybe he's ot the better example for a young generation, but if you're concerned about the kind of music or movies or TV that your children are exposed to, start by showing them that those Britney, Ricky Martin and Oprah dweebs are a danger too. There's always variety for everyone of us.

Manson's 4th full length album is misunderstood by some as being the sellout mark. This is not true. He hasn't sold out. If you haven't noticed, every Marilyn Manson album is different. Holy Wood is a hybrid of Antichrist Superstar and Mechanical Animals. The result is different and not a rehash. Manson returns to his dark industrial roots with emotion, creativity, artwork, a story and most importantly it makes a point. It makes several of them as a matter of fact. A large portion revolves around America's obsession with guns, violence, JFK, the Beatles, the Columbine Massacre, God and the media. Some of these things Manson has already gone over but here he goes into more detail. You actually may not understand Holy wood at first if you aren't too knowledgeable about the JFK and John Lennon assassinations. Ex: King Kill 33 (a song name) is actually the name of an essay about the JFK assassination. The story revolves around a person Marilyn Manson created who is simply named Adam Kadmon. I could go into all the very deep meanings of every song, but that would take forever and I'm only allowed 1000 words. So instead, I will cover each event/song in the story. I will also cover some of the larger meanings behind some of the songs. Manson had clearly worked his really hard for this record. It contains 19 songs (not including the B-sides on the singles) and a lot of beautiful artwork. And even though Holy Wood is the final chapter in the trilogy, it is actually the first as it is completed in reverse. Antichrist Superstar had 3 Parts and Mechanical Animals had two different views (Alpha and Omega). Holy Wood however, has 4 parts.

The story goes that Holy Wood is this mystical place which is ruled by the rich, beautiful celebrities, and their money. The Death Valley is a terrible place where anybody who thinks differently or artistically is kept. Adam is a character who finds acceptance in holy Wood but ends up engulfed by violence and consumed by his own fame.
A: In the Shadow
God Eat God: It's a song that serves as an intro in some ways. It revolves around how JFK and Christ are viewed similarly to one another.
The Love Song: It displays America as a place filled with everything Adam wants to change.
The Fight Song: "The death of one is a tragedy, the death of a million is just a statistic" is a quote from Joseph Stalin, the beloved dictator of the Soviet Union who is responsible for over 20 million deaths of those sent to work camps in Siberia. Anyways, Adam becomes a performer and wants people to hear him and his views on Holy Wood.
Disposable Teens: Often referred to as another beautiful people, it's still great though, The keyboardist M.W. Gacy contributes to this with additional drums (the GGG DVD).

D: The Androgyne
Target Audience (Narcissus Narcosis): This song has a LOT of meanings. Adam confronts "all the old deceivers" with a list of their crimes and failures.
"President Dead": After becoming popular in the Valley, President Dead says what he thinks of Adam's performances.
In The Shadow of the Valley of Death: A very personal acoustic song, I feel Adam is making decisions.
Cruci-Fiction in Space: Represents the evolution and de-evolution of mankind as we again resort to violence to enjoy ourselves.
A Place in the Dirt: containing references to things like the Holy Grail and Xianity.

A: Of Red Earth
The Nobodies: Obviously about the Columbine tragedy.
The Death Song: Hopelessness, Heaven is vague and maybe God would like to end it all.
Lamb of God: the second acoustic song is filled with references to John Lennon and how if a celebrity is killed then they are thought of as a hero or "martyr and a lamb of god". How the media praises death.
Born Again: Adam Kadmon is disheartened, castigates those who destroy the irreplaceable, reward mediocrity, and hardly seem able to tell the difference.
Burning Flag: A war of the classes. Holy Wood and the Valley are now completely divided.

M: The Fallen
Coma Black a) Eden eye b) the apple of discord: The opposite of Coma White. This is where Adam Kadmon (being a paradox of humanity and divinity) is broken up into individual humans (like the Mechanical Animals era).
Valentines Day: If you are familiar with the ACSS story then you know that this is the same day as the Irresponsible Hate Anthem. It's also about a girl (Coma Black?) who walked into the Valley seeking him.
The Fall of Adam: Adam gives up on saving mankind and hands out guns as shown in the last half which seems to be one of Manson's infamous "bible speeches". First half is acoustic.
King Kill 33: "I am not sorry, and I am not sorry, this is what you deserve" is a Charles Manson quote from his trial. It is asking do we deserve to be saved? After all, it is the savior who must die.
Count to Six and Die (the vacuum of infinite Space encompassing): Very creepy song. Listen to this record for this first time in the dark and this song WILL freak you out.

The Enhanced portion of this CD leads to a website that no longer works. It showed a bizarre autopsy video that will be placed on the CD/DVD version of Marilyn Manson's Best Of album.

I may be wrong in a few parts in this huge 70 minute album, but it's all up to interpretation due to the story being very elaborate. A few people complain of their being a lot of filler here. I disagree. I can listen to the album the whole way through. The only time I have an urge to press the skip button occasionally is when President Dead pops up. We have 19 tracks of Manson music, intellectuality, knowledge and criticism.

A band you either love or loathe, Manson never stray far from their blueprint - the deeply cynical lyrics of the band leader Marilyn Manson, the slow dirge type songs and the high energy two-fingered salute rock songs to mainstream America. Combining the metallic edge of Antichrist Superstar with the Glam-inspired Mechanical Animals has resulted in Holywood, the most complete musical statement the band have made in their highly controversial career to date. The killer one-two of The Love Song and The Fight Song are the standout moments on this very long album.

The Fight Song sounds like Blur's Song Two put through the industrial blender to create a Stooges-sounding energy rush. First single Disposable Teens is basically The Beautiful People revisited but still is one of Manson's strongest work. President Dead has an amazing chorus that marks it as one of the most immediate tracks on first listen. Delve deeper and you will find the sequel to 1998s Coma White, titled here funnily enough as Coma Black. If you look at this from a cynic's point of view, a band running out of ideas and from a fan's viewpoint, taking one of Mechanical Animal's finest moments to create a more than worthy follow-up. Burning Flag sounds to similar to Ministry's earlier recordings for comfort but still remains Holywood's most angry track.

The Nobodies written in the aftermath of the Columbine massacres is an intent statement of American youth of the 21st century. Early editions of the CD feature an acoustic version of The Nobodies, which sounds like it was recorded live in the studio. The one track that ruins the flow of the album is Crucifiction In Space but that becomes decent after a while. Every track is worthy of a mention, from A Place In The Dirt anthem qualities to King Kill's industrial weirdness.

Just like the predecessor, Mechanical Animals, Holywood plummeted down the Billboard charts, which is a shame as this would be highly regarded as a classic rock album if the band were not perceived as some devil-worshipping goths instead of talented musicians they are.

I have the album and I enjoy it very much. Picking a favorite is pretty tricky, but it would be a battle between "Lamb Of God", "The Nobodies", "Born Again", "Burning Flag", "The Fight Song", "In The Shadow Of The Valley Of Death", and "The Fall Of Adam" (that's on my personal note). This album is less tech and more Rock. It has a good rocking beat and stays pretty heavy at the same time. The cover of Manson with the missing jaw is pretty cool for the symbolism of censorship issues Manson has. I have no doubt that lots of people would want to shut him up or worse.

Now I have read a good deal of the reviews here and some love this album. Some love it because its the third part of a trilogy and some hate it because it 'imitates' Antichrist Superstar and/or/mixed-with Mechanical Animals. I can see the different cups of tea that people like here. Some like their taste to stay around the same, such as the music and songs. Some like the same with a little variety now and then. Some want a totally new thing. Then there are some that get bored easily. I love Antichrist Superstar and I enjoy Mechanical Animals and to me Holy Wood really rocks. Artists change and some don't. I like to consider every album its own and I usually don't expect them to be the same or different, if I like what I hear then thats all I need. I like what comes from my stereo when I pop this album in, hopefully you will too.

The third installment of Manson's self-proclaimed "Trytych," which includes Holy Wood, Mechanical Animals and AntiChrist Superstar (in that order), is a well articulated response to the blame Manson received regarding the Columbine tragedy. The album spans 68 minutes and 19 songs which range from a whisper to a scream. While there is no new musical ground broken by the band, Manson more than makes up for that through the most in-your-face, no-holds-barred verbal assault Manson's recorded. He blurs such topics as God, Christ, the crucifiction, JFK and his assasination, the Columbine shootings, Satanism, John Lennon, and religion in a non-appologetic onslaught. With songs like GodEatGod, "Dear God can you come down off the tree into a shape of a T," The Fight Song, "I'm not a slave to a God that doesn't exist," Burning Flag, "we are all just stars and we're waiting, we are all just scarred and we're hating," and The Death Song, "We sing the death song, kids, 'cause we've got no future," Manson goes for the jugular more effectively than anything he's done previous to this. While the album attempts to recreate the atmospherics of AntiChrist on many tracks, it ultimately fails in doing so. To the other extent, it fails to match any of the intricate, instantly hummable songs reminicent of Mechanical Animals. It does, however, provide a link between them both. The most scathing lyrics occur in "King Kill 33," in which Manson frankly states exactly how he feels regading how the media has wrongly blamed him for Columbine, and eerily chants, "I am not sorry, I am not sorry. This is what you DESERVE!" While you won't hear the second and third single as easily as with Mechanical, nor find yourself entranced by the moodiness of AntiChrist, Holy Wood is a good album. It takes a few listens, but after it sinks in, it becomes the worthy successor of the band's previous efforts.

I bought this album the day that it came out, and it has gotten its share of stereo play since then. I can't vocalize how pleased I am with Manson's conclusion to the triptych he began with Antichrist Superstar. Despite many fans' disillusionment with the release of Mechanical Animals, I'm sure that many of them will view this as a "comeback" album for Marilyn. That is only partially true though. In all honesty, this album integrates the best elements from the previous two releases: Antichrist Superstar's angry, scathing, gothic sounds; and Mechanical Animal's more melodic elements. As with EVERY Manson album, there are plenty of thought provoking lyrics throughout. In addition to the normal band, Bon Harris (of Nitzer Ebb and Maven) has helped tremendously on the album, working to incorporate various techo/industrial elements into the recording. I would hate to be the producer for this album, because in all honesty, I wouldn't know where to begin to pick the singles. SO MANY of the songs are catchy and memorable (without being watered down in the least) that that task must be quite daunting. One complaint that I have seen voiced is that some of the songs seem too short, which with a nineteen track album, I suppose you run that risk. Personally though, I thought the album "felt" complete and the songs were perfectly sufficient for my tastes.

Manson is known for his brilliance and his willingness to say things that other people are afraid to say, and this album is a testament to that. Despite what many misinformed Christians will think, this album is really not an attack against God so much as an attack against the death-worshiping culture in which we live. The album explores the standard themes of rebellion, mindless conformity, and revolution but goes deeper into the psychology of man and roots out mankind's evolution and propensity towards violence. It is largely a response to the Columbine incident, and several songs undoubtedly delve into the mentality and circumstances that lead to such tragedies...The American attitude of teenagers being "disposable," and not fully valid members of the society in which they live. With literary and philosophical allusions in abundance, the album probes into the notion of the "celebrity death icon," or the fact that by dying you can become immortal in our violence-loving society. It further develops the theme through figures such as Christ, Kennedy, and Lennon and shows how the media exploits death and markets it like any other pre-packaged product.

before the album was released, and i heard the single 'disposable teens' on the radio, i was a bit cynical about holy wood, as i felt the song was simply a take on 'the beautiful people'. but hearing the album in full for the first time changed my mind, it's fantastic! fearing a rehash of 'mechanical animals' or 'antichrist superstar', i was proven wrong by an album which is more powerful than both combined, featuring the 'gritty' sound of antichrist superstar with the solid songwriting from mechanical animals, plus a hell of a lot more.

highlights include "valentine's day", "the love song", "cruci-fiction in space" and "king kill 33", whose style sounds like a sped-up combination of the title track from manson's 'antichrist superstar' and 'pilgrimage' on nine inch nails' latest, "the fragile".

it's disappointing to hear that once again, like with mechanical animals, various retail stores have refused to stock the album because of its confrontational cover art. like manson has said himself, the missing jaw on the statue represents censorship, and the fact that these stores have chosen this course of action just proves his point even further. oh well.

either way, a big surprise for me, as my interest in Marilyn Manson as a group had waned slightly in the last year or so. fantastic album - give it a go... , you'll probably be surprised like i was - well worth the money paid for it.

Marilyn Manson's sixth release from the studio, 2000's "Holy Wood," is his first of the new millennium. It is also his first album since the 1999 shootings at Columbine High School. So, here, Manson acknowledges that the public blamed him for the shootings, with the songs "The Love Song" (which asserts the blame on the parents for controlling their kids), "Lamb of God" (which deals with death in the media), and "The Nobodies" (which seemingly is directly about the Columbine killers).

Even though tracks seven and twelve are power ballads with soft strumming, "Holy Wood" is usually heavier than (and has more riffs than) its 1998 predecessor, "Mechanical Animals." Some fans liked the direction "Mechanical Animals" was headed, but I, for one, am in favor of the heavier sound.

This C.D. is worth buying just for the singles ("Fight Song" and "Disposable Teens"). My personal favorite tune on here, "Fight Song," which is one of Manson's most infamous songs, is a mosh pit anthem if I've ever heard one. And it's also one of the only songs I've ever listened to that actually made me want to get into a fight. The song is centered around its chorus, which is about as catchy and memorable as choruses come. This big, headbanging chorus ("I'm not a slave/to a god/that doesn't exist!") will also, probably, get stuck in your head whether you want it to or not.

"Disposable Teens" is also very catchy. It's fueled by a nice vocal hook, and a shout along of "Yeah! Yeah! Yeah, yeah, yeah!"

But, even though those two songs are the biggest stand outs on here, the album, as a whole, is also very good. Now, there are some tracks (i.e. "Cruci-Fiction In Space" and "A Place In The Dirt") that aren't memorable, but, fortunately, because it's 19 tracks long, there are plenty of good songs to take up the slack. "The Love Song" has a catchy drum beat in the verses and a loud, shout-along chorus, and "Burning Flag" finds Manson making sexy breathing/panting noises between the stop-start drumming and riffs. Tracks ten and eleven, "The Nobodies" and "The Death Song," have sinister, electronic sound effects and a thumping drum beat, with a melodic, extended chorus, and "Valentine's Day" has reverberating, electronic vocals which make an echoing/vibrating sound effect over chunky, lurching guitars.

Granted, like most Marilyn Manson albums, "Holy Wood" isn't for everybody. Those of the Christian faith are especially advised to stay away. But if you like hard rock/industrial metal, have an anti-establishment or rebellious attitude, or if you just want a C.D. to go ape with, "Holy Wood" will more than suffice.

I absolutely love this album, I just sit and listen to it on my headphones and it is quite an experience. The lyrics are beautifully written, ever song has a great unique sound, and the whole album is trying to say something important about the world we live in today. That is all I could ever want in an album. Here's a song-by-song review:
GodEatGod: Very creepy song that has a very creative sound and a great way to start out the album.
The Love Song: An anthem that you can't resist but scream with Manson too. It's very electrifying.
The Fight Song: One of my favorite songs of all time and the second Manson song I ever heard which made me want to start getting into him. The chorus says it all and it's just a wonderful angry song to sing.
Disposable Teens: I really do like this song even though it got overplayed off of this album, but if you still haven't heard it yet, you're in for a treat.
Target Audience: I heard this song before I bought the album and it encouraged me to buy it. I loved every single word written in this song and think it's just brilliant.
"President Dead": Didn't like this at first, but after a while it gets really catchy and it rocks really hard in your ear. Good stuff.
In the Shadow of the Valley of Death: Quite possibly the most depressing sounding song in the world, which is a great change from the beginning of the album. I love to listen to this when i feel really depressed, it just fits my mood very well.
Cruci-Fiction in Space: This would be such a cool song and on my top 10 list if it weren't for the fact that the chorus gets repeated too many times that i just can't stand it sometimes. Still good though.
A Place in the Dirt: This is one of those songs that I just love and never skip just because I love the instumental sounds it has in it, it's very soothing.
The Nobodies: One of my favorite songs before it even hit the radio (and i hate that they're overplaying it lately cuz it's great song i do NOT want to get sick of) Great lyrics regarding to Columbine and very honest.
The Death Song: This is one of those songs that just rocks! Great sound, awesome lyrics, and just a great song that is highly underrated.
Lamb of God: Beautiful song comparing the death of John Lennon to Jesus Christ switching around words in Lennon's song Across the Universe. I love it!
Born Again: Another one of those songs that just rocks. This one and Burning Flag go together well cuz it's really hard and a lot of yelling is involved. But that's still good.
Burning Flag: Pretty much the same as "Born Again"
Coma Black: Another song that I just find to be beautiful. The only thing that bugs me about it is I really do like the chorus, but it is repeated waaaaay too many times, but i still very much enjoy this song.
Valentine's Day: A great creepy song that is very fun to sing. (even if you repeat "In the Shadow of the Valley of Death" like 50 times.)
The Fall of Adam: In my opinion, the weakest song on the album, I don't really understand it, but still has a soothing sound to it I like.
King Kill 33: Spectacular lyrics put to a mediocre sound, but I put up with the weird sounds in it to just say the wonderful words that I can so relate to.
Count to Six and Die: Great song to end the album that kind of has the same haunting type effect that the first song did. Very spooky, yet satisfying.
So now you know about all of these songs, you gotta go out and buy the best CD god (Marilyn Manson) has ever created. Thank you and goodnight.

So you guys think I am probably goth? You think I am a Satanist? or some freak off the street? Well, NO! I am senior economics and religion major who just loves marilyn manson's music and personality. I was skeptical when I heard about this album, but it proved me completely wrong. The musicmanship and ability of Marilyn Manson, John5, Pogo, Ginger Fish and Twiggy Ramirez is portrayed in its maximum color and brightness. The sound is fresh, rocking, clear and just brilliantly written. The lyrics are astounding, poetic and philosophical. I have not heard a single artist, writer, poet who comes close to Manson's capacity. It comes from a hard working citizen of the world who sees the negativity present todays and is doing his best to change it. I think we all need to applaud him. Thanks Marilyn Manson and band!

Highlight of this album: Valentine's Day