Customer Reviews

Transylvanian Regurgitations

5 star:		(7)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(4)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Just as a caution, don't be mislead if you've heard any form of Manson & Rasputina's song "Transylvanian Concubine". The band Rasputina is not a guitar rocking, keyboard slamming manifestation of sounds. They're are composed of simple cellos and soft, female vocals. Melora does a brilliant cover of Melanie's "Brand New Key". "Howard Hughs", "Rusty The Skatemaker", & the real "Transylvanian Concubine" done without Manson & Twiggy are sweet-n-simple, nostalgic melodies with the tiniest tinges of creepyness in the voice. Melora has great vocals that work so very well with Manson's talent on the keyboard and Twiggy's brilliant craft on guitar & bass. Think of this EP as an introduction to Rasputina with 2 opening songs that will blow your mind with what they could be, but aren't. "Transylvanian Concubine" is a spectacular song with great sound & lyrics. If you like it, you most likely won't like Rasputina's real songs unless your musical taste is ripped wide open from dark gloom rock to uplifting poplike singalongs ....as like mine is, but hey, give it a try. Chances are you'll like one of the two.

The simplicity of three cellos mixed into a fantastic concoction of harmonic melodies is what sets Rasputina's thought provoking music apart from the highly uninteresting and synthetic music that the great percentage of people are listening to today....With songs like "Rusty the Skatemaker" ( one of the most beautifully crafted songs I have heard in ages)and Transylvanian Concubine (a delicate mixture of beautiful melodies and piercing lyrics), this is a must have selection for any CD collection....If only the rest of the world would grab onto Rasputina the way I have....If you are an eclectic with musical interests including classical, gothic music, rock, or your just interested in beautiful music, hand crafted from the strings and hands of three cellists and their cellos then this CD will bring you nothing but joy....

I love Rasputina and own everything they've put out, and I consider all of their albums essential listening. Except this. The only "original" material are the two remixes, but they're of the same song and sound disappointingly similar. The other four tracks are from their first album, so if you already have that there just isn't much here. If the remixes were better, or of different songs, or if there was an unreleased song on the disc, it'd be a must buy. But it's not.

I think this was released by the label to squeeze a few more bucks out of a new band using the then popular Marilyn Manson. Rasputina puts Marilyn Manson to shame lyrically and musically, and to have MM remixing Rasputina's music is truly ironic and sad.

My advice - buy everything else from Rasputina, pass on this.

You must own this EP. I'm not going to dock stars from it because it's too short, because it IS an EP we're talking about. Comparing it to a full-length album is an apples and oranges thing. Anyway, Transylvanian Concubine is one of the best songs I've heard in years(originally and remixed...Marilyn Manson did a surprisingly good job remixing it with Twiggy), Howard Hughes holds that whole kinda atonal/creepy vibe really well, and the other two(Rusty the Skatemaker and Brand New Key) capture the warm melodic side of this wonderful band. If you're looking for an original and eclectic little chunk of music to listen to when everything else sounds boring, this is the CD to get.

I am a tremendous Rasputina fan, but sadly I cannot recommend this puzzling album to anyone. I say puzzling because I'm not sure what they were thinking when they released it. Four out of the six songs are just the same tracks from their debut "Thanks for the Ether." And the other two tracks are *bad*, and almost *identical*, yet separate renditions of Translyvanian Concubine. And while it is a great song, we don't need to hear it Three Times. The first mix was horribly altered by Marilyn Manson, who, although a Rasputina fan himself, should have kept his hands off of the original song. Any true Rasputina fan most likely wouldn't appreciate Manson's mix, since it clashes so with Rasputina's aesthetic. His aesthetic is distinctly different from Rasputina's, and it's like he was trying to twist it into "something better" by making it sound something more like he would create.. but that doesn't make it better. It's just not fitting. As for the other mix, honestly, I can't tell much of a difference. The first two tracks are a waste. The rest are just repeats from the first CD. I can't believe I'm saying this, but don't waste your money on this CD from Rasputina. :(

This c.d. is a must have. It is really good and impossible to get tired of. The Marylin Manson remix of Transylvanian Concubine makes you want to dress up like a vampire and dance to the same song over and over again. The music is beautifully haunting. The songs fill you with emotions. Some of them make you feel so sad while others make you reminisce and still others make you want to dress up like some witch or vampire and dance. It's like listening to gothic,industrial, classical and even heavy metal all at the same time. It is a really good concoction though. The lyrics are really good and Melora has a beautiful voice. This c.d. is an excellent addition to your gothic collection or any collection for that matter.

The mixes are good, everything else is on the album. I love Rasputina, that is why I bought the EP, if you haven't head them than buy the album, it better.

Rasputina have a breathtaking way of combining three cellos, a drum kit and one beautiful female voice into a haunting, but slightly repetative (at least on this EP)sound. While easily listenable time and time again, it is quite short (approx. 28-30min) and the first two tracks hardly differ at all, both being mixed by marilyn manson himself. Definetly worth a few bucks though and most certainly a beautiful sound all around, i've yet to hear anything like it.

This c.d. is a must have. It is really good and impossible to get tired of. The Marylin Manson remix of Transylvanian Concubine makes you want to dress up like a vampire and dance to the same song over and over again. The music is beautifully haunting. The songs fill you with emotions. Some of them make you feel so sad while others make you reminisce and still others make you want to dress up like some witch or vampire and dance. It's like listening to gothic,industrial, classical and even heavy metal all at the same time. It is a really good concoction though. The lyrics are really good and Melora has a beautiful voice. This c.d. is an excellent addition to your gothic collection or any collection for that matter.

This is a great remix and B-side album from an great band. Marilyn Manson (Brian Warner) and Twiggy Ramirez (Jordie White) have both done a great job remixing Transylvanian Concubine. The radio edit is shorter than the full length edit. The are no other differences between the two songs other than the amount of time they both run. Also check out Marilyn Manson's "The Dope Show" Part II c.d. single, Rasputina does the backing vocals on the live version of "The Apple of Sodom"