I was really disappointed with both this CD and the new Ozzy CD. Neither artist broke any new ground and both releases are one step away from being throwaways.

Marilyn Manson's new CD isn't bad, it is just generic and the majority of tracks all sounds the same. With past releases, Manson has always had a couple stellar tracks but the "magic" doesn't happen on this disc. I understand he is depressed over his breakup with Dita Von Teese but there isn't much to work with on this CD. Manson may be trying to change his sound but, if so, he is going in the wrong direction. His songwriting just isn't strong enough, Twiggy's influence seems sorely missed and the overall sound is nothing more than a retread of the music that Rozz Williams and Christian Death pioneered many years ago.

Manson still has a strong voice and the guitar work is pretty solid but, all-in-all, none of the tracks on this disc have the sticking power of "The Beautiful People", "Dope Show" or even "Personal Jesus". The strongest track on this CD is "Heart Shaped Glasses" (the first single from the CD) and, honestly, it isn't that memorable.

If you a fan of Manson's recent works, this release isn't that radical a departure from Grotesque and you might like this. If you are new to Manson's work, there are much better starting points.