Mechanical Animals

"If there was ever any doubt that Mr Manson (Brian I believe his Mum calls him) is massively in debt to David Bowie, Marc Bolan, Iggy Pop, Alice Cooper et al then just check the cover for 'Mechanical Animals'.

Yes indeed, it's our Bri doing his level best to not quite imitate David Bowies mid-70's 'Diamond Dogs' androgo-plonker look. Sure David was lying down for his and it was painted by one of the most interesting artists of the time but these days it's all touch-up in a computer business and despite having a whole world of technology that was unimaginable twenty plus years ago Brian just can't come up with an original idea.

Since it is imagination, originality and talent that are so obviously missing from this album perhaps we should repair those earlier comparisons to the glam rock elite and draw more realistic parallels with Mud, the Specimen and the Angelic Upstarts.

Obviously there are those out there that have never had these second-hand experiences of semi-rebellious 'glamschlock' before and for them this second album of strung together buzzwords, knit your own offense and yankified anti-ism may seem like something quite potent. In fact the only potency that this album contains is the way in which it draws fire from Christians and moral majoritists who otherwise could well be aiming their cannons for the Lord at genuinely subversive targets (or probably equally inneffectual rappers!).

If you're in need of some humour (and an hour with Brian will have you gagging for a good grin) then check out some of the anti-Manson websites that analyse his lyrics, pore over his photographs (oops, Ned Flanders, mind that inverted cross) and miss the point even more than the bedraggled tosser himself. This one is strictly for teenage Pavement readers, the culturally impaired and those with no memory, shame or taste."
- Eight Ball