If you haven’t caught Mr. Manson live, you really don’t know what you are missing. His horror show is never uneventful and always unnerving.
“The Reflecting God” is powerful, yet not as strong as the original release. I particularly liked the live rendition of “Get Your Gunn”. Ever since Manson went the way of glam and Mtv, I’ve hoped for more of the raw and hardcore side of Manson that we all knew and loved. Then there is the crossover hit, “Sweet Dreams”. You know, I always wondered what Annie Lennox thought of this. Well, the live version finds Manson trying to sing two parts and not making it happen. Come on, Ziggy, can’t you help a man out? Manson lets the audience sing the chorus toward the end, and this should make your spine tingle with the power of the crowd, but here you can barely hear them. It ends on a low.
My least favorite Manson song is “The Dope Show”. This particular track is just as annoying as he switches the usual verse to, “Drugs they say are made right here in Cleveland.” Maybe I’m being picky, but since when did Manson work on being clich? One point before “Lunchbox”, Manson engages the crowd in one of the most entertaining parts of this record. Most of you are familiar with the protests that Manson had to endure at every venue. You’ll love it when he yells, “There are a lot of people outside and you should let them hear what we are doing in here, motherfuckers. Can I hear a hallelujah, motherfucker?” The next track finds Manson discussing an amusing dream. The dialogue is most entertaining; too bad I’m listening, not seeing the action. Manson is as much a visual creature as he is a sonic one.
The most disturbing is the chant, “We hate love, we love hate.” Manson knows how to get a crowd going as he bursts into “Irresponsible Hate Anthem”.
You’ll enjoy “Astonishing Panorama Of The Endtimes”, originally recorded for Mtv’s “Celebrity Death Match.” The song is as relevant as anything Marilyn Manson has ever released, however, the addition is a shameless way to get fans to buy this live album. The Last Tour On Earth is exciting at times, but isn’t always so. Fans should buy it for their collection, but if you are getting into Manson for the first time, buy Portrait of An American Family or AntiChrist Superstar. You’ll be much more entertained.
+ rae gun
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