Listen to me: Chan, the critic, gives his slant on this week's new releases

Chan Tran



Marilyn Manson: Holy Wood (In the Shadow of the Valley of Death) (Nothing/Interscope)

After dilly-dallying in glam rock with "Mechanical Animals" and losing much of his gender-bending, lipstick-eating Goth fans, the brouhaha that usually surrounds Manson's Bible-bashing music has diminished.

With the ever so cleverly titled "Holy Wood," Manson AKA Brian Warner, has succumbed to the same demons that created "Antichrist Superstar," – companion music for reading the Satanic Bible.

The epic endeavor is broken into four parts: A: In the Shadow; D: The Androgyne, A: Of Red Earth; and M: The Fallen. If one squints at the right angle the intended spelling of "Adam," crystallizes. One might question if the subliminal footnote to God's first man is clever or contrived.

On songs such as "Target Audience," "Cruci-Fiction in Space" and the first single "Disposable Teens," he tears through the glam rock barrier separating him from "Superstar." The music gathers strength through the industrial grind that propelled his most famous song "The Beautiful People."

Nonetheless, hearing Manson's scream about loving guns in "The Love Song" and his increasingly inaudible snarl on "The Death Song" leaves me wondering if there is life for him after "Superstar."

The discipline that Manson showed on "Animal," an underrated masterpiece of glam rock, separated him from most industrial Goth metal groups. If one were to take away the androgynous science fiction creature Manson adopted for "Animal," the music was still melodic and structured.

Manson strives to be different this album, going so far as to use acoustic guitars on "The Love Song." But for every step he takes towards being a credible artist, he sets himself on fire with contrived songs such as "Burning Flag."

Regrettably, media coverage of Manson leans towards the mythical proportions of Ozzy Osbourne's bat-biting incident. If the public were to see his TV interviews and read his writing, especially the Columbine rebuttal in Rolling Stone magazine, they would see a man trapped in his own evil creation.

Perhaps an answer to his current problem is to change his name. Several ideas for Manson: Sloth, Gluttony, Greed, Wrath, Envy, Vanity or Lust.

"Holy Wood" has been described as Manson's version of the Beatle's "White Album," according pre-release interviews he has given. He forgot that the Beatles also had "Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band" in their catalog prior to that album.
 

Ricky Martin: Sound Loaded (Columbia)

Few people know that Martin left "General Hospital" and his character Miguel Morez in 1996 -; que lastima -; for his career.

If the Latin-beat first single "She Bangs" is any indication of "Sound Loaded," the world will be living la vida loca for at least another year. The usual catch-phrase, up-tempo songs and dim-the-lights ballads are back for a repeat offense.

But Martin faces the gigantic hurdle of repeating the success of his self-titled English-language debut, which has sold seven million copies to date.

Maybe he can go back to soap operas. "All My Children" might have an opening for a Latin lover.
 

The Offspring: Conspiracy of One (Columbia)

Maverick Records was not so happy with the Offspring's attempt to release their entire album online for free.

Not so fly for a bunch of white guys who just want to help their fans.

Instead the band did an online release for the single "Original Prankster," a tasty morsel from the album.

But between Green Day and No Doubt, there are few fans left for frontman Dexter and his band-mates. Now that's a happy thought.

• Gonzales cause of war?

• Listen to me: Chan, the critic, gives his slant on this week's new releases
• Students battle at chess tourney

• Beach downs Idaho
• 49ers lose exhibition to All-Stars by one point