Marilyn Manson has been one of the most talked about artists of our time, but how much of those discussions have been about the actual music? Like such controversial artists as Madonna or Alice Cooper, Manson's stage performances and overall appearance has sparked more debate than the records. When the band first emerged on the scene in 1994, they were seen as all shock, but with a few good rock songs to scare parents and draw teens in. While they didn't quite take on MTV, they found other ways to infiltrate the media consciousness with their controversial stage shows and even an odd appearance on the Phil Donahue Show (the episode was about the dangers of rock and moshing at concerts). While they celebrated a twisted cartoon/talk show way of life, their music wasn't getting too much attention, that is until their cover of the Eurythmics' "Sweet Dreams (Are Made of This" was released. It's a creepy crawling spine tingler that still holds up to day and paved the way for the band's most important release, 1996's Antichrist Superstar and two years later, Mechanical Animals. During that period, Manson was a mad scientist, an even more warped Willy Wonka and the world, as it seemed to him, was his chocolate factory. He practically stayed in the headlines and he was Ameican culture's public enemy number one during the Columbine Massacre. These days, he doesn't quite make the impact he once did. Has the Manson ship sailed? In a word, yes. His latest stuff isn't nearly as horribly intriguing as such anthems as "The Beautiful People" or "Disposable Teens". His best is of course, "Sweet Dreams". Other gems on this best of collection include the buzzing obsessive ballad "Tourniquet", the excellent commercial-but-still-Manson 1998 track "The Dope Show", the chunky electro stomper "Rock is Dead" and the Spawn Sountrack song "Long Hard Road Out of Hell". Aside from "Sweet Dreams" there are the other '80s cover songs, making it a few too many. "Personal Jesus" seems fitting for Manson, but "Tainted Love" seems a little contrived and forced. Newer songs (for that time)such as "mOBSCENE" are way beneath Manson and pale in comparison to the excellent work from Antichrist Superstar, such as one of the best songs from that record, "The Reflecting God". Good early songs from Portrait of an American Family are the singles "Lunchbox" and "Get Your Gunn", although "Get Your Gunn" was always a bit much for me. Best of collections usually get a few complaints, so quickly I have to mention the absence of such songs as "Coma White" and "I Don't Like the Drugs (But the Drugs Like Me)", two awesome singles that really showcase Manson's songwriting and often over the top edginess. Overall, a good collection aside from some hit or miss melodrama and steadily declining substance. We don't want chanting goth cheerleaders, just Manson being himself. Whether or not the star has fallen, you have to hand it to him for the great stuff he's given us.

Sure, he shocked and offended. But the difference between Marilyn Manson and whole bunch of forgettable bands who tried to do the same things was that Marilyn had a lot of style and was a pretty clever songsmith.

Look no further than the cheerleader chorus on Mobscene as an example. Manson also takes the wimpy 80's song Tainted Love and turns it into something far superior. And his versions of Personal Jesus and Sweet Dreams, great songs in their own right, stand up to the originals.

There's a fine line separating provocative, powerful, and decadent from strident, loud, and vapid and Marilyn Manson is on the right side of that line...well, most of the time

MM is the love-child of Alice Cooper and Joseph Goebbels. This hack is so derivative he can't even come up with an original name. Arena horror-rock died in '79. At least Gene Simmons doesn't take himself so seriously.

Nice collection of Manson tracks. It don't include some songs i thought would be on a greatest collection(Crucified in Space, etc) but it's a good start for people that don't have every Manson CD and want some of the standout stuff. Also it's the only way you can get "Tainted Love" and "Personal Jesus" remakes together and TL is only avail on the Not Another Teen Movie Soundtrack. I'm currently looking for a GF that will get down to this CD with me. That's about the only thing that would make the collection more complete. See ya in church.

I'm not a Marilyn Manson hater or fan. I like a few of his hits on T.V. or radio and have listen to a few albums thinking they were not good all the way through, but had a few songs I liked. Well this album takes all the good stuff and crams it on one album. It's pretty good. I like it.