Holy Wood [In the Shadow of the Valley of Death] (Nothing, 2000) by Marilyn Manson

In 2000, Eminem was the king of shock value entertainment, therefore dethroning Manson of the title.  In addition to that, his previous effort, Mechanical Animals, was a bit too glitzy and glamorous (al a David Bowie) for his core fans.  Fortunately, with something to prove, Manson dropped Holy Wood.  It's his best album since Antichrist Superstar, and until Eat Me, Drink Me.  It had great lyrics, solid hooks and an industrial sound which all blended together well- a feat that is almost never achieved successfully.

Eat Me, Drink Me (Interscope, 2007) by Marilyn Manson

The songwriting for this album, in my opinion, is its highpoint.  Manson discusses love, in his own unique way, but that is still far from the bizarre antics of Smells Like Children.  Conceptually, "If I Was Your Vampire" is a deep record.  Just the idea of drawing blood from the one you love and connecting on that level, it is very intense.  The production isn't as loud and inconsistent as some of his earlier efforts.  The use of keyboards seems to outweigh heavy guitar riffs.  And the fact that Spin magazine reached out to adult film star Janine Lindemulder for her take on the sex between Manson and Evan Rachael Wood in the clip for "Heart-Shaped Glasses" is really cool.  I was a fan of Janine before, but this made me an even bigger one.