Mechanical Animals

Casting off the satanic trappings and apocalyptic rants that mesmerized a huge teen audience, rock's prince of darkness has made himself over with a lighter new look--think Roswell alien goes Vegas--and a slicker sound. Mechanical Animals takes Manson away from his industrial-rock roots and moves him closer to mainstream heavy metal. Gone is the bludgeoning attack of his earlier albums; here he finds room for more melody, even some hooks. Beneath the makeup, Manson is still rock's most piercing critic--blasting, among other things, youth culture, rock music and conservatives. Manson fans, fear not: his weird new look will still strike revulsion in the hearts of your parents.

--By David E. Thigpen