Album: Eat Me, Drink Me

Introduction
"Eat Me, Drink Me" is the 6th studio album by American rock band Marilyn Manson, released on June 5, 2007, by Interscope Records. The album marks a change in the band's musical and visual direction, moving far from the industrial metal sound and dark, intriguing imagery of their previous work. Instead, it explores a more individual, reflective, and gothic sound, with lyrical themes concentrating on love, heartbreak, and self-exploration. This new direction can mainly be credited to Marilyn Manson's emotion and his relationship with then-girlfriend, Evan Rachel Wood.

Recording and Production
After the release of their 2004 album "The Golden Age of Grotesque", bassist Twiggy Ramirez left the band, leading to substantial changes in the recording and production procedure. For "Eat Me, Drink Me", Manson took on a bigger role in songwriting as well as critical contributions such as guitar and synthesizer. The album was taped primarily at Manson's home studio, with Tim Sköld dealing with a bulk of the production responsibilities. The 2 worked together on every tune, sharing composing credit and showcasing a strong imaginative bond.

New Sound and Influences
Gone are the aggressive, antagonistic noises of previous albums; "Eat Me, Drink Me" showcases a more melodic, psychological side of Marilyn Manson. The album includes popular usage of guitar and synthesizer, with a heavy focus on mid-tempo tunes and traditional rock tune structures instead of commercial metal or electronica. The modification in noise has been partly attributed to Manson's fascination with artists such as David Bowie and Roxy Music, in addition to the band's brand-new gothic and vampire-inspired visual.

Lyrical Content and Themes
"Eat Me, Drink Me" features a notably more individual and reflective lyrical technique when compared to Manson's previous work. The album checks out styles of love, heartbreak, desire, and vulnerability, drawing greatly from the singer's troubled personal life. Many songs discuss Manson's relationship with actress Evan Rachel Wood, who he began dating throughout the album's development. The couple's enthusiastic and tumultuous affair fueled much of the emotional depth found in the lyrics.

The album's title, obtained from "Alice's Adventures in Wonderland" by Lewis Carroll, likewise serves as a metaphor for self-discovery and improvement. In a 2007 interview, Manson described that the process of creating "Eat Me, Drink Me" was a journey of self-exploration and reinvention, both musically and emotionally.

Reception
Critics were divided on "Eat Me, Drink Me". Some applauded Manson's new direction, praising the rawness of the album's emotions and gothic sound. Others felt that the personal lyrics and depictions of love were too big of a departure from Manson's previous work, pushing away a few of the band's fanbase.

In spite of the mixed reviews, "Eat Me, Drink Me" accomplished business success, reaching number 8 on the US Billboard 200 and selling over 88,000 copies in its first week of release. The album also generated 3 songs: "Heart-Shaped Glasses (When the Heart Guides the Hand)", "Putting Holes in Happiness", and "Evidence".

Conclusion
"Eat Me, Drink Me" marks a considerable shift in Marilyn Manson's musical and lyrical method, showcasing a more vulnerable and mentally reflective side of the controversial artist. While the album received combined evaluations upon release, it stays a vital and distinct component of Manson's discography, reflective of a transformative duration in both his individual life and musical profession.