LEST WE FORGET: THE BEST OF

Personnel: Marilyn Manson (vocals); Kelli Ali (vocals); Tim Skold (guitar); Madonna Wayne Gacy (keyboards); Ginger Fish (drums). Audio Mixers: Dave Sardy; Alan Moulder; Mark "Spike" Stent; Mark Freegard; Sean Beavan; Tom Lord-Alge; Trent Reznor; Ben Grosse. Photographers: P.R. Brown; Floria Sigismondi; Ross Halfin; Greg Waterman; Chad Michael Ward; Perou; Dean Karr; Joseph Cultice; Marilyn Manson. There couldn't be a more fitting title for this collection of gruesome grooves by modern rock's most paradoxical artist; it implies the cataclysm of a national tragedy, and still completely understates the impact this band has had in shaping the face of popular music. How could anyone forget the self-proclaimed "Antichrist Superstar" and his macabre circus? Once a Trent Reznor (Nine Inch Nails) protege, the visually intense Marilyn Manson quickly eclipsed his mentor with releases that peered beneath the facade of American life, revealing a seedy, grotesque, and often disturbing reality. Considering that Marilyn Manson never pandered to the Top 40 set, LEST WE FORGET can't rightfully be dubbed a greatest-hits record; it serves more as a reminder of the man and his group's 10-year blitz of ghoulish, gory, industrial rock. Manson was always a fan of satire, and covers of "Sweet Dreams (Are Made of This)" and "Tainted Love" offer sinister results. The 2004 collection also features a spooky new take on Depeche Mode's "Personal Jesus," as well as an array of dark favorites culled from each release by the man himself, including "The Dope Show," "Tourniquet," and "The Beautiful People." Take one look at the disc's photos (or the uber-graphic bonus DVD available on some versions) and have Marilyn Manson burned in your mind forever.