When an artist releases a best of collection usually has a few choices:
1) Do a singles cd usually compiled by the record label who targets the mainstream crowd who in the age of mp3 stops buying the record for it's 3 singles and just downloads.
2) Do a true best of where he tries to showcase the high points of his creativity by including a variety of songs that define his body of work.
3) Go for a few remixes and maybe some much hyped covers and b-sides.

Manson here apparently chose a weird path since this ain't a proper singles collection, since some singles (Coma White & I Don't Like The Drugs) aren't there and there are several cuts that wheren't released as such. On the other hand this doesn't look like a best of, unless Marilyn Manson has such a one dimentional opinion of his own work. Don't get me wrong, some great songs are here but if you listen to this record you just see an industrial rock band that doesn't have anything special to offer, yet the albums he did always where a ride among several styles showing that Manson and his cohorts where comfortable with both rocking hard and showing a more thoughtfull side. Personally i think that if he had done it like Anthrax re-recording all the tracks,so eliminating the gap made between different recording techniques, the only tracks that would stand out from an occasional listen of the cd would be The Nobodies and The Dope Show. The only new track included is a great cover of Depeche Mode's Personal Jesus that show Manson is the master of the cover tunes, with Tainted Love and Sweet Dreams also included to back this theory. I admit i also got some "resentment" towards Manson from trying in any way to force feed one of his worst songs ever "The Love Song" by including it everywhere he can, but still even if he had spared us this song by including something better this cd would sttil be a failure to me. Yet no matter the disapointing disc you get a bonus dvd featuring all the videos (minus Tainted Love) which is worth the package. After all on thing can't be taken away from Manson, his creativity when it came to promote himself and the videos show case that in the best way possible. And as a plus you also get the video for (s)AINT that was censored from mtv for reasons you will immediately understand.
So should you buy it? Well as an introduction to Manson it's not the best, yet the videos dvd is quite a bonus, so I'd say get it for the videos but buy the albums too

The Apex Theory is such an awesome band, something Topsy Turvy demonstrates from beginning to end. Unfortunately they never got their due as they where always dismissed as clones of System Of A Down, probably because singer Andy Khachaturian was their original drummer, probably because they are armenian too, probably because both bands have a knack for quirky melodies. Though the Apex Theory are so much more. Throughout this record the experiment with all sorts of sounds and rhythms like drum n base (Shh...Hope Diggy), middle eastern melodies (Apossibly, Drown Ink), combining punk rock with pop electronica (Bravo) and even trying not to distort(That's All!). The guitars are used to bring out more than distorted chords and quirky lines but also electronic atmospherics covering for any electronic embelishment while the rhythm section knows really well when it's time to show off and when it's time to let the others do the talking. The lyrics often fall in the category of the senseless thoughts a la Tool and with the occasional weird vocal noises bands like Faith No More, Korn and Disturbed have often used to attract attention, yet Khachaturian manages to always bring out his own personality avoiding any cliches many imitators of these bands do. Personally i see this record as one of the best purchases I've ever done, and is a cd a listen very often. Unfortunately like another equally talented band, Onesidezero, The Apex Theory is apparently over, probably because being lumped among other Nu Metal bands when the genre was pretty much dead or dying didn't help their exposure. At least we got this record to listen and be amazed with their talent.

Standout Tracks: Apossibly, Bravo, Drown Ink, That's All!

3 Doors Down are good boys, they do the kind of rock music you see in teen tv shows like Dawson's Creek or The O.C. and their records don't even get a parental advisory sticker, something even Nickelback managed to get. Yet whatever they do they do it well and their songs about the ups and downs of relationships are always backed by well crafted pop rock tunes and the appropriate voice provided by singer Brad Arnold. For sure they aren't innovators, but they don't even try too hard to be that, all their songs follow a formula of a soft verse and a hooky chorus backed by distorted guitars with the occasional more aggressive song (Dangerous Game) and a melodic guitar solo here and there. Unlike many of their peers though guitarists Chris Henderson and Matt Roberts make up for that lack of innovation by bringing out some interesting guitarwork, for example in songs like When I'm Gone and the title track they create some interesting keyboard like textures that are a step ahead than the more predictable chord work chosen by similar acts like Semisonic or Nine Days. But despite this the records just flows without any surprises or any real standout track, after you heard one song you know pretty much what to expect from the next 11 songs. But in the end if variety isn't a must for you and you don't despise a more benign brand of rock this is definitely worth a listen, it might just capture you. As for me, this ain't one of my favorite records yet it often ends up in my stereo, especially when i just want a record to keep me company while i'm doing something and Away From The Sun will do just that without distracting me.

Try If You Like: When I'm Gone, Running Out Of Time, Here Without You, Dangerous Game

Like in every genre there are bands that are there from the beginning and when the end comes some are hailed as if they invented it all while others are not even mentioned. 311 falls among the latter and probably they even deserve it since for every thing they did something was wrong. They where among the first to do rap rock but they're attitude that is more current Sugar Ray than Limp Bizkit really made them outcasts in this genre that is now dominated by aggressive bands, they where also the first in this genre to use two singers but no matter how unique and soulful singer/guitarist Nick Hexum is, his counterpart singer/turntablist Chad Sexton is downright obnoxious. Finally the rest of the band, bassist P-Nut guitarist Tim Mahoney and drummer S.A. Martinez, no matter how competent they are in the technique of their instrument the fail to go beyond a constant formula, despite they'd have the possibility to do it. So this live record just shows all those flaws a bit more than the talent and competence behind those five musicians. The band does justice to it's songs performing them with a precision even bigger acts would dream to have, with Nick Hexum delivering one of the most warm performances ever caught on a live record. Unfortunately the band fails to interact succesfully with the crowd making it sound like a reahearsal in front of some friends that occasionaly cheer, which doesn't make the listener wish he was there to witness this particular event. Plus the songs despite come from at least 4 different albums sound all too alike, like if this live record had come out of the first tour of this band which to me is a turn off. Especially considering that given the array of songs the band has in it's sleeves they could have chosen really the best, and here you just got a couple of gems 3 or 4 good songs and other tracks that are utterly faceless. In the end you just have to accept the fact that this is 311: A good band, that could have been the greatest rap rock band if only they could realize their skills and go beyond this formula that has them trapped since day one.

STAND OUT TRACKS: Down, Beautiful Disaster, Omaha Stylee, Tribute, Galaxy

It's common knowledge that when an artist tries to cross over to another trade the results are, more often than not, disapointing.
And that's what i expected from this band after hearing that the frontman and apparent mastermind was actor Jared Leto, really the idea that a flavour of the week young actor only good for post-Scream slasher movies would start a rock band seemed even worse than Keanu Reeves' Dogstar project. Yet i decided to keep an eye on it and downloaded two promotional tracks (Capricorn and a demo version of Buddha For Mary) from their official site, and boy did i do the right thing. While Buddha For Mary didn't surprise me all that much, Capricorn just floored me. It was such a well crafted song with a wonderful vocal melody delivered by Leto, and after hearing that i couldn't wait to hear the rest of the record hoping even for an improved version of Buddha For Mary. When i got to hear the cd I relized quite fast that this was going to be one of my all time favorites, all the songs had been crafted with great attention and legendary producer Bob Ezrin brought out the best out of every single song. While, besides Capricorn and Mission, there aren't any big singles in it the band managed to create a record that flows really well which is something rare in these days of "five big singles and six fillers" kind of records. Among the key moments of this record i would pick Oblivion, an electronica flavoured song with an interestingly unconventional vocal line, Echelon, a song that really brings out the best of this band along with End Of The Beginning. Only disapointment was Buddha For Mary that didn't change much remaining a rather bland track that pales in comparison with all the other tracks. Despite all this the record has been criminally overlooked by press and radio, that weren't able to see beyond Jarod Leto's acting career. Personally i'd suggest to that guy to quit the movies and concentrate on the music, he does that better. However i can just wait for a new record from 30 Seconds To Mars.