POP PREVIEW

God bless Marilyn Manson (“After Shock,” by Robert Hilburn, Sept. 27)! When I read your “favorite quote” from the Manson interview, I had to thank God that someone finally said what I have been feeling all these years. It is not the responsibility of musicians like Manson to parent the children of America, it is up to their natural parents or guardians to do that, to teach them right from wrong.

If a child does not have the ability to see that what Manson does is social satire, not a lifestyle choice, then it is the fault of that child’s parents that they are not able to discern fact from fiction. I am sorry that children have hurt themselves or others, but that is not the fault of Marilyn Manson and any parent that blames Manson is just trying to cover the fact that they did not do their job.

DEVLIN SMITH

Ontario

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Marilyn Manson says he hopes to inspire his fans and act as a role model. Since his “fans” are primarily young adult males, he could begin by not walking around on stage with a flopping artificial penis and by not wearing female prosthetic breasts in his videos.

The only taste this “artist” shows is in his choice of restaurants, e.g. Musso & Frank.

BOB SHERMAN

Glendale

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I want to thank Hilburn for a great piece on Marilyn Manson. It was a refreshing look at Manson that did not focus on his shock value, but rather his musical talent.

PAUL FUERTES

Santa Barbara

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I read Hilburn’s article describing his opinions about Marilyn Manson, now where’s the interview?

Is another “one of the joys of covering pop music all these years” that of not having to write anything of true interest?

CAROLE COOPER

Hermosa Beach

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For Hilburn to compare Marilyn Manson to David Bowie is a severely misguided statement by someone who’s been a music critic for decades. Neither Manson’s musical talent nor his writing merit such sweeping praise. He’s a marketing professional and a creature of ‘90s media navel gazing.

Manson’s vocal/musical chops pale in comparison to Bowie. His prowess is comparable at best to Gary Glitter’s: a sort of singing-cum-growl.

JACKI K. WEBER

Los Angeles

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Hilburn’s puff piece on Marilyn Manson’s “substance” and his review of Liz Phair’s stage presence, motherhood and revolutionary status in relation to other female songwriters are only the most recent examples of his rampaging irrelevance.

While popular artists like Phair and Manson aren’t particularly damaged by such ponderous piffle, new artists whose work isn’t on the radio, whom Hilburn is often nice enough to champion, are terribly underserved by a music writer with no interest in reporting on or criticizing the music or musicianship of his subjects.

ROB KENDT

Los Angeles

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Gee, thanks for giving us Hilburn’s choices for Top 25 albums of all time. Boy, was I surprised to find Bob Dylan, Bruce Springsteen, U2, Public Enemy and Neil Young on his list. It’s not like he has had those artists on his lists of whatever for the past 20-plus years. I was so sure he was going to include Haysi Fantayzee, Kajagoogoo or Michael Damien.

And I feel equally grateful that we received his Top 25 and not just a Top 10 like Bono or Carlos Santana. Hilburn’s impact on the music scene has been much more important than theirs.

HAROLD J. WASHINGTON JR.

Playa del Rey

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I must say I was shocked by some of the Top 10 music selections. Some of these albums are less than 3 years old! Many of the albums, as well as the songs, are forgettable and won’t stand the test of time.

Sadly, it’s a commentary on the shallowness and Gen-X makeup of the panelists as well as the music industry itself. The only two contributors with any sense of history were Clive Davis and The Times’ Robert Hilburn. I know Hilburn has his critics, but please, he does have historical perspective.

Next time you gather a panel of luminaries, try giving them a cultural literacy exam. Do any of these people know the names Shakespeare, Picasso, Hemingway, Jane Austen, Matisse, etc.?

JIM McCULLAUGH

Sherman Oaks

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I was really excited to see your Fall Pop Music Preview. I was looking forward to seeing a mention of the new KISS CD “Psycho Circus” (their first studio CD with the original lineup in over 16 years), released the previous Tuesday. Or a mention of their tour, which kicks off Oct. 31 at Dodger Stadium. Of course, there wasn’t any.

Where would acts like Marilyn Manson or Metallica be if it wasn’t for KISS keeping the rock banner flying for 24-plus years? I guess this is just like KISS’ heyday, absolutely no respect from the “legitimate” press and critics.

ROBERT T. WEBER

29 Palms

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The current buzz is that Ocean Way recording studios at 6050 Sunset Blvd. in Hollywood was developed in 1900 and that it was once used by Douglas Fairbanks (“Welcome to Studio City,” by Marc Weingarten, Sept. 27).

The facts are that the property was once a lemon grove until it was purchased in 1917 by William Horsley, one of the early pioneers of the film industry. He and his brother established the first studio in Hollywood at the northwest corner of Sunset and Gower in 1911. In 1919 he began the construction of a studio at 6050 Sunset. It changed hands at least twice before being purchased in 1959 by Bill Putnam, who remodeled it and named it United Western Recorders.

MARC WANAMAKER

Bison Archives

Hollywood

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You call Einsturzende Neubauten’s “Ende Neu” “their first album in five years.” Not quite: This album was released in 1996, but the band had much difficulty finding a distributor in the U.S.

YUMIKO AWAE

Mission Hills