Born Villain is a joy to listen to, particularly in those moments where you can hear the influence from past albums. This album has a punchiness to it that gives me confidence that Manson is returning to form even if the entire album isn’t a masterpiece. The album begins on a high note with “Hey Cruel World…,” intentionally misleading you into thinking you’re about to hear another dreary slow-churned intro before turning into a sped-up punkish anthem. It’s followed by the album’s first single “No Reflection” which is easily enjoyable for its steady beat and rhythm but isn’t anything too memorable. “Slo-mo-tion,” “The Gardener,” and “The Flowers of Evil” make up a nice act which contrasts really well with the rest of the album. There are some nice changes vocally and musically, starting with the slow but catchy dirge of “Slo-mo-tion” leading into a steady and almost upbeat melody offset by Manson reciting the lyrics as if they were poetry for most of “The Gardener,” which I thought was a fun break. Rounding these out is the almost poppy (for Manson) “The Flowers of Evil,” which has the kind of chorus in it that you could easily imagine a new-wave band borrowing from.