MTV Unplugged - Korn

...since nu-metal died, and an MTV unplugged album is usually a desparate attempt to milk the cash-cow dry. Furthermore, Korn? For those unaware of Korn's sound, a brief (very brief) history lesson. Releasing their first album way back in 1995, they were one of the first groups to really push the genre of rap-metal. Front man Jonathan Davies was abused as a child, and his near obsession with abuse and suffering of kids is ingrained into many of his ...
...Korn sound consists of loud, distorted bass and guitars, usually far too low pitch for any discernable notes to be heard. Occasionally, there will be a set of synthesizers here, or a set of bagpipes there (yes, seriously), but on the whole, Korn are band that you won't be hearing over a cheesy supermarket tannoy. You'd be more likely to hear it in an abbatoir.

This begs the question, how on earth can a band like this do an acoustic ... more

Oh dear. This whiffs a little of cash-in. Korn's popularity has started to cough, splutter and wheeze a little since nu-metal died, and an MTV unplugged album is usually a desparate attempt to milk the cash-cow dry. Furthermore, Korn? For those unaware of Korn's sound, a brief (very brief) history lesson. Releasing their first album way back in 1995, they were one of the first groups to really push the genre of rap-metal. Front man Jonathan Davies was abused as a child, and his near obsession with abuse and suffering of kids is ingrained into many of his songs. As far as their sound goes, the basic Korn sound consists of loud, distorted bass and guitars, usually far too low pitch for any discernable notes to be heard. Occasionally, there will be a set of synthesizers here, or a set of bagpipes there (yes, seriously), but on the whole, Korn are band that you won't be hearing over a cheesy supermarket tannoy. You'd be more likely to hear it in an abbatoir.

This begs the question, how on earth can a band like this do an acoustic album? Well, I shan't lie - if you love Korn because of their raw anger, energy and heaviness, you will probably hate this. Sure enough, I've read other reviews on other sites, where people have labelled Korn "sell-outs" for doing this album. I don't want to judge any reviewer on the quality of his/her review, but I do get tired of people accusing bands of selling out. If someone will pay you a lot of money to do what you love, then you'll do it. To quote Run DMC - "Can you tell me the last time that love bought your clothes?" It's like that, and that's the way it is.

Anyway, onto the album. I did have my doubts about this. While I love Korn's heavy sound, and while I do love an acoustic album here and there, I just couldn't see how this would work. Jonathan Davies has a growly, gravelly voice, and I just figured it would be a bit like ice skating in Dr Martens.

Thing is, it is exactly like that. And it's brilliant. Every classic Korn song has been given the soft and gentle treatment. There are no heavy instruments, just voilins, cellos, acoustic guitars, and nice drums. Not angry drums.

Admittedly the first track, Blind, is probably the weakest on the album. Having said that, you do need the space of about one song to get used to the sound, but Blind has been turned into this South American sounding bongo fest, and Jonathan Davies tries to sing the song in an upbeat way. It's just a mess. It's like watching an evil, mean, miserable man smile. It's just creepy and out of place.

However, from there on the album does pick up. Most of the licks found in the original songs are taken on by violins, and whilst there are only acoustic guitars in the set, they are played heavily enough to add some gravitas to the songs. The piano work makes everything sound rather touching too.

There are also covers galore. By which, I mean 2. Davies does a solo version of Creep. Ok, Creep is a song that has been whored out to more bands than I care to name, but given Korn's outlook on life, it just fits perfectly. The addition of Evanescence frontwoman Amy Lee to a piano version of Freak on a Leash is inspired, making this the one track you definitely need to hear. And trust me, that is a huge compliment. Normally I would rather dive naked into a pool of cacti and vinegar than say anything nice about Amy Lee. Normally her loud, whiney voice drowns everything out, but it just fits this song nicely, and surprisingly, her and Davies sound fantastic together.

Cover number two is also duet number two. Introducing King of the Whingers, Robert Smith of the Cure! Once again, you just wouldn't expect Jonathan Davies and Robert Smith dueting on In Between Days would work at all, but strangely, it does.

And so, this album works. It still has the energy, but it is restrained and matured. There is even room for a Taiko drum solo before the last track, Throw me Away, which is very welcome.

I have been thinking long and hard as to how this album manages to sound so good, and I think I have it. Korn have always written angry, resentment-filled music. Obviously, the obvious outlet for anger in music is through rock. However, these songs could, with only a bit of effort, be translated into something calmer, but equally as meaningful. The songs aren't angry, but still sad, which is what anger normally grows out of. Maybe this is a sign that Davies is moving on in life, or maybe I'm reading into it too much.

And a note to all those who believe this is an album designed to leech off the masses, and that Korn should stick to screaming and leaping around. The only reason you want Korn to stay angry, is so you can leech off the bad feeling yourself. Now tell me who the real parasites are.

Sorry to be all serious, but this really is a beautiful album. If it's a cash in, it's a cash-in - so be it. It's brilliantly done, shows off a side to a great band that has never been seen before, and you can tell from Jonathan Davies' interaction witht he crowd that this is something that means a lot to him to be able to do. Just keep an open mind, and here you will find what I think is one of the top 5 albums of the year. 

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