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Rating: If 13 years ago you had asked Jonathan Davis, singer of the well-known crossover metal band Korn, if they would ever play an acoustic show for MTV, this young man with a (then) psychotic and angry voice would have laughed in your face and continued to guzzle his favorite liquor, Jägermeister. 13 years ago, Korn and crossover metal, in general, were seen as the new frontier for heavy metal, a novelty, so much so that the magazine "Huh" reviewed their splendid debut as "the most intense metal since Metallica's Master Of Puppets".
13 years ago (or rather in the 90s), the Unplugged became a trend: Nirvana, Alice In Chains, Cure, Kiss, and the like, it was the rock world unplugging for a night and using acoustic guitars to play songs with sweetness instead of healthy rock 'n' roll ferocity—a trend from which the band thought to stay away, playing hard every chance they got, even in support tours for not particularly heavy albums ("Untouchables" and "See You On The Other Side"). Today, after countless experiments, which, in some way or another, still fell within the metal/rock realm, even Korn unplug for a night, that of Unplugged, an initiative that will surely be criticized for its solely commercial aim and for yet another partnership between MTV and the band in question: all this may be true, but musically speaking, you can't say that this show was poorly played, lethargic, or lacking inventiveness or originality; quite the opposite.
Jonathan Davis is no longer the angry young man from Bakersfield railing against the world, and he has learned to use his voice well, particularly in more melodic and "romantic" moments where he truly delights the ear. Fieldy, on the other hand, is the band's old rock, almost never relinquishing his style; there he is, crouched on the chair with his beautifully slapped acoustic bass, Munky has managed to introduce a Spanish flamenco guitar into a rock concert (tell me that's not original!), and then there's the real novelty of the record: Zac Baird, the keyboardist who accompanied the band on the "See You On The Other Side" tour and is working on writing the new album, supports the band here too with an amazing performance, his skill behind the keys and his enchanting melodies overshadow the other instruments and even Korn themselves—well, it wouldn't be a bad idea to remove that mask (as if they were Slipknot) and have him join the group permanently. And then there are all the other curious and interesting instruments they surrounded themselves with, including Japanese taiko drums, percussion, a trombone, a harmonica, and of course Patterson on second acoustic guitar, singular instruments that make the album truly special! But the most important factor that brings this episode of MTV Unplugged into the Olympian levels of acoustic concerts is the almost complete rewriting of the music, not just new arrangements with other instruments, but real changes in chords, riffs, etc., though I did not appreciate the revision of the lyrics, stripped for censorship reasons of all those expressions that earn Korn the Parental Advisory Explicit Content label, strong censorship in some tracks, less evident in others.
I don't want to bore you any further with this lengthy introduction, so let's move on to the tracks and the actual concert. This new Korn album opens with the classic of classics: "Blind" has its usual dark introduction, but after Davis whispers "Are You Ready?" the song transforms into a true rock/flamenco thanks to the percussion jumps, the new guitar work and musical parts are very good, among the best of the entire show. It continues with "Hollow Life", the melodic song from "Untouchables" is well interpreted by Zac Baird while Davis sings with a sweet and composed voice, after "Hollow Life" the first guest on "Freak On A Leash" appears: Amy Lee, the lovely singer of Evanescence, a long-time fan of Korn, stands out once again with Zac on the piano and a fit Munky, Lee contributes a lot of her essence to the song, making it her own (although I would have preferred Corey Taylor of Stone Sour who collaborated on "Freak On A Leash" during Family Values 2006), the arrangement of the strings is notable, in the finale instead of the usual senseless growls, there is a very moving interpretation by Amy Lee, but somewhat out of place as it "evanescentizes" the song too much.
Another great classic with "Falling Away From Me" reinterpreted in a danceable dark/pop rock style yet still maintaining all the darkness and in a sense the hardness of the track, thanks to the good percussion work. A typical feature of Unplugged is playing covers in addition to their own pieces (for instance, Nirvana covered Bowie and Alice In Chains played the intro to Metallica's "Enter Sandman"), Korn dive in accompanied by a harmonica in a very sweet and emotional cover of "Creep" by Radiohead, where Davis does an extraordinary job, especially in the chorus, for one of the most beautiful songs in alternative and rock music in general, a song that would open anyone's heart. This starts the second part of the show more focused on the recent "See You On The Other Side" and masterfully reinterprets one of the masterpieces of that album, namely "Love Song" (where the aforementioned censorship of the lyrics is evident), which transformed from an industrial song into an excellent melodic rock song with yet another excellent piano work. With "Got The Life" we return to crossover shores with a wild Fieldy and Davis bringing back some nastiness. The singer’s interpretation of the subsequent "Twisted Transistor" is not bad, but the new arrangement with the trombones is in poor taste, the least beautiful of the entire show, the intense version of "Coming Undone," already good in the studio, here with its staccato and dry pace and the decent work of the taiko drums, makes a proper figure, the inclusion of the strings is nice.
Another gem of Korn's acoustic concert is the mix between "Make Me Bad", a dark Korn song from "Issues" and "In Between Days", a song by The Cure, who are the second guests, Robert Smith sings the choruses in "Make Me Bad" and Davis supports him in the refrain of "In Between Days", interesting is the final part of the performance where the two songs intersect, a bit chaotic but effective. The disc concludes with "Throw Me Away", very epic and intense especially for the good chorus and the beautiful sound of the Japanese percussion, a song full of melody and framed in the background by strings, the echoes of Jhonatan in the final part are moving.
After various choices, some very criticizable, Korn have arrived after 13 years of career to record an episode of MTV Unplugged, a show with three watchwords: rock, melody, and emotion! An album destined for the band's fans, but one that can also appeal to those who have never listened to Korn, it is therefore recommended to all rock music listeners.
Tracklist and Lyrics
01 Blind (03:30)
Are you ready?!
This place inside my mind, a place I like to hide
You don't know the chances. What if I should die?!
A place inside my brain, another kind of pain
You don't know the chances. I'm so blind!
Another place I find to escape the pain inside
You don't know the chances. What if I should die?!
A place inside my brain, another kind of pain
You don't know the chances. I'm so blind!
Deeper and deeper and deeper as I journey to
live a life that seems to be a lost reality
that I can never find a way to reach.
My inner selfesteem is low.
How deep can I go in the ground that I lay?
If I don't find a way to see through the gray that clouds my mind.
This time I look to see what's between the lines!
I can see, I can see, I'm going blind... [x12]
I'm blind [x4]
04 Falling Away From Me (03:56)
Hey, I'm feeling tired
My time is gone today
You flirt with suicide
Sometimes that's OK
Do what others say
I'm here standing hollow
Falling away from me, falling away from me
Day, is here fading
That's when I'm insane
I flirt with suicide
Sometimes kill the pain
I can't always say
'It's gonna be better tomorrow'
Falling away from me, falling away from me
Beating me down, beating me, beating me down
Down, into the ground, screaming so sound
Beating me, beating me, down, down
Into the ground
(Falling away from me)
It's spinning round and round
(Falling away from me)
It's lost and can't be found
(Falling away from me)
It's spinning round and round
(Falling away from me)
Slow it down
Beating me down, beating me, beating me
Down, down, into the ground, screaming so sound
Beating me, beating me, down, down
Into the ground
Twisting me, they won't go away
So I pray, go away
Life's falling away from me
It's falling away from me
Life's falling away from me, FUCK!
Beating me down, beating me, beating me
Down, down, into the ground, screaming so sound
Beating me, beating me, down, down
Into the ground
(Falling away from me)
Beating me down
(Falling away from me)
Beating me, beating me
(Falling away from me)
Down, down
(Falling away from me)
Into the ground
Screaming so sound
(Falling away from me)
Beating me, beating me
Down, down
(Falling away from me)
Into the ground
05 Creep (03:51)
When you were here before
Couldn't look you in the eye
You're just like an angel
Your skin makes me cry
You float like a feather
In a beautiful world
And I wish I was special
You're so very special
But I'm a creep
I'm a weirdo
What the hell am I doing here?
I don't belong here
I don't care if it hurts
I want to have control
I want a perfect body
I want a perfect soul
I want you to notice
When I'm not around
You're so very special
I wish I was special
But I'm a creep
I'm a weirdo
What the hell am I doing here?
I don't belong here
She's running out the door
She's running out
run, run, run, run,run
Whatever makes you happy
Whatever you want
You're so very special
I wish I was special
But I'm a creep
I'm a weirdo
What the hell am I doing here?
I don't belong here
I don't belong here
06 Love Song (03:51)
Murder!
Your holding my heart, screaming.
Motherfucker!
They left me broken, bleeding.
Son of!
The man you loved and left for
The son of a bitch!
Who tried to show me death's door.
(Ah)
Everything's illuminated.
Everything is dedicated.
(Ah)
Tried to leave this life I hated
Even that what's over-rated.
Love song for the dear departed.
Headstone for the broken hearted.
Arm's to kill.
more flowers to steal.
Head-trip for the mortal earth bound.
One sip of the blood that I found.
Lying here...
Im dying here.
And then!
Obtituaries rain down.
And suddenly!
We're lying naked face down.
(Ah)
Once again decapitated.
Can't you see me fasinated.
(Ah)
Never knew enough to damage.
Even that can be mis-managed.
Love song for the dear departed.
Headstone for the broken hearted.
Arm's to kill.
more flowers to steal.
Head-trip for the mortal earth bound.
One sip of the blood that I found.
Lying here.
Im dying here.
Dying here..
Don't bring me daffodils.
Bring a bouquet of pills.
See some drainum.
Cracked to the crainum.
Protect me when you can.
Respect me when I am...
Dying.
Love song for the dear departed.
Headstone for the broken hearted.
Arm's to kill.
more flowers to steal.
Head-trip for the mortal earth bound.
One sip of the blood that I found.
Lying here.
I'm dying here.
Love song for the dear departed.
Headstone for the broken hearted.
Arm's to kill.
more flowers to steal.
Head-trip for the mortal earth bound.
One sip of the blood that I found.
Lying here...
I'm dying here.
07 Got the Life (03:48)
Hate, something, sometime, someway
Something kick off the floor for mine
Something, inside
I'll never ever follow
So give me something that is for real
I'll never ever follow
Get your boogie on
Get your boogie on
Hate, something, someway, each day
Dealing with no forgiveness
Why?
This shit inside
Now everyone will follow
So give me nothing just feel
And now this shit will follow
God paged me
You'll never see the lie, who wants to see?
God told me, I've already got the life, oh I say
God paged me
You'll never see the lie, who wants to see?
God told me, I've already got the life, oh I say
Each day I can feel it swallow
Inside something they took from me
I don't feel your deathly ways
Each day I feel so hollow, inside I was beating me
You will never see, so come dance with me
Dance with me
Dance with me
Dance with me
Dance with me
Dance with me
Dance with me
Rumbiddieboo
(Dance with me)
Rum bum dee dum dee bum diddie doo
(Dance with me, dance with me)
ME!
God paged me
You'll never see the lie, who wants to see?
God told me, I've already got the life, oh I say
God paged me
You'll never see the lie, who wants to see?
God told me, I've already got the life, oh I say
Got the life
Got the life
Got the life
Got the life
Got the life
Got the life
Got the life
Got the life
Got the life
09 Coming Undone (03:35)
Keep holding on
When my brain's tickin' like a bomb
Guess the black bots have come Again to get me
Sweet bitter words
Unlike nothing I have heard
Sing along mocking bird
You don't affect me
That's right
Deliverance of my heart
Be straight
Be deliverance
Wait
I'm coming undone
Unlaced
I'm coming undone
Too late
I'm coming undone
What looks so strong
So delicate
Wait
I'm starting to suffocate
And soon I anticipate
I'm coming undone
What looks so strong
So delicate
Choke choke again
I find my demons are my friends
Getting me in the end
They're out to get me
Since I was young
I've tasted sorrow on my tongue
And this sweet chugga gun
Does not protect me
That's right
Trigger between my eyes
Please strike
Make it quick now
Wait
I'm coming undone
Unlaced
I'm coming undone
Too late
I'm coming undone
What looks so strong
So delicate
Wait
I'm starting to suffocate
And soon I anticipate
I'm coming undone
What looks so strong
So delicate
I'm trying to hold it together
Head is lighter than a feather
Looks like i'm not getting better
Not getting better
Wait
I'm coming undone
Unlaced
I'm coming undone
Too late
I'm coming undone
What looks so strong
So delicate
Wait
I'm starting to suffocate
And soon I anticipate
I'm coming undone
What looks so strong
So delicate
12 Dirty (04:05)
Keep knocking
No one’s there
Pouring down
Near people
I'm out here
By myself, all alone
Ready to blow my head off!
I hurt so bad inside
I wish you could see the world through my eyes
Each day is the same
I just wanna laugh again
Keep hoping
Nothing to spare
So my life
Isn't quite there
Feel like a whore
A dirty whore
Such a whore
Dirty
I'm out here
By myself, all alone
Ready to blow my head off!
I hurt so bad inside
I wish you could see the world through my eyes
Each day is the same
I just wanna laugh again
Just wanna laugh again
I'll take it
I'll take it
I will take it
Give it to me
You dirty little fuck
Dirty little fuck
You dirty little fuck
Dirty little fuck
You dirty little fuck
(I will take it)
Dirty little fuck
(I will take it)
You dirty little fuck
(I will take it)
Dirty little fuck
(I will take it)
You dirty little fuck
I hurt so bad inside
I wish you could see the world through my eyes
Each day is the same
I just wanna laugh again
I just wanna laugh again [x4]
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Other reviews
By tonu87
Having Korn perform an Unplugged concert is like putting Nutella on a nice plate of macaroni: it doesn’t make any damn sense!
This record is horrendous and an insult to all the band’s fans.
By Deviljin
Already from listening to "Blind" you begin to understand that this is not the usual Unplugged, the original version ... is transformed with an almost Latin American sound.
Alongside those by Nirvana and Alice In Chains, we are facing one of the best Unpluggeds of all time and that Korn, after a failed album, have returned to give us emotions.
