Amy Lee of Evanescence accompanies frontman Jonathan Davis on "Freak On A Leash" (the album's single) and turns what could have been utterly unlistenable into something outstanding. "Blind" is completely transformed into something new, as it's given a near country-western treatment, thus setting the tone for the unexpected surprises to follow. Take the opening track, "Blind," which we all know by heart.
Korn unplugged creep full#
However, Korn's Unplugged set is full of surprises. Some Korn songs sound like they would translate well into acoustic form, and some sound like they would be nothing without a wall of distored guitar and crashing drums. However, in all honesty, what Korn delivers here is in turns, haunting, unique and beautfiul. I didn't think what would be found on "MTV Unplugged: Korn" would hardly qualify as music. Sure, Korn have been tinkering with acoustic renditions of their heavy hits since last Winter, and those were good, but is a whole album full of Unplugged Korn really going to sound good? Folks, I had my doubts. I'm not going to let my status as a huge Korn fan blind me when listening to and reviewing Korn's "MTV Unplugged." In fact, I was expecting something utterly terrible. Notable guest spots include Evanescence singer Amy Lee joining Jonathan Davis for a duet arrangement of "Freak On A Leash," and the Cure helping mash up their own "In Between Days" with Korn's "Make Me Bad." Customers Rating : Incorporating strings, keyboards, and various percussion instruments, Korn's catalog is showcased in new and varied lights.
From a Latin-groove-infused take on "Blind" to the Middle Eastern flavor that drives "Hollow Life," this set is full of surprises. Yet somehow, nu-metal veterans Korn make the concept work in their favor with MTV UNPLUGGED. It is hard to convey the extent of legendary this album is, but once it is heard then you will understand.Description : Korn: Jonathan Davis (vocals) Rob Patterson, Munky (guitar) Fieldy (bass guitar).Personnel: Jeremy Turner, Evie Koh, Erik Friedlander, Julie Green (cello) Jeff Nelson, Mike Davis (trombone) Zack Baird (keyboard) Bill Ellison, Jeff Carney (upright bass) Bill Hayes (glass armonica) Michael Jochum (percussion) Dale Struckenbruck (musical saw) Morris Kainuma, Andy Bove, Hana Yoshikawa, Heather McPherson, Wynn Yamami, Midori Yasuda, Alan Okada, Merle Okada (unknown instrument) Kalen Musmecci (background vocals).Additional personnel: Amy Lee (vocals).The long-running MTV Unplugged franchise and heavy music make for strange bedfellows. I never heard two distinct voices that are the complete opposite mesh perfectly to create music so beautiful. The beginning lends itself to the tiako drums, which adds depth to the drama.Īlthough I love every song on this album, “Make Me Bad/In Between Days” is another song sung by Jonathan and The Cure’s Robert Smith that truly makes the album that much more memorable. The last song does not disappoint me either. Have you ever heard Jonathan go high-pitched? Then listen to the song. Jonathan once again uses his hidden voice to make this song one of the album’s best. The band also took a risk singing Radiohead’s Creep unplugged. Amy Lee was just as passionate singing this song as she is singing her own. It worked! Although Jonathan Davis took a risk, he did not disappoint me nor did Amy Lee. The traditional acoustics are present throughout the album as well as Jonathan Davis’ harsh sounding voice accompanied by his beautiful smooth voice and falsetto, rarely heard by Korn fans.Īnother famous hit on the album is Freak On A Leash, sung by both Jonathan Davis and Amy Lee of Evanescence, which had debut on the radio first to attract fans to their new album. Besides the lyrics, they all sound like a different song. While the musical saw and glass armonica creates a sort of eeriness, the cello and keys bring sounds together, and the Japanese tiako drums add depth to their music.īlind, Hollow Life, Falling Away From Me, Love Song, Got The Life, Twisted Transistor, Coming Undone, and Throw Me Away are all Korn’s hits used on this album, but they rise above their original sounds to a new depth. However, the cello, keys, musical saw, glass armonica, cimbasso, trombone, and tiako drums really add to the album’s uniqueness. Korn combined all their hit songs, their idols’ songs, and a variety of sounds to create a memorable album.Īcoustic guitar, percussion, and an upright bass are some of the instruments that rock throughout the album. Forget all the mainstream hits and albums because Korn created an album that is legendary: Korn Unplugged.Īlthough Jonathan Davis considers Nirvana Unplugged as legendary, Korn tops Nirvana because they use a lot more interesting instruments that don’t need a socket to sound sensational.