Issues by Korn (Vinyl, 1999)

Music on Vinyl

8713748980122

8050149585

Korn

Vinyl

1999

Stereo

Issues

LP

Metal

What Records?

Korn: Jonathan Davis (vocals, bagpipes, drums, programming); Munky, Head (guitar); Fieldy (bass, programming); David Silveria (drums). Additional personnel: Jeffy Lube (programming). Recorded at A&M Studios, Hollywood, California and Southern Tracks Recording, Atlanta, Georgia. The music of Korn speaks to those on the fringes of society. The band's trademark hip-core has evolved into a more clearly defined but equally urgent musical vision. Korn's sense of musical urgency and its ambition to make its mark on music is furthered with ISSUES. "Beg for Me" is a track likely to incite the swirling pits at the band's legendary live shows. Showing that the group hasn't lost its down-to-earth sensibility, Korn invited fans to compete for the cover art of ISSUES, releasing versions featuring the winning piece as well as the efforts of three finalists. The emotional journey undergone by vocalist Johnathan Davis on tracks like "Hey Daddy" is truly strengthened by his movement away from his more abrasive vocal style and toward a more dominantly melodic approach. Davis digs more deeply into his tortured emotions on efforts such as "No Way," where he sings: "lately things aren't going my way / lately everything is gray / it feels like something / it feels like nothing." That hazy emotional landscape is what strikes a responsive chord with Korn fans and makes ISSUES a landmark album.

Rolling Stone (1/20/00, p.56) - 3 stars out of 5 - "...the band moves from catharsis to careerism. They work hard to add melodies, mostly big, grunge-redux choruses, as if they want to be Soundgarden or, piling on static and distortion, Nine Inch Nails..." Q (1/00, p.116) - 4 stars out of 5 - "...impressively obsessive: every track has the same huge dynamic range, the same mood, the same message....[It] is dark, intelligent and very ugly..." CMJ (12/13/99, p.4) - "...ready to blast all non-believers to Kingdom Come....[striking] a rebellious, gut-wrenching, and emotionally naked stance....Head and Monkey's down-tuned riffage remains inimitable..."

2