Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Email
Answers.com

Korn

 
Album Review: Korn
Home > Library > Entertainment & Arts > Pop Albums

Korn

Buy Now

Similar Albums:

9.0: Live, Renegades, White Pony, Life Is Peachy, Demanufacture, Clutch, Dig, Undertow, Urban Discipline, Meantime
  • Artist: Korn
  • Rating: StarStarStarStarHalf Star
  • Release Date: October 11, 1994
  • Type: Contains explicit content
  • Genre: Rock

Review

With little publicity, radio play, or MTV exposure, Korn took their eponymous 1994 debut to platinum status. Like all unexpected successes, it's easier to understand its popularity in retrospect. Although they disdain the "metal" label, there's no question that Korn are among the vanguard of post-grunge alt-metal outfits. Borrowing from Jane's Addiction, Rage Against the Machine, Pantera, Helmet, Faith No More, Anthrax, Public Enemy, and N.W.A, Korn developed a testosterone-fueled, ultra-aggressive metal-rap hybrid. They're relentless, both in their musical attack and in lead singer Jonathan Davis' bleak, violent lyrics. Tales of abuse and alienation run rampant throughout the record. It's often disturbing and, to some ears, even offensive, but their music can have a cathartic effect that makes up for their vulgarity and questionable lapses in taste. It's a powerful sound and one that actually builds on the funk-metal innovations of the late '80s/early '90s instead of merely replicating them. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine, All Music Guide

Tracks

Track TitleComposersPerformersTime
Blind (Lyrics) Don Schinn, Korn, Ryan Shuck Korn (4:19)
Ball Tongue (Lyrics) Korn Korn (4:29)
Need To (Lyrics) Korn Korn (4:01)
Clown (Lyrics) Jonathan Davis, Brian Welch, James "Munky" Shaffer, David Silveria, Reggie Arvizu Korn (4:37)
Divine (Lyrics) Korn Korn (2:51)
Faget (Lyrics) Korn Korn (5:49)
Shoots and Ladders (Lyrics) Korn Korn (5:22)
Predictable (Lyrics) Korn Korn (4:32)
Fake (Lyrics) Korn Korn (4:51)
Lies (Lyrics) Korn Korn (3:22)
Helmet in the Bush (Lyrics) Korn Korn (4:02)
Daddy (Lyrics) Korn Korn (17:31)

Credits

Jonathan Davis (Bagpipes), Jonathan Davis (Vocals), Eddy Schreyer (Mastering), Korn (Main Performer), Chuck Johnson (Engineer), Chuck Johnson (Mixing), Stephen Stickler (Photography), James Schaffer (Guitar), Brian Welch (Guitar), Brian Welch (Vocals), Ross Robinson (Producer), Ross Robinson (Engineer), Ross Robinson (Mixing), Judith Kiener (Vocals), Judith Kiener (?), James "Munky" Shaffer (Guitar), James "Munky" Shaffer (Group Member), Fieldy (Bass), Gene Salomon (Representation), Paul Pontius (A&R), Larry Weintraub (Executive Producer), Jonathan Davis (Bagpipes), Jonathan Davis (Vocals), Jonathan Davis (Group Member)
Search unanswered questions...

Enter a question here...
Search: All sources Community Q&A Reference topics

Wikipedia: Korn (album)
Top
Home > Library > Miscellaneous > Wikipedia
KoЯn
Studio album by Korn
Released October 11, 1994
Recorded May – June 1994 at Indigo Ranch Studios in Malibu, California
Genre Nu metal
Length 65:51
Label Immortal/Epic
Producer Ross Robinson
Professional reviews
Korn chronology
Korn
(1994)		 Life Is Peachy
(1996)
Singles from Korn
  1. "Blind"
    Released: 1994
  2. "Shoots and Ladders"
    Released: 1995
  3. "Need To"
    Released: 1995
  4. "Clown"
    Released: 1996

Korn (promoted with a ya as KoЯn) is the self-titled debut album by American nu metal band Korn, released on October 11, 1994 through Immortal/Epic Records. It has been certified 2x Platinum by the RIAA in the US. [1]

Contents

Musical and lyrical style

The album merges influences from alternative metal, funk metal, grunge and hip-hop, which altogether made a sound which would later be called nu metal. It is regarded as the first album of this genre. The band has been said to "disdain the metal or nu metal label," and consider the album more like a "heavy groove".[2]

While these elements have been adapted by other bands, the album includes elements that are unique to Korn, including scatting vocals, and the use of bagpipes.

According to Stephen Thomas Erlewine, Korn borrows elements from such acts as Pantera, Jane's Addiction, Rage Against the Machine, Helmet, Faith No More, Anthrax, Cypress Hill and N.W.A.[3] According to author Cheryl Lynette Keyes, Korn's sound originated from the acid rap style of Esham.[4]

Reception

Since its release in 1994, the album has proven to be a seller over time, being certified 2x Platinum by the RIAA in the US.

"Shoots and Ladders" was nominated for a 1997 Grammy Award for Best Metal Performance.

Q magazine (8/00, p.127) - Included in Q's "Best Metal Albums of All Time" - "[Their] clinical power generated maximum moshpit activity, while singer Jonathan Davis' lyrics spoke directly to any teen who'd ever been misunderstood, bullied or abused."[5]

Track listing

  1. "Blind" - 4:19
  2. "Ball Tongue" - 4:29
  3. "Need To" - 4:01
  4. "Clown" - 4:37
  5. "Divine" - 2:51
  6. "Faget" - 5:49
  7. "Shoots and Ladders" - 5:22
  8. "Predictable" - 4:32
  9. "Fake" - 4:51
  10. "Lies" - 3:22
  11. "Helmet in the Bush" - 4:02
  12. "Daddy" - 17:31

The song "Daddy" ends after 9 minutes and after some more minutes of silence another bonus track referred to as "Michael & Geri" can be heard. It is best referred to as a dialogue track as it only consists of two people having an argument.

Chart positions

Year Chart Position
1995 Top Heatseekers #1
1996 The Billboard 200 #72

Credits

References

  1. ^ Searchable Database - RIAA
  2. ^ "The Classic Albums: Korn". Ultimate Guitar Archive. February 21, 2009. http://www.ultimate-guitar.com/interviews/interviews/the_classic_albums_korn.html. Retrieved 2009-04-21. 
  3. ^ Erlewine, Stephen Thomas. "Review of Korn". Allmusic. http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=10:j9fuxquhld6e~T1. Retrieved 2009-04-21. 
  4. ^ Keyes, Cheryl Lynette (2002). "Blending and Shaping Styles: Rap and Other Musical Voices". Rap Music and Street Consciousness. University of Illinois Press. p. 108. ISBN 0252072014, 9780252072017. 
  5. ^ "Best Metal Albums of All Time". Q: 127. August 2000. 

External links

v • d • e
Korn
Jonathan Davis · James "Munky" Shaffer · Reginald "Fieldy" Arvizu · Ray Luzier
Brian "Head" Welch · David Silveria
Backup band
Studio albums
Live albums and compilations
EPs
All Mixed Up · Korn 2009 Digital EP #1
Singles
DVDs
Related articles

This entry is from Wikipedia, the leading user-contributed encyclopedia. It may not have been reviewed by professional editors (see full disclaimer)

 
 

 

Copyrights:

Album Review. Copyright © 2009 All Media Guide, LLC. Content provided by All Music Guide ®, a trademark of All Media Guide, LLC. All rights reserved.  Read more
Wikipedia. This article is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License. It uses material from the Wikipedia article "Korn (album)".  Read more