Make Mine Cr33py!

Well, it’s that time again, new Korn time. This album, in a whole, is in a very different place. Typical Korn kids won’t like this album. Very Industrial and very polished. Think of it as Untouchables part 2. Here is the song review.

1. Twisted Transistor - I like this song, good single. Not much more to say.

2. Politics - Eh…. Don’t really like this song all that much. Seems very childish lyric wise “Everyone’s corrupt, you should just shut up”. WTF? The groove in the chorus is good, I am just not impressed by Jonathan at all. Sounds like this song was written for the 12-15 year old kids. “Don’t want to talk about politics!”. Kinda lame.

3. Hypocrites - Good song, I love the opening riff. Jon’s lyrics are a bit better here, although I dont’ really know what “pay the merrymen, pay the fucking driver” means. This song was definately inspired by former guitarist Head’s new religous dealings. I think the music on this song is top notch, the pre-chorus is amazing, along with the chorus. I especially like the double bass tribal thing that David does before the last chorus.

4. Souvenir - One of the best songs on the album, pounding in your face riffs and drums. I love the overly distorted guitar on this track. The pre-chorus is the first hint at old korn, with the descending sliding riff while Jonathan sings “Souvenir of Sadness, Method to the madness” I don’t really care for the bridge, it doesnt have that “umphh” Korn is usually known for, but the immediate return of the pre chorus is to die for.

5. 10 or 2 way - I have mixed feelings about this song. I think the lyrics are kinda lame, but at the same time, the music seems to be stepped up a notch. The bassline is very nice. I like the chorus, lots of power. The bridge is pretty amazing, with the death metal growls and the oldschool korn sounding music in the background. Then as the parting note, we get a amazing interlude to the next track featuring darth vader like breathing, a heart beating and some wicked sped up bagpipes….good stuff.

6. Throw me away - Hrm. Not a huge fan of this song, but I do like the chorus alot. I don’t know, I am really split on this track. It’s got a nice Queen of the damned style to it, but it loses me somewhere.

7. Love Song - Awesome track. One of my favorites. Lyrically this song has really evolved from the rest of the album. “Mother! Your holding my heart screaming!”. The music is very industrial sounding. The Pre-chorus is just right. The chorus revists once again, the old korn style with the descending low tuned sludge guitar riff. It is complimented by a different singing style by Jonathan. The bridge is pretty nice too, although it seems kind of displaced. Jon trys to go all opera after the bridge with the acapella singing. The return of the descending riff closes things nicely.

8. Open up - I love the chorus of this song, the melody is amazing. The music is very funky yet dark. Lyrics it’s better than most songs on this album. I can see this as a single in the future. It has a beatiful bridge, simply amazing. Features the glass armonica, a nice mix with the clean guitars. To top off this song, we have another strange interlude with bagpipes, scat and a very haunting background beat.

9. This is my favorite track on the album. Lyrically and musically, this shows korn at their finest. The catchiness of it is infectious. I would definately have this as my second single. “Wait! I’m coming undone!”. The bridge is another first for Korn, something I havent really heard them do before. Once again, the sliding descending riff is there again.

10. I don’t really like this song lyrically. The music is okay. I do, however, like the death metal growls that Jon does through out the track. Not much to say, not one of my favs, but not horrible.

rest later

They have done it again, another great album. I will give # ratings after I give it a few more listens. This is more of a first impressions review.

1. Attack - Starting out with a brutal, almost razor like riff, you can see why they picked this as the opener. This song has the usual mood swings like most SOAD songs. Fast, quiet, slow… The chorus/pre chorus is amazing and we get some great bridge screaming by Serj. “Weaving each others lives, holding this in mind, that if we fall, we all fall, and we fall alone”. This is a very political influenced song.

2. Dreaming - The opening of this song reminds so much of something off the first album. Very fast paced. Very nice little bridge. “Someone kicked me out of my mind, I hate these thoughts I cant deny” Kind of repetitive tho.

3. Kill Rock N Rock - I love this song, but the live version is better, IMHO. The vocals on the studio version arent quite a smooth and flowing as the live version. Great rock track, very punk feel to it. The bridge is great “Eat all the grass, Eat all the grass that you want, accidents happen in the dark” Daron and Serj co-exist beautifully on this track.

4. Hypnotize - First single and title track from the album. The intro to the album is really beautiful. Great song, probably one of, if not the strongest song on the album. The lyrics are are amazin. “Why don’t you ask the kids at tinnamen square, is fashion the reason why there were there”. Great message in this track.

5. Stealing Society - This song sounds like it should be on Toxicity from the first riffs, then soon catches the mesmerize feel. “Blue Skies fading” I love this song, the bridge is absolutely brilliant, Daron’s vocals are insane. “Im a midnight, fistfight” This is one of my favorite tracks on the LP, if not my favorite.

6. Tentative - Very fast paced opening, this song screams the first album. Serj’s vocals are identical to the first soad album in the verses. “Where do you expect us to go when the bombs fall?” This is another one of my favorite tracks.

7. U-Fig - The opening is familiar, sounds like a peice of toxicity, and then it melts your face off with a high paced riff led screamo verse. Another song that sounds very much like the first album. “You and me should go outside and beat em beat em eat em beat em eat em” Too bad it does get repetitive.

8. Holy Mountain - We heard this live way before the album was leaked. I love this song, it is the Aerials of Hypnotize. Can’t say much about this track but that it is amazing. “Can you feel their haunting presence?” “Liar, killer, demon, back to the river”

9. Vicinity of Obsenity - I love how this song starts. “banana banana banana, terra cotta pie” This could have been on Steal this album, very much like “chic n stu”. I can’t see this song being played live, it has lots of effects and vocally would be hard to pull off even for Serj I imagine.

10. She’s like Herion - The opening riff and drums are fab. “Selling Ass for Heroin”. Lyrically, this track is very much like bounce/psycho to me. Very quirky with a very, very dark tone to the music. Almost haunting. One of my favorites.

11. Lonely Day - This is the lost in hollywood of hypnotize. Very beautiful and sad song. You can almost put yourself in Daron’s shoes listening to this track. “Such a lonely day, shouldnt exist”. Serj compliments as usual with his spectacular voice. Love this track.

12. Soldier Side - The continuation of the intro to Mesmerize. Great track, pretty much like the rest of the album. “They were crying when their sons left, god is wearing black”. This song is about the wars, and the men that die within them. I love how it picks up with the same lyrics as the Mesmerize version, but with the full band.

I was rocking out on the way to work this morning, and started thinking about my favorite albums from the past 10 years (or 11, since its almost 06). Figured I would come up with a nice list with brief review. I don’t think its possible really to put these in order, but Ill try.

1. White Zombie - Astro Creep 2000 (April 11, 1995)
I was absolutely torn apart when White Zombie broke up. Maybe they felt they couldn’t top this LP? A perfect mix of industrial sludge with thrash metal. I imagine it was fun mixing this album, with the 100’s of sounds mixed in the background, hidden here and there. This album made J Yuenger one, if not my favorite guitarist on the 90’s. Highlights are “Super Charger Heaven” (blam! like a 18 wheeler slamming into while speeding by, laughing), “Creature of the Wheel” (Helldorado baby!), “Grease Paint and Monkey Brains” (does not help my fear of clowns, at all), and “Blur the Technicolor” (That trippy phased guitar riff god good to me). While La Sexorcisto is a great album, it has nothing on AC.

2. System of a Down - Mesmerize (May 17, 2005)
This has to be one of my favorite albums of all time. When I first listened to the album when it leaked (did I say that?), I was completely blown away. I’ve always been a System fan, and thought Toxicity was amazing, but this is just beyond anything. One of the few albums I can put on and listen almost all the way through (almost). Highlights for me are “Violent Pornography” (soooooo amazing, the message at the end is so true), “Radio/Video” (why they didnt make this a single, who the fuck knows), and “Revenga” (I adore the little “No Rest for the Wicked” style bridge guitar). Low points, of course, are the singles, “BYOB” (although I’ll blame that on being overplayed) and “Questions” (I really, really dont like this song).

3. Korn - Life is Peachy (October 15, 1996)
I would have listed the first Korn album, but it was released in 94. While, not as good as the first, it is far superior to anything that has been put out after it. The rawness and realness of Korn are still there intact, the money has not affected them or the music. From the opening song “Twist”, to the emotional ender “Kill You”, you would be hard pressed to find a album that grabs you by the soul like this one. Highlights are “Twist” (they have never gotten this down live right, studio cut is amazing), “Good God” (Man, when I was a teenager, this song was a staple of riding to school), “Mr Rogers” (One of my fav Korn songs of all time), and last but not least, “Kill You” (WOW). Afterwards, Ross Robinson departed and so did most of the emotion, damn.

4. Pantera - The Great Southern Trendkill (July 12, 2000)
From the opening scream of “The Great Southern Trendkill”(song), this album is like having a snapping turtle snap your nuts, not let go, while being beaten with a baseball bat at the same time. The most anal screaming, pounding drums, and gut wrenching guitar riffs of 2000. Highlights of this LP are “TGSTK” (Title track that melts your face off), “War Nerve” (Fuck the world, for all its worth, every inch of planet earth, nuff said), “Suicide Note pt.1 (They can play a slow song!, and good!), “Floods” (the ending guitar part mind blowing), and “The Underground in America” (Thrash, with a punk twist). There aren’t many songs on this album that I don’t like.

5. Weezer - Pinkerton (September 24, 1996)
I can’t believe that the first time I bought this album, I didn’t like it. Not really sure why this isnt the top of the list, like I said, the order is screwy. Pinkerton features a much matured Weezer, long gone are the do wop stylings of the blue album, here you will find feedbacking guitars, songs about obtaining, and losing loves, and some of the most emotional storytelling you will ever encounter. Still brings chills to me after all these years. My Highlights are “Why Bother” (Perfect proto punk song), “Across the Sea” (Rivers really loves those asian girls, even if they are still in High school), “The Good Life” (Almost a perfect song IMHO), and “Falling For You” (that chorus gets me everytime). “Getchoo” is my least favorite, but that’s not saying it’s bad. Best album they have done since the self titled.

6. Alice in Chains - Alice in Chains (November 7, 1995)
The underrated classic from AIC. Most people never got into this one, but I dove headfirst into it. This album is definately influenced by frontman Layne Staley’s drug addiction, and listening to it almost makes you feel like you are high on herion aswell. Too bad it never really caught on, as a whole, but it did manage to spawn a few of their biggest hits, like “Heaven Beside You”. Tops on this one for me are “Grind” (this song is just amazing, the filthy grinding guitar and the haunting vocals, wow), “Sludge Factory” (Again, another one of those very grinding, filthy sounding songs, sounds like you just picked up a needle from a ditch and slammed it into your ear), “Shame in You” (Beautiful song, my fav AIC to date), and “Over Now” (perfect closer for the album and the band). Shame we won’t hear anything else like this album again. RIP.

6. Superjoint Ritual - Use Once and Destroy (May 21, 2002)
Alot of people don’t like Superjoint Ritual. I am not one of those people. I think this is what Phil wanted Pantera’s “The Great Southern Trendkill” to sound like. Phil is one of my favorite frontmen, although I think his voice is awful live during the SuperJoint era, you can feel the emotion. This album is a trainwreck of probably 50 songs condensed into 16 usable tracks. Each song sounds like it has 4 songs in it or more (listen to “4 Songs”). Bower and Bond make a impressive duo on the guitars, with a southern rock meets slayer feel. Best tracks are “Everybody Hates Everyone” (You want to stab me right now!), “4 songs” (yes, its really 4 songs in one), “Fuck your enemy” (the most southern song here), “The Alcoholik” (don’t watch the video, its sick) and the opening instrumental, “Oblivious Maximus” (They should have put vocals to this). Im not particulary fond of “Ozena”, or “Superjoint Ritual” (the song), but there is plenty of vocal chord ripping songs to make up for those less-than-spectacular tracks.

7. SuperJoint Ritual - A lethal dose of American Hatred (July 22, 2003)
Yes, another SJR album in my list. I would have preferred to just take selections from both album and make my own, because there is definately some filler on both albums, but I’ll just play by the book. Phil’s vocals are a bit more strained on the album, but the screams are even less subdued than on the debut album. The bridges on most of these songs is where the bone crunching comes in, see “Personal Insult” for a example. Higlights once again are “Waiting for the Turning Point” (a punky black flag inspired song), “Dress like a Target” (they’re new because the media sucks up, sucks up), “The destruction of a person” (Doesnt the opening riff sound just like Pantera’s “Hard lines and sunken cheeks”?), and “Personal Insult” (from the bridge on, the song is massive). I would love to put “Absorbed” on there, the intro kicks ass, but the song doesnt even come close to the greatness of the intro.

—–The remaining three will be on later, my hands hurt, lol.

I cannot believe the state of music these days. It sickens me. I constantly find myself going to back to the same music I’ve been listening to for years, rather than enjoying the newest releases. The MAJOR problem with music I hear now is the complete and utter lack of EMOTION. Emotion does not have to be soley expressed by the lyrics, or even the voice. The music itself has to have emotion. Maybe its because I am a musician, you possibly could blame it on that.

I am sick and tired of every song being the same heartless, I-CAN-WHINE-BUT-ITS-NOT-A-REAL-EMOTION-ITS-TO-BE-EMO-SO-I-SUCK-AND-IM-SAD crap. Alot of the “EMO” music out today, is totally missing the point. You don’t fake emotion, and thats where the translation is lost. Just because you sing about your feelings doesnt mean you don’t have to put feeling into the vocals, music.

Don’t get me wrong, I am not just picking on EMO (as fun as that would be, Ill save that for another day, sorry Kenward), there are a ton of other bands out there.

New Rap. WTF is this? I’ve had enough, and I can’t take the bling shit anymore. I can’t take the standard “sitting around with my homies by a caddy with spinners, with girls dancing beside me in daisy dukes and me constantly grabbing and showing my platinum and iced out bling chain. Confused of what rap I’m talking about? Turn on MTV or BET, I dare you, and watch for 30 minutes (if you can actually find music on MTV, BET would be a better choice). It’s 99.5% of it. I love rap music, but not this crap. This G-unit, 50 cent, I’m hard but I can’t rap for shit and my IQ is way below 50 music has got to go away. What happened to Busta Rhymes? He was once one of the most innovative (check out his early videos!) rappers out there, a new style, a new look. He has fallen to legions of crap rap now also. I remember the days when we had different styles of rap, the good old days, When Triple Six Mafia was writing about cutting up body parts, ICP were entertaining, Snoop Dogg was stoned and could still rap, Ice Cube was a gangsta and not a movie star, I could go on for days.

Now, everybody has lost their originality, and tried to flow with whats “IN”. It’s awful and make it die, please.

Rock/Metal/Punk…… No….Emotion….Anymore.

Remember when Metallica was pulverzing your brains with lar’s infamous double bass drums? Remember when Korn didnt try to over produce their music and just rocked out? Remember when Pantera ruled the metal scene? Ozzy wasnt a TV star? Metal wasnt popular to like? Teenagers couldnt buy AC/DC and Judas Priest shirts at Dillards and JC Pennies? Bad Rap Rock didnt exist (yes, there are a few good rap/rock bands), Punk wasnt trendy? Green Day weren’t trendy? MTV still played videos that werent rap? Headbangers Ball? (the real one, not the fake one today), Sepultura? White Zombie? Faith No More? NIN (the real NIN)?

I remember being so overwhelmed by songs on the first two Korn albums that they actually brought tears to my eyes. I remember listening to Far Beyond Driven and the hair on the back of my neck standing up. What happened? Nothing does that to me anymore, the closest thing I have found that does anything remotely close to standing the hairs on the back of my neck is SuperJoint Ritual, and they are not perfect in any sort of way.

Why wont Metallica drop Bob Rock as a producer, obviously he started their demise (look at the facts).

Why wont Sepultura and White Zombie reform?

What the fuck is Audioslave and where is my RATM?

Why is Weezer having to try so hard to make simple songs!?

What happened to good Girl bands?

Why can’t limp Bizkit makes something similiar to their first album?

Where did Danzig go (lmfao, but its still a question)?

Where is the All American Anti-Christ, Mr. Manson? Not the mallcore, crock art frontman we have today.

Will somebody tell the emo kids that there hair looks fucking stupid, and I cant tell them apart from one another?

Can somebody atleast try to sing with some emotion, please?

I have always been a huge fan of Metallica. One of the first major metal bands I became obsessed with (the 1st actually).

Over the years I have watched them grow and then slowly deteriorate.

This is not a actual full review, just a synopsis of their career.

After much deliberation, I can safely say that.

Kill Them All - Thrash doesnt equal Trash. Good pit album.

Ride the Lightning - Any album that starts out with a song like “Fight Fire with Fire” gets a big \m/ from me.

Master of Puppets - “drools”, Metal mixed with classical, best album ever. period.

And Justice For All - Metal at its finest, good and long……. “Harvester of Sorrow” is enough to make me want to crack my neck 3 times.

Metallica (black album) - Woah….they can write rock tunes also? Good Stuff, Still metal enough to not be pop.

Load - OK. WTF? Still, a decent album “2x4″ is massive. I can listen to this album, but not in the same fist pumping manner of the previous lp’s.

Re-Load - OK. WTFBBQ? This album sucks, I’m sorry. “The Memory Remains” should have been put on “Load”, and the rest of this filler album should have been scrapped. What the hell where they thinking? CASH$$

Garage Days Re-Re-Re-DE-Re visted - I wont say much about this, since I love the first EP, and the 2nd cd of covers isnt shabby either. They make a good cover band, and I really wonder if thats what they considered doing full-time after “Re-Load”.

St. Anger - No comment…seriously.

What happened you say? After listening to “MOP” and then putting on “Re-load”, my conclusion is that they lost all dynamics of music writing.

Where are the killer hooks? Where are the massive drums? Where is James’s devil voice?

This being said, after seeing a few shows on the last tour, I have decided that they may be trying to go back to their roots on the next LP, seeing how they dropped about everything new on the last tour, and played all the good stuff.

To be continued….