Recent hits like "Coming Undone" and "Twisted Transistor" nearly drag down the momentum of this groundbreaking event for the band. "Falling Away From Me" is pretty much the most natural acoustic transformation, as is a completely awe-inspiring cover of Radiohead's "Creep." Unfortunately, in all honesty, some songs just don't work in the acoustic form. 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 WITH ROBERT SMITH 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. 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.