Customer Reviews

Issues

5 star:		(524)
4 star:		(191)
3 star:		(78)
2 star:		(56)
1 star:		(99)

 

 

Korn were always a popular band, but following the release of "Follow the Leader" in 1998, they really hit it big and crossed over into the mainstream. So maybe they wanted to strike while the iron was hot, but for some reason, Korn felt like they needed to follow up that album quickly with "Issues," and release it the very next year.

Unfortunately for them, 1999's "Issues" was Korn's first underrated album. "Issues" still went platinum, so it wasn't exactly "a miss," but for whatever reason, some Korn fans didn't buy it. As of 1999, nu-metal was still very popular, so the collapse of that genre is not to blame. If anything, "Issues" didn't have enough nu-metal songs. It eliminated the hip-hop stylings which were present on "Follow the Leader," and, since frontman Jonathan Davis plays bagpipes on this album, his Duran Duran influences are more apparent here than on other albums.

But "Issues" is also different for a variety of other reasons. First of all, its cover art was done by Korn fans, and there are four available covers for this one C.D.. Next, every other Korn album has a hidden track at the end, but "Issues" does not. The album closer, "Dirty," just ends with the sound of static/white noise. (It's rumored that they pulled the hidden track at the last minute, before the album was released). Finally, and most importantly, this album has five short, "interlude" type of tracks. "Dead," "4 U" (a song which has chimes and is almost a short ballad), "It's Gonna Go Away," "Am I Going Crazy," and "Wish You Could Be Me" are all very brief; they are 90 seconds or less. Now, this C.D. is 16 tracks long, so there are 11 full-length songs. Thus, I seriously doubt Korn had writer's block and just threw in those five tracks for filler.

It is possible that Korn released this album only a year after its predecessor because Jonathan Davis had a lot he wanted to talk about. Lyrically, much of this album was inspired by Davis' battle with substance abuse-particularly alcohol. Other recurring themes throughout these songs are death (as in "Falling Away From Me"), "I'm dead inside" feelings (which are especially apparent in the song "Dead"), and Korn's patented "am I crazy?" thoughts (i.e. in tracks five and seven). Track eight, "Wake Up," however, is about apparent feuding amongst the band members, and JD wasn't happy about it. Elsewhere, "Make Me Bad" deals with Jonathan's obsession with sex (his feelings of constantly looking for a woman to have intercourse with), and "Beg For Me" is about performing live, on stage, in front of a crowd.

"Dead" begins the album with an ascending bagpipe solo. Then Davis whispers "All I want in life is to be happy," and a choir sings in the background. With a creepy beat/guitar noise and lyrics which are criminal and mentally disturbed, "Trash" is a common fan favorite, but "Falling Away from Me" is my personal favorite. It's incredibly catchy, and has big, speaker shredding guitars, and a mosh-pit-ready bridge. The other two singles, "Somebody Someone" and "Make Me Bad," are both very catchy as well. "Beg For Me" has an irresistible chorus, and "Hey Daddy" has good vocal hooks. Next, the aforementioned "Wake Up" has very heavy choruses, with explosive riffs and blood pumping yells. And finally, "Let's Get This Party Started" is ironic because it has more dark lyrics and creepy vocals, but the song's chorus is very bouncy and energetic.


Nu-metal may not be popular anymore, but this is still a great album. It is, in my opinion, not their best album, but some Korn fans would argue it is, and it also has some of Korn's catchiest songs. "Issues" is definitely worth owning, so you should definitely buy it, but (as is the case, now-a-days, with all nu-metal albums) don't tell any of your friends.

Korn isn't really the sort of band to write concept albums. Operatic, epic, grandoise... words associated with our idea of a rock "concept album" but not the band Korn. But in this case, I'm at a loss for what else to call this music. This is Korn's "concept album."

Okay, not literally... the lyrics don't potray the psychological downward spiral of a British rock star or the tragic love story of a mafia hitman, et cetera. But this album flows as a single work of art, and the lyrics do seem to outline a specific sort of mental decline. What this album lacks in marketability and individual song strength, it more than makes up for in atmosphere, texture, and pure emotion.

Issues starts out with the simple chant-like "Dead", which is the first in a series of inbetween tracks. Many fans cried 'filler' when this album came out, claiming that these short transition songs were just put there to take up space. On the contrary, this is a long album even without those short little intermissions. If anything, they contribute to the flow of the album. Some of them are great by themselves and some of them aren't, but all of them are appropriate.

This album is also the pinnacle of Korn's "wall of sound." By this I am referring to the one simple repetative part Head plays, the simple part Munky plays that is entirely different, the beat David plays that is entirely different, the counter-groove Fieldy plays, and Jon's voice filling in the blanks. And, of course, when you put it all together, you get one complex arrangement that is many times more than the sum of its parts. Issues takes advantage of this more than any other Korn album. The rich textures on this album are one of its strongest points and it has a tendancy to draw you into its morbid, aimless haze.

Issues is, on the whole, Korn's darkest and most disturbing album. It's impossible not to feel the insomnia and alcoholism and depression that spawned not only the self-loathing lyrics but the creepy, dissonant music itself. Much of this album borrows from the abstract, heavy sounds of Mr. Bungle. It has some of Korn's heaviest moments and some of Korn's most melodic moments up to this point. All the humor from the past two albums seems to have been drained completely - this album is dead serious.

As Issues flows seamlessly from one sludgey, hopeless track to the next, it becomes difficult to decide what is a highlight and what is a lowlight. It works so perfectly as a single experiance that it seems almost criminal to break it down to its constituant parts and analyze them. However, "Falling Away From Me" and "Make Me Bad" seem like a good place to start, being the singles. The former is one of their darkest, moodiest singles and the latter is a groovey and catchey tune with a great melody. "Trash" is a particularely bitter track towards the beginning of the album that introduces the "concept" of sorts for the album: that this whole record is an account of Jonathan's various stages of a breakdown on tour.

"Hey Daddy" marks the beginning of the headiest, most emotional part of the album, which progresses more and more into a state of despair as it finishes out. By itself it is one of the heaviest and scariest songs on the album. "No Way" has a sort of sick desperation to it and is the ramp up into what I consider to be the climax of the album: "Let's Get This Party Started." Despite its unimaginative title, I see it as being the crux of this album. It is in many ways the most intense song on this album and contains some of the most biting, bitter, and personal lyrics to be found on Issues.

After this song, the album tones down a little volume-wise, but emotionally it is just as intense (although it feels a little more resigned than the first three quarters of the album.) At long last we reach the meloncholic, defeated "Dirty" which is another of this album's many high points... but maybe perhaps it is also a low point, for there is practically no hope to be found in this song. I can practically see Jon passing out drunk in front of his tv set as the network signs off the air for the night (a possibly unintended effect of the static at the end of the album?)

This is Korn's most serious, mature, and emotionally relevant album to date, and my personal favorite even over the self-titled. I can see why the "old school" fans weren't impressed, but I'm glad they moved on from the urban influence of Follow the Leader and continued to tweak their sound. I would highly recommend this to ANYONE, even people who aren't into Korn or other so-called nu metal bands.

This is the Korn television network, signing off. Goodnight.

*static*...

Any of you old school gothics that are into that gloomy melodic with an occasional thrash here and there...this is for you. Reminds me somewhat of some OLD NIN or some sisters of mercy...really great stuff. If you didn't know it was Korn, you wouldn't know it was Korn. All those out there expecting this to be an in your face album are going to be really disappointed...but if you want that slow down...emotional experience...this is for you.

ARE YOU READY!

This cd will please most Korn fans, and it did please me. I thought that it was closer to the older cd's of Korn(which where way better! ) Yes they are trying to develop new sounds and more beats, but we as fans would like just a few more songs that are heavy like, blind, faget, and clown. I personally would like more songs that are funny and extremely emotional(the new cd was close on the emotional part!) like Good God, A.D.I.D.A.S, and Shoots and ladders. We all like the new beat that Issues created but it needs to have a few more songs that are more like the old Korn that we love.

Deffinitly buy this CD because it is a good CD, the only problem is that Korn could make the CD's great, by adding a few more "old style" songs! Also buy the CD because it is Korn! Korn will also be on the top!

I would just like to say that "Issues" is yet another almost-masterpiece pumped out by the instruments of KORN and the vocals of Jonathan Davis. I have seen all four covers ( I think the artwork is cool, but sick) and I have heard the CD over my friend's house. I think they could have been a bit more heavy-metal about it, but then again, rock'n'roll isn't all about how hard the music is. The Lyrics are depressing, repressive, and yes, inventive. I think that they are much more creative than the last album (no offense to "Follow The Leader"). KORN should keep up the good work and pump out another album a.s.a.p!

...because it amazes me what it written in some of these other reviews. We're here to review the music right? Not the band or whether or not they are "sellouts" or not, but just the music.

And this music rocks, that's what I think. A lot of you know Korn's sound from Follow the Leader, which featured rappers like Ice Cube and Fred Durst. On this album, Korn droppes the hip-hop side and becomes an even darker, deeper metal band. Sure, they've changed, all bands do, but they still hold onto some of their traditional trademarks, like the bagpipes on the introdution track, "Dead," and the eerie chime intro on the song "Falling Away From Me."

Why do I like this CD, you ask? Because it's music I can relate to. I think the best song on this CD is "Somebody Someone," but heck, they are all pretty good. "Dead" is a good introduction, kind of slow for Korn, but it gets the message across, with Jon Davis (Korn's leader) singing in a low whisper: "All I want in life is to be happy," over and over, with the creepy bagpipes playing in the backgroudn. "Falling Away From Me" is dark, eerie, and some might even find it disturbing, but it's still a good song. It starts off, like I said, with eerie chimes, and then rips into the vicious song. "Trash" is very good too, one of Korn's best, I think, it's loud, dark, and something that jilted teens (or anyone for that matter) can relate to. That's why I listen to Korn, to express the hate that I have built up inside of me. Sometimes I feel as if my life sux, and this kind of music helps me get those emotions out.

Also on this album are several shorter songs, interludes, i guess, life "4U," "Am I Going Crazy?," and "Wish You Could Be Me" that are OK, but certainly aren't the highlight of the album. "Beg For Me" is an awesome song, very loud, and one of the best on this CD, i think. "Make me Bad" is another good song, starts off kind of slow, then gets louder. And "Somebody Someone" is my favorite, although it just sounds different than all the other songs on this album, more like something that belongs on Follow the Leader. All the other songs are good too, but I'm just giving you the highlights,so you get a general idea.

So this was a pretty good CD, but it wasn't perfect, hence the 4 stars instead of 5. Anyway, I've told you why I like the album and everything, so if this was helpful to you, please click the little "yes" below. Thanx.

Upon listening to Issues for the first time, i have to honestly say that i was not overly impressed. Having enjoyed the three previous albums quite a bit, I was initially dissapointed by their departure from the traditional bludgeoning/testosterone pumping sound that has characterized their music. However, after "Trash" and "Make Me Bad" started to stick in my head, i found a lot to like with this album. Thankfully, Korn has eschewed the rap influence prevailent on follow the leader. But instead of returning straight back to the style of their debut, Korn takes their sound in different directions, creating hard music not only innovative for the genre, but for the band itself. Suppose for a moment Korn had made a record that sounded just like their debut. That would have definitly won over the older, hardcore fans. But then there wouldn't be anything to distinguish Korn from Sevendust, Deftones, Staind, or any other new metal oufits of today who's sound Korn pioneered. Instead, they would've sounded like every other angst filled, downtuned band. By not replicating their old "hardcore" sound, Korn instead replicates another tradition: intense, creative, energetic music. With their experimentations with new music, Korn just may lift current hard music out of the creative rut...just like a certain oh-so-fanous debut album did back in 1994.

Any thoughts, email me (Khutta@aol.com)

I almost want to say that Korn has outdone themselves with "Issues" but it would be absurd to rank anything higher than their first album. However, this one is just as good and shows that Korn is still at the top of their game. I was a big fan of "Follow the Leader" and how the rap influence gave the group a more dynamic sound but after hearing "Issues," I'm glad Korn has refocused to a more of a straight rock sound and have gotten back to business. They seem to have gone for a more deeper sound with an emphasis on the bass guitar. In fact, it is sometimes hard to distinguish the bass from the drums. The best songs on the album are, in order: 1)Trash (one of Korn's best ever), 2)Dirty, 3)Make Me Bad, 4)Falling Away From Me, 5)Beg for Me, 6)Wake Up, 7)Somebody, Someone. Most listeners may find that they need to let "Issues" sink in for about a week or two before you can appreciate it. However, most classic albums, which stand the test of time, often do. This CD easily receives 5 stars and a high recommendation. BUY IT!

Well, well. This goes out to all of these ignorant, negative reviews that I keep seeing on this album. For one, these guys are some of the most talented COMPOSERS of modern music this world has ever seen! I'll tell you why. It's the actual BLEND & STRUCTURE of the music that makes the band, not individual instruments! LISTEN to the way that they break up their individual instrument parts to create that warm,dream-like feel(kinda like an orchestra- for those who think the band has no talent. Listen to It's On when he SINGS "You see it's my fault, Angels stabbing me inside....")and then explode into that Sepultura like feel- all while making you feel like your in the twilight zone. As for John's vocals... Nobody else has yet been able to touch him on the mic! For those who say he only screams, your wrong. He uses a combination of grunts, growls, screams, singing, scatting, raping, scat-growling(yes there is a name for what he does with his "freestyle"),power singing, cry-singing, whispering, moaning, and much more! When will people understand that there's more to vocalization than JUST PLAIN singing? Issues touches sweet, yet melancholy tones, blends them with that old Korn hardcore anger feel, and really brings out the almost symphonic feel that they've ALWAYS HAD! (ie Blind, Good God,Adidas, It's On, Trash, etc.). In conclusion, this is a great album that gets better the more you listen to it. Even if you think you don't like it, keep listening. You'll hear what they're trying to say...

In music, your either moving forward or going backwards. For all the fans that wanted another self titled, Korn shows that they are true artists and always evolving their sound. Theres not one song on here that sounds like anything else previously done.

I like Jonathan's vocals because he shows he can sing without a major use of effects like Untouchables. I think the interludes are great unlike most people that bought this album. "Dead" starts the album off in true fashion with the great trademark of bagpipes. However the other well known trademark that is absent is Jonathan's rants (EX:Twist). I think they were overused in Follow The Leader so I was glad to see that Jonathan moved on past that. Lyrically this is one of Jonathan's most diverse records. Song meanings ranging everywhere from suicide, sex, unity in the band, the sellout tag they got from Follow The Leader, betraying one another, and dedication to his fans.

Musically this goes above and beyond Follow The Leader. The interludes are either loved or hated among fans. Personally I think it lets the album mesh a little better than previous efforts. They experimented with new effects and pianos (Make Me Bad) with Issues.

This is by far my favorite Korn album especially considering i've bought this album six times. I think this totally strayed away from Follow The Leader's success. Highlights are the whole album because frankly I can't find one track that stands out from the rest this is Korn's perfection.