Customer Reviews

Life Is Peachy

5 star:		(197)
4 star:		(66)
3 star:		(31)
2 star:		(13)
1 star:		(23)

 

 

I have mixed feelings about Life is Peachy, and I'm giving it the benefit of the doubt with a 4 star rating as opposed to the 3 star rating I was tempted to give it. This album shows the awkward developmental period between the self-titled and Follow the Leader. The result is interesting and fun if not necessarily the high point of Korn's career.

The album starts out well enough with the infamous "Twist," a 49 second scat from Jonathan. It's not a fantastic song but it sets the stage for the rest of the album, a hodgepodge blend of heavyness and creepiness with playfullness and vulgar humor. From here out, the first part of the album is basically a funkier, weirder take on the self-titled sound, with lots of abstract chords and offbeat rhythms. The songs aren't as heavy-hearted as the self-titled, but they retain the same familiar chuggy balance. In a way this is the strongest and most stable portion of the album, and the best of them would probably have to be "Chi" with its distinctive time feel changes.

The middle portion of the album has some of the best songs on this album and may alone be responsible for the 4 star rating I gave it. "Porno Creep" is a very cool Snot-like jazz/rock song that acts as a sort of intermission. "Good God" is an emotionally intense song with screeching high guitars and a distinctive melody. "Mr. Rogers" is a disturbing, creepy, drug-addled tune with lyrics depicting paranoia and betrayal.

Unfortunately, it seems that after the first half, the album doesn't know what to do with itself. "K@#-!" is a rediculous joke track that is only really entertaining the first time for its shock value. The idea is funny, but it compromises the quality of the album as a whole. Likewise, while I'm sure "Wicked" and "Lowrider" were great fun for the band to do, they chew up the flow of the album and spit it out as a messy, random pulp of varyingly mediocre songs.

Amidst the innappropriately placed cover songs etc., are the album's singles. They both more or less sound the same and are decent songs. Most importantly, though, they start to introduce the subtle hip hop influence and bizzare pedal effects that would become more prevelant on the next album. "Ass Itch" also hints at the sound the band would adopt for Follow the Leader. It has a good chorus but the verse and various other parts are a bit scattershot.

"Kill You" is the logical successor to self-titled's "Daddy", and is almost as profoundly disturbing. This is also the logical continuation of the first half of the album which is far superior to the messy second half. The potential shown in the first half seems to suggest that this album was a rush job and suffered as a direct result. It shows in the schizophrenic cobbling together of various novelty songs, but it also shows in the tin can production and in the playing of the band which is not as tight as it was on the self-titled.

Not for the last time, Korn rushed to put out an album at the expense of quality. It's not a terrible album, and when you cut out the duds you get a very nice little EP that fits perfectly as a transition between the self-titled and Follow the Leader. But it is a sophomore jynx. Still, it's pretty good as sophomore jynx's go. 3.5 stars grudgingly rounded up to 4. Give it a spin once in awhile - just don't look at it too hard under the microscope.

This is definitely the wildest Korn cd. From the very beginning, the guys show what they're all about with the series of grunts and scats on the first track, "Twist." The irony, humor, and creativity scattered throughout the album (especially seen in "Twist"; the outros of "Swallow" and "Kill You"; the concepts behind "Mr. Rogers," "K@#%," and "Adidas"; and the rap-metal combination in "Wicked") really give the listener a glimpse at the group's personality. Korn makes it clear that they have fun doing what they do. If their first cd ("Korn") is one of your favorites, you'll probably enjoy this one, too. But if their last cd ("Untouchables") is one of your favorites, you may not necessarily enjoy this cd unless you wouldn't mind something a lot more insane and unleashed. Personally, there is not a song on this album that I don't like so I recommend it highly. It is definitely a must-have for any Korn fan.

"Life Is Peachy" by KoRn is definetly worth buying. It's a must have for those who like heavy music. I can't say it's KoRn's best album cuz I don't have all of their CD's, but I can honestly say this CD rocks! It's got several cool songs on it, like Lost, Swallow, Porno Creep, K@#O%!, A.D.I.D.A.S. and many more. It's really amazing to see that there's a band that can play great heavy metal with meaningful lyrics. Only a few bands can do that, and only one band can do that really good: KoRn. When you listen to "Life is Peachy", it won't cause you a headache, .... After reading some bad reviews of this album I was wondering why some people don't like this CD. I'm completely satisfied with it. So, I say if you want some great heavy metal music, you should seriously consider getting this album. KoRn rocks!!!

I don't think most of these people that listen to Korn and write reviews of their albums even know what kind of contribution Korn made to the Nu-Metal scene. First of all it was bands like Faith No More that really pioneered the Nu-Metal scene and in parts of Europe Faith No More is looked upon as THE Creator of Nu-Metal, not Korn or any other band.
With that out of the way, lets get on with the review. I was a huge fan of Korn ever since I first heard their debut release, which was about a year or so after it was released. I was blown away. The way the band mixes so many styles into an aggressive, yet melodic and beautiful concoction is amazing. Jonathan Davis used to be one of the greatest vocalists in my opinion. used to be...
Life is Peachy came out a fews years after their debut, and obviously shocked many people. First of all, their debut was a moderate speed and Life is Peachy is more intense and much faster than it. The whole album is more raw than fresh meat sliced from a cows [...] I think most people expected something more being that their debut was almost predictable.
If you ever get a chance to hear their demo, it is actually their debut album, but less refined and more metal sounding than funky metal. Ross Robinson(the legendary producer) is actually to thank for their Nu-Metal blend of styles.
Life Is Peachy is way ahead of its time, bordering on an almost post appocalyptic metal sound that our present ears are not accustomed to yet. Raw, gritty, violent and sporadic, this un-predictable album features a better instrument sound in my opinion. Everything seems like they recorded it in a basement, sans the crappy recording sound. The quality is studio worthy, but they somehow managed to create a very rough and rugged vibe on this album. I think this is one of their best albums, and certainly better than Follow the Leader, or the abominations after that.
This guitar riffs are crunchy and hard as nails, with their massive use of effects. The bass can be heard, and is actually good! The drums have a raw and high pitched sound to them, the bass is deep and low, yet bouncy. The vocals are stripped bare and raw as all he$%!
If you enjoy raw and rugged metal with jazz, hip hop and a small dose of funk in the mix, pick up Life is Peachy. There is no other disc out in the world that is like this album. Wholly original and unique, Life Is Peachy will take you into dark depths, but always with a sense of fun and musicianship.

Look to make this plain, and simple this CD IS GREAT, and as you can see from other reviews I ain't alone in this judgement. People need to stop listening to the media or from whereever they hear this stuff about BANDS AND WHAT NOT.THIS CD IS GREAT BUY IT NOW YOU WON"T BE UPSET, AND IF YOU ARE BLAME ME.

Life is Peachy is the best Korn album ever released. Unfortunately it is extremely underrated. Most people actually say that this is their worst album because it was supposedly rushed. Don't listen to them. True, it was reportedly made in a relatively short amount of time, but that doesn't matter..... so what if the sound quality is a little on the scratchy side? It's the raw energy of this record that counts. Others complain the album was way to dark for their tastes, but in my opinion, the extra creepy vibes I get from this album are a great thing. Infact, I wouldn't even know what to classify this album as. What genre is it? That's a tough one. Its definitely a mixture of hardcore, metal, and funk. The hip hop inflences are not over done either, so it doesn't sound cheesy like linkin park, limp bizkit, or any other "nu-metal." Life is Peachy is not intended for fans of pop or alternative rock, or even of what I like to call trendy metal. Prepare yourself for an experience unlike any other. This record contains some of the most explicit lyrics ever , and it has a unique, original sound unto its own (Get ready to hear a lot of screaming....literally.) Luckily, Korn does not overplay its hand, and the sheer creepiness of this album is not forced. Actually, its quite a laid back record.

The first track "Twist" is bizarre enough. It sounds like schizophrenic word salad. This song is a great opener. Then there is "Chi" which sounds quite similar (but don't worry, it doesn't sound repetitive or bland." It has cool lyrics and a really heavy beat. "Lost" is has an even heavier sound, and its very original. What's notable about this track is that the vocals by Jonathan Davis are extra deep. It reminds me of a slasher movie type atmosphere. "Swallow" is just beautifully done. It has a shady, porno kinky sound to it that compliment the lyrics just nicely. And of course "Porno Creep" has the same kind of feel, although its very short and almost entirely instrumental, except for the twisted whispers in the background. It's a very jazzy song and has great drums.

On to track 6, now here is where the album truly shows off its goods. "Good God" is in my opinion, the best Korn song ever. Its extremely fast and heavy. It really packs a punch. Some of the best guitar work ever, and the chorus....its simply amazing. I just can't believe they could do what they do here with a guitar. (no synthesizers!). The lyrics are also some of their best, especially in the chorus..."Sea of Life, you're just a minnow, live your life insecure, feel the pain of your needles, as they sh*t into my mind...." Truly awe inspiring. The seventh track, "Mr. Rogers" closely rivals "good god." It's a very slow, heavy, psychotic sounding song that has some really twisted lyrics. Track 8 "Kunt" is a Korn style parody of commercial radio. Practically the whole song is foul language...really foul, so beware. Good song though. "No place to hide" is another major plus. It got a grammy nomination in 96, I think. Dark, kind of funky beat. "Wicked" features Chino from the Deftones, and its an ultra cool duet with Davis....very hip hop on this song, you just have to listen to it, I can't really describe the feel. Track 11, "A.D.I.D.A.S." is another one of my favorites. This one made it big, and the video makes it even better. The song is about sex fantasies obviously, but the video is even better, its basically the band's dead bodies throughout the whole video. You can see it on the cd. (an extra). "Lowrider" is an interlude featuring Head doing the vocals...really cool and an interesting version of the original. "A.. Itch" is an excellent song, another favorite of mine. Most people say it stinks, but its really one killer song and the ending is the best part. It sets the mood for the finale "kill you." This track has such heavy guitars it will give you the shivers. Seriously. Its one of their best.

Anyway, I know that most of the songs might appear to be the same (dark, funky, heavy etc.) when I described them, but trust me, each song has is unique and the album doesn't get repetitive whatsoever. I can listen to it hundreds of times over and over. It never gets old and its certainly a masterpiece. The artwork on the cover fits the title "Life is Peachy" perfectly and it already gives you a chilling preview of what to expect.

This was almost a continuation of their debut. The sound is very similar, and just like the first, there is not a dull moment. Odd song structures and insane vocals are prevalent. "ADIDAS", "Wicked", "No Place to Hide", "Twist", "Chi", "Swallow" "Mr. Rogers", etc. This album rocks and is full of killer tracks. There are a lot of Korn haters out there, so if you are just becoming familiar with them, listen and make a decision for yourselves. Don't listen to the haters. They are usually people who don't have open minds about anything, or they are insecure and bashing others makes them feel special. Korn is one of the best heavy bands in recent years and one of the most original to come out in the 90s. Are they the most talented? NO. Plenty of other bands have better guitarists, drummers, bassists, and vocalists. But they are good at what they do, and have made a successful career of it. I don't care how talented someone is with their instrument: if they can't write a hook, people will forget them. Korn knows hooks.

Korn's best album, as any fan who has been with them since the first album would tell you, is the first album. Very little rap influence and very angry metal, which prompted Metallica to have them open for them on their San Francisco show a few years back. That plus ADIDAS being played on MTV's Beavis & Butt-Head, and in some circles, vocalist Jonathan Davis' endorsement of the ADIDAS logo, brought Korn into the spotlight and to the top, but not until album #3, Follow The Leader.

Life is Peachy is a good album and features more rap influence. This album perhaps inspired the Korn-copying bands such as Limp Bizkit, Orgy, Kid Rock, who followed a rise in popularity largely to Korn's touring with them and promoting them all. As Eminem is doing with D12, Korn did with all their friends: Get them labels. First one to get popular comes back for the rest. With my copy of Follow The Leader shipped a sampler CD. Before this sampler, none of the following bands, featured on the CD, had ever been heard of: Incubus, Kid Rock, Limp Bizkit, Orgy, Cold, Sevendust, (hed)p.e. (aka (hed) planet earth), Static-X, and Powerman 5000. So if you for some reason have never heard of Korn BUT heard of these bands, you could imagine the sheer impact Korn have had on this country's MTV generation!

I originally did not want to write this review. I enjoy writing reviews, but didn't think I had anything to say about Life is Peachy. I hope I've made sense and encouraged you to buy this CD, because I enjoy the album.

You know what? This album is good after all. Although comments about this release seem to split half it is their most daring and experimental album. There's not any signs of the chartblasting massivity that Follow The Leader is chained in. Few songs may not respond the level of the first album, but in general it is a damn might record with tasty riffs and relaxed hardcorestruggles. I understand why people hate it though, because there has been no place for comprpmises. The hits aren't as kind and sugared as in Follow The Leader. Now, how many of the other HUGE names would dare to put songs like "Porno Creep", "Lowrider" and "Wicked" on their album. Not quite many, I presume. It's just that what makes Life Is Peachy to jump in your ears. There's no pleasing into any side here, and that's good, very good.

This album was a good sophomore album, but Korn is capable of doing much better. Follow The Leader and Korn are albums that prove that. The band said in a recent interview that they wanted to keep a product out there, and that they forgot to make a good record. I think that it is good, but their other two are much better. It is not quite as angry, the writing is not quite as great, and the sound of the band is not quite as tight. All of that stuff is good on the album, but they are better than this album. There are some bright spots on this album, though. Their cover of "Wicked" is terrific, "Twist" is a great way to start off the album, and "Chi" is a strong track. Overall, it is good, not great, though. I give it about a 3.6.