Disco de Korn: “Greatest Hits Vol. 1 [PA]”

The time is right for Korn's first greatest hits album. It is the right time because 2004 is Korn's 10 year anniversary. 1994 saw the first release of Korn's six great albums, an album which essentially created a genre (nu-metal). Now that's something to celebrate!

However the time is also wrong. Korn HAVE evolved over the course of their ten year career, with albums like "Follow the Leader" (which melded rap and rock) and "Untouchables" (a heavier, robust sound). However, Korn's latest studio album ("Take a Look in the Mirror") saw the band going back to their roots (and sounding like their first two albums, "Korn" and "Life is Peachy"). So, this retrospective (which goes in reverse chronological order) proves that Korn haven't really gone anywhere in their career.

With that said, this is a great compilation. As previously mentioned, it goes in reverse chronological order; starting with two new covers that the band recorded in early 2004 and ending with their 1994 self-titled debut (an album that many believe to be the best hard rock album of all time.)

The first song, a cover of Cameo's rap hit "Word Up", is an instant hit. The cover, which is actually not all that far removed from the original, is very catchy. It has Manson-esque vocals and has a good beat. The next song, "Another Hole in the Wall", is a heck of a lot better than I thought it was going to be. With the dark theme and shout-along-chorus, Korn make it seem like they were almost meant to play this song. Guitarist Head does a great job of reciting the guitar solo, and the song ends with a bone-chilling whisper of "Goodbye world, goodbye."

The next set of songs comes from 2003's "Take a Look in the Mirror." "Ya'll Want a Single" is a bit of a weird transition from "Another Brick in the Wall", but it is nonetheless a very enjoyable song that needs to be on here. It has a bobbing beat that at times is almost rap influenced. "Right Now" and "Did My Time" are not only personal favorites, they are great representations of the band (dark, angry and agressive).

The next cuts come from 2002's "Untouchables." Only two songs are represented from that album. "Alone I Break" is the closest thing to a ballad Korn have ever made (it includes Blue Man Group-esque drums), while "Here to Stay" (one of Korn's most popular singles) is almost the exact opposite. It's ultra-heavy guitars, "boom-boom" beat, relateable lyrics and mosh-worthy bridge make this another personal favorite.

The next four tracks come from 1999's "Issues." It's pecilular why "Issues" should get the most space on the CD, especially seeing how Korn omitted "Thoughtless" (their third single from "Untouchables") in favor of "Trash" (a song that was not a single.) But, oh well. "Issues" was a very underrated album; it deserves four songs on here. "Trash" is a creepy song with sick and twisted lyrics, "Falling Away From Me" is a moshpit ready hit single with big guitars, and "Somebody Someone" and "Make Me Bad" are both very catchy, as well.

It's also a bit strange why Korn's most popular album, "Follow the Leader", which went quintuple platinum, only has space for two songs on here. While a third song ("Children of the Korn", maybe) would have been welcome, the two songs, "Got the Life" and "Freak on a Leash" are both excellent songs and fan favorites. "Got the Life" includes a "gluey" bassline and a disco beat influenced chorus. "Freak on a Leash" is a good example of how Johnathan Davis can go from calm to absolutely crazy.

The next two songs (again, only two!) are from "Life is Peachy." My favorite song from this album ("Good God") is missing, but the two songs that are represented are, again, great songs. "Twist" is a 49-second scat-laden riot and "A.D.I.D.A.S." is a perverted sing-along song.

The next three tracks are from Korn's self-titled debut. Nothing can be said about them that hasn't been said before. They are classics to the metal scene. Note, however, that these last five songs sound quite similar to the songs from "Take a Look in the Mirror."

The CD ends with the Dante Ross remix of Freak on a Leash. There are numerous songs (rarities and demos) that could and should have been substituted for this song. However, don't quibble over it too much. It is a good remix (one that you could almost dance to) and the end is a good place for it.

So, in conclusion, this album is a great compilation of tried and true classics. It's a must for all of the children of Korn (especially hardcore fans and completionists.) If nothing else, atleast buy this for the two cover songs and the mini-concert DVD ("Live at CBGB's in New York").

Love 'em or hate 'em, Korn are here to stay (as the title, "Greatest Hits, Vol. 1" suggests). I just hope they will evolve a little more in the second half of their career.

I've been a big Korn fan from the moment I first heard their music and I have never been disappointed by any one of their releases. This is an excellent greatest hits collection and there is not a single bad song on it. The only reason this doesn't rate 5 stars is that there are a few songs missing that definetly should have been included. They also seemed to favor material from their more recent recordings rather than their older stuff but that is only a minor complaint.

The two new songs, "Word Up!" & "Another Brick In The Wall", although both being covers, are excellent. They really take each song and make it their own.

After that, we are treated to 3 songs from "Take A Look In The Mirror"; "Did My Time", "Right Now", & "Y'all Want A Single". Again, all excellent choices from this album.

Up next is two songs from "Untouchables"; "Here To Stay" & "Alone I Break". I'm not complaining, but "Thoughtless", should have been on this collection to.

Then we have four songs from "Issues"; "Make Me Bad", "Trash", "Somebody Someone" & "Falling Away From Me" These are all good songs but considering the lack of songs from their earlier albums, we probably could have done without at least one of them.

Off of "Follow The Leader", we have the two big hits; "Got The Life" & "Freak On A Leash". These were the songs that helped them gain incredible popularity and as such, deserve to be on this collection.

"Life Is Peachy" is woefully underepresented by "Twist" & "A.D.I.D.A.S." They could have included more songs off this underrated record.

"Korn", their debut album is represented by "Blind", "Shoots And Ladders", & "Clown". No arguments there although there is still some good songs missing.

"Freak On A Leash (Dante Ross Remix)" is an alright remix of a great song, but it is hardly essential. They should have left it off in favor of one of the many missing songs.

For hardcore Korn fans, the bonus DVD, "Live At CBGB's" is excellent. And the two new songs and the remix are all worth getting as well.

For listeners new to Korn, this is an excellent place to start because there is not a single bad song on here and it will allow you to sample songs from all of their albums, which is good because all their albums are a little different.

All in all, a superb best of package.

Like many, I knew Korn from their few radio singles alone, such as "Freak on a leash", "Blind", "Right now", "Did my time" and a handful of others. As my taste in music grew, I knew my music collection wouldn't be complete without these songs that I had grown up with and loved, as well as few other hits. Little did I know where this Album would take me.

As I got the CD and gave it a go, my taste for Korn grew with each listen. And upon further examination, the "Greatest hits" were missing some of their other standout songs, one in particular being "Thoughtless" off of their "Untouchables" CD. So on and on, the "hits" weren't feeding my need, so I ended up purchasing every other studio album from Korn. Do I regret purchasing this album? Not at all. It's got two other songs previously unreleased. Plus, I find it a great CD to listen to when I have a desire to listen to a few of Korn's famous singles.

All in all, anyone who has had a small taste of Korn and wants their hits should purchase this album. Even though some their best pieces of work are not found here, it's still a great buy. But be warned, this album gives you a great taste of Korn, but will leave you hanging and you'll want more. You just may end up doind what I did and purchase everything else from them. But for those who are more interested in Korn's new sound, you may just give this a try and see what life was like back when we had Brian "Head" Welch around. You may just like the old as well as the new, just like me.

So whether you like Korn or not, you just can't ignore what they have done in the music world, and this is where you can listen to one fine hour from Korn.

Time to call people out! (All these people can be found on the Greatest Hits Vol. 1 Korn reviews:

Karen Godfrey "Shadow": Ok if you don't like Korn, why are you wasting your time on a Korn review??? Go away! No real Korn fan wants to hear your mouth!

Barry_Henderson: I'm a true korn fan. been since '94. I love every album...even TALITM. I don't understand how no one can not like it...seriously beats the hell out of me.

djhexane: Nice use of a Korn song to write trash about them. Very inventive! I guess I can't listen to them because i'm not pre-teen...darn!

General "Crazy Skin" : well now...just read what i wrote for that Karen person...and buddy...goths aren't the only ones who listen to korn. Another creative thinker.."now all you goths go cut yourselves". Good thing i'm not goth!

I know I'm going to sound stupid saying this...but if you don't like Korn, don't come around saying "Oh They Suck" because their are alot of people out their, like me, who are really attatched to Korn's music. So they don't play the kind of music as say R.A.T.M. did, who cares? You want Korn to sound just like every other band? They are not about that! Just go back to whatever type of music you like and leave us "nu-metal" (???)/Korn fans alone!

Korn is heavy. Heavy like Black Sabbath is heavy, heavy like Alice in Chains is heavy. But where Korn really made the difference was their anger. This wasn't the fantasy fueled world of the Sabs or Layne Staley's heroin rants. Jonathan Davis growls and snarls, shrieks and moans, and just bleeds himself out over every p-o'd moment of a Korn album. They didn't have an album called "Issues" for nothing.

Better yet was the fact that Korn wanted to be sludge weight heavy. They down-tuned the guitars so low that the pounding riffs felt like getting buried in an avalanche. The bass heavy riffing even gave them the funk. ("Freak On A Leash" - here in the album and the remixed versions - has to be one of the best hard rock dance songs of all time.) Now, while that may make an entire album of drilling vitriol a bit much for an old geezer like to me to take in full disc doses, it meant that they often sounded better on the radio than 90% of what else would be currently available. It's also guarantees Korn songs a longer shelf life than the cartoon antics of Limp Bizkit and the hundreds of other aggro or rap rockers that followed in the aftermath of "Life Is Peachy."

So just about everything you could want is here (my choice for lost song is "Justin," probably the most human song they've ever done). The newly recorded version of Cameo's "Word Up!" is almost a straight ahead version of that classic dance club hit, with the noteworthy overlay of Davis' voice. (What? No red codpiece video?) The greater surprise is the ambitious cover of Pink Floyd's "Another Brick In The Wall." Not content to merely cover the "hit" version, Korn stretch their musical chops to stitch the original Floyd's three parts together. It makes this hits collection definitely worth getting, and makes Volume 2 worth looking forward to.

If you can get the bonus DVD, it's worth it, too. Already shown on TV plenty of times, this is the surprise show Korn put on at the legendary CBGB's in New York City. It comes in at close to an hour and is well put togther....worth the view.