Review Summary: Issues may succeed in places, but it also fails as well. Nonetheless, Issues is one of the albums you could get to listen to at least once for the positives in it.
Around this time, Korn had just released Follow The Leader, and were still riding high from their earlier success with their first two albums. The following year, Korn decides to make another album in an attempt to strike while the iron was hot, you could say, and that's what Issues was intended to do. However, the album seemed more like a disappointment rather than a enlightenment.
One of the major flaws in this album is that it was rushed. No fans of any band, whether it be with Korn or not, would want the band to take their time, they don't have to instantly make another album, don't you think? They could have waited two or three years before releasing Issues, three at the most. Despite this, the album still sounded pretty good. However, there are flaws that could have been fixed and tended to firsthand. For instance, some of the production. It all seems too suited for Jon, and Fieldy's bass sometimes disappears from the mix. Also, Munky and Head's guitars don't sound as heavy as they should be. In my opinion, they could sound louder and the production done on their guitars sound watered down. Just as much as I would expect from Brendan O' Brien.
However, in songs like "Counting", "Wake Up", "Falling Away From Me", "Beg For Me", "Dirty", and "Somebody Someone", Brendan actually got the production right. The production actually does kickass; Fieldy's bass stays in the mix, Munky and Head's guitars sound perfect, while Jon still manages to sound good. Now as for the interludes: there are too many for my liking(I don't like too many interludes unless all of the songs kickass with over three interludes contained in an album), and one interlude could have used better lyrics and fails to set the mood for the following songs, and that would be "Wish You Could Be Me". It's the only song that uses rap in Issues, and it's just a minute of nonsense and suckage. However, the other interludes do set the mood perfectly for the upcoming song, even "Am I Going Crazy"(though it sets the mood for a song I MAJORLY despise) does as well.
Jon's vocal ability sounds great in one song that I must give props to, and that would be in "Falling Away From Me". He harmonizes, though it be short, before the final chorus, then he holds out a note for a while until the last 7-10 seconds of the song. But I must give him recoginition for it, though. Call me a fanboy. I hate the fact at where some guitar solos could be in certain songs, and they aren't really in any of the songs. It's a letdown in my book, because I like seeing a song with an awesome guitar solo in it. Also a letdown: the drumming. Now more than ever, the drums sound more laidback, and I must say, I don't like laid back drumming. I like seeing bands, whether they be nu-metal or not, gives some kickass drumming, maybe some drum solos, drum intros, the works. The only time the drumming actually has some compromise to me is in "Beg For Me".
Nonetheless, Issues sounds good, and if you want to get it for the positives in it, by all means, go and get it. It's good for at least one listen, right? If you like it after one listen, great, if you don't, that's ok too. At least I didn't call it brutal this time around. Well, that's all for me.
Recommendations
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-Falling Away From Me
-Beg For Me
-Wake Up
-Somebody Someone
Final Rating: 3.5/5
