A new low.
Before I start, The Curmudgeon has a LOT of time for Korn. I've been a fan for years, bought all the albums, from "Korn" and "Life Is Peachy" (both superb, epoch creating albums) to the inferior yet ultra successful "Follow The Leader", through "Issues" (again, superb) to the pretty much dire "Untouchables" (which, by this stage, they were anything but) and beyond. So, just in case anyone thinks I'm ragging on Korn for the sake of it - I'm not. Like I've said in some earlier reviews - sometimes this is no fun at all. But hey, The Irresponsible Hate Monger is here to point the finger at the worst of the worst, no matter who they are. And this time, Korn are guilty.
It's hard to work out just what exactly appeals so much to musicians about this song. "Word Up" has been covered, in less than 10 years, four times. That's pretty heavy going for a song that, let's face it, isn't that great in the first place. And believe it or not, with stiff competition from rubbish rockers Gun and BossHoss, not to mention woeful solo Spice Girl Mel B - Korn manages to be the worst cover of all.
The whole attempt just sounds tired, like Jonathon Davies knew he had to throw a few purchase incentive bonus tracks on the greatest hits record and then decided to churn this out one afternoon. The fire and fury from earlier Korn tracks is gone, replaced by the sound of a bored rich rock star trying to swell the coffers. There's no imagination, no passion - and absolutely no tune. Davies has never had the best voice in music, but here it sounds worse than ever.
Thankfully, Korn didn't give up the ghost and retire, and they look set to return with what could be their best album since "Life Is Peachy" (strong words, I know). Let's just write this cover version atrocity off as a bad idea.
Well Korn, you made The Curmudgeon's Hall Of Shame. Don't let it happen again.
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