KORN 'MTV Unplugged' (Virgin) RATING: 7/10 Buy now

By JEFF MAKI

In 1995, when Korn was starting to break through with their smash self-titled debut, the thought of an "unplugged" album from this band would have been completely absurd. But they have teetered on becoming a rock-radio band ever since achieving commercial success with 1998's Follow the Leader. After six highly successful studio albums, 2005-2006 saw Korn go through many changes. They released their most experimental album to date, See You on the Other Side, which even saw them partner with the pop-rock song writers Matrix. The result was a huge industrial rock hit, but perhaps further alienated hardcore fans with the new style. As far as the line-up goes, original guitarist "Head" and drummer David Silveria left to pursue Jesus and sushi, respectively, and neither appears on the Unplugged recording. Remaining members Fieldy (bass), Munky (guitar) and Jonathan Davis (vocals) have been pimping the Korn product heavily the last few years with See You on the Other Side, Chopped, Screwed, Live and Unglued, Greatest Hits Vol. 1, Live & Rare and, now, their foray into the MTV Unplugged series, known for performances by Nirvana (whose show has become legendary), Stone Temple Pilots and Alice iIn Chains.

Korn's music (especially the earlier material) is not well-suited for acoustic interpretation. In fact, only "Blind" represents the early stage of their career. Given its experimental nature, the more recent material is far more suitable, though it still requires a bit of help. Korn employs a large ensemble of musicians, including back-up drummers, vocalists, a pianist and violins. Japanese taiko drummers even appear on the closer, "Throw Me Away." Jonathan, Fieldy and Munky's performances are fairly average for the duration of the set, as it's the backing musicians that take this performance to the next level. Davis' delivery is lackadaisacal at first, but he becomes more convincing throughout the show. Maybe it was just a matter of nervousness. Keep in mind he is seated on a stool and not prancing about the stage as usual.

Covers, such as Nirvana's take on David Bowie's "The Man Who Sold the World," have been a major feature throughout the Unplugged series. Korn continues the trend with two covers, though one cannot help but cringe when Davis hits the high notes at the end of Radiohead's "Creep." Robert Smith of The Cure joins the band for a montage of Korn's "Make Me Bad" and The Cure's "In Between Days." The collaboration is a highlight of the disc and Davis speaks highly of The Cure while introducing Smith to the live audience. Fieldy and Munky are here in some capacity, though they blend into the mass arrangements. Amy Lee of Evanescence provides backing vocals for "Freak on a Leash," the album's first single. For whatever reason, the more popular material, such as "Got the Life," "Twisted Transistor" and "Coming Undone," don't translate nearly as well as lesser-known songs like "Hollow Life," "Falling Away From Me" or the haunting "Love Song." For a longtime fan like me, the results are varied.

From the outside, it certainly looks like Korn is taking a big risk here, and by some accounts they are. But let's be realistic. Much like Metallica or Nine Inch Nails, anything Korn decides to put out these days is bound to go platinum. So why the hell not? Diehard fans of the first two records may not take to this, but it shouldn't be a big leap for those who have followed the band for the past decade. It is a logical conclusion that without all of the extra help, Korn would have struggled mightily at this show. I hope they handed out good paychecks.