| Let me start off with style:rJust the right balance between experimental and listenable. In general, just the right balance between a lot of things. Funk grooves manages to feel like heavy metal. Jazzy ballads manages to be catchy and singable. Honestly, the best way I can describe the album is this: if Korn had gone to Berkley to study jazz composition, then decided to release electronic music. And as someone who started out listening to Linkin Park, then discovered Mr Bungle and went on to become quiet comfortable with listening to a lot of fucked up shit, to me, this hits the spot.rIn terms of composition technique, structure, the melodies themselves, etc (in other words - the craftsmanship), really, it is nothing too remarkable. The songs are well-written, has good production, good riffs and melodies, are well structured, etc. Really, I feel like this is the only thing that is dragging the album down - there is nothing about the songs themselves that really stand out. The strength of the album lies in its ability to fuse and experiment stylistically. But the songs that lie beneath the layers of style are honestly just good songs, but nothing more. An album that is more interesting to listen to than it is emotionally potent. |
