Slipknot

Best Tribute Albums: Strait Up- Tribute To Lynn Strait

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In Decemeber 1998 the singer for the band Snot was killed in a car accident. The band had been riding high after releasing their debut album Get Some in 1997. the band disbanded not too long after Strait’s death. Before his death though, the band had begun work on their follow up album, but Lynn had yet to record vocals for the album. So in 2000, it was decided that the album’s vocal tracks would be completed by friends of Strait as a tribute. The end result being “Strait Up.” Released on November 7, 2000, the album featured appearances by the lead vocalists Serj Tankian of System Of A Down, Jonathan Davis of Korn, Max Cavalera of Soulfly, Brandon Boyd of Incubus, Corey Taylor of Slipknot, Dez Fafara of Coal Chamber, Lajon Witherspoon, Clint Lowery and Morgan Rose of Sevendust amongst a few others. The album does feature one complete song entitled “Absent” with Lynn Strait’s vocals. When the album was released it was met with high praise from critics and assorted music magazines. A little known tidbit is that song that was sung by Serj on the tribute album actually had lyrics by Lynn, and if you’ve heard the live Snot album alive you’ll be able to hear that version.

The tribute album was very fitting and a really nice send off by all those involved to their fallen friend and brother. If you’ve never heard the album you really should!

Strait Up:

By: Brian Lacy

Great Guest Vocalists: Corey Taylor

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Corey Taylor of Slipknot and Stone Sour fame has one of the best voices in rock music. He’s lent out his voice a lot over the years. Here are a few songs you might not have known Corey was featured on.
Requiem- From the Strait Up album:

 

Biohazard- Domination

 

Damageplan- Fuck You

 

Roadrunner All Stars- The Rich Man

 

Travis Barker: On My Own

Album Review: Slipknot- .5 The Gray Chapter

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Sometimes it takes a death to put thing into perspective. It’s never easy to deal with, especially when it’s someone very close. When it was announced that Slipknot were in the studio recording a new album, it was met with great skepticism. Joey Jordison was booted from the band under still unknown circumstances. So what would it sound like? Early reports from the band equated it to a mix between Iowa and Volume 3. Personally I think it is more mix of the first album and Volume 3. There are plenty of tributes to the late Paul Gray on the album. “Skeptic” really shows this especially with lyrics like “the world will never see another crazy motherfucker like you/the world will never know another man as amazing as you,” this seems like touching ode to their fallen brother. Lead single “The Devil In I,” is full of melody and introspective lyrics. The entire album is full of lyrics that examine loss, selfishness, pain, and anger. There’s also the sullen ballad of “Goodbye.” “Killpop” on the other hand is a leap into uncharted territory.This song finds the band stepping outside their skin to focus a new wave/electro pop attempt. The course soon heads toward more traditional fare, thumping percussion and bristling riffs. There is the occasional classic rapid-fire vocal delivery of Corey Taylor and the sonic throwbacks featured in a track like “Custer.” This seems destined to be a live favorite due its anthemic usage of “cut me up” and “fuck me up.”

It’s not an album without faults. There are some inconsistent tracks. The band still has their predilection for melodic pursuits. But this is easily the groups most consistent album from start to finish. This is a welcome return to form for one of modern metal’s most revered (and despised) acts. One thing also that is a step in the right direction was the inclusion of Greg Fidelman to handle the production on the album and Joe Baressi to mix it, These two have brought the best of what Slipknot has to offer in 2014.

On the scale of 1-10= 8.5

By: Brian Lacy