ALBUM REVIEW: CMF2 – Corey Taylor
COREY TAYLOR needs no introduction as the frontman of the legendary SLIPKNOT, or even as the lead vocalist of STONE SOUR. But he also deserves recognition for his solo musical project. With over 30 years of experience in the alternative music industry, it is stating the obvious to say that Taylor has had a very successful career to date, and three years after his debut solo full-length, he’s back with its sequel CMF2.
This latest record emphasises Taylor‘s powerful songwriting ability, as well as showcasing dark and heavier musicianship as Taylor states: “I go for a way that feels fresh, but also classic.” CMF2 also features its fair share of well-known collaborators, with Jay Ruston (STEEL PANTHER, ANTHRAX, AMON AMARTH) producing the LP, and keyboardists Roger Joseph Manning Jr. (BECK, JELLYFISH) and Fred Mandel (QUEEN, PINK FLOYD, ALICE COOPER) both playing their part in the track list.
CMF2 begins on a high note with opener The Box, where Taylor shows his musical expertise with some fantastic mandolin playing. The effective instrumentals add something special to the production, reminiscent of a lighter SLIPKNOT track. Post Traumatic Blues is also a heavy hitter, with a thumping guitar riff which seeps through your soul. The lyrical content perfectly synchronises with the deeply personal topic of post traumatic stress disorder, which will be highly relatable to fans old and new, although it is a full five minutes and 45 seconds long, which does mean the mind starts to drift off.
Talk Sick is up next, and it adds almost a country rock flavour to proceedings – a sound that we definitely weren’t expecting on this record. This is definitely one of the album’s highlights, and some of the guitar riffs are just too impressive to ignore. Breath Of Fresh Smoke changes things up yet again with more of an acoustic type sound. Taylor himself has declared that the writing and recording of this track alone reignited his passion for playing acoustic guitar.
Lead single Beyond is the blast from the past on this release, taking us back to 2006. Taylor has expressed that this song has a special place in his heart, explaining “I stripped away everything that was frivolous and went with the things that I loved about it.” The track itself has an early FOO FIGHTERS feel, with Taylor‘s vocal style almost matching that of Dave Grohl.
We Are The Rest is anthemic in nature, with a chant style chorus paired with punky instrumentals which sound pretty similar to GREEN DAY‘s early discography – another amazing track on this album. Midnight is another addition which sounds like a SLIPKNOT B-side, which definitely isn’t a bad thing either. The lyrics are personal and heartfelt, and combined with some powerful guitar riffs, they make it one of the most open and honest tracks on CMF2. Starmate returns to the exhilarant nature, and while this track is not quite as effective it is still worth a listen. Sorry Me is emotional yet a little bit of a drag, whereas Punchline is a lot more energetic and gutsy.
Someday I’ll Change Your Mind is another deeply personal track. The chorus sounds similar to that of Summer Of ’69 by BRYAN ADAMS. However, this is the only section of the song that sticks in your mind. All I Want Is Hate is another SLIPKNOT-influenced track. This one is slightly different though as it is instantly catchy and remains infectious from the first second to the last. The finale is Dead Flies, but its six-minute runtime is far too intense – the song just isn’t impactful enough for such a long duration.
CMF2 is a mixed bag of a record. Tracks like All I Want Is Hate and Talk Sick are sure-fire highlights, but others such as Sorry Me are tiresome and lacklustre. Whilst it is clear that COREY TAYLOR is trying to experiment with contrasting musical styles and influences, it isn’t always convincing.
Rating: 7/10
CMF2 is set for release on September 15th via BMG.
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