Finally, Corey Taylor’s solo album has arrived! The idea of a solo album began almost a decade ago when Taylor originally started his “An Evening with..” tour in support of his first book. Soon after, the question was raised if he’d ever go solo and leave Slipknot and Stone Sour behind. Fortunately, he is still manning the stage with Slipknot. However, Stone Sour has been put on an indefinite hiatus. With the success of this solo release, CMFT might put Slipknot on the back burner too.
Leading up to this release, the vocalist often talked about how refreshing writing and recording this album was and expressed how exciting the whole process was. All of his excitement and eagerness to write music that was important to him have translated seamlessly from start to finish. Each song is strong independently and captures your ear in one way or another. Whether it be a strong punk driven beat like “European Tour Bus Bathroom Song” or a heartfelt piano piece like “Home,” Taylor delivers a captivating and zealous performance with his versatile voice. With this album, the frontman takes ambitious leaps that you wouldn’t hear on a Slipknot or Stone Sour record, and you can tell that he is just having fun with it. The record’s overall vibe feels as though it’s intended for you to just lay back, have fun, and enjoy the ride. Hell, Taylor wrote a country-metal tune about meeting up with the devil and another one ending with a toilet flushing.
The first song that stood out to me was “Black Eyes Blue.” The overall song structure best resembles Stone Sour’s “Song #3” and poses a perfect single with an infectious beat and a catchy chorus. I’d also recommend listening to the acoustic version as it translates perfectly and allows the lyrics to connect on a different level.
Whenever concerts return, “Everybody Dies On My Birthday” should be played at every show. This song is the driving force of the record and encapsulates the ideology of CMFT. It’s an upbeat song that hits hard and trails through, burning with ripping guitar work. The lyrics work intertwined with the instrumentals and provide an interesting motivational touch. Progressing through this record is a gallery of influential bands that ultimately shaped Taylor’s taste. The nod of recognition to ZZ Top, Misfits, Alice in Chains, and more are sprinkled intermittently on this debut. The stylistic changes from song to song are the perfect balance that this album thrives off and what numerous artists fail to capitalize on.
I was initially skeptical about a solo album, which might also be the case for some of you out there. It almost hindered my initial judgment on this record. However, I was pleasantly surprised by the fun and honest attitude and performance. With the range of styles and genres Taylor dips into, and it makes sense why he wanted to put out this record. Incorporating any of these songs into a Slipknot or Stone Sour record would not work. With so many artists taking themselves too seriously, it’s nice to see Taylor taking the time to write songs for himself and share music he ultimately enjoys creating. Hopefully, he doesn’t have too much fun with it and then decides to pursue a solo career, leaving Slipknot in the dust.
Pick up your copy of CMFT here and catch his livestream performance here!
