Slipknot

Slipknot’s mix of grinding, post-Korn alternative metal, Marilyn Manson-esque neo-shock rock, and rap-metal helped make them one of the most popular bands in the so-called nu-metal explosion of the late ’90s. But even more helpful was their theatrical, attention-grabbing image: the band always performed in identical industrial jump suits and homemade Halloween masks, and added to its mysterious anonymity by adopting the numbers zero through eight as stage aliases. Add to that a lyrical preoccupation with darkness and nihilism, and an affectionately insulting name for their fans (”Maggots”), and Slipknot’s blueprint for nu-metal success was set.

Slipknot were formed in late 1995 in the unlikely locale of Des Moines, IA; after some early personnel shifts, the nine-piece lineup settled around (in order from number zero to number eight): DJ Sid Wilson, drummer Joey Jordison, bassist Paul Grey, percussionist Chris Fehn, guitarist James Root, sampler/programmer Craig Jones, percussionist Shawn “Clown” Crahan, guitarist Mick Thompson, and lead vocalist Corey Taylor. The music scene in Des Moines wasn’t much to speak of, and the band’s big-time ambition was usually met with disbelief and ridicule, which provided the initial spark for its mostly anonymous stage visuals. On Halloween 1996, Slipknot self-released an album called Mate. Feed. Kill. Repeat., which began to build a buzz around the group once it found its way to several labels. It was picked up for distribution by the Nebraska-based -ismist label, and also caught the attention of Roadrunner Records, which signed Slipknot in 1997. Working with producer Ross Robinson, Slipknot recorded their official, self-titled debut album, which was released in 1999. They gradually built an audience through near-constant touring, working their way up to the summer Ozzfest package tour, which really expanded their audience. Their live shows were a much-discussed hit with metal fans, and the band performed with such energy that Crahan gashed his head open on his own drum kit twice that summer, requiring stitches both times. The tracks “Wait and Bleed” and “Spit It Out” got the band some airplay, but most of the buzz came from touring and word of mouth. Finally, in the spring of 2000, Slipknot was certified platinum; the first such album in Roadrunner’s history.

The anticipation for Slipknot’s follow-up was intense, and many industry observers predicted that it would debut at number one; however, faced with some stiff competition that week, the band’s sophomore effort, Iowa, bowed at number three upon its release in 2001. More heavy touring followed, including another, more prominent slot on that summer’s Ozzfest. After a long spell on the road, Slipknot took a break while the members worked on side projects. The band set up its own label, Maggot Recordings, and signed a band called Downthesun, whose lead singer had served as Crahan’s drum technician. Wilson, meanwhile, began DJing solo under the name DJ Starscream, and Root and Thompson both worked on solo material. Drummer Jordison worked with a side group called the Rejects, where he’d actually served for quite some time as guitarist. Taylor, meanwhile, started a side band called Superego, and also contributed a solo song, “Bother,” to the soundtrack of the 2002 blockbuster Spider-Man. That May, the band got some amusing press when some of its fans discovered the website of a British crocheting group also called “Slipknot,” and flooded the members’ in-boxes with excessively rude e-mails. Guitarist Joey Jordison and Static-X guitarist Tripp Eisen teamed that summer for the Murderdolls project, while Taylor reformed his old band Stone Sour and released an album. By the winter, Slipknot had still not reunited and Taylor wrote a commentary on the band’s website stating that they had not spoken in months, and that they’d rather break up than become “the next Gwar”. The statement sparked a quickly resolved minifeud between Taylor and Gwar frontman Oderus Urungus. but it also sent many of the Maggots into a tailspin. By early 2003, Taylor had retracted his comments, and announced plans for a new Slipknot album. That August the entire squad decamped Iowa for LA, where they began work on the new record with producer Rick Rubin. “Pulse of the Maggots” appeared in early 2004 as an exclusive download; it was followed by a full track listing for Vol. 3: The Subliminal Verses. Slipknot then embarked on a brief tour as a warm-up for their dates headlining Ozzfest that summer. (The group also debuted a fully redesigned third generation of their famous masks.) Subliminal Verses was released in May 2004. It peaked at #2 on the Billboard 200, and the band toured steadily for the next year and a half in support. They released 2-disc live album in November 2005, followed by a slew of side projects (Taylor and Root formed Stone Sour, while Jordison sat in with Ministry and Korn) before releasing their fourth full-length album All Hope Is Gone in 2008.

MySpace Music - 50 Albums You Should Know From 2008

As the year comes to a close, MySpace Music has selected the 50 albums we think you should know from 2008. This is the first time we have ever created such a list and we are excited to present you our choices, which are listed in no particular order. There are no rankings.

(Seriously, who needs rankings, anyway?)

Instead, these are simply the 50 albums we couldn’t stop listening to over the past 12 months. Because we enjoyed these records so much, we also asked the 50 artists below to stream their album on the site. Check out the list below and the days in which they will be streaming from each artist’s page.

And, since we all had albums that we loved this year that aren’t on this list, let us know what your top albums were in the comments section. Enjoy!

Fleet Foxes Fleet Foxes
(Streaming 12/16 - 12/17)

Murs Murs For President
(Streaming now)

T.I. Paper Trail
(streaming now)

The Gaslight Anthem The ‘59 Sound
(Streaming 12/16 - 12/17)

TV On The Radio Dear Science
(Streaming now)

Hot Chip Made In The Dark
(Streaming 12/18 - 12/19)

Kanye West 808s & Heartbreaks
(Streaming now)

The Last Shadow Puppets The Age Of The Understatement
(Streaming 12/18 - 12/19)

In Flames A Sense Of Purpose
(Streaming 12/18 - 12/19)

Snow Patrol A Hundred Million Suns
(Streaming now)

Beyonce I Am… Sasha Fierce
(Streaming now)

M83 Saturdays = Youth
(Streaming 12/20 - 12/22)

City And Colour Bring Me Your Love
(Streaming 12/20 - 12/22)

The Walkmen You & Me
(Streaming 12/20 - 12/22)

Norma Jean The Anti-Mother
(Streaming 12/20 - 12/22)

Blitzen Trapper Furr
(Streaming 12/23 - 12/24)

MGMT Oracular Spectacular
(Streaming now)

Rise Against Appeal To Reason
(Streaming now)

The Mars Volta The Bedlam In Goliath
(Streaming now)

Department Of Eagles In Ear Park
(Only select songs streaming)

Kings Of Leon Only By The Night
(Streaming now)

Lil Wayne The Carter III
(Streaming now)

Sigur Ros Meo Suo I Eyrum Vio Spilum Endalaust
(Only select songs streaming)

Raphael Saadiq The Way I See It
(Streaming now)

Atmosphere When Life Gives You Lemons, You Paint That Shit Gold
(Streaming 12/27 - 12/30)

Coldplay Viva La Vida
(Streaming 12/27 - 12/30)

Friendly Fires Friendly Fires
(Only select songs streaming)

Ne-Yo Year Of The Gentlemen
(Streaming 12/27 - 12/30)

Vampire Weekend Vampire Weekend
(Only select songs streaming)

Estelle Shine
(Streaming 12/30 - 12/31)

Oasis Dig Out Your Soul
(Streaming now)

Testament The Formation Of Damnation
(Streaming 12/30 - 12/31)

The Foreign Exchange Leave It All Behind
(Streaming 12/30 - 12/31)

Wolf Parade At Mount Zoomer
(Streaming 12/30 - 12/31)

88 Keys The Death Of Adam
(Streaming 1/1 - 1/2)

Erykah Badu New Amerykah Part One (4th World War)
(Streaming now)

My Morning Jacket Evil Urges
(Streaming now)

Nas Untitled
(Streaming now)

Santogold Santogold
(Streaming 1/1 - 1/2)

Bon Iver For Emma, Forever Ago
(Streaming 1/3 - 1/5)

Common Universal Mind Control
(Streaming now)

No Age Nouns
(Streaming 1/3 - 1/5)

Q-Tip The Renaissance
(Streaming now)

The Killers Day & Age
(Streaming now)

Akon Freedom
(Streaming now)

The Bronx The Bronx III
(Streaming 1/6 - 1/7)

Girl Talk Feed The Animals
(Streaming now)

Rick Ross Trilla
(Streaming now)

The Ting Tings We Started Nothing
(Streaming now)

Ludacris Theater Of The Mind
(Streaming now)