Untouchables (album)

Template:Use mdy dates {{safesubst:#invoke:Unsubst-infobox||$params=italic_title,name,type,longtype,artist,cover,border,alt,caption,released,recorded,venue,studio,genre,length,language,label,director,producer,compiler,chronology,prev_title,prev_year,year,next_title,next_year,misc|$extra=italic_title,longtype,border,caption,language,director,compiler,chronology,year,misc|$aliases=italic title>italic_title,Italic title>italic_title,Name>name,Type>type,image>cover,Cover>cover,Border>border,Alt>alt,Caption>caption,Longtype>longtype,Artist>artist,Released>released,Recorded>recorded,Venue>venue,Studio>studio,Genre>genre,Length>length,Language>language,Label>label,Director>director,Producer>producer,Compiler>compiler,Chronology>chronology,Misc>misc|$flags=override|$B={{#ifeq:{{#invoke:Is infobox in lead|main|[Ii]nfobox [Aa]lbum}}|true|{{#if:Template:Has short description | |{{#if: Template:Start date | Template:Short description}}}}}}{{#invoke:Infobox|infobox}}Template:Template otherTemplate:Category handlerTemplate:Main other{{#invoke:Check for unknown parameters|check|unknown=Template:Main other|preview=Page using Template:Infobox album with unknown parameter "_VALUE_"|ignoreblank=y|italic_title |type |name |image |cover |border |alt |caption |longtype |artist |released |recorded |venue |studio |genre |length |language |label |director |producer |compiler |prev_title|prev_year|next_title|next_year|chronology|year|misc}}{{#if:{{#invoke:String|match|error_category=Music infoboxes with Module:String errors|A|1=Issues1999Take a Look in the Mirror2003studioUntouchablesUnto album cover.jpgKornTemplate:Start dateApril–November 2001Conway Studios (Hollywood, California)
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Untouchables is the fifth studio album by American nu metal band Korn. The album was officially released on June 11, 2002, and featured the Grammy-winning single "Here to Stay". Untouchables debuted at number two on the Billboard 200 with 495,991 copies sold during its first week, second only to Eminem's The Eminem Show.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> The album received positive reviews from music critics.<ref name="Metacritic">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> It was certified platinum on July 11, 2002,<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> and has sold at least 1.4 million copies in the United States.<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref>

Conception

Korn commenced writing Untouchables in early 2001.<ref>Template:Harvnb</ref> Tension between band members grew and, in an effort to lessen their tensions and distractions, they continued writing in Scottsdale, Arizona, in hope that the new landscape would inspire them in writing songs. They finished writing the album then went back to Los Angeles, California to begin recording. Hostility between band members was still there.<ref>Template:Harvnb</ref> During the tour, band members began to consider firing bassist Reginald "Fieldy" Arvizu due to his drug abuse problem, but decided against it.<ref>Template:Harvnb</ref>

Untouchables was recorded at Conway Studios, in Hollywood, California and The Village, in Los Angeles, California. The album was produced by Michael Beinhorn and recorded by Frank Filipetti.<ref name="album credits">Untouchables credit page, June 11, 2002. Immortal/Epic, 614–88</ref> The album featured the same member line-up as their previous four studio albums. It is the first album recorded in 96 kHz digital sound. It was mixed by Andy Wallace and mastered by Howie Weinberg.<ref name="album credits"/> On the album's release date, June 11, 2002, a single, "Here to Stay" was released by Sony Music Distribution.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> The album was re-released on November 12, 2002, as a last-ditch effort to rejuvenate album sales, which had fallen shortly after the album's first week on the Billboard 200. This limited edition features different artwork, and a bonus DVD, containing a live version of "Here to Stay", performance versions of the "Here to Stay" and "Thoughtless" music videos, and a live recording of "Got the Life".<ref name="AMG - Untouchables">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

The band has revealed that the total recording costs of Untouchables were estimated at $3,000,000 due to recording/living expenses and keeping their 15-person crew on retainer for the nearly two years it took to finish the album.<ref name="Scuzz">Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Korn : Take A Look In The Mirror. NME (September 12, 2005). Retrieved on November 2, 2016.</ref> As part of the total cost were included five houses rented for $10,000 apiece for four months, when they moved to Phoenix.<ref name="Sindell2002-02-23">Template:Cite magazine</ref> When they came to Los Angeles, they rented five houses for $10,000 apiece for four more months; and a house rented for $8,000 a week, when they went to Canada.<ref name="Sindell2002-02-23"/> Jonathan Davis commented in an interview with Noisey:

"We were coming off of Issues, and we wanted to make an amazing record. That's when we hooked up with Michael Beinhorn, and Beinhorn's whole vision was to make an amazing sounding rock record that could never be made again. [...] I wanted to shoot a documentary about that record. We spent so much money, the drums alone we spent a whole month just getting drum sounds. There were 50 mics just on the drumset that they picked out and tested. [...] Usually I do my vocals and it takes me a month or two weeks, but just vocals it took me five, almost six months. With Beinhorn, sometimes I'd walk in and sing and he'd just say, "Go home, your voice ain't right." [...] It was the peak and pinnacle of everything in Korn. I still can't believe how much work went in on it. It was a lot."<ref name=JDrank>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation

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Reception

Template:Music ratings Untouchables sold over 495,000 copies in its first week. The album debuted at number two on Billboard. Davis blamed Internet piracy for the drop in sales compared to previous albums, since the album had leaked onto file-sharing websites with a different track order and song titles<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> more than two months prior to its official release date.<ref>Template:Cite news (March 15, 2003). Retrieved on October 19, 2015</ref>

Untouchables received mostly positive reviews from music critics. At Metacritic, the album received a score of 80/100 based on 11 critics, indicating "generally favorable reviews".<ref name="Metacritic" /> It remained their most critically acclaimed album for 17 years until the release of their 2019 album, The Nothing, which currently sits at an 83/100.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> In a 2021 retrospective review, Metal Hammer deemed Untouchables to be Korn's greatest album.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

Track listing

All songs written by Korn. Template:Track listing Notes

• "Here to Stay (T-Ray's Mix)" is a hidden track on the limited edition, beginning at 5:06 after "No One's There". On some standard edition pressings, it is its own separate hidden track, without the silence.
• "Beat It Upright" was not included on the edited version of the album.

Bonus DVD

1. "Here to Stay (Live at Hammerstein)"
2. "Here to Stay (Performance Version)"
3. "Thoughtless (Performance Version)"
4. "Got the Life (Live at Hammerstein)"

Personnel

Korn

• Jonathan Davis – vocals
• Fieldy – bass
• Munky – guitars
• Head – guitars
• David Silveria – drums

Production and other credits

• Michael Beinhorn – producer
• Andy Wallace – mixing
• Howie Weinberg – mastering
• Jeff Kwatinetz – executive production
• Roger Lian – digital editing

Charts

Weekly charts

Template:Album chartTemplate:Album chartTemplate:Album chartTemplate:Album chartTemplate:Album chart

Weekly chart performance for Untouchables

Chart (2002)	Peak position
Australian Albums (ARIA)<ref name="aus">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>	2
Austrian Albums (Ö3 Austria Top 40)<ref name="aut">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>	2
Belgian Albums (Ultratop Flanders)<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>	3
Belgian Albums (Ultratop Wallonia)<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>	5
Canadian Albums (Jam! CANOE)<ref name="billboard"/>	3
Danish Albums (Tracklisten)<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>	11
Estonian Albums (Eesti Tipp-40)<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>	1
Europe (European Top 100 Albums)<ref name="auto">Template:Cite magazine</ref>	2
Dutch Albums (MegaCharts)<ref name="nld">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>	13
Finnish Albums (Suomen virallinen lista)<ref name="fin">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>	3
French Albums (SNEP)<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>	6
German Albums (Media Control AG)<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>	1
Icelandic Albums (Tónlist)<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>	1
Irish Albums (IRMA)<ref name="irl">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>	2
Italian Albums (FIMI)<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>	3
New Zealand Albums (RIANZ)<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>	4
Norwegian Albums (VG-lista)<ref name="nor">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>	8
Polish Albums Chart<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>	8
Portuguese Albums (AFP)<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>	7
Spanish Albums (AFYVE)<ref>Template:Cite book</ref>	25
Swedish Albums (Sverigetopplistan)<ref name="Swedish chart positions">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>	7
Swedish Hard Rock Albums (Sverigetopplistan)<ref name="Swedish chart positions"/>	1
Swiss Albums (Schweizer Hitparade)<ref name="swi">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>	5
UK Albums (OCC)<ref name="Zobbel">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>	4
US Billboard 200<ref name="billboard">Template:Cite magazine</ref>	2
citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>	2
citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>	1

Year-end charts

Year-end chart performance for Untouchables

Chart (2002)	Position
citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>	92
citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>	38
citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>	68
citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>	59
Belgian Alternative Albums (Ultratop Flanders)<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>	31
citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>	85
citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>	24
citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>	11
European Albums (Music & Media)<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref>	76
citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>	127
citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>	48
citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>	92
citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>	150
US Billboard 200<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref>	53
citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>	38

Singles

Year	Song	US <ref name="allmusic">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>	US Alt. <ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref>	US Main. <ref name="allmusic"/>	AUS <ref name="aus"/>	AUT <ref name="aut"/>	CAN <ref name="allmusic"/>	EUR <ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>	FIN <ref name="fin"/>	GER <ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>	HUN <ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>	IRL <ref name="irl"/>	ITA <ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>	LAT <ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>	NLD <ref name="nld"/>	NOR <ref name="nor"/>	POL <ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>	SCO	SWI <ref name="swi"/>	UK Rock	UK <ref name="Zobbel"/>
2002	"Here to Stay"	72	4	4	12	44	21	31	7	35	6	15	12	32	58	18	6	11	34	1	12
	"Thoughtless"	108	11	6	—	—	10	87	—	74	—	39	—	—	—	—	7	37	82	3	37
	"Alone I Break"	—	34	19	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	24	—	—	—	—	—	—	—

See also

• List of most expensive albums

Notes

• Template:Cite book