Linkin Park
Minutes to Midnight

Release Date: 2007 | Tracklist

March 25, 2003-May, 15 2007. That's how long it took for Linkin Park to release a new album (Collision Course with Jay-Z doesn't count.) Most of the world forgot about them. That was until they announced they were working on a new album. They spent over 2 years in the studios and wrote over 200 songs in the process. Eventually they narrowed it down to around fifty and then selected the final twelve. The end product is Minutes To Midnight. And it is well worth the wait. This is a new Linkin Park.

It is obvious from the start that the band poured their heart and soul into this. "Given Up" has co-lead singer Chester Bennington screaming one note at full volume for seventeen straight seconds. Following that song, the band goes the opposite route with "Leave Out All the Rest". A song following one person pleading to another to forget the wrong that he has done. Two rap songs are on the record. "Bleed It Out" and the politically-infused, "Hands Held High" both co-lead singer Mike Shinoda executes excellently. "Hands" actually has the entire band singing the chorus like a choir. It sounds like it wouldn't work, but it does. MTM slows down a bit with "Shadow Of The Day" "In Between" and "Valentine's Day". But the lyrics are so high quality ("And the shadow of the day will embrace the world in grey, and the sun will set for you") that it will keep you into the song and keep it an enjoyable experience to listen to. Later in the album, LP brings down the walls with "No More Sorrow" a relentless track that easily takes the cake as the heaviest song ever down by Linkin Park. Well, that or "Given Up". Either way "Sorrow" starts heavy and doesn't let up ("Are you lost in your lies?" "No more sorrow I've paid for your mistakes Your time is borrowed Your time has come to be replaced") The final track is also political. "The Little things Give You Away" is the longest song LP has ever done, and the longest title. "Little Things" is a song aimed at President Bush, post hurricane Katrina ("All you ever wanted was someone to look to you. And six feet under water, I do") The song is breathtaking. Using many strings creates a beautiful sound and Bennington's vocals fit perfectly. Bennington proves in this song more than any other that he can sing-not just scream. Shinoda lends his vocal as well at the conclusion of it also. One of the things that stands out throughout the album is the unbelievable drums from Rob Bourdon. Remarkable.

Many songs had to be cut from the mix. "Announcement Service Public" was the traditional all-instrumental LP song. They went with "Wake" instead. I personally like "Announcement" more. But arguably one of the best LP has done was cut. "QWERTY" is one of the heaviest songs from the band (go to youtube and look it up). It rivals "Sorrow" and "Given Up". Another one was "No roads Left But One" also, a cool song. But, it was cut.

Linkin Park's goal was not to create a trilogy (with previous albums Hybrid Theory and Meteora), but to make something brand new. A new sound for Linkin Park. And, I daresay a new sound for music. If more bands did what Linkin Park has done; recreate themselves, and take more chances; music today would be better.

I originally gave MTM a 4.5 simply because they cut "QWERTY", but I decided that it was worthy of a five out of five. That's right, I'm putting this up there with Hybrid Theory!!! A lot of people will disagree with me. That's okay, I freakin loved Minutes To Midnight. That's all I care about.

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2.7 average

Rank: #173 for 2007