I'm boldly going to go where no other reviewer on this site has gone before and into the depths of Nu-Metal. Now when it comes to Linkin Park you know where you stand with this band. Really you either hate this band with a fiery passion or you really enjoy them. If you don't like them this review isn't for you.
Linkin Park are a group of six young men from Southern California. Most of the band met in high-school and originally formed under the name 'Xero' then changing to 'Hybrid Theory' then finally deciding on 'Linkin Park'. Their style of music is firmly nu-metal and unlike Slipknot and Korn, Linkin Parks style of nu-metal is more melodic. Now to the album.
Papercut - The third single of the album opens with a sampled drum beat and scratching solo before bursting into the chorus. This song is a good representation of the album. Fast catchy rapping in the verses connected with a loud chorus. A song about paranoia and a good opener to the album.
One Step Closer - This was the single that brung LP onto the world. Angry and loud this song is. A good song to play when your a bit pissed off and keeps the mood of the album going.
With You - This is a bit more of a moody song. One of the best songs on album and even if you hate LP you've got to admit Mike can put together good raps. That's what makes this song so strong is Mikes lyrics and rapping.
Points Of Authority - It's much the same as With You. Mikes rap makes this song shine. The opening lines 'Forfeit the game before somebody else takes you out of the frame and puts your name to shame, cover up your face you can't win the race, the pace is to fast you just wont last' is a line that once it's in your head it's not going anywhere. Another good song.
Crawling - This was the song that made me decide to buy this album. This is how I like my music, loud but filled with emotion. From the opening sample you can tell this song is emotional. Chester gives a great vocal preformance and the song comes off as one of the best on the album.
Runaway - Almost a bit of a filler song here. By no means a bad song just doesn't come off so strong after Crawling. The same Linkin Park standard applys here. Catchy rapping verse connected to emotional loud chorus.
By Myself - Like Runaway this song is still good it's just not as strong. These two songs are almost the lull point of the record. It's one of the harder songs on the album (I hear you metalheads scoffing). Mike as always deliveres a great rap.
In The End - Until this song was overplayed on radio this was my favourite LP song. It's alot like Crawling emotional but powerfull. The chorus is the highlight of this song and once it's in your head this song isn't going anywhere.
A Place for my Head - Mike shows off his talent AGAIN with another of those **** catchy raps that wether you like LP or not is going to stick in your head. It also comes with an awesome guitar riff. These things combine together to make another good song.
Forgotten - Possibly one of the best LP chorus out here in this song. Mike and Chester alternate perfectly and the chorus makes this song.
Cure for the Itch - This is an instrumental song where Mr Hahn shows off his skills. When I look at this song I try to compare it to other instrumental turntabalist songs and the two that come to mind for me are Session (Off Meteora) and Battlestar Scralatchica (Incubus) and really I can't help but say this song flops. It really doesn't have anything that exciting to keep you listning. You can appreciate Josephs talent in creating all the samples and laying down the beat it just fails as a song.
Pushing Me Away - It's the perfect end to the album. Like Crawling and In The End this is another more melodic song. Chester gives probably his best preformance on the record in this song and it comes off great. Everything comes together on the record to leave the listner with something to think about.
Well if you don't like Linkin Park you certanely wont like this album. It's an album which is everything nu-metal should be. Catchy, powerfull and emotional at the same time. This is probably the strongest Linkin Park album with Meteora not quite living up to the standard of Hybrid Theory IMO and well you don't even need to compare this to Re-Animation. The most common critisim I see labeled on LP is that they are singing about how hard their lives are when they are rich. All I can say is look into the lyrics as LP really do write about everyday emotions just on the darker side of life. A good album for nu-metal fans and anyone who's a bit broad minded and willing to look past the negativity surrounding this band.
Rating - 4.25/5 :thumb:
