Review Summary: Linkin Park's new album: Good, Bad, one things for sure, there arn't the same Linkin Park I knew and loved.
Oh Linkin Park, you always seem to suck and be good at the same time. This is their third original album. It is also their worst, but that doesn't make it bad.
Now keep this in mind, I am reviewing this in November of 2007, so I've had some time to think this through. I've seen many reviews of this album and I just find it how biased they all are. They either hate it just because it has Linkin Park's name on it or love it because it has Linkin Park's name on it. I do love Linkin Park, They are refreshingly original and have a good mix of sound. I don't love this album, not to say that I hate it though.
Now if you hated Linkin Park at the beginning, don't even spend time reading this review just so you can trash it in the comment box. They did a great job on Hybrid Theory and it is one of my favorite albums. I also liked Reanimation, people can hate it all they want and I can see where their coming from, but the KRWLNG remix was great. Meteora had some good songs and wasnt quite as good as HT, but wasn't a let down. Now Live in Texas was just unnecessary and was a shot for money. Collision Course was terrible and never buy that piece of ***.
Now Minutes to Midnight is what people are saying is their worst album, and I can agree to some extent, but I think some people don't like it because they changed up their sound so much. Now while I agree that Joe Haun and Mike should definitely been involved way more with this, I like the fact that Linkin Park stepped out of their comfort zone and tried to mix it up. I saw some comments on Meteora, and someone said "I didn't mind it, but I didn't really want just another Hybrid Theory." Well there you go. They were in a difficult situation, if they released just another Hybrid Theory, they would have been criticized for it, but they are now being criticized for changing it up, but I thought they did a half decent job at it.
Wake is a perfect opener for me, it shows how they are awakening from their old sound, and the charging guitars symbolize their change into this new sound. The album featured some older type songs (Bleed it Out) but they are now involving power ballads full of emotion and I hate to say it, more generic sound. But just because it's generic, that doesn't make it bad. There are great songs on this album (Leave Out All The Rest, What I've Done, The Little Things Give You Away) even though they are generic. There has been definitely more focus on singing and guitars, which thoroughly disappoints me. I loved their brilliant mix of everything on Hybrid Theory, but now there is only two songs with Mike rapping, (Bleed it Out, Hand's Held High) although both songs are tremendous. Joseph Haun Doesn't even mix anymore. He has some effect things, but just isn't there anymore, I wish he could have put more creativity into the album then he did.
Now there are good songs, but believe me, there is ***. Given Up has the worst songwriting of a Linkin Park song, and is the most bland and derivative song. Valentine's Day just talks about his chick left him and now he's alone on Valentine's Day, Terrible. In Pieces is a hidden gem for me, It took me a few listens to grasp but it has a real mood to it and I enjoy it. Shadow of the Day is a passable song but is nothing more then passable. No More Sorrow still is stupid but that intro rules. In Between has Mike singing, and he does a great job. The Little Things Give You Away is the best song here, the longest Linkin Park song and has a terrific chorus and great ending.
I know this review will not change most of your minds, but at least know the other opinion, This album wasn't a complete let down, but I still am disappointed by many things. To enjoy this album you need to release previous thoughts of Linkin Park and accept for what it is. So although this album isnt amazing, I still have hope that Linkin Park can take this sound and their old stuff and create something great on their next album.
