Since I was able to finish off the Tool catalogue, I'll boldly go where no one has gone before...to finish off the Linkin Park catalogue....which means reviewing...Reanimation
For those who don't know...Reanimation was the stopgap remix album from LP back in the summer of 02, before Meteora came out. They took the songs from Hybrid Theory, plus a few songs not released, and remixed them. The result? Well...to any diehard rock or numetal fan...you may be disappointed here. LP took a more electronic approach to this album, with lots of hip-hop elements, synths, and whatnot...for the diehard LP fan? It offers a different look into their Hybrid Theory success
Linkin Park are...but I'm not sure it matters too much on this album...
Chester Bennington - Vocals
Mike Shinoda - Vocals, Sampling, MC
Brad Delson - Guitar
Phoenix - Bass, Violin, Cello
Rob Bourdon - Drums
Joe Hahn - Sampling, beats, DJ
Opening (1:07)
Introduction with violin and cello...very melodic, very moody sounding...
Pts. Of. Athrty (Points of Authority, 3:45, feat. Jay Gordon)
This track has an industrial-like feel to it...guitar is heavy, but synth-like...strings background, sampled drums, and various beats, with samples over it all...lyrics are kept relatively similar to the first Points, but Chester screams a bit more, and there's alot of reverb going on. One of the better tracks on the album.
Enth E ND (In The End, 4:00, feat. Kutmasta Kurt, Motion Man)
The most commercialized song LP, or maybe anyone in nu metal, has ever done...there are only synth piano, synth bass and drums in this one, along with singing of course...I like the way they did the beat to this song, gives it a darker vibe...the lyrics are changed up a bit by Mike, and one of the other artists who sings it...this song, however, is also one of the most annoying...for they felt the need to remind you, about half-way through the song, that they are Linkin Park, Kutmasta Kurt, Motion Man, and that this is a remix...meh
Chali (:23)
A cell phone call. Next.
FRGT/10 (Forgotten, 3:32, feat Alchemist, Chali 2na)
Very sampled intro..honestly sounds nothing like the original...vocals are distorted from Mike and Chester...someone else sings the verse...the lyrics are changed, quite a bit...in fact, the chorus is really about the only thing that sounds the same from the original, as this is totally a rap song...no real elements of metal, or rock at all...it's not bad, but it's not one of my favorites..
P5hing Me A*wy (Pushing Me Away, 4:38, feat. Stephen Richards)
Taproot's singer lends some vocals to this one...the intro drums and strings are different, but the synth line from the original is here. Richards starts off singing in the background, but I can't really understand him. Guitar comes back in this one, it's made slightly heavier...lyrics seem to coincide with the original, if only sung a little differently...lots of screaming, then Richards gets a section by himself...his voice definetly adds to this song, which was originally very moody, gets more so with him...although this drags on a bit longer than it probably should, I like it...
PLC. 4. Mie Haed (A Place For My Head, 4:20, feat. Amp Live and Zion)
One of my favorite LP songs gets it's makeover next...this one is made heavier with the effecting of the guitars...Mike's lyrics are kept the same, Chester's chorus is the same, but he gets his voice effected...one of the featured artists sings next, a totally new verse, which is kinda cool I think...he raps faster than Mike, actually...I think...another chorus...the bridge part...Chester screams "go away" alot, but it's heavier than the original...I still like the original better, but this was a cool remix I think
X-Ecutioner Style (1:49, w/ Black Thought)
Not quite 2 minutes...of stuff...this is just a filler track
H! Vltg3 (High Voltage, feat DJ Babu, Evidence, Pharoahe Monch)
This is one of the tracks that didn't make Hybrid Theory...and in my opinion, this track is a raping of the original. This is pure rap, with Mike and some shi
tty piano behind him...if you haven't heard the original, go download it, and listen to it in place of this tripe...
Riff Raff (:22)
Another cell phone call. Next
WTH>You (With You, 4:12, feat. Aceyalone, Chairman Hahn)
This is one of my favorite tracks...keeps most of the aspects of the original, while changing it up a bit. The guitars are far heavier in this version, than in the original. Chester screams a bit more...there is a bridge section in here in which, I'm guessing, Aceyalone, sings a bit...it's not bad, and it doesn't really take away from this remix.
NTRMssion (Intermission, :29)
Another filler track. Next.
PPR:Kut (Papercut, 3:26, feat. Jubacca, Cheapshot)
Alot of elements are kept from the original here...the intro theme is kept, but effected, lyrics are pretty similar, although vocals are effected. A new verse is added by one of the other rappers...it fits with the song, and I like it...
Rnw@y (Runaway, 3:13, feat. Backyard Bangers, Phoenix Orion)
Lyrics are altered, there is a definite synth feel to this one...it's louder than before...one of the featured artists adds a new verse towards the end...it's alright, I guess
My December, 4:17, feat. Kelli Ali, Mickey P.
The other track that wasn't on Hybrid Theory...the original, was, if I remember correctly, just Chester singing over piano melody..this one has Mike, and Kelli singing with him at parts, and is effected alot...but it's still a mellow, listenable, track
Stef
Ten seconds of nothing. Next
By_Myslf (By Myself, 3:42, feat. Josh Abraham)
Starts off far more synth like, and heavier than the original. Lyrics are kept pretty much the same. Not much to say about this one, except that it is heavily synth, and pretty heavy, for what it is.
Kyur4 th Ich (Cure for the Itch, 2:33)
A remix of a sampling track. Some of the original sounds are here, but not many. I personally wonder if he did this whilst blindfolded, and got totally random stuff to occur...
1stp Klosr (One Step Closer, 5:46, feat Humble Brothers, Jon Davis)
What was once a 2:35, intensely cliche, anger track, turns into so much more. The intro itself is about a minute long, and very synthy, but cool. Guitars are synth, and heavy. Lyrics are the same from Chester, guitar riff is actually modified a bit here. Davis adds a new verse at the end, his voice makes this song a bit more haunting...and it's interesting how such titans of nu-metal collaborated...the scratch solo from the original is kept, as is the guitar riffs that occurred here. Davis sings the chorus with Chester a time or two, until we fade out
KRWLNG (Crawling, 5:20, feat. Aaron Lewis)
The Opening is played as the intro for this one...with added strings...Lewis sings the verse, which I like, and will add his vocals to some parts later....lyrics are generally unchanged, but the guitar part was almost completely cut from this, except at the final chorus.
Overall, I was slightly disappointed with this. I was hoping for a harder-rock remix album, and instead got lots of experimenting, lots of rap, and lots of..stuff. Is it a totally bad album? Not really, but unless you're a hardcore LP fan, or a big rap fan, I wouldn't buy it. 2/5
