Hey guys, I just wanted to talk about my thoughts regarding the band Linkin Park. LP is a former nu-metal/rap-rock band that has taken a completely new direction, a direction I absolutely hate. Never before have a gone from loving a band so much, to being completely dissapointed in their new work.
In 2000, LP released "Hybrid Theory", their debut album that contained the hit singles "Crawling", (video displayed to the left)"One Step Closer", and "In the End". This album was shockingly impressive as a band's freshman effort, and I could see that the band had nowhere to go but up from here. Dark lyrics, hard guitars over crashing drums and rap vocals from Mike Shinandoa, what wasn't there to love?
2003 saw the release of their follow-up album "Meteora". There is absolutely NOTHING I could ever say that is negative,regarding this album. It is perfection. Nirvana. Ecstasy to the ears. EVERY song on the album is perfect. The dark intro which breaks into "Don't Stay", the amazingly angry screams that rage from Chester Bennington throughout the album, while Mike brings the rhymes flowing over amazingly well instrumented songs. Highlights on the album? EVERYTHING. "Hit the Floor" "Breaking the Habit" "Don't Stay" and "Numb" are a slight notch above the rest for me, but that notch a notch ABOVE perfection. I'll never forget the first time I heard this album. I was blown away. I was 13, out skating in my neighborhood, and my friend had this blasting over a boombox. I asked him what it was, he burned me a copy of it,and there it began. This album is my second favorite album of all time (only behind Green Day's "American Idiot") Which is why I was somewhat disappointed with what came next...
Let's travel now to 2007, the year of release for LP's third studio album "Minutes to Midnight" This is the album when the band started to tinker with their established sound, which I didn't like to admit, but it was noticed. The song had alot of "slow" songs on it,that were good,but not quite what I expected. Don't get me wrong, I was still a huge LP fan at this time. "Bleed It Out" "What I've Done" and "Given Up" were the best songs on the album in my opinion. There were other great songs on the album such as "Leave Out All the Rest" and "Shadow of the Day". "Hands Held High" was also a very powerful song that featured a great rap by Shinadoa. The album that followed, I expected to be different, but not like this...
Before we get to 2010, let's go to 2009 when LP recorded a new song for the soundtrack of the second Transformer's soundtrack. "New Divide" was the name of the track, and it reminded me of "What I've Done",which similarly was used in the soundtrack of the first "Transformers" movie. But I really liked this song, especially the breakdown and verse near the end of the song. I was happy to hear more from the LP I knew and loved.
Ok, I may get some hate for this, but feel free to discuss this in the comments below. 2010. New Linkin Park album. I anxiously await the first single "The Catalyst". The song is posted to YouTube. First thought... "what in the FUCK have you done Linkin Park??!!" I was pissed. And disappointed more than anything I suppose. But I held out hope for the album. I kept listening to "catalyst" and it grew on me. I came to accept it and like it. Then album release day rolled in. I got excited. Overhyped it. I knew what to expect though, after hearing the first single. I remember downloading the album just before leaving for my dentist appointment, and listening to it in the car on the way over. First reaction? Bitterness. Hatred for the band. Why would they make this. But I realized that the band can do whatever they want,obviously. Just that I am no longer a fan. I wish they would give the band a new name starting with "A Thousand Suns" album. I want to remember LP the way they were. Amazing. Perfect. Rap-rock with passion and anger. I liked it when they were pissed off at the world. Now they are still angry, but I feel they are channeling the anger into soft boring songs, that are so bland and uninteresting at times. I get it LP, you want to deal with "political themes" and "controversial subject matter" in your songs, but frankly, I just don't care to hear your protests. Not to mention half of the last album was instrumental or else using sound clips from old political speeches,etc which was ridiculous. A few high points in the album were "Waiting for the End" which was an INCREDIBLE and overall wonderful song,which could have easily fit on "Minutes to Midnight", and "Wretches and Kings".
So that's my thoughts on the band Linkin Park everyone, a few of you had been asking so there you go. Please follow/subscribe to my blog for plenty of more content to come. There will be a new LP album coming in 2012 according to Bennington, which he says will take on even darker topics and themes. Sorry LP, I won't be listening.No hard feelings.
Peace guys-Jon
Hi, i really liked your post, many people agree with you.
ReplyDeleteIt could be hard for a fan to hear their new style, i've been a fan since 2007 (when i first met them) i first listened to Lying From You, then In The End and after that i ilegally downloaded their entere discography. I compared Hybrid Theory with Minutes to Midnight and knew about the change, i knew it was a band that had changed quite a bit, i didn't care about that... New Divide was fucking awesome. When "The catalyst" was released, honestly, i really liked it, the album came out and loved it. I believe i have a wide circle of music tastes... I didn't really cared about their change of style, in 2010 they came down here to Argentina, been there and it was shocking... they made my day/week/month/year, i felt even more in love with them. On June 26th they're going to release "Living THings", but it has been ilegally posted for people to downloadi it. Heard the album and it is pretty great too, there are a couple songs that have an old school style, but still has ATS sound. They have combined styles and made an unique sound, there's this song, "Victimized", it's like a combination with Death Metal and Rap, kind of weird.
Anyways, i like their old and new style, and personally think Living Things is better than A Thousand Suns, but not so different though.
Really great post, dude, cheers and good luck :D
Sorry I'm just now seeing this! Thanks for the comment and positive feedback. I loved Living Things aLOT! Their best album since Meteora in my opinion. I like how they combined elements from old stuff and their electronic sound.
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