Linkin Park - Minutes to Midnight
Rating
RIYL
30 Seconds to MarsBreaking Benjamin
Fort Minor
The Used
Tracklist
1. Wake2. Given Up
3. Leave Out All The Rest
4. Bleed It Out
5. Shadow Of The Day
6. What I've Done
7. Hands Held High
8. No More Sorrow
9. Valentine's Day
10. In Between
11. In Pieces
12. The Little Things Give You Away
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Bill Cosby once said, “I don’t know the key to success, but the key to failure is trying to please everyone.” Throughout the career of Linkin Park, the guys have become one of the biggest rock acts around. While many thought the guys would die out after Hybrid Theory once the phenomenons called “nu-metal” and "rap-metal" had faded out. Critics were in for a rude awakening, however, as Linkin Park were far from over.
If there is one thing Linkin Park is good at, it is their ability to change with time. The difference between Hybrid Theory and Meteora was somewhat minimal, but on Minutes to Midnight the guys have done a complete 360 and gotten rid of their nu-metal sound and cleanliness. If you are confused by the cleanliness statement, you should note that this will be the first time a Linkin Park album will bare the “Explicit Advisory” sticker (which means they decided to use a little naughty language). Already being noted as one of the most anticipated rock albums of 2007, Minutes is going to be looked at under a fine microscope by fans and critics alike.
Gone are the heavy riffs and constant back and forth vocals between Chester Bennington and Mike Shinoda. Now you are introduced to the “new” version of Linkin Park. To show what the album had to offer, their lead single “What I’ve Done” hit the internet and it had people talking up a storm. From this song alone, you can hear the band as a whole. Previously, it seemed like it was the Chester and Mike show, but now Brad, Phoenix, and Rob are playing a more integral role in the creation of their music.
Where the band succeeds on this album are the tracks that separate the new album from their past. On “Shadow of the Day” the first thing that comes to mind is U2. I put money on the table that “With or Without You” was the biggest influence when it came to writing this song. It goes to show the guys have the ability to write a song that doesn’t have to contain heavy riffs, but it’s hard to say if their hardcore fans will be able to take this change. Also, another big influence on this album is Mike Shinoda’s side project Fort Minor. “Hand’s Held High” sounds like something that should’ve been put on his solo album, but actually fits well on the disc nonetheless. While the song is definitely a political track, the aura surrounding it is tranquil. Linkin Park does a better job at creating a hip-hop track than most rap artists out there today. Other standout tracks are “In Pieces”, “In Between” and “Bleed It Out”.
Where the band slips up are on songs such as “Valentine’s Day”. Everything about the song just screams cheesy. Also, at times the album gets a tad monotonous. While it was nice of Rick Rubin to get the guys to loosen up and write slower ballads, he did take away what made Linkin Park big -- their BIG sound. He did the same thing to Slipknot, if you think back.
Minutes to Midnight is a tough album to get into, plain and simple. While it has some memorable tracks, it just falls between the cracks and is stuck being average.
--Chris Conlan
Comments
West Haven, CT
The Cityscape Burns Brighter By The Hour.
New Jersey
That's what the cover reminds me of.
when i see it in your eyes
i just want to go blind
Dubuque
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Valentine's Day is a horrible horrible song. But I like the album as a whole, It took me a long time to get into it. More than 15 listens for sure.
Cincinnati, OH
Bayside,NY
New York
With that said, where did Hoobastank go?
Cold Showers for Stereology
http://coldshowersforstereology.blogspot.com/
That breeds fear. Dammit.
Sacramento, CA
my first thought when i saw that was, "who wrote this review? jason kidd?"
I'm not here to make things better; only to observe and pass judgement.
Hova owns these clowns.
Manchester, England
ill give it more time, but i wanted to be blown away.
East Lansing, MI
Please stop rapping.
-Mgmt.
Haleiwa, HI / Carlsbad, CA
Angels and Airwaves
AFI
The Postal Service..
Enough Said.
Cincinnati
i would have liked to hear a little more rock and less "mellow moods" but still really like chester's vocals overall
Garden State, USA
Green Brook, NJ
Dubuque
Facebook / MySpace
View Chris Conlan's profile on LinkedIn
Then again, next week sales: 20,000
DeKalb, Illinois
Anytown USA
You play to win the game.
El Paso, TX
I used to hate cell phones, but now I hate car accidents
Toronto
...and which one of those has rapping?
i'd say it's a U2 influenced linkin park, and that's it. have you heard their other slow songs like "my december"? it's basically what this album is all about