Linkin Park's latest effort - Minutes to Midnight was suppose to break new ground, as well as bring us the good stuff that we love them for in the first place. To many of my friends, the new album is disappointing. But to me, I have to say that I'm at peace with their decision to move away from their Hybird Theory days and more into, dare I say, pop territory?
I deliberately waited for the official release despite all the temptation to just download it, and on the 15th of May, I finally had my hands on the album from iTunes Music Store (yeah, I preordered). I was looking forward to the 2 exclusive tracks that would only be revealed on release day to my dismay. Turned out to be a live version of What I've Done and a song by Mike titled No Roads Left. The live version doesn't defer much from the studio recording, but Mike's song is pretty good.
The first thing you'll notice is that these guys are soft! The whole album is just soft, volume and everything. Only a handful of really heavy rock, and even then, those sound nothing like the stuff I loved about them (Crawling, Faint, Place For My Head etc etc). I was hoping for really heavy stuff, but nope, nothing like that in this album.
Verdict - the songs are good old rock/pop rock stuff and definitely very catchy. But you definitely cannot compare this with the previous 2 full albums. Totally different, and as I hate to say it, the Linkin Park we knew is gone. Musicians evolve, don't blame them for it. Despite everything, I really enjoy their latest effort.
I deliberately waited for the official release despite all the temptation to just download it, and on the 15th of May, I finally had my hands on the album from iTunes Music Store (yeah, I preordered). I was looking forward to the 2 exclusive tracks that would only be revealed on release day to my dismay. Turned out to be a live version of What I've Done and a song by Mike titled No Roads Left. The live version doesn't defer much from the studio recording, but Mike's song is pretty good.
The first thing you'll notice is that these guys are soft! The whole album is just soft, volume and everything. Only a handful of really heavy rock, and even then, those sound nothing like the stuff I loved about them (Crawling, Faint, Place For My Head etc etc). I was hoping for really heavy stuff, but nope, nothing like that in this album.
Verdict - the songs are good old rock/pop rock stuff and definitely very catchy. But you definitely cannot compare this with the previous 2 full albums. Totally different, and as I hate to say it, the Linkin Park we knew is gone. Musicians evolve, don't blame them for it. Despite everything, I really enjoy their latest effort.
I got the album on release day too... and I agree with you regarding the evolving part....
ReplyDeleteU2 evolved... and look where it got them... 10-12 years on...
we can't blame them for dropping their sound from the first two album... they had to get out of that zone sooner or later... plus... so many linkin park wanna-bes have ruined that whole brand of music anyways (I believe it is called Nu Music)...
well... it had to happen sooner or later... and I am glad it happened sooner... instead of having to read reviews that bitch about how they can find no other sound in their music...
btw... my favourite song is The Little Things that You Give Away...
Haha... i need to grab that bonus track from you. I was shocked at Mike's singing at first for In Between.. it gets better after a while. Just like you said, they're not the LP that we used to listen to anymore. Btw, they said that for the cover, if u stare at Joe Hahn long enough, the other guys seem to "grow" haha.. try it out.. :D
ReplyDeleteDude, I finally found someone that actually enjoyed this album. All the reviews I've seen seem to despise it.
ReplyDeleteI heard it alot of times now and I kinda like this album. No comparision to Hybrid Theory but this album is definitely refreshing and new. Pop-rock is really different with LP.
Not the typical LP we knew but nonetheless great effort by them with MTM. It's really weird but it's kinda nice and relaxing listening to this album.