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Rating:
It was the year 2000 when Mike Shinoda, Chester Bennington, Brad Delson, and Rob Bourdon released their first LP under the name Linkin Park. The album's title is "Hybrid Theory," just like the band's previous name. Just when the Nu Metal wave was slowly fading, the Los Angeles quartet decided to produce this CD. It has very little Metal or Nu Metal. "Hybrid Theory" is not completely to be discarded, but it cannot be considered a Metal album. The 12 tracks of the album have nothing original and do not innovate the music genre in any way, remaining anchored to a rocking Hip-Hop without any pretense except to sell music to those under 15 years old.
The work opens with "Papercut". The song is already a bad omen for the listener. Not because it is unlistenable, in fact, we can define it as quite catchy, but there is a noticeable lack of inventiveness from the group. The banal and stereotyped guitar riffs and Bennington's voice, too similar to that of any Boy-Band singer, are a stab in the chest compared to Shinoda's good flow and the decent lyrics. In "One Step Closer" Chester dedicates himself entirely to singing in one of the best pieces of the album. Nothing new under the sun with "With You" and "Points Of Authority." The latter is noteworthy for a peculiarity: the riff of the verses, great though not very original. Then we arrive at the very famous "Crawling". The track also won a Grammy, and in my opinion, the video was very important for the award, touching in some ways but pathetic in others, and the text's connection to Chester's past. But the song is one of the least valid of the entire CD. We started with a Pseudo Pop-Metal from the previous tracks to arrive at an unprecedented Pop-Commercial verve. The singing of the verses is tailor-made for 12-13-year-old girls who want sweet nothings and want to move on from the Backstreet Boys. "Runaway" is not very different from the previous track; if anything, it is less valuable than it.
From the seventh track onwards, fortunately, we have an improvement, starting with "By Myself". All the merit of the track lies in its excellent chorus, certainly not very original or innovative, but the track is still pleasantly listenable. In my opinion, the best track on the album. The next, "In The End", unfortunately, follows in the wake of "Crawling." The track is still worth listening for the enchanting piano intro composed by Shinoda and for his rap in the verses, but the chorus seems like a package ready to be shipped on MTV. Chester's voice, especially in the bridge, becomes too syrupy and Teen-Oriented to be vaguely interesting. This last piece also pays for its celebrity with a lack of originality. Then we have "A Place For My Head" equipped with a pressing main riff. Mike Shinoda is appreciated for the excellent verse, a bit less Chester for the overly catchy but still fitting chorus. "Forgotten" perfectly embodies Linkin Park's style. Adrenaline start, slow rapped verses, and ultra-catchy chorus. Despite these characteristics, the track is decent. "Cure For The Itch" is simply a way to make the album longer since, frankly, I don't see any other reason for the existence of this useless track. "Hybrid Theory" closes with "Pushing Me Away", where unfortunately there's too little Shinoda, making the track even more banal than the others. It is still a listenable and appreciable song but without any notable artistic flair.
The whole "Hybrid Theory" does not present any noteworthy artistic flair. It's an album that can be listened to without being horrified, but it doesn't leave a mark in music history or even in the smaller world of Nu-Metal. Catchy but lacking in originality.
Personal judgment: 6/10.
Tracklist Lyrics Samples and Videos
01 One Step Closer (01:27)
I cannot take this anymore
Saying everything I've said before
All these words they make no sense
I found bliss in ignorance
Less I hear the less you’ll say
You'll find that out anyway
Just like before
Everything you say to me
Takes me one step closer to the edge and I'm about to break
I need a little room to breathe
Because I'm one step closer to the edge, I'm about to break
I find the answers aren't so clear
Wish I could find a way to disappear
All these thoughts, they make no sense
I found bliss in ignorance
Nothing seems to go away
Over and over again
Just like before
Everything you say to me
Takes me one step closer to the edge and I'm about to break
I need a little room to breathe
Because I'm one step closer to the edge, I'm about to break
Everything you say to me
Takes me one step closer to the edge and I'm about to break
I need a little room to breathe
Because I'm one step closer to the edge, I'm about to break
Shut up when I'm talking to you
Shut up, shut up, shut up, shut up when I'm talking to you
Shut up, shut up, shut up, shut up
I'm about to break
Everything you say to me
Takes me one step closer to the edge and I'm about to break
I need a little room to breathe
Because I'm one step closer to the edge, I'm about to break
Everything you say to me
Takes me one step closer to the edge and I'm about to break
I need a little room to breathe
Because I'm one step closer to the edge, I'm about to break
03 Crawling (01:30)
Crawling in my skin
These wounds they will not heal
Fear is how I fall
Confusing what is real
There's something inside me that pulls beneath the surface
Consuming
Confusing
This lack of self-control I fear is never-ending
Controlling
I can't seem
To find myself again
My walls are closing in
Without a sense of confidence
I'm convinced that there's just too much pressure to take
I've felt this way before
So insecure
Crawling in my skin
These wounds they will not heal
Fear is how I fall
Confusing what is real
Discomfort endlessly has pulled itself upon me
Distracting
Reacting
Against my will I stand beside my own reflection
It's haunting
How I can't seem
To find myself again
My walls are closing in
Without a sense of confidence
I'm convinced that there's just too much pressure to take
I've felt this way before
So insecure
Crawling in my skin
These wounds they will not heal
Fear is how I fall
Confusing what is real
Crawling in my skin
These wounds they will not heal
Fear is how I fall
Confusing, confusing what is real
There's something inside me that pulls beneath the surface
Consuming
Confusing what is real
This lack of self-control I fear is never-ending
Controlling
Confusing what is real
04 In the End (01:30)
It starts with one thing, I don't know why
It doesn't even matter how hard you try
Keep that in mind, I designed this rhyme
To explain in due time all I know
Time is a valuable thing
Watch it fly by as the pendulum swings
Watch it count down to the end of the day
The clock ticks life away, it's so unreal
Didn't look out below
Watched the time go right out the window
Tried to hold on, but didn't even know
I wasted it all just to watch you go
I kept everything inside
And even though I tried, it all fell apart
What it meant to me will eventually be
A memory of a time when
I tried so hard
And got so far
But in the end
It doesn't even matter
I had to fall
To lose it all
But in the end
It doesn't even matter
One thing, I don't know why
It doesn't even matter how hard you try
Keep that in mind, I designed this rhyme
To remind myself how I tried so hard
In spite of the way you were mocking me
Acting like I was part of your property
Remembering all the times you fought with me
I'm surprised that it got so far
Things aren't the way they were before
You wouldn't even recognize me anymore
Not that you knew me back then
But it all comes back to me in the end
I kept everything inside
And even though I tried, it all fell apart
What it meant to me will eventually be
A memory of a time when
I tried so hard
And got so far
But in the end
It doesn't even matter
I had to fall
To lose it all
But in the end
It doesn't even matter
I put my trust in you
Pushed as far as I can go
For all this
There's only one thing you should know
I put my trust in you
Pushed as far as I can go
For all this
There's only one thing you should know
I tried so hard
And got so far
But in the end
It doesn't even matter
I had to fall
To lose it all
But in the end
It doesn't even matter
05 Points of Authority (01:28)
Forfeit the game
Before somebody else
Takes you out of the frame
Puts your name to shame
Cover up your face
You can't run the race
The pace is too fast
You just won't last
You love the way I look at you
While taking pleasure in the awful things you put me through
You take away if I give in
My life, my pride is broken
You like to think you're never wrong
You live what you've learned
You have to act like you're someone
You live what you've learned
You want someone to hurt like you
You live what you've learned
You want to share what you've been through
You live what you've learned
You love the things I say I'll do
The way I'll hurt myself again just to get back at you
You take away when I give in
My life, my pride is broken
You like to think you're never wrong
You live what you've learned
You have to act like you're someone
You live what you've learned
You want someone to hurt like you
You live what you've learned
You want to share what you've been through
You live what you've learned
Forfeit the game
Before somebody else
Takes you out of the frame
Put your name to shame
Cover up your face
You can't run the race
The pace is too fast
You just won't last
Forfeit the game
Before somebody else
Takes you out of the frame
Put your name to shame
Cover up your face
You can't run the race
The pace is too fast
You just won't last
You like to think you're never wrong
You live what you've learned
You have to act like you're someone
You live what you've learned
You want someone to hurt like you
You live what you've learned
You want to share what you've been through
You live what you've learned
You like to think you're never wrong
Forfeit the game
You live what you've learned
You have to act like you're someone
Forfeit the game
You live what you've learned
You want someone to hurt like you
Forfeit the game
You live what you've learned
You want to share what you've been through
You live what you've learned
06 Forgotten (01:27)
From the top to the bottom, bottom to top I stop
At the core I've forgotten in the middle of my thoughts
Taken far from my safety, the picture's there
The memory won't escape me but why should I care
From the top to the bottom, bottom to top I stop
At the core I've forgotten in the middle of my thoughts
Taken far from my safety, the picture's there
The memory won't escape me but why should I care
There is a place so dark, you can't see the end
Skies cock back and shock that which can't defend
The rain then sends dripping, acidic questions
Forcefully, the power of suggestion
Then with the eyes shut
Looking through the rust and rot and dust
A small spot of light floods the floor and pours over the rusted world of pretend
And the eyes ease open and it's dark again
From the top to the bottom, bottom to top I stop
At the core I've forgotten in the middle of my thoughts
Taken far from my safety, the picture's there
The memory won't escape me but why should I care
In the memory you'll find me
Eyes burning up
The darkness holding me tightly
Until the sun rises up
Moving all around, screaming of the ups and downs
Pollution manifested in perpetual sound, the wheels go round
And the sunset creeps behind street lamps
Chain links and concrete
A little piece of paper with a picture drawn
Floats on down the street until the wind is gone
The memory now is like the picture was then
When the paper is crumpled up, it can't be perfect again
From the top to the bottom, bottom to top I stop
At the core I've forgotten, in the middle of my thoughts
Taken far from my safety, the picture's there
The memory won't escape me but why should I care
From the top to the bottom, bottom to top I stop
At the core I've forgotten, in the middle of my thoughts
Taken far from my safety, the picture's there
The memory won't escape me but why should I care
In the memory you'll find me
Eyes burning up
The darkness holding me tightly
Until the sun rises up
Now you've got me caught in the act
You bring the thought back
I'm telling you that
I see it right through you
Now you've got me caught in the act
You bring the thought back
I'm telling you that
I see it right through you
Now you've got me caught in the act
You bring the thought back
I'm telling you that
I see it right through you
Now you've got me caught in the act
You bring the thought back
I'm telling you that
I see it right through you
Now you've got me caught in the act
You bring the thought back
I'm telling you that
I see it right through you
Now you've got me caught in the act
You bring the thought back
I'm telling you that
I see it right through you
Now you've got me caught in the act
You bring the thought back
I'm telling you that
I see it right through you
In the memory you'll find me
Eyes burning up
The darkness holding me tightly
Until the sun rises up
In the memory you'll find me
Eyes burning up
The darkness holding me tightly
Until the sun rises up
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Other reviews
By rockanto
Linkin Park copied everything (and I mean everything) from Limp Bizkit and Korn.
They are the ones who made nu metal pop and mainstream, just as Nirvana did back in the day with Nevermind.
By Gallagher87
Hybrid Theory is a masterpiece of the nu-metal genre even though there are no swear words or insults.
Crawling starts right from the chorus, heart-wrenching and self-destructive that almost leads to suicide among depressed listeners.
By thetrooper
Linkin Park only have the look and attitude of nu metal, but as far as their music is concerned, it’s pop/rock enriched with rap vocals, snippets of electronics, and DJing.
Nu metal isn’t Linkin Park, but much more skillful people like Korn and Deftones.
By DanielBack
In this CD, there is nothing nu metal, except for the guitars playing a bit in the background.
It is certainly the best among the three they made... because it contains episodes that deserve some recognition.
By PogoPaiasso
The term 'Metal' has nothing to do with this dreadful 'little band.'
How they managed to sell millions of copies remains a mystery to me.
