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Rating:
INTRODUCTION:
Why do I intend to write about Hybrid Theory? Because the only review present on Debaser is nothing short of scandalous and far from the reality of the facts.
THE STORY:
It's 1999 and the nu-metal movement features the likes of Korn, Limp Bizkit, and if we want, also Rage Against The Machine. This whole movement has the sole purpose of waking the masses from the murky oblivion they've been condemned to, thanks to the Backstreet Boys, B. Spears, etc. Nu-metal is characterized by the massive use of "explicit lyrics" and "white" rap. During these years, the "Xero," a band comprising 3/6 of the current Linkin Park, were searching for a vocalist and during auditions they became infatuated with a loser from Arizona named Chester Bennington. At 23, he didn't even have the money to buy himself a wedding ring.
Later moving to "Hybrid Theory," the band from Augura Hills needed a bassist; in a few weeks "Phoenix" Farrell, a Philosophy graduate, joined the band. A producer named Don Gilmore, someone random just passing through, decided to bet on these guys, who partly came from poverty and partly from the affluent families of the West Coast. On October 24th, "Hybrid Theory" was released in the States, as is easily understandable from the name, it is a CD composed of a mixture of different sounds all perfectly meshed together. It debuted at the 16th place on the American charts, an extraordinary result for a debuting band at a time when NSYNC and various trash were very strong. After the first week, the CD didn't leave the top 5 positions for more than a year... What did this mean?
- It was a very commercial and easily catchy CD. - It was a masterpiece, and I repeat, a masterpiece of the nu-metal genre even though there are no swear words or insults (I am ready to receive your criticism).
THE ALBUM
11 tracks + one electronic composition (Cure For The Itch) for a total length of about 35 minutes. It seems a bit little for 20 million copies sold... seems... The CD opens with "Papercut", electronic, hip-hop, hybrid melodies, melancholic and unpredictable thanks to the shrill (too much so) voice of "Chaz" Bennington. It will always be like this, the whole album will be seasoned with originality and new sounds that have little to do with either Korn or Limp Bizkit as some claim. So, after opening the ears with the rough, hyper-screamed and on the verge of Thrash Metal (ready for the criticisms) "One Step Closer", it moves to "With You", which starts with a "Riff Raff" that Eminem's friends, those of DJ Lethal and various other companies, can only dream of. The lyrics are composed with far too much "teenager" pessimism, but this will be one of the keys to Linkin's success. "Points Of Authority" seems to be the pass for something very big that will come right after, it's a sort of preparation for the next track, the one that won the band the Grammy. So, after listening to the "points of authority," you move to "Crawling." After 5 years, Linkin Park will never reach these levels, Crawling starts right from the chorus, heart-wrenching and self-destructive that almost leads to suicide among depressed listeners, but that brings total exultation to those, like me, who have become infatuated with such melodies, voices and counter voices, perfectly timed guitar riffs, a dark atmosphere and hybrid electronics made specifically to intoxicate the listener with fear and pessimism.
Just to not make this review too long, I will focus only where necessary, so after two good tracks like "Runaway" and "By Myself", we arrive at "In The End", I know, it even wore on me, for 8/10 months we were buried by the most beautiful piece of the album (after Crawling); there's no need to explain what it's about. Gradually you will arrive without ever getting bored towards the end of what seems like an endless journey through the contorted, sadistic and at times somewhat perverse thoughts of the Shinoda-Bennington duo. The album closes with the sweet "Pushing Me Away", the concluding phase of a real great work by the L.A. band. 35 minutes may seem short, they can be an eternity if a CD is bad, in this case, they are enough to make it clear that these guys have serious talent.
CONSEQUENCES:
The consequences of this success were manifold, many negative: from "Reanimation," a bad taste remix, to the subsequent "Meteora," of good quality, but in my opinion somewhat influenced by Warner Bros, the holder of the agreement with Linkin Park. Then "Live In Texas," a bad idea, because you can't record a live album after only two albums, and "Collision Course," perhaps the lowest point of the band, forced in fact to share its pieces with rapper Jay-Z. An idea exclusively linked to marketing.
CONCLUSIONS:
Now it's clear why many of you hate them, because teenagers wear their t-shirts shouting "I love Mike!" and it's normal that all this success leads to only one result: Linkin Park sold out, Linkin Park sucks, etc. However, before, it wasn't like this. The proverb goes "red sky at night, sailor's delight," frankly I only see black clouds because the next Linkin Park album will be produced by Rick Rubin, a big name? Yes. Too much so in my opinion, collaborations with anyone, all "commercials," therefore, if now many of you hate L. Park, in a few years there will be many, many more...
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 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 Lenore
"Hybrid Theory does not present any noteworthy artistic flair."
"The album is catchy but lacking in originality, anchored to a rocking Hip-Hop without any pretense except to sell music to those under 15 years old."
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.
