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Rating: One cannot expect reviews from those who do not listen to Linkin Park. This album is a sign of a change for Linkin Park. We can't say Linkin Park hasn't changed. They have. But for the better or worse?
General Impression
Looking at the album as a whole, it is clear that Linkin Park, those wild guys from "Hybrid Theory," have changed their style. "Some fans will be disappointed," said Mike Shinoda. He was wrong. Big time. Or were those strategic words? The fact is, many have abandoned Linkin Park. They are no longer a Nu-Metal band, and perhaps they never were. But many liked Hybrid Theory and Meteora. After 3 years and 100 songs, they chose only 12 tracks. An important fall in style.
Now let's consider the tracklist:
1. "Wake": Well done intro. The progression of sounds is noticeable. Nothing to criticize.
2. "Given Up": Some like it. I don't, not much. The base is well crafted, but Chester Bennington's fake scream is awful. No trace of Joseph Hahn.
3. "Leave Out All The Rest": This is where the pain begins. First song outside of Linkin Park’s norms. Lacks originality. After 10 years, works of this kind are no longer expected.
4. "Bleed It Out": This punk-influenced rock song follows the usual pattern of old Linkin Park songs, meaning Shinoda-Bennington-Shinoda-Bennington. Shinoda's rap is quite different from "One thing/I don't know why/It doesn't even matter how hard you try", even though Shinoda continues to self-copy ("Doesn't matter how hard I try"). A shame. Undeserving.
5. "Shadow Of The Day": Boring. No further comments.
6. "What I've Done": The album's very famous single. Very nice lyrics. Too bad about the base. Poorly worked.
7. "Hands Held High": This piece is peculiar. Because: the base is nice, but plagiarized. The lyrics fit the song, even though they are monotonous. Positive note: the final chorus. Really very nice. I like it a bit.
8. "No More Sorrow": Copied from Gorgoroth. Poor, I would say, although live it is and will be very nice.
9. "Valentine's Day": This rock song has emo influences, shabby, but the positive note is that Bennington didn't scream in this song because screaming wouldn’t have fit.
10. "In Between": What made them have Shinoda sing? He repeats 6 phrases for 3 minutes and 19 seconds, and, let's face it, wasn't Shinoda the rapper? Non-existent base, the band was on lunch break when Shinoda was recording.
11. "In Pieces": Superpop song. Linkin Park is not superpop.
12. "The Little Things Give You Away": Here none of the old fans might agree with me: this is the best track on the album, it's simply perfect, especially the end, but it can't compete with those of Meteora or Hybrid Theory.
Conclusions
The album is, after "Collision Course," the worst Linkin Park CD. Only tracks 1, 7, and 12 are worthy of being in an album. I can understand 2 melodic songs, but not 10 out of 12. Joseph Hahn absent, Shinoda singing, Delson playing guitar worse and worse. Fall in style. Linkin Park lost fans, they gained others. The latter, however, will not be able to boast about knowing the Linkin Park of yesteryears.
As I said before, many claim Linkin Park have grown. I see it: the first album with emo influences, the first album (except "Collision Course") with swear words... the differences with the previous ones are noticeable. And they should be noticeable. And this review is written about 6 months before the release of the new album, in the spring of 2010.
Rating: 4 and 1/2
Glances to the future
There's not much to say: will Linkin Park resume the old but never surpassed Hybrid style, or will they continue on this path?
Thank you for reading, sorry if I rambled on a bit too much.
Tracklist Lyrics and Videos
02 Given Up (03:09)
Wake in a sweat again
Another day’s been laid to waste
In my disgrace
Stuck in my head again
Feels like I’ll never leave this place
There’s no escape
I’m my own worst enemy
I’ve given up, I’m sick of feeling
Is there nothing you can say?
Take this all away, I’m suffocating
Tell me what the fuck is wrong with me
I don’t know what to take
Thought I was focused, but I’m scared
I’m not prepared
I hyperventilate
Looking for help, somehow, somewhere
And no one cares
I’m my own worst enemy
I’ve given up, I’m sick of feeling
Is there nothing you can say?
Take this all away, I’m suffocating
Tell me what the fuck is wrong with me
GOD!
Put me out of my misery!
Put me out of my misery!
Put me out of my…
Put me out of my fucking misery!
I’ve given up, I’m sick of feeling
Is there nothing you can say?
Take this all away, I’m suffocating
Tell me what the fuck is wrong with me
03 Leave Out All the Rest (03:29)
I dreamed I was missing, you were so scared
But no one would listen ‘cause no one else cared
After my dreaming, I woke with this fear
What am I leaving when I’m done here?
So if you’re asking me, I want you to know
When my time comes, forget the wrong that I’ve done
Help me leave behind some reasons to be missed
And don’t resent me, and when you’re feeling empty
Keep me in your memory, leave out all the rest
Leave out all the rest, don’t be afraid
I’ve taken my beating, I’ve shared what I made
I’m strong on the surface, not all the way through
I’ve never been perfect, but neither have you
So if you’re asking me, I want you to know
When my time comes, forget the wrong that I’ve done
Help me leave behind some reasons to be missed
And don't resent me, and when you're feeling empty
Keep me in your memory, leave out all the rest
Leave out all the rest
Forgetting / all the hurt inside you’ve learned to hide so well
Pretending / someone else can come and save me from myself
I can’t be who you are
When my time comes, forget the wrong that I’ve done
Help me leave behind some reasons to be missed
And don’t resent me, and when you're feeling empty
Keep me in your memory, leave out all the rest
Leave out all the rest
Forgetting / all the hurt inside you’ve learned to hide so well
Pretending / someone else can come and save me from myself
I can’t be who you are
I can’t be who you are
04 Bleed It Out (02:45)
And here we go for the hundredth time
Hand grenade pins in every line
Throw 'em up and let something shine
Going out of my fuckin' mind
Filthy mouth, no excuse
Find a new place to hang this noose
String me up from atop these roofs
Knot it tight so I won't get loose
Truth is you can stop and stare
Run myself out, and no one cares
Dug the trench out, laid down there
With a shovel up out of reach somewhere
Yeah, someone pour it in
Make it a dirt dance floor again
Say your prayers and stomp it out
When they bring that chorus in
I bleed it out, digging deeper just to throw it away
I bleed it out, digging deeper just to throw it away
I bleed it out, digging deeper just to throw it away
Just to throw it away, just to throw it away
I bleed it out, go, stop the show
Choppy words and a sloppy flow
Shotgun opera, lock and load
Cock it back and then watch it go
Mama help me, I've been cursed
Death is rolling in every verse
Candy paint on his brand new hearse
Can't contain him, he knows he works
... this hurts, I won't lie
Doesn't matter how hard I try
Half the words don't mean a thing
And I know that I won't be satisfied
So why try ignoring him?
Make it a dirt dance floor again
Say your prayers and stomp it out
When they bring that chorus in
I bleed it out, digging deeper just to throw it away
I bleed it out, digging deeper just to throw it away
I bleed it out, digging deeper just to throw it away
Just to throw it away, just to throw it away
I bleed it out, I've opened up these scars
I'll make you face this
I pull myself so far
I'll make you face, this, now
I bleed it out, digging deeper just to throw it away
I bleed it out, digging deeper just to throw it away
I bleed it out, digging deeper just to throw it away
Just to throw it away, just to throw it away
I bleed it out, digging deeper just to throw it away
I bleed it out, digging deeper just to throw it away
I bleed it out, digging deeper just to throw it away
Just to throw it away, just to throw it away
I bleed it out
I bleed it out
I bleed it out.
05 Shadow of the Day (04:50)
I close both locks below the window,
I close both blinds and turn away,
Sometimes solutions aren't so simple,
Sometimes goodbye's the only way,
And the sun will set for you,
The sun will set for you,
And the shadow of the day,
Will embrace the world in grey,
And the sun will set for you,
In cards and flowers on your window,
Your friends all plead for you to stay,
Sometimes beginnings aren't so simple,
Sometimes goodbye's the only way,
And the sun will set for you,
The sun will set for you,
And the shadow of the day,
Will embrace the world in grey,
And the sun will set for you,
And the shadow after day,
Will embrace the world in grey,
And the sun will set for you,
And the shadow of the day
Will embrace the world in grey
And the sun will set for you
08 No More Sorrow (03:42)
Are you lost… in your lies?
Do you tell yourself "I don’t realize"?
Your crusade’s a disguise,
Replaced freedom with fear, you trade money for lives.
I’m aware of… what you’ve done.
No, no more sorrow!
I’ve paid for your mistakes!
Your… time is borrowed!
Your time has come to be replaced!
I see pain, I see need,
I see liars and thieves abuse power with greed.
I had hope, I believed,
But I'm beginning to think that I've been deceived.
You will pay for… what you've done!
No, no more sorrow!
I’ve paid for your mistakes!
Your… time is borrowed!
Your time has come to be replaced!
Thieves and hypocrites!
Thieves and hypocrites!
Thieves and hypocrites!
No, no more sorrow!
I’ve paid for your mistakes!
Your… time is borrowed!
Your time has come to be… replaced!
No more sorrow!
I’ve paid for your mistakes!
Your… time is borrowed!
Your time has come to be… replaced!
Your time has come to be… replaced!
Your time has come to be… erased!
11 In Pieces (03:38)
Telling me to go
But hands beg me to stay
Your lips say that you love
Your eyes say that you hate
There's truth in your lies
Doubt in your faith
What you build you lay to waste
There's truth in your lies
Doubt in your faith
All I've got's what you didn't take
So I, I won't be the one
Be the one to leave this
In pieces
And you, you will be alone
Alone with all your secrets
And regrets
Don't lie
You promise me the sky
Then toss me like a stone
You wrap me in your arms
And chill me to the bone
There's truth in your lies
Doubt in your faith
All I've got's what you didn't take
So I, I won't be the one
Be the one to leave this
In pieces
And you, you will be alone
Alone with all your secrets
And regrets
Don't lie
So I, I won't be the one
Be the one to leave this
In pieces
And you, you will be alone
Alone with all your secrets
And regrets
Don't lie
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Other reviews
By Gallagher87
"We will be original, no more nu-metal... these were the official statements... nothing more false."
"Titanic disappointment 'The Little Things You Give Away'... a sleeping pill."
By prince22
The Linkin guys have mellowed.
Credit must be given to Linkin Park for having had the courage to change their style and not having done what most artists do.
By ascensions86
It seems like the album is in search of new sounds, with the band in a mood for experimentation both in terms of musical genres and the roles of its members.
Ultimately, 'Minutes to Midnight' is an undoubtedly good album, although after a four-year wait, more might have been expected.
By P@ne
"An album that will change the Linkin Park universe forever."
"The change happened, and I’m not sure whether to define it for the better... but it’s clear that the value of this band remains and will remain unchanged forever."
By Mariano90
It’s like a hand gives me such a strong slap on the ear that it liquefies my eardrums and the entire auditory system.
The essential element that had distinguished them is missing: the ROCK.
