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Unfortunately no longer exclusive, we will review 'Minutes to Midnight', the highly anticipated comeback album by Linkin Park.
In their pre-launch statements, they described it as a clean break from the past, and above all, the whole group defined themselves as satisfied with the work done, although "some fans will be disappointed", as Chester Bennington said.
Unfortunately, the new style proposed by the former Lincoln Park members turns out to be even too different from the ultra-rhythmic (and much appreciated) rock offered to us so far by Mike and company: now it's even difficult to find on the album some explosion of electric guitar that our dear Californian group used to cherish, the vaguely metal sounds have completely disappeared, the same goes for the rapcore that Mike Shinoda is so good at, which is really present only in very few tracks.
The Linkin guys have mellowed.
Surely in this album, they have lost the ability to energize with all their tracks as they did through their first albums, and it might seem like a cardinal sin to many. However, it must be acknowledged that even if in a very different way, they maintain their style, and the album itself is ultimately not bad, it's simply detached from the tradition the group has built up over the years.
However, honestly, credit must be given to Linkin Park for having had the courage to change their style and not having done what most artists do, which is to stick to their genre of compositions once they hit it. Moreover, the songs contained in the CD, even with a slightly different style, are absolutely not bad and show the world that Linkin can compose beautiful songs even without the extensive use of electric guitars. Therefore, my evaluation is positive because the group is still able to offer something musically interesting without losing their own creativity, while profoundly shifting from the style they had before. It's an album that appeals to a slightly different audience than they had reached with other albums, more adult and mature. Personally, I like it a lot because I find this less rhythmic but more melodic style very congenial to me.
Now let’s briefly talk about the tracklist:
"Given Up" is there to reassure the old fans that not everything is lost, beautiful guitar and drum melody, the exception of the album. "Bleed In Out" is a hip hop piece (one of the few by Mike Shinoda) quite successful, "Shadow Of The Day" is very syrupy and melodic but ultimately polished and pleasant, "What I've Done" is quite detached from the album because it manifests the 'old style' of Linkin Park, but still very well done, "No More Sorrow" is very rhythmic and rocky, "Little Things You Give Away" is a great song and a melodic masterpiece, but to many, it will seem syrupy, "Leave Out The Rest" is really very pleasant even if ultimately too pop and a bit trivial, "Hands Held High" is poorly executed especially in the too boring and soporific chorus, "Valentine's Day" is also too sober, "Pieces" and "In Between" are enjoyable and quite successful.
EVALUATION: just to clarify my evaluation criteria, each star has its meaning:
- One star for technical value/execution/musical choices: without a doubt, the album deserves it.
- One star for the overall originality of the work: I believe it’s fair to grant it.
- One star for the lyrics/messages/the ideology of the group: I wouldn't say so, most of the lyrics are insignificant, and that's a sad constant of Linkin.
- One star motivated by the subjective public judgment/durability over time/inspiration for future works: I would definitely say it deserves it.
- The last star for the emotions and positive feelings aroused by the album: and we’ve got that too.
However, congratulations to Gallagher for the knowledge of the topic, prince22
Tracklist Lyrics Samples 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 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.
By wish
An ugly release therefore, perhaps the worst of Linkin Park’s career; a boring extended play from start to finish.
A true insult to my ears.
