Somehow, when Linkin Park released "Hybrid Theory" it exploded. Sold a boat loads of copies. They went from no name to the cover of every music magazine in just a few months. Their radio friendly brand of rapcore spawned legions of look- and sound-alikes. Even more impressive was their ability to keep the music lyrically clean. People who listened to music other than what gets played on the radio (ie, people who actually have to think when choosing the music they like) hated them.

Now then, Linkin Park made a big mistake with their "2nd" release. Called "Reanimation," it was just remixes of all the songs from "Hybrid Theory". While I suspect it was a label decision to try and get a new cd out for the demanding fans, it made Linkin Park look like greedy hogs (or maybe it was an attempt to skip the "sophomore slump" syndrome?). I haven't met a person yet who's enjoyed "Reanimation."

In the eyes of just about everyone, "Meteora" is Linkin Park's 2nd disc. And for radio friendly rapcore, it's not bad. Every track on this 12 song cd is played with control. These boys know what they're doing. Where "Hybrid Theory" had strong songs, many of them felt held back and not played to full power. This cd remedies that and brings forth the burst in every song.

However, creativity is definitely lacking here. Linkin Park doesn't tread any new musical paths. For the market they aim for, maybe that can be considered a good thing and worth the cash to bring it home. People who want to see creative growth will find that this cd holds nothing new for them and will be a waste of money. For people who don't own a Linkin Park cd, I'd suggest this one over "Hybrid Theory", unless you are interested in the songs you are already familiar with.

peace.