Music Review: Linkin Park Minutes To Midnight
Published June 02, 2007
Different strokes for different folks. Isn't that how the saying goes? Linkin Park shows a few different strokes that people aren't used to on their third album, Minutes to Midnight. They switch their style up from a hard rock mixed with techno format, to a polished, sometimes quieter, album layout.
Twelve new songs can be found on Minutes, their first studio release since 2003's Meteora. The band said the work they put into Minutes totaled about three years. Linkin Park had from over 100 songs to choose from for this album and were very selective in their choices.
"What I've Done" is the first single off the album and is a fairly mediocre song of the typical Linkin Park fashion. The album starts off at a blistering pace after the intro. "Given Up" is a fast paced, heavy song of the more normal sounding Linkin park. "No More Sorrow" is an anti-establishment song and a very heavy track. The opening in particular sounds damn-near like an old school Metallica song. It's probably the heaviest Linkin Park song ever produced.
The question I have been asking (and undoubtedly Linkin Park fans everywhere) about Minutes is: Where is Mike Shinoda? "Bleed It Out" is one of the few times Shinoda is distinctly heard on the album. It's one of the best songs on the album and another great "normal" L.P. song. Since Shinoda co-produced the album with Rick Rubin, it may seem like he's absent from the record. But in reality, Shinoda is singing a lot more. He does a lot of the harmonies. He also sings a couple of songs solo.
"In Between" features Shinoda alone, first time ever singing solo on a Linkin Park record. Shinoda is also by himself on "Hands Held High," another anti-war song. It's one of the high points on the album because of the raw emotion put into the song.
With Rubin producing, you can expect him to deliver a different sound from any given band on any particular album. He has the power to bring out the different side of a band and that's exactly what he did with this Linkin Park album. You wouldn't have dreamed hearing these types of songs on previous albums. Instead of heavy techno-laced beats, you get a what seems like a cleaner and crisper version of Linkin Park.
It's evident with songs like "In Pieces" and "The Little Things Give You Away." "In Pieces" is a unique song with a fast paced techno beat mixed with an 80s sound, complete with a guitar solo. "The Little Things Give You Away" closes out the album and is way different than any other L.P. song ever recorded. It includes acoustic guitar AND a guitar solo. The song has more of a classic rock type song structure.
Chester Bennington is featured heavily on the album, which equals more singing. Less Mike Shinoda equals less rapping. Which all comes together to make a unique rock record. All in all, Minutes is not the type of record you would expect to hear from L.P. Some Linkin Park fans may discard the album, calling it blasphemy. Critics may do the same. But neither should EVER fault a band for exploring unchartered territory.
Album grade: B-
Stand out tracks:
"Given Up"
"Bleed It Out"
"Hands Held High"
"No More Sorrow"
Mike D’Orazio is a writer. He loves to write and has been doing so for several years. He currently resides in his hometown on the east side of Detroit, Michigan. Let him know if you enjoy this site by leaving comments or e-mailing him at dorazio.mike@gmail.com Check out his blog at here
- Music Review: Linkin Park Minutes To Midnight
- Published: June 02, 2007
- Type: Review
- Section: Music
- Filed Under: Music: Hard Rock, Music: Metal, Music: Rock
- Writer: Mike D'Orazio
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Comments on this articleComments
Hands High Held makes u realize how much all ur friends that are involved in the war mean to you the lyrics r very powerful and the song itself make u realize what this war is about, it is def the best song on the album
Great job by linkin park,,,,,yes i didnt expect such stuff from them but its more than wot i expected awesome album ever.
I think that LP took a huge risk by doing something different, and i give them credit for doing something great. I love this album. I think if you go into listening to this album with a mindset thinking the old regular LP sound you'll be disappointed, but if take the time to listen to the album, you'll realize that they've grown up, and possibly appreciate it a little better. Well done LP
The new album is more meditative with carefully chosen words in the context of the war abroad. Some fans were searching for just the classical heavy tracks that would express their anger at... something, therefore they were disappointed my "Minutes to midnight". What is different in this album from the others is that it has a relatively clear statement: anti-war. Thus the "tamed" pace of some of the tracks. The focus has shifted from anger to reflexion and social awareness. I can only welcome this new path. So this time sit back, listen and think about what they say.
Where i love these guys, and i can appreciate their slower more topic oriented songs... it just falls short. Everyone mentions how this album is "more polished" but i dont understand that, all but 3 of the songs feel unfinished. They feel... like the band was more interested in image and being "new" and "unique" than making a record that had every element they had to offer in a song. I bought the album, and at first i hated it. I can tolerate it now, simply because i love the band, but i really hope they dont stick to this new path or a huge chunk of their very devoted fans will be forced out of their genre.
this cd sucks! what the hell happened to linkin park? they have changed and for the worse! what happened to the intense hard rock songs? these songs are crap. the certain special "thing" that linkin park had that made their music AWESOME is now gone. i was a huge fan until this cd. they need to go back to their old style cuz the new change sucks.
Yeah, i will say, this is so not LP, simply put. They sound just like everybody else now, they wanted to change their sound, well they did, and they are no longer unique, nor are they Linkin Park.
The past two albums rocked,MTM may seem different but i think it isnt that bad,my friends listen to it all day long..i didnt like it the 1st time but after a 2nd or 3rd time listening to it,i gave a second thought..the songs like given up,no more sorrow,bleed it out and wat ive done rocks.the others were decent exept for the last 1.but its LP's choice of keeping to slow and decent or hardrock.but i think they should add more rap to it along with DJ/keyboards.a mix would be perfect.LP should really make a new album.well goodluck LP,chaz,mike,brad,feenux,hahn and rob.LP forever!
all of you who think LP sucks should listen to it once more...believe me..they rock ten times as hard as other bands
This would have made a good first album for linkin park. I feel like the over cliche rhythm is surprising lame. I tried to like the album, but i can't. Yes its catchy, catchy turns to cliche, and cliche turns to annoying. The best albums you sit back and think wow this is different and then you realize you like it. If you actually listen to music and not the crap on the radio you know what i'm talking about. This album is on obvious attempt to sell to the general public and to get radio play from pop stations as well as rock stations.
they are AMAZING!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!And all of their albums are awesome!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I love them their music is sooooo great
i just love there music and i love them soo much
and i bout there poster so assume spshley mike my fav and luv chester2 so iwish them all the luck
and keep there songs always there freeken assume
luvv you 4 ever
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Linkin park is awesome!
love there music.
luv you guys!!
.xxx