http://blogcritics.org/ A sinister cabal of superior bloggers on music, books, film, popular culture, politics, and technology - updated continuously. en Copyright 2005-2007 by the authors Sun, 10 Nov 2002 15:18:58 EST http://backend.userland.com/rss Blogcritics.org custom software http://blogcritics.org/ Phillip WinnSunday, August 26, 2007, marks the switch of all Blogcritics.org article feeds from full-content to short-content. This is the result of several converging factors, and is unfortunately a permanent decision (as permanent as any decision can be on the web, that is). We are aware of all of the reasons that this is a Bad Idea, and we are aware that some of you will be quite upset about having to click on something to read the free content, and we're sorry. Unfortunately, despite great effort, full-content feeds are not currently economically viable. Two other factors are involved: full-content feeds have resulted in an unprecedented level of content theft, with BC content appearing on many websites, usually spam sites, without attribution or permission. This duplicate content causes a cascading set of problems, not the least of which is that search engines generally aren't favorable to duplicate content, and don't always guess correctly. Finally, our RSS advertising partner is strongly in favor of short-content feeds. We hope that you'll continue to subscribe to BC via RSS, and when an article grabs your eye, it's only a click away, still free on the BC website. Thank you for your understanding. Administration0@blogcritics.org Sun, 26 Aug 2007 12:00:00 EDT http://blogcritics.org/archives/2002/11/10/151858.php Eddie LawsonI haven't seen a review of Linkin Park's debut album, Hybrid Theory, so I decided to review it. Yes, I know it's 2 years old, but I need something for my first post.Linkin Park, formerly known as Hybrid Theory, are a nu metal/alternative rock band that fuses bits of rock, rap, electronica, and who knows what else into their music. The band has been compared to Limp Bizkit, which I would consider rather insulting. Linkin Park has an element that Limp Bizkit never had(besides talent): the duo of Chester Bennington's heart-felt singing(screaming?) and Mike Shinoda's swift raps make the band, lyrically, a force to be rekoned with in music.Most (if not all) of the songs on Hybrid Theory have the typical teenage, hate-everything, depression-inspired lyrics(crawling in my skin / these wounds they will not heal / fear is how I fall / confusing what is real -"Crawling") accompanied by thrashing guitar riffs and hard drumming that is seen in most alternative rock, but those lyrics are inspired by lifetimes of hardship, and you just have to sit back and nod your head--this stuff is addicting.Despite the inherent loudness of the genre, there is still room for emotion to come in. The track "In The End" is one of the more ballad-type songs, with--dare I say--beautiful vocals and instrumentals. Chester Bennington pours his heart into his singing(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 -"In The End".If you prefer easy-listening, soft rock: stay away. If you want something to take your aggression out with, or if you want something loud, or even if you just want something to nod your head to, then Hybrid Theory is for you. Music1763@blogcritics.org Sun, 10 Nov 2002 15:18:58 EST