LINKIN PARK -- MINUTES TO MIDNIGHT

FRIDAE MATTAS

LINKIN PARK – MINUTES TO MIDNIGHT
Warner

It has been a while since I put up an album review. Choosing wisely as to whose album I would write about next, then I thought to myself and decided that Linkin Park were the lucky fellas who I am going to slice and dice or feverishly jibber on with excitement, about the amazing work they have done. Many major labels out there feel as if they need to exact the formula of what sells. What they fail to understand, is that too much of a good thing also applies to music. Once the radio play is off the hook, rolling out spin after spin hourly, hearing the same artists and songs all time. The tune then becomes “Played out” I get sick of crappy music easily, once sick of the tune it then goes out of style. Major Labels die for the spins and sales flooding our ears with garbage, tricking the tweenies and teenies with asstastic tunes.

The radio is to blame for the overload of crap, Music programmers really need to get their ears checked, in dire need to open their minds to other sounds, enhanced resonance. So tired of the way they categorize music, must they incessantly put everything into conformed packages with boundaries, segregating one’s art. If you like their work that is awesome, if you hate it that is tremendous. Everyone should have the ability to think for themselves instead of people telling them what to like and wear what to listen to and say. The things I declare are purely my own opinions not forcing anyone to replicate, no brain washing here. Not expecting everyone to have the same views, they do not even have to agree with anything that comes out of this mouth. Not being malicious simply being thy opinionated self. It is okay to agree to disagree otherwise everyone would be identical. That would be a fate worse than death, completely humdrum and mind numbing if everyone were to think the same way.

As I pay attention to the latest LP disc listening with no reservation, unaware of what to expect. Every release, after ‘Hybrid Theory’ did not float thy boat as much. For their sake, I hope the new album ‘Minutes To Midnight’ will rub me the right way. The tune “Given Up” is not bad; I am feeling the intro, good job to Delson for adding that creative twist of keys and clapping. Once the verse starts in, the melody turns into a permutation of “Silverchair’s” old sound, evolving into Linkin Park old school as Bennington gets into the chorus. It does get better; the music changes up as do the vocal arrangements thank God! The vocals in the first verse were pretty strained and forced; you could tell he was struggling with the key and pitch. Singing softly is not his forte at all, power singing is. I love his vocals when he is just screaming, he has a nice tone to his voice, decent vocal range consistent he does not often go out of his boundaries he knows his limitations. One thing Bennington possesses that many do not is the ability to scream with amazingly clear diction, that is what makes him stand out from other screamos and the crowd for that matter. A little more originality would have been nice but it is done tastefully; thus, it could be viewed as homage to the influence. The lyrics are great for when you have one of those days and you feel trapped, exactly how you would feel Beddington expresses with true emotion in his vocals. Do not want to end it, I would rather live this ghastly life to it’s fullest than end it with selfish suicide. When you give up that is when you are in trouble, never give up there is always a way. From time to time, you feel as if you want to be, “Put out of your misery.” If those thoughts creep in, just remember those out there in this world who are in situations far worse than your own. It is up to you to fix yourself, nobody can help you if you do not want to help yourself.

“Leave Out All the Rest” yeah leave this tune out, please take it back, this tune is mainstream bubble crappery a money song, I cannot even listen to it with out envisioning Simple Plan or Blink 192. I thought Linkin Park was better than that. Let us move on, ears cannot take it. “Bleed It Out” love the tune it is Linkin Park at their finest but it seems the more I listen to the rest of the tracks the LP original sound is fading they are conforming. When I first heard the track “Shadow of the Day” uh I was speechless I could not even find the words to describe the tune you have to hear it for yourself. It reminds me of a Nick Carter song.

“What I’ve Done” is a great song; every time I listen to this track, it always reminds me of “Transformers”. ‘Transformers’ was an amazing movie and my purse was in it, at first I was like oh that looks like my purse, it was in my lap, I look down and then up at the chicks purse on the screen again to make sure. Yes indeed, it sure was my purse, same color and everything, so excited. I assumed that you might enjoy a little story. Now back to the tune, it fits naturally together, nothing seems contrived, and the words are powerful. The music is exciting the energy and character of the track; the guitars love the chemistry of the instruments. By now, you must have noticed my obsession for guitars from my other pieces. Many people should listen to ‘What I’ve Done” take notes. Let us talk about the intro track ‘Wake Up’ I enjoyed that little musical snippet, that has always been an LP trademark, always including an unbelievable instrumental track on every album. Next we go on to a favorite of mine ‘No More Sorrow’ it has a Marilyn Manson edge to it, the intro of ‘No More Sorrow’ could be one in the same to Manson’s “Beautiful People”, but I like it. Delson did good he added his own flare to the sound, it seems he’s the key to the guitar play on this album, all of the superior tracks on this album he contributed to the sound. I find the guitar to be extremely irresistible, the sound that resonates from the amazing instrument but only if they know how to play it. With out a guitar a song just does not seem complete. The lyrics of this track are right on the money, many people may be able to relate to what this song indicates. A serious line in the track “I see pain / I see need / I see liars and thieves abuse power with greed.” So true so true, so have I indeed as have you, we all have come across dark entities, they out number the good.

A very strong track spawning from Shinoda’s brain “Hands Held High” undeniably I hold up mine. The lyrics include lines about war, the poor, the rich, and the greed. I was not feeling the music much but when the church choir chimed in chanting ‘Amen’ it started to sound as if the puzzle was complete with the beat of that marching snare. Although the music could have been more aggressive, I guess this is the sound they envisioned for this track, tolerable either way. The rest of the tracks you listen and find out yourself. I really cannot repeat crass into my ears continually therefore this must come to an end. But, before we say our goodbyes I have one more track to jibber about titled ‘In Pieces’ it sounds a lot like the track “Leave Out All The Rest” melodically at the beginning but does a three sixty when transitioning into the chorus. My favorite part of the whole track was the music break after the first verse where there is a mini guitar solo transgressing into a sound with an amazing fusion of instruments. Is this album better than ‘Hybrid Theory’? No, it is not, it does not compare to that album, not many artists can surpass the success of the first album they released. It is you either do not have a HOT debut LP or you do and have to prove yourself repeatedly, I give these guys credit for at least producing some likable tunes and always thinking outside the box.

Linkin Park

©2007FRIDAE™