Now first off I still think the album is great and is their best effort yet. But for some reason the songs feel very emotionally distant to me. I've narrowed it down to the mixing and song structures. The mixing is just too perfect and glossy... it's like each song lives inside a shiny glass box or something and you are admiring it from the outside thus creating the emotional gap. As for song structures, I wish they were a little more free-flowing. Anybody else have little nitpicks like these?
The only problem I have is the final mix of "The Catalyst". I was really hoping that we would have the same mix that we heard in the initial preview, but we ended up getting one that had too much Chester in the verses. EDIT: From this preview http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RsRQQR6GHAE&feature=channel_video_title
I don't think Chester is the problem in The Catalyst. The issue is that you have a lot of low end in the track, and as a result there is not a lot of punch or clarity. The mix could've been far better.
I personally think the album is perfect. Call me a fan girl or what have you but I personally love it. Wouldn't change a thing
I have no problem connecting emotionally with BITS, WFTE, Iridescent and The Catalyst. Maybe you're just a robot boy or something...
I dislike some of the mixing on the album but other then that I still think it is their best album to date.
I can kinda see what you mean Agent. Come to think of it, I haven't listened to a song of ATS in a while.
Their song formats have improved A LOT since Meteora but it still feels somewhat structured to me. I wish the transitions would feel a little more natural and free-flowing. This and the mixing issue are things that hit me only recently. Yea, listen now and see if you pick up on what I'm saying.
Linkin Park have had over-produced songs forever. Ive never been a huge fan of that, but ATS's arena-rock vibe makes the best use of it so far.
It is a good album when you hear it enough to make the songs more familiar with you, I remember when I first heared it I was like "WTF? wake me up this is a dream!" cuz I didn't like most of the songs. That was because I was waiting for songs with lyrics like "SHUT UP WHEN I'M TALKING TO YOU!" cuz I'm 20 old and I'm a full of energy mothafuccka and like to sing that. But after listening to the songs a lot now I even enjoy singing "The Messenger"
I enjoyed the album from the get go though, and I was 20 when the album dropped These nitpicks started to surface only recently.
I will most definitely agree with you on the mixing of TC. I was most definitely looking forward to the previewed mix. However, I do enjoy the vocals on the album version. The instrumental however on the preview version with the intro of the synths is far better. The kickdrum and the looping synth with Mr.Hahn is amazing there. Full version of preview version: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Swoj8XkxnbQ&feature=related Song structure wise, the only one has given me grief is BITS with that LP like structure and basic LP guitar solo. Not saying it's bad song at all, just not "organic" and creative. Even Iridescent has a boring structure. However, every other song's structure rocks like WTCFM, Robot Boy, WFTE, Blackout (hell yeah), and TC. EDIT: I just realized...next LPU CD, LP give us the alternate TC mix!
Wow... that actually sounds a lot better. The guitars are louder but not distracting, there's more bass... definitely better. Why couldn't they keep that mix for the album?
Yeah the Medal Of Honor mix is definitely far better, but it's still not perfect. Neal did such a great job on Waiting For The End, I can't understand why TC was mixed so poorly.