I know it's your opinion and all... But that's one of the dumbest things I've ever read. Blind loyalty is the only way to enjoy the band? That's on par with "they're my favorite band but not the best"
But LP always tends to fall short on their own proven potential. That's been the way with them since after Reanimation IMO. Well that's why I rather just take the blind fan approach. In the sense that i'll listen to other bands, not be ignorant about them but I'll be blind and ignorant about LP's pitfalls to really enjoy them, and within that tunnel vision somewhat block out the other bands during "linkin park time". When we start getting all technical about Linkin Park someone's feelings are bound to be hurt, it never fails. It's somewhat the same thing as you are saying I am just saying the other side. The side that has to in a sense be welcoming of these things related to Linkin Park. Oh Mark I wish everyone was like you! I felt it was implied, my apologizes. But that's the reality! There's no other way to be a fan of LP without getting all negative about it. To me that applies, "they're my favorite band but not the best". But that would soley be the Linkin Park fan in me speaking. Now take off the LP fan suit... my band to go to is Iron Maiden. Which if I go Iron Maiden on the situation.. I just ehh meh poo ewww @ Linkin Park. Even if I wanted to try my dearest to be nice to Linkin Park, I know to some degree they suck. But I accept that I like their sucky music. I am .. 'addicted' to be exact to that. Now in terms of standards .. does Linkin Park really have a set bar at the moment? I've always consider them a band that just likes to try different things all the time. I am currently listening to Recharged for the first time and yea if I was a 'purest' LP fan I'd be flipping ape *beep* but I find it interesting. Not my cup of tea but not the end of the world either.
I see where your coming from, but look at it the other way. Iron Maiden is awesome, but they have faults too. Linkin Park are average instrumentalists, that's a fact, and sometimes their songwriting is garbage, but I feel they're always able to back it up with either layers or production. As great as Iron Maiden is with their instruments, long songs and guitar solos doesn't just equal amazing music. Plus, if LP can get crap for lyrics in songs like Until it's Gone, Iron Maiden should too for songs like Run to the Hills or Number of the Beast. But I get where you're coming from and respect your opinion. It just comes down to what your taste is.
The Hunting Party Metal Hammer review thread is a perfect example of both of these things: NikoLPSoldier saw people criticizing lyrics, and somehow took this as a personal attack. He then started to "defend himself" by suggesting that lyrics shouldn't matter to people, because they don't matter to him. As well as talking about how he "hates ATS fanboys," but then claiming that he was the victim of something. That thread showcases the stuff we've talked about in here perfectly.
But that's the reality! There's no other way to be a fan of LP without getting all negative about it. To me that applies, "they're my favorite band but not the best". But that would soley be the Linkin Park fan in me speaking. Now take off the LP fan suit... my band to go to is Iron Maiden. Which if I go Iron Maiden on the situation.. I just ehh meh poo ewww @ Linkin Park. Even if I wanted to try my dearest to be nice to Linkin Park, I know to some degree they suck. But I accept that I like their sucky music. I am .. 'addicted' to be exact to that. Now in terms of standards .. does Linkin Park really have a set bar at the moment? I've always consider them a band that just likes to try different things all the time. I am currently listening to Recharged for the first time and yea if I was a 'purest' LP fan I'd be flipping ape *beep* but I find it interesting. Not my cup of tea but not the end of the world either.[/QUOTE] What you say in here confuses me. You say you like hearing LP's music in the context of not thinking about other bands, if I understood that correctly. Then, you go on to say that LP sucks and you enjoy their sucky music? How is this even possible? If their music is subjectively sucky to you, how do you get any enjoyment out of it? I've just never read anyone making a seemingly contradictory claim like this
I'm not sure if I understood your post right, because I got a bit confused at times, but if you listen to other bands that are better than LP, you think "eww Linkin Park, they're so sucky"? That's a bit weird man, coming from a Linkin Park fan. I'm not one of those people that worships the band and think everything they do is awesome. I know LP has it's shortcomings compared to other bands, but that doesn't stop me from liking the band even when I'm listening to better bands and it most certainly doesn't make me think they suck. Despite their shortcomings they're still a pretty good band. You shouldn't have to put yourself in some kind of Linkin Park Universe and be blind to their pitfalls just to be able to enjoy them. So yeah, I don't really agree with the "blind fan approach".