I decided to create this thread in anticipation of ATS. I know a lot of you are listening to LP's catalogue to get ready for September, so hopefully this thread lets you guys give some opinions on their last three albums. In advance, I want to apologize if there is already a thread like there here. I honestly searched but couldn't find anything like this. So mods can move this or eliminate it if they want. Here are some of my thoughts below. Hybrid Theory Pros: A very original sounding album at the time it was released (despite the saturation of rap-rock). This album didn't really sound like rap-rock though - to me. It was more like a really good combination of soft and heavy elements. Very melodic, good rhythms, genuine hip-hop influence. There wasn't a better way to bring LP into the world, in my opinion. Cons: The album's lyrics seem a little juvenile by the band's standards today (not all of them, but a lot of them). Wasn't very much for them to perform during this era, though it couldn't be helped. Honestly, not a lot of cons for me on this record. *Edit: I take back what I said about the "juvenile" lyrics. The only song that seems to be like that is OSC, which Chester admits to. A lot of the lyrics mean a lot to me still (I know). There's nothing wrong with them, as these guys were honest in their writing. Meteora Pros: This is a really rich-sounding album (not in music-writing necessarily, but in sound). Every song is a possible hit, and there was a lot of work that went into the music. I love how sophisticated the sounds are in this album. They progressed the sound from HT in a really good way, but still kept it close enough to be successful. Cons: This album can sound too similar to HT at points. Some people find the music to feel soulless sometimes, which I can understand. Maybe they should've relaxed a little bit when making this album, but then again, they were freaking out after the success of HT. Minutes to Midnight Pros: The guys broke down the barriers they put upon themselves, while recording this record. The band starts to show things that we didn't know or ever expect they would do on a LP record. Chester gives some great performances here, and the band writes in ways they normally wouldn't. Cons: Joe is really absent in this record, and I think it kind of hurt their sound. Whether they thought the scratching was distracting or the samples weren't working, I don't know. I hope that his input wasn't diminished during this album, because I think he is really important to the band. We'll probably never know, really. Also, this album sounds generic sometimes. There are songs that sound like music that was already everywhere around 2005-2007. For example, "Given Up", "Shadow of the Day", and "What I've Done" - though I like the latter 2 songs.
Hybrid Theory Pros: Very good album, relatively pretty creative and dynamic as far as nu-metal goes, well produced and polished in a good way, did a lot for me in terms of getting into music. Cons: Overrated by the fanbase. Meteora Pros: Also did a lot for me in terms of getting into music, has some good songs, not really to do with the music but probably their best album when it comes to the music videos. Cons: On this album they were extremely derivative of themselves, it's overproduced and they actually regressed with some of the lyrics. Minutes To Midnight Pros: Step in the right direction, more dynamic and creative by their own standards, better production, better lyrics, better instrument playing, more eclectic, thankfully not Hybrid Theory part 3. Cons: It isn't often THAT good even if not much of it is that bad. That said, Valentine's Day should have been on there ahead of No Roads Left. Hopefully just a transition and not the be-all and end-all of how they sound now.
HT: Pros: Greatest album ever Cons: I agree with the lyric complaint. Although I don't really care and still enjoy the lyrics. Especially when I'm pissed at someone, haha. Meteora: Pros: Second greatest album ever Cons: It's structurally identical to Hybrid Theory. Although there was nothing wrong with this. It's alright for a band to show their fans that they weren't a fluke. M2M: Pros: Better Lyrics, Mike is now singing, most songs are very catchy, LTGYA shows how much the band has matured. Cons: Given Up is a pretty bad song. The guitar riff is alright but the rest of the song bombs IMO. It's my least favorite LP song to date. WID is also very average but it's still worth listening to now and again. Also, the songs in general don't flow at all and I'm not a fan of cramming all the singles within the first 6 tracks. Why didn't they spread them out more? About Joe in M2M. The guy doesn't just scratch. Is he present in... Wake? Yes GU? No LOATR? Yes Bleed it Out? No Shadow of the Day? Yes WID? Yes Hands Held High? Yes NMS? no Valentines Day? No (I think?) In Between? Hell yeah. In Pieces? Yes TLTGYA? Yes That's 8/12 songs. I included keyboard playing but that's what he does live. Although I definitely expect ATS to have much more scratching.
Hybrid Theory Pros: A style that wasn't very prevalent at the time. Unique sound. Mixing hardcore rap with hardcore rock makes great music to rock out to. Cons: Mainstream/pop. Not a pop "sound", but catered to the masses with short, catchy songs and angsty teen lyrics. Meteora Pros: HT style, but pushed in some different directions at some points. Breaking The Habit, Easier To Run, Nobody's Listening. Decent expansion on the HT sound. Cons: Same as HT. Mainstream catering and angsty lyrics. Minutes To Midnight Pros: Good to see the band pushing their own boundaries. Much better lyrics. Cons: Not as big a difference from the past albums as people think. Still pretty mainstream. I feel like I've stated my opinion on these albums so many times in the past couple months that I don't even know what to say anymore.
He does things other than scratch in the studio, and I don't think it matters if he doesn't do it as much as he used to if it means him not scratching along with the guitar in the bridge of every song, because that's redundant as hell.
I agree. I'm sorry that I wasn't clear about this in my post. What I meant to say was that I didn't get the feeling that Joe was very present on MTM, as opposed to everyone else. The samples and keyboard were there, but it was hard to tell if it was Mike's writing or Joe. I'm starting to think my argument or complaint is stupid now, though. Lol.
It's all good, haha I guess it comes down to whether you'd rather hear more scratching and stuff like that, as opposed to him just making samples and whatnot.
I guess it comes down to whether you'd rather hear more scratching and stuff like that, as opposed to him just making samples and whatnot. He does things other than scratch in the studio, and I don't think it matters if he doesn't do it as much as he used to if it means him not scratching along with the guitar in the bridge of every song, because that's redundant as hell. Pros: Better Lyrics, Mike is now singing, most songs are very catchy, LTGYA shows how much the band has matured.Cons: Given Up is a pretty bad song. The guitar riff is alright but the rest of the song bombs IMO. It's my least favorite LP song to date. WID is also very average but it's still worth listening to now and again. Also, the songs in general don't flow at all and I'm not a fan of cramming all the singles within the first 6 tracks. Why didn't they spread them out more?
HT: pro: A very sound album, energetic and authentic, not repetitive, probably representing the full spectrum of LP at that time con: A little "blown up", compared to the demos there often was not much difference except the songs beeing tuned electronically to sound heavier and more overwhelming, and the lyics were a little simple but not worse than the usual mainstream alternative music Meteroa: pro: introducing more advanced electronic features, new directions with breaking the habit and nobodys listening con: overall a little weaker than HT, not so many songs on the same level as there were in HT, no lyrical improvement and sometimes very "blown up" like numb, from the inside, easier to run..., overall closer to popmusic MTM: pro: A new sound, simpler, clearer, better lyrics, mike singing, new song approachment in TLTGYA con: very sleek, few edges(but not less than meteora), still closer to popmusic than HT. more than before like 'a collection of new songs' just for fun: ATS: expected pro: much better lyrics, deeper story behind the album, coherency as it is supposed to be like a journey, more advanced electronics, more interesting song structures, new musical direction, more experimentation expected con: totally new direction also means starting from scratch maybe leading to some lack of maturity from the musical perspective as so many new things are tried out. Mike's singing? I like his voice, but "in between" was not that strong, just doesnt feel as 'on the point' like chester. Considering The Catlalyst maybe a tendency to put too much trust into electronics leading to a lack of soul and a more computerlike sound?
Hybrid Theory Pro: Linkin Park took this pre-existing genre of nu-metal and turned it into something enjoyable to listen to on a mainstream basis, and appealed to a massive audience of young emotional teenagers because the lyrics could relate extremely well to that of...young emotional teenagers. Apart from that, the energy on the album is excellent and the production is good. Con: In comparison to pre-existing demos, Hybrid Theory is a watered down version of when Linkin Park was known as Hybrid Theory. The lyrics are whiny, and Linkin Park loses a creative aspect to their lyrics upon signing on Don Gilmore to produce the album. Meteora Pros: Linkin Park found a way to take a sound they perfected on Hybrid Theory and make it darker yet just as tangible lyrically. Breaking the Habit is Linkin Park's first "on-album" venture into very creative and new territory since Reanimation. Session shows Joe's talents on a new level where as Cure for the Itch there was only so much you could see from him. Cons: Meteora overall is a watered down version of Hybrid Theory that abuses the same song structures that were used before. Songs like Hit the Floor and Nobody's Listening are embarrassing efforts on the album. Nobody's Listening has no place on that album and, at best, could have served as a potential B-Side. The lyrics are whiny, and so as much as many Linkin Park fans could still say they related to the lyrics, others had grown up, matured in terms of what they listen to, and agreed that Linkin Park needed to take a new direction. Minutes to Midnight Pros: Linkin Park seems to almost completely step away from the all-too familiar song structures of Hybrid Theory and Meteora. Each song on Minutes to Midnight is different from the other and each one shows the effort Linkin Park made to try out a new sound while still being the band everyone knew and loved. Highlights include Leave Out All the Rest, Bleed It Out, No More Sorrow, and The Little Things Give You Away. Cons: Linkin Park's idea of trying out a new sound resulted in album that was more or less conventional alternative rock that had been done before. It's hard to listen to what many think the best song on the album is, "Little Things" and not think "Snow Patrol." The politically-driven lyrics are watered-down and useless after what bands like Green Day have done to change the scene of rock music serving as political activism. Linkin Park's effort is respectable but ultimately this album could only be considered as a transition album and in comparison to other great albums, very mediocre.
Hybrid Theory Pros: Great mix of Rap and Rock. Every song is catchy, and could be a hit. It got nu-metal into the mainstream. Cons: Most of the lyrics are rather immature, but that's probably expected from the younger 20s. Meteora Pros: Some new effects are put into play, and a few new innovations are made present on this record. Breaking The Habit seems to be more relevant to the sound of Minutes to Midnight, while Nobody's Listening has great rap verses over a Japanese flute. Cons: Some songs seem to be just as immature as Hybrid Theory, and to add on to that, its pretty much a clone. Hit The Floor is the weakest point on the record, and sounds forced. Plus Don Gilmore produced it, and took over most creative control of the album (as evident in Making of Meteora) Minutes to Midnight Pros: Personally my favorite record. The songs have more maturity and show that Linkin Park is pretty much done with nu-metal. Mike Shinoda seems to take a backseat to the vocals, however, he does spit versus on a couple songs, and actually sings on the record (let the record show that In Between is in fact on of my favorite songs on this album) Cons: There are a few songs on the album that I could DEFINITELY do without. No More Sorrow is a little too overrated, and doesn't appeal to me at all, Valentine's Day is a little too cheesy, and Given Up is rather emo, in my opinion.
Hybrid Theory Pros: Almost a perfect album, Pulls you in and flows through the songs well. Cons: Lyrically weak in comparison to Hybrid Theory demos. (However very strong compared to most of the music industry) Meteora Pros: Songs catored for what the fans want to hear. Breaking the Habit and Session are standout songs. Cons: Sounds like a recycled version of Hybrid Theory. Lyrics are awful. Songs are soul-less and it is the first step Linkin Park has taken in making an album sound more like just a collection of songs. (Lacks the coherrency of Hybrid Theory) Minutes to Midnight Pros: Reinvents Linkin Park in a positive light after the failure of Meteora. Almost all songs are strong lyrically and instrumentally. Chester shows of his impressive vocal range. In summury Minutes to Midnight is the first commercial Linkin Park album to show soul and diversity. Cons: Album flows even worse then Meteora(A collection of songs, not an album). Valentines Day seems redudent and In Between is very boring. (There really isn't much this album did wrong besides the order the band put the songs in)
I agree with the two songs you picked out, but the order of the songs is perfection. Not one song sounds like the previous (as in last one not last 4) of the album. Leave Out All The Rest dosen't sound like Given Up. Bleed It Out dosen't sound like Leave Out All The Rest. Shadow of The Day dosen't... well you should get my point now. I think Minutes to Midnight only has 2 cons. In Between and Valentine's Day.
What you pointed out is why the track list good. Tracks are supposed to somehow blend with one another for an album to be an album IMO. M2M is just a collection of songs to me. I was also not a fan of all the singles being bunched in a row.
Lyrically, I don't like that "Given Up" is so similar to stuff on the previous albums. :" That's my only problem with "Midnight", though it's not that big a deal to me.