Buying an album and getting the artwork that goes with it was, and still is, one of my favorite things to experience on a new album. Yes, the music is great, but the artwork really shows how much the artist/band really wants to convey their product.
Just to comment on people being upset about Mike's comments towards other bands: he's not saying that their music is bad, he's saying it's not what he wants right now. In fact, he says and has said he personally enjoys music like that. If I may (I know Zak wouldn't enjoy this ) but I'm going to use economics to describe the band's current mindset. It's as simple as supply and demand. Mike knows that the supply of this type of music has been missing in mainstream, so as a mainstream band themselves, they're going to be that supply. Let's hope demand is high! Just reread what I wrote, and all that came to mind was . Whatever, I have an exam in an hour, hop off. My mind looks like that cover art right now..
I was in class earlier, so I had really just skimmed Mike's answers before. Now that I've read it: "In short, they've found their balls" "It’s the sound of a band who have something to prove, and will punch you in your dick if you refuse to listen to them." "Radiohead is for boring nerds" Everything else aside, fuck the brotastic hypermasculine macho bullshit on that site.
I like the album cover, I'll let it sink a little bit before I make a sweeping declaration of love or hate for it. But it's different just like the Living Things album cover before it. Honestly even if people didn't like Living Things, I would hope most could agree that LP likes to make interesting album covers (especially with the last 3 albums).
Awesome, it comes out on my birthday. I'm cool with that. Also sick album cover. Totally called the bow and arrow.
I like how the information has come out this time. While they were fun, there were no puzzles, no hunts, no secrets. Just "it's called this and coming out this day" and that's it. Refreshing.
That's one of few things I have really liked about this album cycle. The games and the puzzles have been done more than enough between the previous two albums.
The album cover is awesome but I wish it was.... red or something. I'm sick of all the black and white album covers
Think they've switched the approach of doing things virtually in every aspect of the process, and indeed it can be refreshing. We can't deny even the buildup to the announcements were getting predictable as well "okay when are the puzzles due?". I remember asking Mike that question shortly before the first BID puzzle was up on the LP.com
This is my favorite album cover so far from Linkin Park - NO COMPARISON. Man I can't fucking wait to buy and listen to this CD. JUMP ON DA HYPE TRAAAAIN.
Another white cover. Somehow, it had to happen. But the illustration itself is really cool! Also, it's true that Mike rethoric seems to get more agressive (visceral?) with time. Some can view it the bad way, but on the other side, it shows how the guy had a true motivation/passion behind the creation of this record, so from that perspective, it can't be anything but good for the music itself. Also, I'd like to insist on this, respect to Rakim for all the work he put into his verse. The way Mike describes his input, it seems like the guy is a real workalcolic. A source of inspiration right there
HYPE!!!! This could be the coolest art yet. i think it is looking down on him so you can't see the face because of the angle