I totally get what you mean when you say you consider the singing as part of the sonic landscape. I can't do this with french songs, which is my native language. But with the english ones, even if I understand the words, I don't really concentrate on them.
THIS. It happens to me too. Sometimes I'm listening to Linkin Park (or anyone who sings other than spanish for that matter) and there are moments where I just don't pay attention to the lyrics, they come like sounds that fit into the rhythm of the music and it just feels good that way. So with that approach, Meteora is just one powerful pack of melodies and energy, it's very rich musically. However, I think the "bridge" you are talking about should be credited to Minutes to Midnight, I still perceive Meteora as that follow up to Hybrid Theory, while Minutes to Midnight portrays the "gate" where Linkin Park started to really incorporate other elements apart from the traditional instruments and created something really diverse, before going 'bonkers' with A Thousand Suns. LIVING THINGS, well, I take it as it is and I really like that album (I love every LP album), but it feels like "Linkin Park at their comfort zone". They used elements from every record, granted, but they're no strangers to any of the components that make LIVING THINGS, so I'm not sure if the guys felt like they were taking a risk, I think they just went with the sound they felt comfortable with.
What I like about Meteora track-by-track: 01/02. - Don't Stay: The guitar riff is catchy, energetic and pumps you up. 03. - Somewhere I Belong: The intro sample and the guitar in the bridge 04. - Lying From You: The guitar riff in the chorus and Chester's vocals 05. - Hit The Floor: I like this song as a whole. The riff, the vocal melodies, and the beat.... 06. - Easier To Run: Another song I like fully, the vocal performance from Chester is really amazing 07. - Faint: MEMORIES.......Wait, that's another song...Whatever, one of the first LP song I ever heard and I still "get the fuck up" and go crazy in the intro, and that guitar riff.... 08. - Figure.09. : Well I like both demos better than the album version, but still I like the verses and the riff of course.... 09. - Breaking The Habit: I like the strings, and I like the vocals, but except almost everybody here, I don't like the lryics, still brings back so much memories. 10. - From The Inside: The verses what I like the most and the guitar in it 11. - Nobody's Listening: I heard this one 3 times Meteora Listening Party and since then I hate it..... But I like the flute......... 12. - Session: Always loved the piano in the song and the samples from Coal. And of course Mr. Hahn 13. - Numb: Memories Part. 23342423423. Well, I don't like this song so much now, but I like the piano in the chorus and the vocals