"Session" - Song by Song, Let's Talk Linkin Park

Discussion in 'Linkin Park Chat' started by hawk, Jul 2, 2014.

  1. minuteforce

    minuteforce Danny's not here, Mrs. Torrance. LPA Team

    Joined:
    Oct 31, 2004
    Messages:
    13,125
    Likes Received:
    2,459



    I know Shinoda really likes it and whatever, but "Battle Symphony" is among the LP songs I like the least, and it doesn't get better when played live either. The sample loop is its only saving grace for me
     
    Christøffer likes this.
  2. Atticus

    Atticus Bullets lance the bravest lungs

    Joined:
    Jul 27, 2010
    Messages:
    1,519
    Likes Received:
    590



    I feel like a broken record at this point: Chester's performance is great and the main hook is catchy. The rest is forgettable.
     
    Gibs, Qwerty19 and Christøffer like this.
  3. Qwerty19

    Qwerty19 LPA Super Member LPA Super Member

    Joined:
    Nov 21, 2011
    Messages:
    3,275
    Likes Received:
    1,204



    The intro is fun. The rest is nice, but again, nothing that makes it standout. Same type of track as "Talking to Myself", but more poppy.

    I will say that this track and the previous 2 ones work better in the context of the album, as I enjoy how the first 4 tracks flow into each other, maintaining a consistent upbeat, bright poppy sound while having diverse atmospheres and soundscapes. But on their own, only NCSM (so far) is top material for me.
     
  4. Christøffer

    Christøffer The Cure for Mr. Hahn's Itch LPA Contributor

    Joined:
    Nov 3, 2014
    Messages:
    6,370
    Likes Received:
    2,468



    Not my favorite honestly. It's inoffensive and Chester sounds great as usual with this album, but instrumentally (with this production at least) I don't find it has much going for it. Doesn't feel like it has much of a unique identity. I don't actively dislike it though.

    One of my least favorite things is how low the guitars are mixed on this one. I get they're meant more for texture than to lead the song, but they could at least be loud enough to hear. That tremolo-effected guitar doing the arpeggios in the bridge and final chorus also gives me Charlie Brown (Coldplay) vibes melodically. I like it and I really wish the guitars overall were more prominent.
     
    Tocaraca and Sasuke like this.
  5. Wasabi GOD

    Wasabi GOD Praise Brad Delson, our Lord and Savior. LPA Addict

    Joined:
    Apr 29, 2014
    Messages:
    18,720
    Likes Received:
    11,499



    Its an okay song i guess but it really shows me also why i dont like the album in a whole not so much. I just dont feel the vibe, the chorus is good, but the rest is kinda boring.
     
    Christøffer likes this.
  6. Halfway Dwight

    Halfway Dwight We are the fortunate ones.

    Joined:
    May 31, 2014
    Messages:
    261
    Likes Received:
    128



    I love this song.

    It's not one that I listen a lot, but every time it comes on shuffle or when I do a full album listen, it puts me in a really good mood.

    Chester's performance is beautiful.
     
    Tocaraca and Christøffer like this.
  7. Tocaraca

    Tocaraca Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Aug 16, 2014
    Messages:
    430
    Likes Received:
    117



    I'm the complete opposite. The sample loop is probably the thing I like the least about the song. The rest is pretty nice. I'd give this song a 8/10, always makes me feel good.
     
    minuteforce likes this.
  8. Gibs

    Gibs The Prog Nerd Über Member

    Joined:
    Jul 7, 2012
    Messages:
    13,491
    Likes Received:
    6,629



    Battle Symphony has always been a favorite of mine on One More Light. It may sound kind of corny, but it's a song that just makes me feel really good. It's the audio equivalent of a cool fall breeze. It's a song that's pretty elevated by Chester's vocal performance, he really sells it. I'd like to see them bring this song back on tour.
     
    Tocaraca likes this.
  9. Christøffer

    Christøffer The Cure for Mr. Hahn's Itch LPA Contributor

    Joined:
    Nov 3, 2014
    Messages:
    6,370
    Likes Received:
    2,468



    If Mike still feels the way he did in 2018/19 about it it's probably pretty unlikely :/
     
  10. Tocaraca

    Tocaraca Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Aug 16, 2014
    Messages:
    430
    Likes Received:
    117



    Actually disregard my previous post. The vocal sample loop in the song is actually great. I don't know what I was thinking. I'm listening to the whole album right now and the intro really hits
     
    TobinOverflowsBest, Sasuke and Gibs like this.
  11. lime treacle

    lime treacle Über Member Über Member

    Joined:
    Jul 19, 2011
    Messages:
    10,927
    Likes Received:
    1,832



    It's like most of this album, insufferable and forgettable.
     
  12. Gibs

    Gibs The Prog Nerd Über Member

    Joined:
    Jul 7, 2012
    Messages:
    13,491
    Likes Received:
    6,629



    Having a negative opinion on a song in this thread is fine, but if you’re not going to contribute any actually meaningful discussion of why you don’t think it works beyond “this sucks,” did you really need to post this?
     
    Iopia and Kevin like this.
  13. ZERØ

    ZERØ LPA Super Member LPA Super Member

    Joined:
    Jun 24, 2010
    Messages:
    3,962
    Likes Received:
    648



    I think "insufferable and forgettable" is a valid form of criticism.
     
    Filip likes this.
  14. Filip

    Filip god break down the door LPA Contributor

    Joined:
    May 23, 2012
    Messages:
    10,932
    Likes Received:
    1,613



    Battle Symphony is one of the Linkin Park songs of all time.
     
  15. Christøffer

    Christøffer The Cure for Mr. Hahn's Itch LPA Contributor

    Joined:
    Nov 3, 2014
    Messages:
    6,370
    Likes Received:
    2,468



    Invisible
    "Invisible" is the fifth track on One More Light, and one of two songs on the album to feature Mike Shinoda singing lead vocals. Premiered nine days prior to the album release on Zane Lowe's Beats 1, the song was considered for the album's second single, but ultimately skipped in favor of "Talking to Myself", due to that song's strong reaction from fans. "Invisible" was written by Mike in collaboration with English songwriter Justin Parker (Lana Del Rey, Rihanna), and features a production team of Shinoda, Delson, Jesse Shatkin, Andrew Dawson (Kanye West, Pusha T), Emily Wright (Katy Perry, Kesha), and Portuguese DJ RAC (whose "Burn It Down" remix had been featured on the "Burn It Down" remix promo).


    The origins of "Invisible" date back to 2015, when Mike stopped in London during one the European legs of The Hunting Party touring cycle. At the time, Mike only mentioned that he had stopped to write material with unnamed songwriters, but in a later interview with TicketMaster, he revealed that several song ideas were created there, of which "Invisible" made it to the album.

    Mike met with Justin Parker and fleshed out his idea for "Invisible" there, meaning it was one of the first songs conceived for the album, and likely the first of the final ten that made One More Light.

    "Invisible" revolves around several staccato and pulsing synth lines, supported by similar rhythms from the other instruments. Much of the composition was built around what Mike had created on his own, with RAC and Jesse Shatkin contributing most of the elements in the bridge. Live percussion from Rob was also recorded in snare rolls that are present for nearly the entire song, mixed slightly lower than the sampled drums for a more ambient and textural effect. Another component of the song that lends ambience are the guitar parts recorded by Mike and Brad. Throughout the song, a heavily delayed and reverbed electric guitar part swells and feeds back, combined with some simple palm muted parts. This continues through the choruses and verses, creating an atmospheric backing as the synth layers increase. In final chorus, slightly overdriven, additional bright guitars play a alternating melodic figure as the song swells to its close, after which follows a simple piano line, almost lullaby-like.

    Undoubtedly, one of the main draws of this track is Mike taking the helm of the vocals. Coming off the heels of Chester's strong anthemic vocal performance in "Battle Symphony", "Invisible" reverses the vocal interplay of the band and puts Mike front and center for a very personal song about parenthood. Chester provides backing vocals, singing harmonies and using his falsetto at points to back Mike's vocal performance. Mike's lyrics reflect on the tension and conflict of parent-child relationships, and his imagining of that relationship for his children in the furture.

    Throughout the promotion of the album, "Invisible" was one of the songs Mike pointed to frequently to demonstrate how the band approached the album process differently in making a personal and lyrically-driven album.

    "Invisible" had its live debut on The Late Late Show with James Corden, after the band performed "Heavy". However, as this performance was in February, far ahead of the album release, this would not actually air until months later in June. "Invisible" made its tour debut early during the One More Light World Tour, debuting in Santiago, Chile, with an extended intro featuring the bridge synth loop and samples of Mike's studio backing vocals.


    The song was also featured several times on Mike's solo tour setlists, where he incorporated a new bridge that added a drum solo. This was premiered in 2019 and featured only a few times in his setlists, replacing "Sorry for Now" on those occasions.

     
    Last edited: Sep 27, 2024
    Tocaraca, Kevin and Wasabi GOD like this.
  16. Halfway Dwight

    Halfway Dwight We are the fortunate ones.

    Joined:
    May 31, 2014
    Messages:
    261
    Likes Received:
    128



    I love Mike's perrformance, it really feels personal and emotional. I am not a parent but I can still see how many who are could relate heavily with the song.
    It's also not one that I listen to a lot but every time I hear it I get a sense of nostalgia, which happens with many in OML.
     
  17. Tocaraca

    Tocaraca Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Aug 16, 2014
    Messages:
    430
    Likes Received:
    117



    I love this song! Easily the best one in the first half IMO, and probably my 3rd (EDIT: 2nd) favorite on the whole album. Mike's voice and melodies are wonderful and the production is really nice. There's no annoying chipmunk vocal noises or anything, just a straight-up good pop song. 9/10 for me
     
    Last edited: Sep 24, 2024
    Christøffer and Deliveranze like this.
  18. Deliveranze

    Deliveranze Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Jan 25, 2016
    Messages:
    1,207
    Likes Received:
    1,044



    I like this one out of the solo Shinoda songs. I can tell the lyrics were personal for Mike and the way he sings, “If I cannot break your fall
    I'll pick you up right off the ground” has always been a beautiful sentiment to me. It’s maybe not the most memorable LP song, but it’s a good pop song.
     
    Tocaraca and Christøffer like this.
  19. Qwerty19

    Qwerty19 LPA Super Member LPA Super Member

    Joined:
    Nov 21, 2011
    Messages:
    3,275
    Likes Received:
    1,204



    I love "Invisible". One of my favourite from OML.

    Mike's performance is so genuine, and there are so many cool layers instrumentally. The guitar work is super smooth and it combines very well with the synths. Overall there is just a beautiful atmosphere going on with this track. Really a standout for me.
     
    Tocaraca and Christøffer like this.
  20. Sasuke

    Sasuke Modern Prog enjoyer LPA Super Member

    Joined:
    May 22, 2012
    Messages:
    5,777
    Likes Received:
    2,924



    Definitely not as song as Sorry for Now imo, it's way too repetitive. One of my least favorites on the album.
     

Share This Page