Well, I really like the instrumentation of "In Between". I ca't say much more... I's one of those tracks I dig but rarely feel the need to listen to it.
In Between is probably my least listened to Linkin Park song of all time. The song just does absolutely nothing for me. Mike sings in a monotone whisper that lulls me to sleep, and there's nothing to the instrumentation to be compelling. After listening to a lullaby for nearly 3 minutes the fact that there's no climax leaves a bitter taste in my mouth. I've mixed up Minutes To Midnight's track list several times, adding B-sides and the like for a more pleasurable experience, and never once have I left In Between in the mix. To me it's a perfect case of why "unique" sometimes isn't always the best. I'd take another Wastelands-like tribute to the nu-metal days over this anytime.
In Between is such a weird song for me. Sometimes I love it and it gets me in a very emotional mood. But other times I just find the track really boring, monotone, repetitive and uninspiring. With that being said I always love the lyrics, they sound very honest and heartfelt. I just wish the instrumentation would evolve a bit more.
Shit is really different than anything Linkin Park had done prior. Props to the band for that, but also for making a solid, mature, confessional tune in general.
In Between? I forgot that song even existed until now honestly. They were going for a standout track, but it actually gets ignored even more it sounds like from these posts. The instrumentation is really nice, but Mike's singing doesn't produce anything noteworthy. He sings the same way throughout the entire song. The bridge breaks, and he starts singing with only the guitar and bass...and then it literally goes back to the same exact same form of the chorus before the bridge. Pretty anticlimactic. When there's a break like that, I'm expecting something to build up and unleash itself. In Between is a very very situational song. It's almost impossible to listen to if you're not in the mood for a low, slow song that doesn't bring any surprises. It's hard not to listen to the song passively after the second verse for me. But I do like the cello line and the harmonics.
Wikipedia tells me the next one is In Pieces! "In Pieces" is the eleventh track on Minutes to Midnight, a bit faster pop-rock song that comes right before the epic closer "The Little Things Give You Away". The track is really one of the most diverse on the album, starting with a combination of a drumbeat and synths, and later on explores all kinds of new territories such as a riff reminiscent of reggae music and to this day something rare in Linkin Park music - a fast, flashy guitar solo. Yes, I said it. A demo version of the song was titled "Pictures", however it never found it's way to a LP Underground release, although for all we know, we could get it in a few days with LPU XIV. One of the reasons for this is that the demo version of the song might not have been very different of the final product, as the Minutes to Midnight booklet notes explain: As I've said before, the track opens with a drumbeat and synths over which Chester lays down the first verse. Before you know it, an ear-pumping bassline from Phoenix appears. Through the song, a variety of electronic samples is used, most noticably the drums. After the verse, Chester sings the first chorus, however the song doesn't quite explode yet. The second verse is built around a whole new, this time real drumbeat, and a reggae-like riff from Brad Delson. After the second pre-chorus the magic begins to happen. The drums and bass get quicker as the song goes into something completely unexpected - a fast solo from Brad Delson hammer-ons, and pull-offs. The solo is accompanied by an entirely different guitar part playing in the background, over which Chester sings the chorus again, even faster. All of this combined gives a pretty dynamic song, changing between quiter and louder, faster and slower parts. The words that came together effortlessly and remained unchanged through the growth of the song, although they are open to interpretation, are mostly about Chester's life before (and during) the recording of Minutes to Midnight. At the time of the album release, Chester was recently divorced and recently remarried, as well as he had a short drug relapse circa 2005/06. Through the song, the character is, while getting over a break up, telling his/hers significant other that if the relationship fails, it's their loss, hence - "I won't be the one to leave this, in pieces". Regardless of whether my interpretation is correct, the song is definitely about relationships. Or to be more precise, relationships going bad. Speaking on the song in the Minutes to Midnight early track by track analysis with Kerrang!, Chester said: The song was performed live for over a year, with the first known performance happening in July 2007 on the Projekt Revolution tour. When performed live, the song did not have any add-ons, it was performed exactly as it is on the album. The performance I embedded below was captured in Rock in Rio Lisboa in June 2008. When performed live, as expected, Brad messed up the solo, or altered it many times, but in that particular performance, he did it pretty well. The last performance of the song happened in August 2008 on the Minutes to Midnight North American tour. (embedded 'cause it's a nice proshot, not necessarily a good performance)
Brad didnt messed up the solo , he just cared about people , because his real skills could kill everyone. Its a real cool song and the right one after In Between. Its a cool "poppy" rock song and i love the drumming in the track. Atleast the studio solo seems cool
I'm pretty much indifferent on In Pieces. I neither hate it, not do I feel very strongly in a positive way about it.
In Pieces is IMO one the best songs Linkin Park have made... everything about it is amazing. The whole build up structure, the lyrics, the beat, the guitars, the solo, perfectly placed scratching, and all the little details. The chorus is very unique and unusual for Linkin Park, and I love how every chorus sounds different and heavier than previous.
In Pieces is without a doubt one of their best "progressive" pop rock songs(which is just different word for a great ballad I guess) The song just keeps building up into something pretty amazing. While the lyrics always seemed a bit generic I still think the vocal performance and overall dynamics of the song keeps me invested. The off-beat guitar riff and fast solo are definitely some of the best things about the song.
In Pieces has always been the most unique track on MTM to me. The intro marimba (that's what I believe it is?) line is really cool and catchy, and it's nice to hear Phoenix's bass playing completely isolated from the guitar, something he did a lot on this album. The staccato guitar line is what really gives this song the ska/reggae feel and that distinct sound, with those off-beat chords. I always go for some Reel Big Fish after I listen to this song. While the solo isn't anything impressive in the realm of solos, it's a great departure from Brad's guitar performances on previous albums. His simple hammer-ons and pull-offs fit well with the song, and nothing more is needed. That's about all I got.
One of my favourite LP songs. It's really unique and beautiful. It should of been a single instead of Bleed It Out.
I used to think the solo was amazing before I learned guitar and became less impressed. It still sounds nice though, and I love the vocals of the song. It was one of the catchier ones for me back when I first hear MTM, but I rarely listen to it. It's still pretty unique in LP's discography though I think, they haven't really done anything very comparable to it, so it's special in that regard.
I love In Pieces. Putting this track after In Between was a brilliant idea because the contrast between the two is part of the testimony to what Linkin Park were going for in this track. I think that Minutes to Midnight was their most diverse album because of the new methods they were employing. I love Minutes to Midnight. While I stated In Between doesn't stand out to me, it really fits well with the Minutes to Midnight progression IMO.
The cool thing about "In Pieces" is, like Chester says, the way it starts out with entirely electronic instrumentation and steadily builds with more live instrumentation until it's all-out rock at the end. I think that it makes for a really interesting and unique arrangement. Also, "you wrap me in your arms / and chill me to the bone" is probably one of the best lyrics on the album
I don't if know people realize this but In between is you apologizing for your mistakes and in pieces is about the other person's mistakes. Together, its like they are reflecting on a relationship that is over. The transition makes sense even lyrically.
I can't believe this is getting such a unanimously positive reaction. I think it's a pretty meh song.