Before going to bed last night, I made a quick playlist on my iPod in the following order: 1. What I've Done 2. New Divide 3. The Catalyst I closed my eyes and lost myself to the music. The results? It was a perfect evolution of sound. What I've sounded raw and beautiful, then New Divide brought in the now classic synths and a little more aggression, but it was The Catalyst that took both the melody of What I've Done and the power of New Divide to the next level. That solidified in my eyes (and ears) that Linkin Park is moving in the right direction as a band.
Upon further listens, I haven't really changed my mind much. I've picked out a few things I think are a step forward for the band, though: - Not as formulaic (but neither was some of Minutes to Midnight) - Better drumming (arguably, for what little there is) - Mr. Hahn's influence is at least noticeable (whether or not it's good is another debate) - Mike's "singing" isn't as annoying as it was on his M2M songs. (Not counting No Roads Left, which was alright) - Chester didn't use his Backstreet Boys voice (see: Shadow of the Day) This will be my last post about this song, and I will not listen to it again until I hear the full album. It's still hovering at 4 or 5 out of 10 for me.
On mute, sure I must stick to my laurels. I just feel the song will be more impactful as a part of the album.
I agree with all your points... and I'd like to add one: Although repetitive, the lyrics are much more cryptic than anything before.. on both Meteora and M2M the song meanings were a bit of a spoon feed.
LP sticking to rap-rock would result in more of these. [video=youtube;JYNRhzX6gw8]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JYNRhzX6gw8[/video]
lmfao, That is the funniest video I've seen in a while... athough it's a shame they took the piss out of In The End, when it should've been Somewhere I Belong or What I've Done.
It's funny because it's true? When I rap I talk about the pain inside The problems you went through back in junior high. That's completly true no?
Maybe those "say no to evolving, stick with what you know" fans should see this. It might open up their eyes to the reality. P.S: I would laugh immensely if the video was made by someone in this site, especially an admin or something like that
LP and fans have no reason to be ashamed of their old material though. It's what made them, and no one is going to forget that.. And I'm "yes to evolving, but stick with what you know"
This is what I think will happen. He did promise us some rap, how will it be interpreted? Is what I'd like to know! With you on this one. Of course the problem is this would be strictly our opinion for now until we can find some facts to back it up. I do not have the time or resources to go on scavenger hunt, round up heads from before this very website was even born to justify what I am trying to say. Of course people think I am referring to this "nu-metal" sound. Last time I recall, the very same fans said LP DID NOT fall under that genre, and that they were in a league of their own! Of course I do not have the reference of this to back it up, but I know some of you LP fans that believe that are hiding within this site. Another point I am trying to make as well. Old is not immature. Same with the "new", new is good doesn't necessarily mean they've matured. Atleast in the old sound we had prominent ear friendly guitars, now (and this is purely based on this track) all I hear is synthesizer, heavy layering, and some perks here and there from the HT days. This is where I was getting at that they did this to please the media and the reviews against them. Also the outcry that came on about since Meteora (the very same one you guys are fighting for right now). Everything from the ustream / lptv / the interviews are all marketing strategy to get you "the fan" to buy into the transition phase. No matter how you slice it or cut it, Linkin Park aren't gods or out of the ordinary. They are still a freaking "rock band". One that is having a crazy identity crisis (or what it looks like so far, it is subject to change as I do not know how ATS will truly sound, but so far that's what it's looking like). When Hybrid Theory came out, there was nothing but praises absolutely no hate. The remix album came out, we had too much "rap" and it was too soon. We need our sophomore album. Meteora comes out, it's too much of the same. Reviewers bash it, the fans bash it, even though it sold well. It was a disappointment in every turf. Minutes to Midnight comes out, and for some reason this gives LP some justifiable reason to be "music" now. Regardless that by the masses (and not the blind sheep that refuses to listen to any other music and broaden their taste and absolutely think LP is the best there was, the best there is, and the best that will ever be), think LP absolutely is trash all around, can safely say they are making "music" now. But there's just one problem! What they are making isn't anything "epic" to what's been around in the past 3 decades! Even Hybrid Theory itself I can't consider it awesome when I got something like Faith No More (sucks that band broke up. I consider that band the sampler of the '00 era. Whatever was in "The Real Thing" and "Angel Dust" stemmed out to the end of what was left of Rock in the 90s and carried over too 2000). My point is, while it was "shitty" music that LP was shelling out back in their so called "nu-metal" days. At least it was unique "shitty" music. One that at least had some entity. Now it seems we are getting just "music" that I guess to some isn't shitty in the technical aspect, and to some is shitty (like me and many others I see), that just aren't feeling the track because quite frankly it doesn't feel like Linkin Park. There's a definite nostalgic factor in the track but it's lackin. Perhaps it's the repetitive lyrics. Someone put words in my mouth yesterday that I wanted nu-metal. I will say this once, but since when did we start classifying LP as Nu-metal? Is it because Mike Shinoda said it's "nu-metal" because Mike has a tendency to change his words alot. Back in the Meteora days, as I recall LP couldn't be classified as that, even the band itself they weren't that, now suddenly because he decided to acknowledge it, it's what it is? So what makes me think he won't do the same in another decade from now, when this bunch of "fans" the ones defending this sound and love it, get the end of the stick when they change once again (and what if it's not even rock anymore! What if it's dance or something? lol just sayin!) Regardless, I will have my views of LP as they are now. I know most of you will disagree, I know I have some that agree with I am saying. I like this track, it's nice, but I expect better from what I've heard from them. If some other band did it, they can to. And whoever said they will be as epic as Kiss and The Rolling Stones... with singles like this lol. I doubt it. I'll stick with my Love Guns and Tonight You Belong To Me anyday over this. At least I am getting a freaking symphony with those songs and will forever be implanted into my brain. Michael Jackson is another great genius, one that I consider the chameleon of musical decades. He always managed to retain his core sound but yet adapt to what was around him. To categorize LP as epic among those likes.. is just impractical. I love LP, but they got a long way to go. Whoever did it, was a smart man. They went after the "Father". Somewhere I belong and What I've Done are just the babies that were born of the core structure in "In The End".
Im not saying that everyone that likes this song are sheeps lol. Im talking about the people that are saying stuff like its not my favorite but I love it anyways because it comes from linkin park. Or when MTM came out and they would complain that the dont care for the music but they call it there favorite because Linkin Park created it
I never said that we should be ashamed, in that time it was an amazing album, in that time of their lifes, it was in context with what they were going through. And that video is also in context he says he wrote it in 2005, after the release of meteora, and he is entirely correct. They souldnt have made meteora i'm not even that sure they wanted to a Hybrid like album for their second release, it would make even less sense to release another "hybrid" in their 4th release, especially after mtm, it would have 0 sense. P.S: if i make any spelling errors or gramatical errors i apologize, i havn't been able to practice my english for a long time