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Linkin Park: Minutes to Midnight (a review)
12 Jul 2007, 16:26
I bought this at the beginning of June, but hadn't given it a good listen because I had a house guest who doesn't like Linkin Park (her loss). So I had to wait to get into the zone where I could be by myself and really listen to the album.
Anyway, as I listen back now, I think Minutes To Midnight is great. It's different than the previous albums, and in some ways comes across as "softer" but no less LP. I love Chester's voice, and he proves that he can sing and not just scream or growl. Plus, the band is stretching their musical chops and showing that they are a true band and not just a collection of raps and samples. Huge props to Phoenix from one bass player to another. He's an inspiration.
Like their previous studio album, Meteora, this is one of those where I can put the album on and let the whole thing go without skipping a track. It works as an album in a way that lots of other music I've heard lately doesn't. Some stand outs on here for me are:
"Bleed It Out"--you can tell just by listening that the band had fun doing this one (also backed up in the liner notes, but on this one you don't need the liner notes to tell you). Sounds like a rave on the corner by a hydrant or something.
"In Between"--Mike Shinoda sings and sounds amazing doing it. The track starts in a way similar to Neil Finn's "
Souvenir". I've always loved that Neil song (no matter how people object to the content/idea of the song), so that's a win in my book.
"Shadow of the Day"--It could have been a very boring song, but it isn't and much of that is because of the pulse and energy in the bass. This one has a feel that reminds me of "With Or Without You" by U2.
"In Pieces"--traces of ska, LP style. I kid you not! More than that, they do it well and on their own terms. It's one of those "if you squint" (with your ears) things, but it is there.
"The Little Things Give You Away" In some ways this is the most surprising of songs from LP because it is mostly a voice with an acoustic guitar. The ending totally sells this one, though, because the song is lyrically simple, but the end layers distinct 3 voice parts over each other (2 with lyrics, one wordless, all effective). It actually reminded me of Led Zeppelin's "Battle of Evermore" because some of the turns in the voice reminding me of what John Paul Jones had done in that song as a counterpoint to Robert Plant.
In short, I love this album. It is definitely in my personal top 5 of albums released in 2007.
Anyway, as I listen back now, I think Minutes To Midnight is great. It's different than the previous albums, and in some ways comes across as "softer" but no less LP. I love Chester's voice, and he proves that he can sing and not just scream or growl. Plus, the band is stretching their musical chops and showing that they are a true band and not just a collection of raps and samples. Huge props to Phoenix from one bass player to another. He's an inspiration.
Like their previous studio album, Meteora, this is one of those where I can put the album on and let the whole thing go without skipping a track. It works as an album in a way that lots of other music I've heard lately doesn't. Some stand outs on here for me are:
"Bleed It Out"--you can tell just by listening that the band had fun doing this one (also backed up in the liner notes, but on this one you don't need the liner notes to tell you). Sounds like a rave on the corner by a hydrant or something.
"In Between"--Mike Shinoda sings and sounds amazing doing it. The track starts in a way similar to Neil Finn's "
Souvenir". I've always loved that Neil song (no matter how people object to the content/idea of the song), so that's a win in my book."Shadow of the Day"--It could have been a very boring song, but it isn't and much of that is because of the pulse and energy in the bass. This one has a feel that reminds me of "With Or Without You" by U2.
"In Pieces"--traces of ska, LP style. I kid you not! More than that, they do it well and on their own terms. It's one of those "if you squint" (with your ears) things, but it is there.
"The Little Things Give You Away" In some ways this is the most surprising of songs from LP because it is mostly a voice with an acoustic guitar. The ending totally sells this one, though, because the song is lyrically simple, but the end layers distinct 3 voice parts over each other (2 with lyrics, one wordless, all effective). It actually reminded me of Led Zeppelin's "Battle of Evermore" because some of the turns in the voice reminding me of what John Paul Jones had done in that song as a counterpoint to Robert Plant.
In short, I love this album. It is definitely in my personal top 5 of albums released in 2007.
