My Grade: A-
My Review: Okay, so the album leaked. And of course I copped that ish.
This band has there fair share of haters, and sometimes deservedly so. But damn if they're not of one of my favorite guilty pleasures.
However, with that being said, those who loathe Linkin Park should actually give
Minutes to Midnight a chance. Lyrically in spots, the band hasn't shown too too much growth. Though, now they feel the need to go political at times on songs like "Hands Held High", which features church organs, poetic rap verses, and choir-like vocals.
Ironically, for a band that was made famous by their rap/rock fusion during the nu-metal craze, only two songs on
Minutes to Midnight actually feature Mike Shinoda rapping. And considering how generic I felt his raps were on their previous albums in comparison to his much more credible performances on the Fort Minor project, his rap verses on the songs "Bleed It Out" (which contains the catchiest ****in' hook I've heard this year) and the aforementioned "Hands Held High" are probably the best he's done on a Linkin Park album.
The big focus of this album is the band's progression towards more tangible rock that delves far from the tried and true nu-metal formula that made them radio and mainstream successes. You're liable to scratch your head while listening to songs like "In Pieces" or the rather beautiful six minute Katrina-inspired album closer "The Little Things Give You Away", as you ponder how this can be the same band that made angst-ridden pseudo metal tracks like "One Step Closer". Guitar solos, little to no DJ elements, and vocal harmonies? On a Linkin Park disc?
The album is a bit poppier, ballad heavy, and softer, though the band still finds time to scream and pound their way through the hard stuff like "No More Sorrow", but somehow even the songs that harken back to their older style still seem somehow light years away from
Hybrid Theory.
All in all, this is
by far the most credible album they've released yet. I'm sure a lot of their "hardcore" fans will probably dislike it because at times it really does sound nothing like them, but for those who hate the band or felt like they were bored with Linkin Park should most definitely give
Minutes to Midnight a listen. It may or may not shake the foundations of your world, but it's a pretty amazing snapshot of a blockbuster group taking major strides in their music.
Check Out:
1.) "The Little Things Give You Away"
2.) "Leave Out All The Rest"
3.) "In Pieces"
4.) "Bleed It Out"
5.) "No More Sorrow"