Review Summary: Nice points, but generally incredibly disappointing, mainly because of the hype it recieved. Average at best.
Here's a general summarisation of what I think of this album
On the downside:
> No real creativity
> No real diversity
> No imagination
> Boring riffs that require little talent
> Brad Delson's 'Solos' just prove he's not a particularly good guitarist
> No standout track
> Only 2 properly LP loud tunes, and both of which suck
> AWFUL lyrics
On the plus side
> Less Mike Shinoda 'Rapping'
> A few decent tracks
> Singing quality is very high from Beddington and Shinoda
> There's some swearing :O
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This album is probably the most hotly anticipated album of the last couple of years, even for those who aren't particularly keen on them, as they are just such a big band, and people just take notice of them
For a band that hasn't written any new material for about 5 years, excluding a rather unnecessary mash-up with Jay-Z, 'Collision Course' you would expect there to be a great amount of imaginitive, brilliantly constructed tunes which is the result of 6 very rich musicians having lots of time to record their best work yet.
Er, as it turns out.... No
They have been their own worst enemy, they've hyped-up the album so much that whatever the result, it couldn't live up to the standards. They've spent a lot of the time talking about the sheer amount of imagination that theyve put into the album, citing a drastic change in style with elements of progressive rock rather than the Nu-metal sound that they were famous for. the anticipation was just incredible, with the majority of people incredibly excited about what the outcome could be.
but the more I listen to this bland piece of commercial averageness, the more I wonder how come their fanbase is still so high? Loyalty is the only answer I can come up with, and the lack of willinglness of the linkin park fans to accept the failure of their idols. but ah well.
Almost every point in this album has something wrong with it, and when it comes to music I am normally a very positive guy and like a lot more than i hate within the genre. but this was just SO disappointing. theres an example on the intro 'WAKE', its a good intro with typical LP noises, quiet and relaxing, slowly building up to some guitar riffage, something that would serve as a perfect lead-in to the first proper track, but no, it just stops! WHATS THE POINT!!!!!!
The second track is one of only 2 really loud moments in the entire album. (YES this IS Linkin Park apparently) and starts with a noise that sounds like someone shaking their car keys, and then begins a riff which is unquestionably a blatant rip-off of Points of Authority (another of their songs) only not as good. This again highlights only too well their lack of creativity. The next song is nothing special, a soft emo-like song with cliche lyrics that for some reason young tenage girls will probably like.
The 4th track, BLEED IT OUT has somewhat of a rarity, vocals by Mike Shinoda, the former co-frontman in the verses. It's actually pretty good tbh, one of the rare plus points of the album and something that is a little bit different from other stuff they've done, however it's still lacking that so-called creative edge that the album was supposed to have in abundance according to the guys themselves. Good track though, and Shinoda actually raps rather than talks like a gangster such as many older songs.
The next track is a very emotional and similar to LEAVE OUT ALL THE REST but just much, much better. it actually made me think that the album just had a bit of a bad start on the first listen. the song may make a cliche sound original, but it is very well done so no complaints. This ends with a sound effect that becomes the beginning of the lead single, WHAT I'VE DONE. I personally love this track, and it made me even more disappointed with what the album turned out to be, but hey-ho.
The next track is differnt. it's a Mike Shinoda-lead song which is basically an anti-war hip-hop ballad. the song is very meaningful and the lyrical content is admittedly very good. the lyrics in this are the only good ones on the entire CD, particularly towards the end when the words "With hands held high into a sky so blue, the ocean opens up to swallow you" are sung. nice. although its hard to really rate it as a song.
sadly though, this high-point of 4 good tracks comes to an end, and it's all downhill from here...
the next one is, I think, poor as hell, its the last loud song on the album (one of a whopping 2!!!) but it has a riff that is so simple and common that im sure i wrote it when i was messing about on my keyboard, so to have it featured on the biggest band on the planet's new album was funny, and made you realise that they've really lost their sparkle. The track is called NO MORE SORROW and it has some of the worst, meaningless lyrical content and rubbish riffs. not good. this is followed by Valentine's day, a song that depressive lovestruck 15 year old boys will probably love, and whilst it is typically sung well by beddington, its so commercial and soppy, without having depth, and it sounds far too similar to a couple of their other songs
IN BETWEEN is a proper big waste of time, its basically just Mike Shinoda singing the same pointless gibberish with very little backing music over and over. really unnecessary.
He has a pretty good singing voice though, which makes you wonder why they haven't unleashed his singing ability before. He actually sounds a lot like Dave Grohl I think.
The next song is just same old same old, but not awful
You may remember from reading various interviews that apparently Brad Delson performs solos in the album, and I personally was excited to hear them, as he hasn't before. the result however is poor and basically just demonstrates that he isnt the most talented guitarist in the world, its a simple-finger tapping solo thats done over and over. not the greatest.
the last song is very boring for the most part and features another Delson solo, however not really a very complicated one, the song is of a very slow pace and his solo fits in well with it, but I get the impression the song was at a slow pace BECAUSE his soloing ability is not at the highest standard, but never mind, it doesn't matter. The song ends a disappointing album on a low note.
