Review Summary: "I am not the fortune and the fame nor the same person telling you to forfeit the game"
This will always be an album that critics and fans alike love to hate. Most fans will say that this is the band at its musical low point. Linkin Park showed a slight change in style on Minutes to Midnight and that was only one step in the right direction for the band. We knew they were changing their radio friendly nu-metal style, but let's be honest: no one expected this. Admittedly, ATS will take a couple listens to fully understand, appreciate and comprehend what Linkin Park has done. However, this is not because it has an incredible level of complexity. Most of the album is actually quite straight forward. It is also their most mature and sophisticated work yet. This bizarre and bold turn for Linkin Park never gets the appreciation that it deserved.
This bold affair is a concept album dealing with human fears. Most of the lyrical content has to do with political fears as well as fears of nuclear warfare. The bands lyrics are an incredibly satisfying change of pace from the self loathing and regrets that they normally cover in their songs. Needless to say their lyrics are more astute this time around. While they are not necessarily perfect, it is great to hear that Linkin Park actually has some exceptional song writing talent. Considering the fact that there are a mere nine songs on the album, this is quite impressive. The rest of the songs on ATS are fillers and there are too many of them.
The biggest gripes with this album are the fillers that are included on it. While none of these fillers are bad, it's obvious that one would rather hear songs than filler. The album starts with an unearthly intro track called Requiem and leads into another filler called The Radiance. A portion of one of J. Robert Oppenheimer's speeches leads into the first actual song on the album. These are the standout fillers and the rest of the fillers on the album do not really have the same impact as these two. With that affliction aside, none of these fillers are there for no reason and all of them are strategically placed to give the listener are great experience which is what the album actually is.
The first song is called Burning in the Skies and it features the exemplary vocal interplay between Chester and Mike that we know and love. The guitar solo is nothing too special, but it's always awesome to hear a guitar solo in a Linkin Park song because they are quite rare. When They Come For Me is one of the best songs on the album because it is the most original songs I have ever heard. It boasts an electronic sounding alarm in the beginning, western-influenced drums, great rapping, and great lyrics that brings to mind an uprising in a war torn city. Well done with this one Linkin Park.
Waiting for the End, Iridescent, Robot Boy and The Messenger are the slowest songs on ATS. Waiting for the End contains an uncharacteristic reggae-like beat and great vocals once again. Iridescent has the band in its entirety singing chorus style at one point and it really works. The song is also quite beautiful and uplifting which is also a characteristic we do not normally see from the self loathing group. Robot Boy is strange and repetitive, but the fantastic climax towards the end makes up for that. The Messenger also has a certain aesthetic to it and it is a great acoustic album closer. Though The Catalyst is without a doubt the better album closer.
The Catalyst is the most magnificent song of the album and definitely the most unlikely to claim that title on the first listen. The first half of the song has a bit of a techno influence and a spastic beat, but it surprisingly pays of in the end (no pun intended). The latter half has more of a rock sound, fantastic vocals, and very good drumming for Linkin Park. Blackout is very heavy with Chester screaming and rapping with a bit of a whine. Again, it sounds like this wouldn't work, but it truly does. The song changes into a softer affair towards the end with Mike singing beautifully. Wretches and Kings is another heavy affair with a dub step influence in the background. Definitely not the best track on the album, but still worth a listen.
A Thousand suns will always remain one of Linkin Park's most controversial releases from its drastic change in style. However, one has to give them credit for really pushing the envelope and trying something new without their fans in mind. You should make music not to please people, but to make it because you love it. This is what Linkin Park did with this album. Wouldn't Linkin Park get boring after a while if they made Hybrid Theory again and again? Of course they would.
Tracks I recommend:
-When They Come For Me
-Waiting For the End
-Iridescent
-The Catalyst
