Linkin Park might as well be known as the ultimately genre-less band. They combine turntable scratching with heavy but simple guitar riffs, and metal-like screaming with fast, short, meaningful rapping accompanied by big bursts of bass. They broke through big time with their first album, Hybrid Theory, and thus had to follow up with a great second effort.
This second effort, Meteora, much resembles Hybrid theory in a number of ways. It is overall a short album, lasting only 36 minutes across 13 songs. (12 if you dont count the 13-second intro.) each song is less than 3:45, and the album seems to have a very straightforward organization, as did Hybrid theory. On a different note, Meteora has a continuous flow, each song blending into the next. This can get annoying when listening to only one song, but its great when listening to the whole album.
You might think of them as the creative opposites of System of a Down. They hardly ever go outside their box. They lack exstensive bridges and guitar solos(or any instrument for that matter). None of the players in the band seem to want to show off their ability to play. The guitar riffs are powerful and catchy, but always loop and are incredibly easy to play. the drumming is good, but nothing special. The real strong points for LP are the rapper Mike's incredible lyrics and poetry, and the singer Chester's great range in singing. Mike, also the co-producer, shows off his ability to put songs together well.
All in all, this album is a great second effort, but Linkin Park really needs to push the envelope and go outside of what they are used to next go around.
Linkin Park is:
Chester Bennington: Vocals
Mike Shinoda: Vocals, Emcee, Samples, Guitar
Brad Delson: Guitar
Dave "Phoenix" Farrell: Bass
Rob Bourdon: Drums
Joe Hahn: Turntables, Samples
Meteora:
Foreward: a short, simple, and unnecessary introduction. A neat way to start off the album, though.
Don't Stay: A good, heavy song. This is one of the few songs where Brad uses drop B tuning, and it sounds great. Chester does an awesome job singing throughout the whole song, but he sounds more like he's inbeween singing and screaming. Awesome scratch solo to lead things off.
Somewhere I Belong: An incredibly melodic and emotional song. The guitar is powerful, and the lyrics are rapped and sung great. The lyrics, however, seem a bit forced into the song. They don't seem to flow as well as they could. Besides that, an awesome song.
Lying From You: This song probably has the best guitar riff on the album. It has good intensity, and a great sound to it. However, when Mike is rapping, there seems to be harsh spikes in the tone and volume of his voice, which gets a little annoying. The bass "bombs" are cool, but can get a little tiring also.
Hit the Floor: The vocals get a bit annoying in this song, but Chester smooths out and sings great at the end of the chorus. The guitar is explosive, but too simple. One of the lower songs on the album.
Easier To Run: A slower, more dramatic song. Chester sings beautifully in this song, and Mike raps peacefully. The guitars flow with the song, adding a nice touch. The drums in this song have a interestingly (and slightly complex) beat. The song sounds really well put together, and is not at all forced.
Faint: Quite a change from the previous song. A pumped up, in your face, jump up and down kind of song. The drums are really quick, and the guitars are layered nicely, though not as strong as hoped until the bridge. Great song.
Figure .09: The song begins with an interesting turntable sample and tapping sequence. The guitar is solid throughout. Mike smoothly raps out the verses, and intensifies with Chester at the bridge. Good song.
Breaking the Habit: A real step away from the rest of the album. The song is brilliantly sung by Chester, with a much slower, more emotional vibe. The digital effects seem to pile on top of each other, but it is still an excellent song.
From The Inside: This is my personal favorite. This is a rare song where the it is basically hard rock, but Chester sings very smoothly and coherently throughout, minus the bridge. The bridge is brutal and repetitive, but adds a good hard touch to the song. The guitar isnt the best.
Nobody's Listening: Another step away from the album, but this time to a different side. The song opens up with a flute piece looping. The overall beat is a little strange, but it has great lyrics.
Session: A two minute "interlude" that is basically digital effects, and Joe Hahn scratching. Nice piano loop, and neat scratching from Joe.
Numb: a slower end to the album. Another song where Chester sings very melodically throughout, but gets a little rougher at the bridge. The piano incorporated into the song is awesome. The guitar is weaker in this song.
All together, this is a well produced second effort by the guys of Linkin Park. The powerful guitars, strong lyrics, and great singing all contribute, whereas the uniformity and non-stretch-the-limit style seem to take away. these should be some things to work on for the band's third album. If you loved Hybrid Theory and are looking to buy this album, i would recommend it. I would say it is worth it.
