Minutes To Midnight

I'm a massive LP fan, and I mean massive.

Hybrid Theory was an instant classic, silencing the many critics who said that they just wouldn't make it. So many great songs. Reanimation was a great album also.

Meteora contained many similar songs to Hybrid Theory, keeping Linkin Park in the same genre. Yes, there were some different songs such as Don't Stay, Session etc. that didn't correspond to Hybrid Theory, but they were still showing the image of Linkin Park.

Now...Minutes To Midnight...

Such a disappointment I'm afraid. I thought, on release "What I've Done" would be a one off song, but no. The whole album is now full of pathetic Indie style songs, looking as if, by also looking at the album cover, they were Take That. It's such a shame to see Linkin Park turn into this as their 3 other albums were classics and creating their own, special genre in the process. Now, they've just followed everyone else, bringing us songs with some pointless sound effects and most importantly, the loss of Chester's amazing loud voice, which was what made Linkin Park what it was.

Farewell...

As a huge Linkin Park fan, I had high expectations for this album, which Minutes to Midnight has lived up too. Linkin Park have took a chance with this album, something I deeply respect and believe it has paid off for them. The album is more mature musically and lyrically than their past efforts as it deals with political and social issues skilfully and subtlely.

The album is a real mix of songs, heavier tracks such as Given Up and the heaviest they've ever written No More Sorrow, energise the album with fierce brutality. Whilst softer songs such as Leave Out All The Rest and Valentine's Day complements them yet still hold power over the listener. The album begins with the instrumental track Wake, which allows Linkin Park to show the listener that they have broken the sound with a more organic and developed approach than they have used before, which is apparent in all tracks until the album is beautifully concluded with The Little Things Give you Away, possibly the bands finest moment.

The melodies album is sincere and beautifully crafted, and has been a breath of fresh air amongst all other recent releases which often lack proper melodies, they really have took the time to make this album special and have used as many tools they can from oboes, violas and pianos to blazing guitars and samples to add layers and complexity to the music, without it being over the top. A perfect example is the beautiful but not flashy guitar solos present on In Pieces and The Little Things Give You Away, that have been absent on past releases from the band. The music is then perfectly graced with Chester Bennington's vocals, which vary from beautiful melodic singing to vicious snarling and screaming. Listeners who are familiar with their past releases will notice the lack of input from Mike Shinoda who takes lead vocals for only 3 tracks: Bleed It Out, Hands Held High, and In Between, which the band have been criticised for but on the other hand some listeners may prefer. But the music defiantly has his imprint on, he also provides Bennington with back up vocals on many of the tracks.

If you are going to buy the album, I strongly advise you to buy the special edition that is also available, the beautiful package it comes with and the making of DVD completes the album experience.

Minutes to Midnight is a huge achievement for the band, and I congratulate them for it.

Flip Flop

When a band releases a new album..you should only be ashamed of it if it sounds Exactly like the old one! everyone changes and adapts to life, you can't expect people to produce the same music all their lives..they'll end up like Guns and Roses...Be happy LP have changed, it shows they're real people who have opinions on the way the world has gone to pot, and how they're aware of the fact that they are aging, and the world is slowly dieing with them..it's a weird idea..but i guess it's the truth..Man..thats deep..and i'm only young..Be Happy!

I found listening to this album very hard indeed. I have been waiting for this album, as have many others i'm sure, for a very very long time - but I have to say that i am utterly disappointed. Having read that Linkin Park had over 100 songs to choose from in making this album, one would have thought that the quality of the final 12 would have been mindblowing. But no. Every single track, in my ears, sounds uninspiring and lacking all forms of energy and innovation - it's all gone terribly mainstream, and it's quite sad to be honest. Sure, there are a couple of half decent attempts, but nothing worth comparing with their previous albums. Maybe this album just needs to grow on me, and then again, maybe not. I'm not really sure. But I do know this - it's not the Linkin Park i've been waiting 4 years for.

Have been a fan of LP since before Hybrid Theory and followed them through till now.

There are very mixed reviews of this album. I understand why people are giving it 1 or 2 stars, but that is because LP's sound has changed, not because the album is not any good. Not everyone likes change.

1. It's not Hybrid Theory.
2. Some fans will not like this AT ALL!
3. They won't like LP's new style and so rate it a poor album.

Well, I love Hybrid Theory, BUT I welcome the new LP. The new tracks are mature and certainly growers. There is still evidence of the heavier LP on the album in tracks like Given Up, but the later half of the album is softer. At first you think ''hmm not sure about this'' BUT play 2 or 3 times and 2/3rds of the album is very good.

Linkin Park could have churned out the same old, but I think it is right they have grown and changed. It shows maturity and being prepared to take the risk of critiscm. Well it was inevitable not everyone would like this, but imo they have pulled it off with a deep, catchy album.

A balanced review. It's not stellar.