Customer Reviews

Linkin Park/Minutes to Midnight

5 star:		(12)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

About the packaged kit later.

About the music:

This CD is what I would call the equivalent of an acoustic or live CD. Less distorions, less electronic sounds, more hard guitar, more real instruments or real instrument samples.

The band made over 100 starts of music for this CD, and chose these. Every song is well mastered. I respect an artists' choices of expression, and realize that people are not static-- they grow, change, learn, age and evolve. This is a perfect evolution. No jumping from monkeys to humans here, its easy to see how they got to this place. They said they intentionally tried to abandon everything that was "comfortable, easy and they'd done before". That's clear.

Its clear here that LP has done what they wanted to do, and not what they "thought they should do". Yet they prove that they can still be what they were (track 2, example), and chose not to be that. Bands typically take one of two routes-- replicating exactly what they've done to make more cash, or doing what they feel, to be a real artistic group. They are being real artists here.

I feel influences here that I haven't heard before-- Metallica, U2, Coldplay a bit, some NIN like beats in one spot, a small Blue October feel with some more calm introspective stuff that I haven't quite identified yet. It's all good. No bubble gum pop, no 80's hair band stuff. Some incredibly hard stuff, some very revealing stuff.

I found myself liking the stuff that was most atypical because its like getting to see the other side of someone you feel like you know well. Deeper, different, and thought provoking.

In this CD Chester is more able to do his thing. Shinoda is more able to do his thing as well. Shinoda isn't limited to his 5 second hip hop responses to Chester's chrous. That's refreshing that each gets full time to do his respective thing.

It was said that each member of the band contributed just as much as the others during the process of development of tracks, where previously it would be the Shinoda & Chester. It's clear that others had more input.

I'd almost say this CD could be considered a "Prequel". I think had the band had the full freedom to do what they wanted, their first CD may have sounded like this.

There is a marked uptick in the curse factor. I know how difficult it is to refrain from that, and with the first two instances I smiled and chuckled, becuase I had a great feeling of release for them. Be real and let it all out...

I have only had it one day, so I'm refraining from making an outright "AWESOME!". It definitely doesn't suck, I wouldn't even call it mediocre. It's good. I just don't know if I've had enough time to discover how good it is.

I don't like artists who sound exactly the same on every album. Those are the ones who get a single play, and get put away. I don't expect people to not evolve. Its like going back to your home town and expecting your old friends to be who they were "back then". "Back then" isn't anymore.

The packaging: Very _very_ nice book looking booklet with the DVD of PCM audio, interactive stuff for the PC including MP3's so you don't have to extract. Images, PDF of the album book internals. More.

I always buy every LP CD, because I respect them as a group. They do their own artwork, and I really appreciate that as well. I take it in as their conveying an artistic message. I listen, chew it up, think about it.

If you are one who listens to the words, you will definitely not be disappointed here. Lyrically, as good as ever.


[edit in, a couple days later]

I can't put the CD down. I am really liking it, a LOT. If I could change the 4 star to a 5, I would do so. I think a lot of people who have been reviewing the standard CD could really benefit from the video on the DVD about the making of the CD. It really makes it all make sense.

The only additional comment, is that I still really like the new totally different introspective slower tracks. I also really like stuff like track 2. I wish they would have released a dual disc set here-- one CD of hard hard stuff, a CD of the introspective slower quieter stuff. That way, instead of a roller coaster of emotions, you can "get it out" whether you're feeling the need to rock, or to chill.

I want more of those 100, soon. I feel like I want to encourage them to really push the fringes with the house beats on a couple tracks, the slow almost beatless tracks, and the industrial beat/80's Police style beats mixed 50/50. Great stuff.

This is truly an amazing album, not for the pretend fans though that bash it because they tried something different. This album is for fans that are open minded, and can appreciate all kinds of music, as long as it is quality. If you are close minded, you may want to stay clear of a purchase until you have heard it first.

With that said, this album takes three listens: one to get you over the initial shock of the change, another to get you deeper into the meaning of the music, and then the third to realize how much you love the new music.

Song breakdown:

Wake: cool intro, great way to start off. 5/5

Given Up: One of my favorites on the album. The best Chester has ever sounded vocally; great song! Has a punk feel to it, which is not a bad thing at all. 5/5

Leave Out All The Rest: Mellow song, but not bad. This sounds like another single; it is a soothing ballad with clean vocal talent and great musical accompaniment. The lyrics to the song are absolutely inspiring; well worth checking out. 5/5

Bleed It Out: another favorite; you can tell through the music and live performance especially how much LP loves this song (they smile the whole time). No one can argue against the rhythm and greatness the track offers. 5/5

Shadow Of The Day: takes a full listen to enjoy it (don't skip after ten seconds). Really cool string section and guitar work. Absolutely AMAZING song; reminiscent of U2's "With Or Without You," which is also an amazing song. At first, this song is shocking to an LP listener, because it is so different from the other material, but this song is one of the best ever to be recorded. 5/5

What I've Done: good song, but not the best on the album; took a few listens to get into it. Even though this sounds closest to their previous material, it is not my favorite track. Still, it's a great song. 4/5

Hands Held High: I love this song; if I could give more then 5 I would; it;s deep, powerful, and Mike's talent never ceases to amaze me. The band's choice of instruments and vocals are genius. Beware: politics! 5/5

No More Sorrow: Arguably the heaviest track here, and it's great. Really solid intro, heavy music and lyrics, fantastic vocal delivery. If you dislike political messages you may not like this track, because it is a Bush-basher, but politics has never made me like a song any less. 5/5

Valentine's Day: This song is kind of blah, not a personal favorite. It does grow on you though, and it does fit into the album's sound. Overall, the song is enjoyable. 4/5

In Between: cool song, but does border on being boring. Music is great, but I like a little drum beat in my music; this song lacks that. The song could be construed as emo-esque; Chester definitely wrote the lyrics from his heart. Toward the end it begins to redeem itself, and it ends up being a worth-while track. 4/5

In Pieces: another favorite for me. Really cool song, just listen all the way through. Ska guitar, guitar solo, and great vocal delivery. One of the best on the album. 5/5

The Little Things Give You Away: starts off slow with weird sound effects and acoustic guitar. Kinda of weak at first (hate to say that), but after a minute, the track turns for the better. The drums really stand out for me in this track, as well as the rest of the musical accompaniment. This song is really well done, and the end is chilling. The harmonizing by Chester and the band sounds great, as well as the music behind it. This has turned into my favorite song, as well as the best song ever done by them. It is incredible! 10/5

No Roads Left (itunes bonus track): really cool song. Mike is singing, and actually singing this time, really well, unlike in "In Between," where his voice is very down-played. The song should be on the regular release, but what are you gonna do? Cool violins, guitar work and great vocal range make this track worth the itunes download. 5/5

Overall, this is a five star album, with a wide range of music and talent. The band has never sounded better, and I look forward to what they make next, hopefully in less then three years. I hope you find this review helpful in determining whether or not you should buy this album. I will say this also; I was not a "die hard LP fan" before this album. I have always enjoyed their work, but I never considered them in my top five; this album has pushed me to the other side, and I can personally say they are now my favorite band, as of right now.

If you look at any of my previous reviews, they are not nearly as extensive, so that should tell you that this album is important to me. The music is deep, and well worth the money. Buy this album, and congratulate Linkin Park on their success for changing for the better by clicking "Yes" for the helpfulness of this review.

P.S. For all of you expecting Meteora pt.2 don't waste your time here bashing this record with your negativity. You are close minded, and are not open to new things that differ from the past. Hybrid Theory and Meteora were exceptional, but I would not be happy if Minutes To Midnight sounded like those; that genre has died slowly, and they know it. Don't bash this record because it's different; embrace the changes and see the beauty in the music.

Let me first start off by saying that when I first popped this CD into my computer I was scared. As a LP fan I looked up reviews (including on Amazon.com) and based on those reviews it wasn't looking too good. I started to think that maybe I wasted my $25. I heard that the sound of this album would be different from their previous ones and that people weren't receptive to it. Well, I must say that I love this album and it's quite possibly my favorite LP album by far. I can listen to the album without skipping a track, although some songs, in my opinion, are better than others. Leave Out All the Rest doesn't quite do it for me, but it's listenable. My favorite song,ironically, is more reminiscent of their older stuff: Bleed It Out. It's just a really feel good song.

Minutes to Midnight is definitely different than any of their other stuff and I think they did a pretty good job of doing something different while still keeping the essence of who they are. It doesn't surprise me the mixed reviews that the album's gotten. It's definitely an album you'll either love or hate. You'll either appreciate the new direction they've taken or wish that they did something similar to Hybrid Theory and Meteora. I would encourage people to try to check out the songs for yourself and not just rely on the opinions of other people. If you can listen to it for free (or want to take the chance and just buy it) you should do it and judge for yourself whether it's a good album or not.

Personally, I think the album is awesome. 4 stars!!!!

Linkin Park has gotten some new flowers for its gardens. The band seems to have gone into an expedition into what was popular for each of the past decades, with influences creeping in from 1969 to 1999. The band is now a chameleon that was once a larger, lumbering elephant of "nu-metal".

Widescreen and epic, "Wake" opens the album, bubbling with keyboards that make you think who snuck the Pink Floyd record onto the turntable. As the various band members join in with their respective instruments, Phoenix ( on bass ) is immediately noticable as being higher in the mix than on previous albums. "Given Up" is our first taste of the band's new sound, possibly the most raw and organic thing the band has ever recorded. Near the end of the song, they go all Undertow-era Tool on us, Brad Delson's guitar recalling past LP song "A.06."

"Leave Out All The Rest" is the album's first ballad; just a tad manufactured sounding, but still heartfelt. The strings will really pull at you. "Bleed It Out" blasts open as a case of Boston and the Rolling Stones meets Tool and Nine Inch Nails. These guys are archaelogists greedily mining 70's dinosaur rock perhaps more than anyone in this decade yet.

"Shadow of the Day" got me misty-eyed the first time I heard it. An orchestra plays, mixed with the most nostalgic, reverb-heavy, summer-of-1985 keyboards I could ever hope for. Of all the hundreds of U2 influences that have crept up the last few years, this one is the best I've ever heard. It's the new "With Or Without You." It closes with a dark keyboard section that recalls early 80's Tangerine Dream. This segues right into...

"What I've Done", the most "old Linkin Park" sounding song on Minutes To Midnight. A good choice as a single, as the lyric and video depict larger issues than past angst, while still retaining that younger, youthful -- dare I say it -- nu-metal sound from past records, which is really there to safely reel in the older fans that bought Hybrid Theory is junior high, but have now moved on to college. The "new Linkin Park" gets back into the game on "Hands Held High" with a slow, plaintive song featuring multiple harmonies and military drums, one of Mike Shinoda's only rapping songs on this record -- immediately recalling his work with side project Fort Minor. Haunting and a very personal lyric for the band. I see Shinoda's influence absolutely all over this song.

"No More Sorrow" is a biting, finger-pointing tale of the current administration's flaming quagmire of the Second Iraq War. Whereas "Numb" ( Meteora, 2003 ) had a pleading, lost child look at those in authority, this song is pure anger, going straight for the jugular. Reminds me of early 90's Megadeth. "Valentines Day" is a perfect, catchy ballad, although it's softness right after the previous track is a little jarring. "In Between" features Mike Shinoda's first solo singing vocal on a Linkin Park recording, with no rapping whatsoever. I'm not too sure about this track, but kudos to LP for taking another chance.

"In Pieces" is sort've a poppy techno song; Chester Bennington's influence is immediately made aware. By this point in the CD, the band has let loose with a cacophany of sounds and influences that are likely to be picked apart, scrutinized, and studied for years to come. The album's closer, "The Little Things Give You Away", opens with acoustic guitar ( yet another LP first ) coupled with the screetching bleeps and scratches of DJ Joe Hahn. The song builds and builds, guitarist Brad Delson slowly coaxing his guitar into the leagues of The Edge, David Gilmour, and Alex Lifeson. The song ends with multiple harmonies from the band as each instrument slowly fades out.

Minutes To Midnight clocks in at roughly 43+ minutes, about 9 minutes longer than both previous albums. Yet, I can't help but feel that the time flew by too fast. That's it? Three years of waiting, and my patience is tried with this crafty set of guys that know just what has the widest appeal to both hardcore headbanger metalheads, and the trendiest, only-listens-to-Top-40 teenybopper crowd. Like Styx, but with a lot more credibility and artistic talent.

This album nearly flows perfectly, with one song leading into another. This is despite the encyclopedic list of influences, which includes elements of straight-up hip-hop grooves, 70's punk rock, progressive rock, thrash, 80's pop, techno...The list goes on. I'm only giving this four stars because -- much like their forefathers Rush -- they've made some amazing early albums, but still have much more to give us. Linkin Park has been on an upward spiral since 2000, and I only see them getting better. To give Minutes To Midnight five stars would be a disservice to future albums in all likelihood.

This album is full of the 2000's...fear of End Times, global warming, George W. Bush, Halliburton and the rest of the cronies, the continuing war in Iraq, and media oversaturation. But it's also full of hope, redemption, new beginnings, and sunrises. People moving beyond their past traumas. "I want to heal/I want to feel/Like I'm close to something real", Chester Bennington sang on Meteora. Now that they've healed, the question is asked, "Where do we go from here?" Gone are the fratboy caps and frosted hair, replaced by beards and glasses, every pore of the band just oozing "buy my record" as they stand in the silhouetted, black and white photos that scream of Importance.

Don't resist, my friends. It's far less painless.

A-

Key tracks : Shadow of the Day, What I've Done, In Pieces

Note : The Special Edition of Minutes To Midnight includes an interactive DVD that features two documentaries, the "What I've Done" video, and various other extras, and is also packaged in a hardbound book with lyrics and artwork sprinkled throughout.

On May 4, 2007, "Minutes to Midnight", Linkin Park's fifth official album was leaked. Minutes To Midnight, revolving around the concept of the notorious doomsday clock, molds a new image to be branded onto the name 'Linkin Park'. Before this release, Linkin Park was known for their catchy drop d guitar chords, undeniably muscular choruses, and articulate raps dealing with the trials and tribulations of everyday life. Linkin Park's very first demo was released in 1997, before the band was even known as Linkin Park. Ten years have passed, and a new formula has been invented and finely executed.

Minutes To Midnight is the definition of what one may call an audible odyssey, taking the listener on a roller coaster of a ride, but somehow managing to stay on track and not lose focus of what the concept of the album is all about. Ten years has passed and through these years, Chester Bennington and Mike Shinoda's lyrical landscape has expanded to concepts listeners have never been exposed to. Several songs (No More Sorrow, The Little Things Give You Away, Hands Held High, and the first single 'What I've Done') encompass a political message. Unlike many rock bands today, Linkin Park decides to leave out their own agenda, and leaves one with a myriad of issues to think about and to make their own judgments.

Most noticeably different on this record is the fine addition of ballads and power ballads, a musical corridor Linkin Park has been hesitant to explore in the past. Luckily, Linkin Park does it quite well. Chester Bennington's transitional legacy as one of metal's most admired screamers and one of rock's finest singers is not omitted on this album. Rob Bourdon, already exposed as an extraordinary drummer, took his skills to the next level on this album. Also, with the assistance of Rick Ruben as producer, Dave Farrell aka Phoenix's bass lines are skillfully complex, loud, and clear, adding yet another new dimension to their tunes. The drop d guitar chords have all been put to rest, as beautiful guitar notes make their way onto virtually every track off of this album. And yes, they have in fact implemented guitar solos that transition beautifully into every song.

This will be Linkin Park's first album that has a Parental Advisory slapped on it. Although unnecessary, the Parental Advisory sticker is no indicator whatsoever of a curse-filled album. The F bomb gets dropped a few times on one track and a few other curses made their way onto two other tracks, but other than that, every track is clean as a whistle. Rumor had it that Mike Shinoda would no longer be providing a hip-hop insight on this album. While this is partially true, he sings, yes sings, on one track ("In Between") all by himself, he has a rap track all to himself delving into political issues using vocabulary and issues that many listeners will be left opening history books to. There is one song that instills the old Linkin Park formula ("Bleed It Out"), just as a reminder that they have not eradicated their roots.

All-in-all, this record will by far be Linkin Park's biggest adult audience-targeted album. The band has noticeably matured through their instrumentation, lyrical masterpieces, and thought-provoking sounds and images. A few months ago, asked about what he could say about the new sound on the new album, Linkin Park co-frontman Chester Bennington boldly stated, "The way we've been classified, and how people think they know us, that's all going to die." No lies were told when that statement was made. Without a doubt, when Minutes To Midnight is released on May 15, 2007, they will once again conquer the rock arena, raking in a new slew of fans, the more mature thinkers of today.

Linkin Park - Minutes To Midnight - 5 out of 5 stars.

[...]
Where to start? Who knows. Suffice to say, this is what we should have all expected. A flawlessly produced and perfectly executed `pinnacle album'. It's everything that they advertised it to be: Deeper lyrics, clearer sound, new style, less electronic, and more rock-hop than ever.

However, it's also more melodic, has less social anger and more insecure anger, and far less variety.

And worst of all, it was formulaic; not only in the music itself, but the lyrics as well. I'm no fan of the Bush Empire, but it's just so COMMON for entertainers to bash him that it almost detracts from the music. 4 songs on one album addressing the same issue is too much, and it's annoying. Mike could have taken the same song (Hand's Held High) and picked some more poignant, less exploited subject matter to flow on, and instead of being political and redundant, he could have been an eye-opener and a voice for the voiceless.

Well, regardless of my `feelings', this was still a good album, and worth purchasing, but I can only give it an honest 3.5 stars.

Since this album took so much longer to produce than the first two, you can't really compare them directly on the music itself, but I am obligated to compare the emotional connection that I feel with each of them, and `Minutes to Midnight' only gives me an E.C. of 3.5 (on a scale of one to five), where as `Hybrid Theory' and `Meteora' both give me a 5.

On a side note, I bought that RED album the home-skillet up top mentioned, and it was/is very good. If we could find a way to mash these two albums together, we'd all be in rock `n roll heaven.

So My additional musical recommendation is this:

Stage

Get it. If you don't like it, I'll pay for it.

By the way, WHAT HAPPENED TO MR. HAHN ?!?!?!?!?

I don't consider myself any kind of a music reviewer, but I like Linkin Park and I really like this album. It suffers from a few over-the-top politically-motivated tracks ("The Little Things Give You Away," "No More Sorrow") but it's still a fresh and enjoyable departure from the nu-metal gospel of their first two records. I loved the energy from the first track and this is still a regular in my rotation, although I am really starting to let their newest album "A Thousand Suns" grow on me.

What I've Done starts off with '' In this farewell there is no change, there is no allaby.'' Joe Hahn said in the dvd that its a song about where they basically are now. Forgetting past and moving on. Which is exactly what Linkin Park did. What I've Done was the last song they recorded in the studio and did. I personally don't get why people really bash this cd. I own every Linkin Park cd and I love their old style and new style. I personally wouldn't want another Hybrid Theory 3. Everyone complains that it goes straight to the ''f'' bomb. People says explict lyric what does that tell you?? When in anyone mind would think Linkin Park would use acoustics or a guitar solo. NEVER. Which is also what is really surprising on this record. In order for alot of bands to survive they need to change their sound. If you really think about it you wouldn't want them to sound the same on every cd. To me for some reason people need angry music and if it isn't and a band does something different then right away they think they sold out when maybe just maybe they just wanted to do something different. The dvd is great it explains everything about the cd and why they changed their sound. Of course with them in the studio. Eventhough the wrote up to I think almost 200 demos for this cd they said that they were mostly all crap. They have some moments in the cd and some that relate to their old style. Wake is an intro track that sounds epic with that old Linkin Park feel to it. Given up is a done right Linkin Park rocker but is all Chester lyrically in it. One thing different with this song is he does a 30 second scream on it. Leave Out All the Rest reminds of old LP. Almost sounds like Crawling. Phoenix is on guitar in this song and not bass. The rhythm section in this song is keyboard. Bleed it Out is a party like song with Mike rapping in it and the band says its a fun song to do live. Shadow Of The Day I would agree sounds alot like a U2 song but to me it is a beautiful song. What I've Done sounds alot like a typical LP song with a little bit of a guitar solo. Hands Held High is more of a political rap song all by Mike on this with a bit of Chester in the background vocals on the chorus. It also has oregon in it. No More Sorrow is another typical LP rocker. It has a really cool guitar opener and comes in with the drums. It has political like sound to it though and is basically about liers and hyporcrites with Chester screaming. Valentines Day is more of a love song and to me is about Chesters divorce. Its pretty light and but gets progressively heavier but its one of my least favorites on this cd. In Between is another light song its all mike singing on this one and is a pretty simple form. In the dvd Chester originally sang this song but he thought Mike sounded better on it. Personally also not a favorite but kudos for them doing something different. In Pieces sounds like another kind of love song but it has reggae guitars and is a bit progressive and its a song that grows on you. The Little Things Give you Away is about hurricane Katrina and has banjo and acoustic guitars in it with electric too. It has a over a 2 minute guitar solo. Rob Bourdon made a drum demo that they named drum song. The band visited New Orleans and wrote the vocals from that. The only thing I really missed on this cd was Mikes rapping and Joe Hahns scratching were all limited. How they decided the songs on this recorded were by seeds and basically each one came in with music and presented it. It was then determined if it was to survive the process since they voted on the songs. Linkin Park is currently in the studio now it seems like they will have a new cd out in 2010. The band from what I understand and I don't know if its fully true is working on a concept record with a storyline. Cant wait to see what they try new on their next cd!! Hopefully I will get their new cd the day it comes out like I did with all their others.

this is a awsome product once again you get hilarious comentary from linkin park, get to see their beautiful house for recording this cd how they put together the cd. If you have the cd then I probably wouldn't buy this for the comentary. If you dont have the cd buy this .....right now!!!

i love this DVD/CD. i got it autographed at SURU in Los Angeles. i love Linkin Park, and unlike some other people that say they are true fans, i like the risks they are taking and the new sounds that they are creating. ;)