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29 of 33 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Growth, familiar but new., May 15, 2007
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.
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8 of 10 people found the following review helpful:
3.0 out of 5 stars
WHAT HAPPENED TO MR HAHN?!?!?, May 16, 2007
[...]
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 ?!?!?!?!?
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8 of 11 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
A Re-Birth For A Truly Gifted Group, May 21, 2007
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.
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