Linkin Park - Meteora
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Music Reviews of Meteora
Music Review: Classic Rock, Part 2!
Rating: 3 Stars
After my nice listening experiences with Linkin Park's first album, I decided to buy this album, upon listening to the first single "Somewhere I Belong", and it seems like they have changed their style a little bit, since the year of 2000 when they're first album "Hybrid Theory" first came out. This CD is a little different, but it is still unique. "Somewhere I Belong" is definately one of the main standout tracks on this album, eventhough it sounds a little lighter compared to all the material on their first release. The song, however, is a very nicely done track, and one of their best songs yet. Other nice songs are "Hit The Floor", a very [heavy metal-type] of song, and one of my favorites on the album, "Easier To Run", which is another Linkin Park track I could relate to. This song is a little more laid-back, which is a big step up for their originality. It's not your usual Linkin Park track, but it's a very nice one, and it's definately a highlight of the CD. The second single, "Faint", is also a nice breath of fresh air, as it resembles a few of the old Linkin Park tracks. I definately consider this track to be "Classic Linkin Park", and it's a nice standout. My favorite track on this one, however, would have to be track #9, "Breaking The Habit".. a very mellow, and cool track, that sees Chester as the main vocalist, and he pulls it off well, with an amazing track. This would do an amazing job, if this were to be released as a single and video. My second favorite on the album would have to be track #10, "From The Inside", which yet again, is not your usual Linkin Park track. It has a very original beat, with nice little raps from Mike, all through-out the song, and Chester is showing off his vocal cors, very nicely, unlike their first CD, Hybrid Theory, which had Chester really pouring his heart out into each and every track.. a very rare gem on this album. This one is a very deep track as well. The next track, "Nobody's Listening", is a very rare-sounding song to come across, no matter what genre you're speaking about. This one is also yet another deep song. And what better way to follow things up, than another DJ track? Their first CD had an amazing one.. and this time around, Meteora contains an even better one, entitled "Session". It also has a very pop-like sound to it, with mixings of piano through-out. The beat on this one is a little more rock-based than the DJ track on "Hybrid Theory", which is why it makes for an amazing highlight. The other tracks I did not mention just weren't up to par, for me, or just wasn't a standout track, and when it comes to that, "Hybrid Theory" was a little better than this one, as it shined ALMOST all the way through, whereas you have to skip around a little bit with this one.Eventhough this album doesn't live up to the hype of their first release, it's still a decent buy. Like I said, I prefer their "Hybrid Theory" album over this one, but this is another gem as well. If you are a fan of rock music, or Linkin Park, in general, be sure to buy this one and complete your collection with another nice album.
Music Review: Burnt out singer.
Rating: 2 Stars
I suppose that some Linkin Park fans would still say this is better than hybrid theory and that this is a great album even if it was just 60 minutes of toliet flushing. However, I was very disapointed. I LOVED hybrid theory and have listened to it all the way through THOUSANDS of times, literally (I have a long commute everyday and can listen to it all the way through 3 times sometimes in one day). I didn't buy hybrid theory when it first came out because the only song I had heard then was One Step Closer and was worried it was the only good song. But enough people said that One Step Closer was only the tip of the iceberg so I bought it. And boy was I impressed.
In an interview they said that they didn't want songs where you could "pick out the rap part" and then "Here's the rock part". And I think they did a very good job balancing this on hybrid theory.
Then came Meteora. To sum it all up, it's not very good. The singer sounds like he has lost his voice. Only ONE song, IMHO, has actual "singing vocals" in it. The rest of the time he's yelling out lyrics on the same 3 or 4 notes. Not very good at all. You know when they yell "SHUTUP, SHUTUP..." in One Step Closer, well, that's about how I'd describe his "singing" now. Just one continuous yell.
Then the rapping. How many songs can you rap in using similar tempo and rhythm? I don't know cause I don't remember how many songs are on Meteora, but I'd say they try to do that on 6 or 7 of them.
Would it kill them to have a guitar solo? Can they only play power cords over and over again? I mean, a riff or a fill here or there would kill them? They did it on hybrid theory just fine. The guitarist, in the interview on the bonus dvd said he wanted to try something different. Well he did. He didn't play anything difficult or complicated.
So is it any good? Of course. It's ok. But not one song will really knock your socks off. The first song is probably the best, and maybe that's cause it's pretty much "one step closer" with the same rhythm but notes played in a slightly different order. Somewhere I belong is probably the worst song on the album IMHO. Easier to Run is probably one of the better songs. Faint, the other radio release is one of the better songs also, but a prime example of the yelling that is supposed to pass as vocals.
First albums from new artists are usually pretty good, cause they've had years and years to decide what their best songs are. That's why second tries usually [stinks]. It's obvious that "mike" (the rapper) wrote all the songs, or maybe he wrote just one long song and they broke it up.
Don't get me wrong here. I'm not a reviewer who says linkin park [stinks], always has, always will. I really liked hybrid theory. And was really looking forward to Meteora. But screw this. One of them jokes on the DVD that "they had joked about doing the same exact thing they did on hybrid theory". They should have. That actually would have been less of a disapointment.
The should listen to themselves. "Forfeit the game, before somebody else takes you out of the frame and puts your name to shame. Cover up your face, you can't win the race, the pace is too fast you just won't last" BOOM!
Music Review: Don't try to explain what you don't understand
Rating: 4 Stars
Man, I hate it when people make ignorant comments in a futile attempt to explain something they can't grasp. To wit: all those reviewers who say we only listen to this because it's "angry and popular." I can't stand most of what's on the radio nowadays. But I don't need to explain myself to those morons. I like what I like.
After coming out with a great debut album, bands invariably tend to disappoint with their second effort. I still don't consider this as good as Hybrid Theory, but it's a much more solid effort than I had originally percieved it to be. I think what I like the most is the fact that, though rap and screaming vocals are probably the easiest singing styles to have descend into tuneless, uninspired quick fixes, this never happens here. They're always kept in check with the rest of the song, and actually enhance, rather than detract from, the experience. In my opinion, the vocals are what makes Linkin Park stand out from the rest.
1. Foreword (1/5) - The principle of a Foreword/Introduction track is always troublesome to me. It seems like the band is trying to trick us into thinking we're getting more tracks for our money than we actually are. Pretty much a pointless track that could have been combined with the following song or eliminated altogether with no regrets.
2. Don't Stay (4/5) - I like the way their voices overlap here. It creates a nifty effect.
3. Somewhere I Belong (3.5/5) - Their first hit off the album, and not a bad choice, but neither is it great.
4. Lying from You (4/5) - Another energetic track.
5. Hit the Floor (4/5) - Much more aggressive than previous songs; borderline metal.
6. Easier to Run (4.5/5) - Chester displays a really nice voice here. A very different tone from the others--a little more sad, virtually no aggression.
7. Faint (4.5/5) - Very cool track. I love the instrument at the beginning. Also pretty aggressive.
8. Figure.09 (4/5) - Kind of a stupid name, really. But the song is better.
9. Breaking the Habit (4/5) - More in the vein of Easier, with few traces of anger.
10. From the Inside (4.5/5) - Sounds much like the others, but somehow is just a little better.
11. Nobody's Listening (3.5/5) - Needless to say, a little "different" than the rest, but not bad for what sounds pretty experimental.
12. Session (4.5/5) - Hated this the first time I heard it, but now I stand at the opposite end of the spectrum. Sounds like the soundtrack for a shockwave introduction to some business website or something.
13. Numb (5/5) - GREAT song. Hits me with the same emotional power as Crawling used to, and thankfully it hasn't been overplayed on the radio as the latter song was.
The band's sound has changed slightly from Hybrid Theory to Meteora, and this one seems a little more "pop" or something, but as you can see I enjoyed it for the most part. Their insistence on "bridging" all the tracks together irritates me for some unknown reason, but that's really a minor thing. This definitely deserves to be listened to, but give yourself a few tries to get used to it before you decide you love it or hate it.
Music Review: Yes, it is their second CD of perfection, and more will come
Rating: 5 Stars
Dear Reader,This is the greatest CD ever. To be the most helpful, I will enlighten you on the pros and cons of each track and lyric sample. Thanks for your time
1. Foreward-, PRO: pretty cool, reminds me of spray paint for some reason, blends very nicely to the next song.
Con- No lyrics
2. Don't stay-
PRO: great song, especially if someone is really annoying you (cough(parent)cough)ahem
Sample lyrics: Don't stay, forget our memories, forget our possibilities, what you were changing me into [just give me myself back and] don't stay
CON- can't really think of
any, except that Mike Shinoda isn't in it. but Chester has a rich voice anyway. Moving on.
3. Somewhere I belong
PRO- Well, I don't know about you, but I love how chester and mike (in case ya didn't know mike is the rapper and chester is the nonrapper) switch every other line. Very nice effect indeed. Probably the most positive song they've ever made. It actually leads to some answers.
Sample lyrics: I want to heal I want to feel /What I thought was never real I want to let go of the pain I've held so long [Erase all the pain 'til it's gone] I want to heal/ I want to feel/ Like I'm close to something real /I want to find something i've wanted all along /Somewhere I belong
Cons: Get's kinda overplayed on the radio. Still a great song
4. Lying from You
PRO- very well flowing song (hope that made sense) too me, it's about an authority figure trying to control you and you deciding if you should conform.
Lyric Sample-no / no turning back now]/i wanna be pushed aside /so let me go/[no / no turning back now]/let me take back my life /i'd rather be all alone/[no turning back now]/anywhere on my own/cause i can see/[no / no turning back now]/the very worst part of you /is me
CON- get's kind of repitive, needs more Mike Shinoda
5. Hit the floor
PRO- amazing song, about someone who lies and deceieves but is in the position of authority. Mike sounds even greater than usual (is that even possible) Oh yea, I love the chorus and how Chester yells a line, and then Mike raps a line. Good work. Great rhyming in the chorus/
Sample lyrics: one minute you're on top/the next you're not/watch it drop/making your heart stop/just before you hit the floor/one minute you're on top/the next you're not /missed your shot/making your heart stop/you think you won
CON: a bit harsh, and unless your ears are finely attuned to Chester's great voice, you might find it hard to know what he's saying in the lyrics.
6. Easier to run
Pro: 3 words, great job chester. Actually, let's elaborate on that, while Mike begins his rap (if i could change i would
take back the pain i would/retrace every wrong move that i made i would /if i could/stand up and take the blame i would//if i could take all the shame to the grave i would), Chesters non screaming voice is greatly played while MIke is rapping. sorry, it's hard to explain, listen to the sample, ya'll know what I mean.
Sample lyric: look above, genius
Con: NONE
Sorry guys, I have to go know, but get the CD, I'll review the rest later, i'm tired. Hope I helped
Music Review: Fabulous
Rating: 5 Stars
What a great album! I really don't see why Linkin Park gets so much criticism because as far as I see it, they are one of the most creative and innovative bands out there. (If anyone thinks otherwise, please pick up the awesome Reanimation, blows that theory out the water) A quick breakdown of Meteora:
1.Foreword - not much to say except it leads very nicely and intricately into the next song. Very much Linkin Park's style.
2.Don't Stay - while being a great, hard song to thump along to, what struck me most about this song is Mr Hahn's brilliant work at the turntables running as an undercurrent to the rest of the music. Great stuff.
3.Somewhere I Belong - for the opening strands alone, this song deserves kudos. It's a really good song and showcases what Linkin Park does best; innovation but with a sense of familiarity.
4.Lying from You - a terrific song with special mention going to Brad on the guitars and Chester for singing so damn hard. The flow between Mike and Chester on vocals is also worthy of a mention, these two work fantastically well together.
5.Hit the Floor - probably the hardest song on the album, its all unforgiving beats and vocals. I quite like the bitter and vindicitve lyrics too.
6.Easier to Run - if this becomes a single, it'll be an instant smash. Chester shows the softer, harmonic side to his amazing voice here and blends superbly with Mike. It calms the album down a bit, after the heavy Lying from You and the ferocious Hit the Floor, this song has just the right tempo to soothe you at just the right time.
7.Faint - the fastest song on the album, this is pure fun Linkin Park style. It's catchy and very quick, no time-wasting with this song.
8.Figure.09 - this took awhile to grow on me and is probably my least favourite on the album. Having said that, it's got an a fantastic brigde that takes me back to the edginess of Hybrid Theory.
9.Breaking the Habit - quite possibly the best song on the album. This is Linkin Park as you've never heard them, no hard rocking, no quick-fire rapping, just great strings and Chester singing better than ever. This song shows just how diverse Linkin Park can be, these guys can go in any direction and still make music that sounds great.
10.From the Inside- definitely one of my favourites, this song belongs to Chester and Mike, who once again show why they're such a formidable vocal combination. The song rises and falls numerous times, combining soft verses with a harsh chorus and the result is an epic, rich and mature song.
11.Session - Linkin Park can make even instrumentals sound good. Cure for the Itch was good and this is even better.
12.Numb - a great way to round off the album, it's catchy, it's easy on the ears and all the musical elements blend excellently together.
I suppose I can't find a bad thing to say about the album. Meteroa isn't Linkin Park being radically different and producing a whole new sound and why should it be? It is only their second album and they've chosen to hone, develop and mature their sound, the results which are the fabulous songs of Meteora. And I'm loving every minute of it. Bring on the third album!