Linkin Park Album: “Minutes To Midnight (Mvi) [Edited]”

Linkin Park returned with this lighter touched album that has gotten people wondering "Where has the old Linkin Park gone?" Though at times that Linkin Park is missed deeply after their two outstanding cds "Hybrid Theory" and "Meteroa"...they are far from being completely lost. Chester, Mike, and the boys hit into a different aspect of the bad...one where their producer wanted them to go. They headed into this album knowing one thing "Throw your old ways of doing an album...and try to create something new...fresh...and lively." And after 100 demos for the new album...in lies "Minutes to Midnight."

Mike-less songs, Chester-less songs, and a few slow beats make a lot of fans turning in the other direction. But before you blow this album off completely...take a second, sit down, and listen to the songs deeply as they flow. Has Linkin Park completely lost their touch? Gracious no. With the like of Bleed It Out...Linkin Park can still impress with the Mike & Chester duo. Mike took a less lead part in this album, even with his two solo songs "Hands Held High" and "In Between". Mike is still not lost in the songs, as he supports a softer background mode as he still takes part vocally in the background. This album let the two express themselves better as musicians and showing how creative they can be.

The band still knows how to rock, with a tremendous live tour in 2007...one spot being Atlanta which myself attended...and was blown away. Minutes To Midnight album took a lot of the setlist, but was performed amazingly and improved my liking of the album even more. There will still be haters, dis-likers, and every other kinda if negative critic to this album...just like any other album...but try and do whatever you can to listen to this album. Buy it, borrow it, or do those other things *wink* that will allow you to listen to this CD. Though the "every song hard rock" sound has left a little bit...this CD still shows that they are tremendous musicians.

GRADING SCALE:

Excellent (5 Stars) = 8 - 10

Good (4 Stars) = 6 - 7

Decent (3 Stars) = 4 - 5

Eh... (2 Stars) = 2 - 3

What Did I Just Listen Too? (1 Star) = 0 - 1

SONG REVIEWS

TRACK 1. WAKE

Serves its purpose as the intro to this CD. It tends to pump you up and prepare you for this CD...especially to those listening to it for the first time. When performed live...the crowd certainly was pumped up.

RATING: 10/10

TRACK 2. GIVEN UP

Mike-less song...but Chester performs very well in this solo song. The feeling you get while listening to this track just makes a great start to the album. Chester's long scream at the end will surely give some the chills. Expect this to be a single very soon.

RATING: 10/10

TRACK 3: LEAVE OUT ALL THE REST

The first song to turn the heads of some people. Again, Mike-less. It is indeed a slow paced song, but the lyrical ability Linkin Park has makes up for all the slow paced songs on this album. The songs is performed smoothly, but knocks you off pace from the high energy start to the album.

RATING: 7/10

TRACK 4: BLEED IT OUT

Enter Mike Shinoda...and exit an awesome song. Mike shows his rapping ability, especially after his Fort Minor album...but Chester saves the rockers with his powerful vocals mixing this into a well executed Hip-Hop/Rock song, without over-endulging you with the rap. It has been blaring the air waves, and doing great at it.

RATING: 10/10

TRACK 5: SHADOW OF THE DAY

Exit Mike again, and enter another Chester solo...with the slow paced rhythm. Already released as a single, Shadow Of The Day carries a good lyrical based song that is showing the good out of the slow paced LP in this song. Chester does a very good job all the way through, and even though it is indeed a slow paced song, Linkin Park does very good.

RATING: 8/10

TRACK 6: WHAT I'VE DONE

It has come and gone from the airwaves, while making some think when they first heard it that Mike was gone from the band. He is indeed not gone, just one of many songs he is not strongly featured in. But was a great single when released, and continues to be a great single. Wiping away your past, and starting a-new...and forgiving what you've done. Great song, great opening single.

RATING: 10/10

TRACK 7: HANDS HELD HIGH

Enter Mike, exit Chester. Mike returns to the cd after 2 consecutive songs no playing a vocal spot. This song is all him, and done with a non-rock...slow hip-hop style. The War song meaning behind it makes this song a nice little tune for those Anti-Bush people. I just think the "Amen" parts get a little annoying.

RATING: 7/10

TRACK 8: NO MORE SORROW

Hard rock song led by Chester, and the performance is very solid. This song grows on you more, and it should be a top pick for the next single if it occurs.

RATING: 9/10

TRACK 9: VALENTINE'S DAY

Out of 100+ demos made for this album, I can't find myself seeing how Valentine's Day was chosen. It's a slow-paced Chester only song that I've yet to grow attached to. It's more like a skipping track than anything. It's a decent song, but just not a good choice. This CD could have done with out it.

RATING: 4/10

TRACK 10: IN BETWEEN

Mike knocks out another solo shot but this one much slower than Hands Held High. This non-rap ballad is a decent track, and serves its purpose as a near album ending song...but just nothing you may find yourself listening too over and over again.

RATING: 6/10

TRACK 11: IN PIECES

The second to last song of this CD "In Pieces" is a very good slow paced song. Chester sounds great and the lyrics are rather nice. One of the better slow paced songs on this album. This album would have been much better if two songs like this would have replaced "Valentine's Day" and "In Between."

RATING: 8/10

TRACK 12: LITTLE THINGS GIVE YOU AWAY <---VOTED BEST TRACK ON CD

Being about the tragedy of Hurricane Katrina, if you have not heard this song...DO. Great song and a tremendous performance live. Should be higher on this CD, but the meanings and lyrics behind this song is what is slower paced song is all about. Who cares if it isn't heavy, this song is an amazing performance by the LP boys. Breaking over 6-7 minutes, you will be loving every minute of it. If not, remove the wax from your ears and listen again...be amazed.

RATING: 10/10

FINAL RATING: 99/120 = 8.25 ("Excellent"/5 Stars)

OUTCOME:

I think the rating for this album fits nicely, with two songs lowering that rating, I think it is just a mere step above just being "Good" and finding a soft spot in the Excellent category. To those in love with the lyrical aspect of music...will love this cd. Those who are expecting Hybrid Theory or Meteroa...this album is not for you. It hits a slow pace, but comes out very good and worth several listenings or even non-stop listening.

Just got my copy on iTunes and I'm disappointed for the most part.

I loved every second of Hybrid Theory and Meteora. I loved the heavy guitar riffs, the mix of rap + rock. This album lacks the heavyness that characterized its predecessors. Most of the tracks are soft. Gone is the Points of Authority style headbanging except maybe that guitar solo part of What I've Done. I'm not even talking the peaceful serenity of the Easier to Run or In the End intro segments. This is way softer than all that. If you remember jumping up and down to the LP songs of the old days, use these to put you to sleep at night.

What I've Done is probably the only track in the album that still sounds like the old LP. It's got that old feel that distinguished LP from any other rock band. Some other tracks show promise and hints of the old style that endeared LP to the masses of us that rushed to get Meteora, like the intro track (Wake), Bleed it Out, No More Sorrow. In Pieces is an OK track in light of the band's past work. Valentines Day has a decent heavier part near the end but is still quite light and soft overall. But if they did write 50 songs for this album, I wonder how the other 40 or so were like.

I'm still a big fan of LP and will continue to be, but I must admit that their intent to sound different did not produce good results. I hope with the next release they can go back to the old days. I feel kinda bad saying this, but unless you liked "What I've Done", you probably should wait for the next release.

Interpret my 3 star any way you like. The only reason it's a 3 star to me is I can't decide how low to go. Also, I figure that like one or two tracks I deemed unworthy on the predecessors, some of these tracks seem like they could just as well grow on me.

For the meantime, check out

by RED if you haven't already. The blend of the entire band creates a similar style to LP as we know it without the rapping.

It really is too bad that a lot of people here are slamming this album as being mediocre or worse. I personally think that a lot of that is a failur to open one's mind. I think that if any band is going to be around for a long time, they cannot just keep putting out the same stuff over and over again. It may please the hardcore fan who wants just more of the same, but it shows no growth on the part of the band making the music.

I admit that the first time I listened to this album I had notions of the first two albums in my head and it was more concentration on listening and comparing. However, from the 2nd time through and on I have enjoyed this album more than I thought I would. Tracks 2-7 are downright awesome and if MTV were still relevant at all the video for "what I've done" would be up there with "right here, right now" and "one" as being more than just a video. The rest of the tracks on the album are not as good as 2-7 but still very good.

I think that what people need to do is imagine these songs blended in with the ones from the last two albums in a live show and they will blend just fine. It will not be like when Guns n Roses pulled out the sofas and mood lighting and played unplugged for 30 minutes as an obvious digression from the rest of the show. I cant wait until they come around here for a live show and I will happily be listening to this album and their others

After reading the reviews here over several weeks, I finally bought this CD today.

While I was not expecting much, what with all the negative reviews (I used to trust true music fans to have a pretty good opinion of a long-standing band such as LP), I was not disappointed with it.

I'm not here to bust anyone's chops but some of you don't seem to know how to appreciate music for what it can do.

Minutes to Midnight does not appear to be an attempt to recreate the sounds of Hybrid Theory or Meteora, but then, Meteora did not seem to try to recreate the sounds of Hybrid Theory.

It's sad for me to think that people would want a band's sound to never change. I hear it all too often when I turn on the radio and a guitar riff or drum beat can tell me who the artist is before I even hear a lyric. It's sickening.

Give Linkin Park the props they deserve for delivering something new; something thought provoking, emotional and sincere. This CD has many elements that can be appreciated in and of themselves, not just as a compliation of LP's new work.

Tracks like Leave Out All The Rest, Hands Held High, and The Little Things Give You Away really touched a sensitive spot in my soul for my own personal reasons.

So, no... Minutes may not be another Hybrid Theory or Meteora, but it can stand on its own just like the first two.

Maybe try reading the meaning behind the words and feeling it through the music instead of taking everything at face value.

For starters, I'm not Gen-X or Gen-Y, I'm a few years from fifty and a huge Linkin Park fan. I do not have enough praise for Hybrid Theory and Meteora [and Reanimation]. But I have to [reluctantly] say that my reaction on first listen was torn between:

1) Stunned: I listed to the first 4-5 cuts and just couldn't stand it anymore and started cueing each song for 10-30 seconds before cueing the next cut

2) Profound Disappointment: What happened? This is not growing, this is forgetting who you are and from where you came, not to mention how you got there.

I read the booklet while I listened to the few cuts I did and the short samples I could tolerate afterwards. I enjoy reading their notes on their songs and moods and thoughts while recording, writing and mixing. A pattern was developing - many notes contained: "Rick felt we should do this..." or "Rick said we should try that..." or "Rick told us that...". Three words guys - BLAH BLAH BLAH. I finally thought to myself, if Rick Ruben told each of you [or collectively] to jump off a bridge, would you do it?

Being a musician/composer and producer myself, I realize Rick Ruben is a well known, well respected, talented and award-winning producer. With that said, perhaps Mr. Ruben should stick with the Chili Peppers, Johnny Cash and the Beasties and stay away from Linkin Park. Not everything he touches turns to gold and this is both a reminder and visceral proof.

If this new direction is his idea, he has done the band a real disservice. You will not have to read many reviews here to find out that they decided to take a detour in their usual sound and style. Now whether this is due to the perception that rap/nu-metal has seen its heyday, or Mr. Ruben's suggestions, or Warner Brothers legendary A&R paranoia or other demographics I couldn't say. What I do know is that Linkin Park had a unique sound between their hypnotic mix of power metal, Shinoda's rapping & turntable scratching, Bennington's seemingly limitless vocal power and truly amazing and flawless production. They were ALREADY unique and beloved and really had no need to change their sound or follow a different direction, at least not for a while. It IS possible to stay within a niche while still growing and expanding.

One of the few songs that Shinoda does rap on is backed with pipe organ and marching snare drums [PIPE ORGAN AND MARCHING DRUMS? GROAN!] I heard maybe 2 songs plus the intro that were tolerable and reminiscent of the LP sound but the rest were horrible, intolerable or at the very best, not what I was hoping for from their new release.

Again, let me reiterate that I'm not slamming Mr. Ruben - I certainly recognize his long string of successes. Perhaps, Mr. Ruben can dig up Johnny Cash and get into the posthumous album release craze. I'm not slamming the guys either - perhaps you all can give Don Gilmore a call, apologize like you never have before, beg his forgiveness and hire him back as co-producer.

Guys: More scratching, more rap, more of Chester's euphoric wailing, more chunky beats, more slamming bass and more crunchy metal.

DO WHAT YOU DO BEST - IT HAS BROUGHT YOU TO WHERE YOU ARE!

It's always nice to aspire to be more, to reach out, to grow. But it's also a crime to lose track of who you are and from where you came, which strikes me as the case with this album.

I sincerely doubt this CD will ever take another spin on any player of mine. I did relent and took it in the car with me a few days after my first disappointing listen, but I could not tolerate much there either and switched it off about 4-5 songs into it.

But I'll give you one more shot guys - I'll buy your next album, without hearing a thing, probably on pre-order once again. But if it's like this one, Ciao-Baby - we officially part paths at that time and I'll just treasure Hybrid Theory, Meteora and Reanimation for the works of art that they are and wish you all the best.

Nuff said-

Respectfully submitted-