I wanna start this by saying I spent a LONG time listening to this album. I went through alot of different emotions while doing so. I am not reviewing this album in the mindset of a Linkin Park fanboy. You may think otherwise but I am not. I am being completely honest about my feelings of this album. To be honest I was very taken back the first time I heard it and wasn't sure if I liked it. So please again this is a completely honest review.
Thank you
Since their debut album "Hybrid Theory" in 2000 Linkin Park have been on the forefront of blending different types of music into a popular and marketable genre bending sound. What does it take for a band that was brought up during the "Nu Metal" to stay relevant? A simple answer to be honest. Release "A Thousand Suns", is the answer. I sound crazy? Linkin Park have been whiney, emo, power chord ridden rubbish? I say Nay to you my friend and ask you to continue reading.
Now before I go into a song by song breakdown of the album I wanna do a little history lesson on how "A Thousand Suns" came to be.
The touring cycle of "Minutes to Midnight" has ended and it's time for LP to jump back into the studio and create another hit for Warner Bros. Records. In early interviews with co-frontman Chester Bennington, he stated Linkin Park where going to take the reigns of the all elusive concept record. Bands like Pink Floyd and Green Day had what it takes to pull such a heavy task off. Did Linkin Park? Mike Shinoda's answer in short...no. The idea was canned (but was it really?). Linkin Park spent about 2 and a half years in the studio working with famed producer Rick Rubin (Minutes to Midnight) again. During that time they used alot of their new writing styles they learned while making Minutes and brought in even more. Their conventional style of writing was thrown out the window and the band retooled themselves completely. Needless to say stress levels where through the roof which helped create some very interesting music and moments (which can be seen on the documentary "Meeting of A Thousand Suns").
The band knew they if they needed to survive a cut throat, backstabbing, short attention spanned ridden era of music they need to take a risk and try something unheard of in this day in age of music. They needed to reinvent their band from every aspect. The band have asked people to do something odd nowadays, and actually listen to album as an ALBUM. Sounds weird and almost a no brainer right?
Actually in this era listening to an album as whole is very strange, with things like iTunes and Zune Marketplace, singles are what drive sales. Albums as a whole are on the down and down as far as sales go compared to the single songs themselves. For example Lady Gaga's "Pokerface" has sold more on its own then the album its born from. Now that seems to make sense I mean the song is .99$ while the album is 9.99$, in this economy the single outselling the album makes more sense, but thats not the reason actually. The average person nowadays cannot be bothered with listening to whole song let alone a 30 minute plus album. They need to be entertained immediately or that skip button is gonna be hit and the song is soon forgotten. Which is why most artists now focus on making big catchy, and hook driven singles.
Now thats not to say Linkin Park aren't guilty of doing this, I mean listen to their singles like "Numb", "What I've Done", and quite possibly their biggest song ever "In The End". They are all radio friendly powerful songs, meant to peak the listeners interest long enough to make them go"...hmmm I wanna hear that again!". Linkin Park knew that if they wanted to keep this trend going they would fall into obscurity. This isn't what any band wants, so they did something about it.
They want people to actually listen to this album as an album like you would in the older days when you would plop the needle down on a vinyl album and just sit back and listen. Thats tough with people currently, but Linkin Park want you to give it a shot see how it goes for you. They want you to feel like you where on drugs without actually being on them. They essentially want this album to be an adventure or a journey.
They knew this album would cause controversy among fans and critics alike. I mean I don't blame them. How would you feel if a band you loved for 10 years decided to do something COMPLETELY different from anything they have ever done in the past. Like say Metallica decided to stop being a metal band and became a bluegrass group? What if Slipknot went off and ditched the masks and guitars and picked up trumpets and became a ska band? Outrage right? Well what about when bands change and actually become better because of it? I mean Black Sabbath was originally a Jazz band and now Ozzy is the King of Metal! Needless to say this isn't unheard of. It's not always successful and most bands fail at reinvention, but Linkin Park hasn't. They created this fusion of rock,metal,rap,hip hop,electronica and completely kicked it in the mouth with "A Thousand Suns". You can agree with me or not and thats completely OK, but you cannot deny Linkin Park have a had big influence on music in the past decade and this album on solidifies that statement.
No legendary band got to where they are today by pleasing everyone.
After all of that, I present my song by song thoughts on Linkin Park's "A Thousand Suns"
The Requiem: The intro to the album, a very eerie emotional tone is set right from the beginning of the album. A small piano part is played and a zombie like harmony is played which slowly fades into a robotic girls voice depressingly singing a piece of "The Catalyst" (Things like this happen throughout the album which ties it together). The intro is by far the strongest one they've had in the past 10 years. I certainly sets the mood for the chaos that is about to come.
The Radiance: The intro blends immediately into a speech by Robert. J Oppenheimer right after the first Atomic Bomb was dropped at the end of World War II. I personally love this speech and was very excited to hear it on this album. Linkin Park have used the idea of Atomic destruction since Minutes to Midnight, and it shows they still use it which I very much applaud. The speech fades out slowly and fades into the next track very well.
Burning In The Skies: The first actually song on the album. You are now immediately introduced to the new and improved Linkin Park. This is also by far Mike Shinoda's best vocal performance to date. He has really inproved from just being a rapper since Hybrid Theory. Chester's performance is also very stellar in this track. Lyrically it's one of their best as well. It's obvious they have completely thrown out the teen angst ridden lyrics and replaced them with real and heartfelt emotion. This an awesome track and great introduction to new Linkin Park.
Empty Spaces: Another interlude (there are a few)....there is an on going joke in the LP community that this is the best song ever. Its just crickets and the faint yelling of Brad (guitarist) screaming miltary orders in spanish and the sounds of war in the background.
When They Come For Me: One of my presonal favorite songs on the album. The beat is just dirty and strong. The tribal drums get stuck in your head for hours after listening to the album. The song is sorta in the style of their old sound but because of how odd it sounds it strays away from the conventional sound. The lyrics are also a highlight because Mike essentially calls out all the fans that want them to stay the same. For example "Nor the same person tellin' you to forfeit the game" is direct knock at the haters of their new sound. I also very much love Chester's almost african like yelling at the end of the track. All in all its definately one of the standout track from the record because there is just so much going on in it!
Robot Boy: The title really means nothing. The song is very spacey and spiritual in a sense. The song almost feels like it was written to all the teens that grew up listening to their records and felt alone. One big standout on the track is that the word "love" is used as an emotion rather than an adjective. The song is lyrically very deep and powerful. Musically its very Radiohead spacey synthy. Chester's harmonizing is also very soothing to the ears on this track. It's a very underrated track overall.
Jornada Del Muerto: Again a very misleading track name. The song is again spacey with Mike singing very softly the words "Life me up, let me go" in Japanese. Which again are lyrics from "The Catalyst". Not much to say here.
Waiting For The End: Ahhh what a great song! When I hear this song I ask how people can hate them sometimes. Everything about this song is just brilliant. From the vocal power of Chester to the slight guitar parts from Brad or harmonizing of Mike during the chorus. The song is just well written and will be one that stands the test of time. The first time I listened to the album I had gotten to this song and said "Thats it! this song has won me over!". Thats not to say this my favorite song the album but it truely is a great song.
Blackout: One of things that made me such a huge fan of Linkin Park was Chester's voice, how he voice has such a dynamic to it that it can fit so many different genres. Like most though I love his scream. Those people are going to lean more towards this track because Chester's scream his lungs out on this track...for only the first few minutes or so. Then the song does something I've rarely heard before, it completely does a 180 and becomes the polar opposite. Most would think it was a new song but its not, look at your iTunes and itll still say "Blackout". I love how this song has 2 or almost 3 personalities and it seriously blends them so well. It goes from industrial, to ballad rock/pop, to dance and for some odd reason it makes complete sense!
Wretches and Kings: This is the one track that old school LP fans will like. This one is basically the last sentiments of Hybrid Theory you're gonna get on the album. It opens with another speech this time by Mario Savio (Ill link a youtube vid to each speech at the bottom). The song has such a great beat and really shows that if Linkin Park still wanted to make their old sound, they still can and do it well.
Wisdom, Justice, and Love: Yet another interlude that contains yet another speech but this time its Martin Luther King Jr. Not much going on here except we are finally informed that MLK Jr was a Transformer!
Iridescent: This is THE song on this album. This seriously shows how different Linkin Park wanted to be. Such a powerful song from start to finish. Linkin Park knock it out of the park with this track. A simple yet fun guitar solo guides the song to such heights. Im actually surprised on just how good this song really is. I almost didn't expect a song like this from them and I couldn't be happier with it.
Fallout: Mikes voice is enhanced to sound robotically and he sings lyrics from "Burning In The Skies". Yet again the album ties itself together.
The Catalyst: I already did a review on the song, but after hearing with the album as whole, the song makes alot more sense. I agree that this was a great song to introduce fans to the new sound. If you can accept "The Catalyst" then you can accept "A Thousand Suns".
The Messenger: This is a very rare sound for LP. This is a completely stripped down performance of just guitars, piano, and Chester singing with the most passion ever heard from him. The song is such a great ending to such a fun and crazy ride that this album takes you on. Like I said the passion in Chester's voice is awe inspiring. I'm not saying this as a fanboy at all when I say he is by far ONE of the best vocalists the past decade. TRY and debate me!
This album is seriously one of those ones you need to hear more than once to really get everything it has to offer. Sometimes you'll get feelings of anxiety,or fear, loneliness,sadness, excitement, and joy. There is no way to tell what your gonna feel every time you hear it. It is by far one album that gets better and better every time you hear it.
Linkin Park have reinvented themselves, some may hate it, some love it, and some could care less and would rather listen to country and ride tractors. That's fine, there is nothing wrong with any of that. One thing you cannot deny is Linkin Park have made a very huge impact on music since Hybrid Theory, and will continue to do so well into the future.
To old fans who hate it, maybe we will see you next album!
To new fans, we welcome you with open arms!
To the fans that never left, I need say anything because they get it.
Final verdict: I welcome the new sound and I couldn't be more excited about whats to come! Bring on new music guys, because this album is terrific!
"A Thousand Suns" is in stores now and on iTunes
Tim
