A Thousand Suns
Linkin Park
It shouldn't really be a surprise, but it's still a shock to the system, exploding expectations like broken billiard balls. Minutes to Midnight, Linkin Park's third album, made clear the California sextet's move from nu-metal dynamics to something softer and more mainstream-friendly (not that they were struggling to shift records - 2000 debut Hybrid Theory has sold over 24 million copies). But if that was the sound of a band embracing their classic rock side, A Thousand Suns is, at its zenith/nadir (delete according to taste), Celine Dion Goes Mall Rock.
This album's closer, The Messenger, is the wettest song to ever fill the raspy throat of flaming-armed frontman Chester Bennington. It's on a level with Avril Lavigne's I'm With You, or Christina Aguilera's Beautiful, only hollered hoarsely rather than pitched painfully high. Similarly wet about their edges are Iridescent - an exercise in Gallaghers-level rhyming - and Burning in the Skies.
However, it should be noted that Linkin Park were not intending to make an album when they set about recording these less-than-impressive efforts. They were playing with ideas, breaking down concepts that'd served them well previously, trying to find something fresh. They didn't want whatever their next album was to be predictable, and while A Thousand Suns might have emerged by accident compared to previous LPs, it's certainly a far from plays-to-perceived-type affair.
The aforementioned blips on this critic's radar can't obscure some perplexingly compelling material elsewhere. When They Come for Me lays its intent on the line with its first words: "I am not a pattern to be followed". The track's jungle percussion and backing chants give it a tribal feel, and if the lead vocals - rapped, badly - were just a touch peppier there's no doubt it'd be a magic moment of their catalogue to date. Blackout is a lot of fun, Bennington ranting potty-mouthed across an electro-tinged arrangement that isn't so many stylistic miles away from the crunchy beats served up by Pendulum, albeit slowed and scratched into a dizzy spin. The Catalyst is the closest A Thousand Suns comes to the Linkin Park sound of old, and is among this collection's most immediate offerings. It's no surprise it's been well received at radio, plucked from its parent LP as the first commercial single.
But the penultimate track here really shouldn't be a sign of things to come, simply an echo of the past. If Linkin Park take the best moments of this haphazard set as jumping-off points for what happens next, they might just strike upon a new formula every bit as successful as the one that flogged their debut so brilliantly.
Reviewed by Mike Diver
The more I listen to this album the more I am convinced its a masterpiece. [3]
The more I listen to this album the more I am convinced its a masterpiece. [2]
i really think that this is the best music in the world. thank you linkin park!
"this album was made because electronic music is becoming popular nowadays and linkin park likes to play popular music and thus remaining a popular band. its a disapointment" -- Bullshit; if they wanted to gain popularity, they would've stayed the same way. But they didn't, they took a risk. That risk is, without listening to the album, already a big bonus.
V thats exactly the wrong idea, i yearn for hybrid theory v2 thats the point of music, to be the same style from the same band. What a dumbass. Mtm was much better than this crap. Worst album ever by linkin park. Change for changes sake is the worst kind of change.
The same people complaining about the change in their style wont buy their albums if they all sounded the same. I like the new them. Go Linkin Park!!
These idiots are so wrapped up in how they think Linkin Park should always sound that they don't know good music when they hear it. If anything, the watered down shell of an album that is M2M should be getting most of the hate.
The more I listen to this album the more I am convinced its a masterpiece.
blackout <3
I would love to see the people dissing this album write something HALF as inspired.
all of u complaining about this is why our generation of music is dead, lady gaga? minaj? really? i weep for the music of the 2000's music died in 1999.
So underrated.
no one "grows up" on music, get out. this is just the pinnacle of everything wrong with their direction. a true disgrace to their name. even the album title jilts my stomach a little bit. 1 or 2 good songs like wretches and kings, but otherwise not catchy or relative to anything. I can't believe they gave up on metal... as far as i'm concerned, a once loyal fan, i give them my white flag of surrender. if they have "moved on" with bigger and better music, so have I. REST IN PEACE LINKIN PARK xxxxxx I WILL MISS YOU XXXXXXX
I love all their albums, but this one is my favorite by far. It will be tough for them to top this one. [7]
Completely agree, I grew up on the early linkin park stuff and absolutely loved it. When I listened to this album the first time I was weirded out but intrigued and I gave it a stack more plays, growing to appreciate it even more. There's the odd track here and there but it has to be listened to as a whole to truly feel what the band tried to capture with the album. Such an amazing and titantic effort.
This album is just too far ahead of it's time. If Pink Floyd's "Dark Side of the Moon" was released brand new today, it'd be received the same way. Nobody nowadays has an attention span greater than a goldfish. They all want a 3 minute pop song that they can play in their iPod or turn into a ringtone. You're what's wrong with music.
As I said last year in this very same Shoutbox,- It's sad that (almost) nobody can see this one as a massive step forward... [2]
Such a great album, you could almost call it a masterpiece and its nice to see a band changing their sound and music to something entirely different with confidence behind it. [2]
this album was made because electronic music is becoming popular nowadays and linkin park likes to play popular music and thus remaining a popular band. its a disapointment
The catalyst ..............
Such a great album, you could almost call it a masterpiece and its nice to see a band changing their sound and music to something entirely different with confidence behind it.
Still think it's their best album yet. Like every track.
As I said last year in this very same Shoutbox,- It's sad that (almost) nobody can see this one as a massive step forward...
WAY better than Minutes to Midnight. I agree that this not sounds like old Linkin Park at all but it is a great album and piece of music on its own. I really enjoy it still being a fan of their old style. Lets keep our minds open - this is VERY good.
I love all their albums, but this one is my favorite by far. It will be tough for them to top this one. [6]
I love all their albums, but this one is my favorite by far. It will be tough for them to top this one. [5]
I love all their albums, but this one is my favorite by far. It will be tough for them to top this one. [4]
blackout <3
I love all their albums, but this one is my favorite by far. It will be tough for them to top this one. [3]
I love all their albums, but this one is my favorite by far. It will be tough for them to top this one. [2]
Best album!
"cosmichaos_" - согласен, но стоящих треков 3-4
they are on a higher level now. have grown up and so has their music. it has to be understood to be found perfect as it is.
o mais fraco da banda, mas é um ótimo album... The Catalyst <3 Waiting for the end <33
Muito Diferente dos outros mais é bom tambem,
Amazing how your 'fans' turn on you like savages because you didn't fulfil what they wanted from you (like the case with this album). Rather then react with such hate why not say something more respectable like "Unfortunately it seems this album isn't for me, but I hope you guys enjoyed trying something different" [5] Great album.
Amazing how your 'fans' turn on you like savages because you didn't fulfil what they wanted from you (like the case with this album). Rather then react with such hate why not say something more respectable like "Unfortunately it seems this album isn't for me, but I hope you guys enjoyed trying something different" [4] Great album.
The Catalyst <3
Amazing how your 'fans' turn on you like savages because you didn't fulfil what they wanted from you (like the case with this album). Rather then react with such hate why not say something more respectable like "Unfortunately it seems this album isn't for me, but I hope you guys enjoyed trying something different" [3] Great album.
Amazing how your 'fans' turn on you like savages because you didn't fulfil what they wanted from you (like the case with this album). Rather then react with such hate why not say something more respectable like "Unfortunately it seems this album isn't for me, but I hope you guys enjoyed trying something different" [2]
I love all their albums, but this one is my favorite by far. It will be tough for them to top this one.
History textbook meets turntables. Credit for trying to be innovative but this just doesn't work for them at all.
Very good album. I would give him a rating between 8 and 9.
Shit. One of the worst albums ever. [11]
Linkin Park - RISE
Idiots - R.I.P
Super album like the previous three! Haters will burn in hell!
Shit. One of the worst albums ever. [10] этот альбом - разочарование тысячелетия)))
Shit. One of the worst albums ever. [9]
What he said!