Minutes To Midnight [Explicit]

After listening to the most recent Linkin Park album, it certainly is different. It's got some of the hard rock elements from their Nu-Metal days, and it's got a surprising amount of softer songs (which I really enjoyed but many fans will probably be disappointed). So here's my overall review:

"Wake" is a cool intro, it's a lot different than what Linkin Park has done to start their other 3 albums. Starting with crackling sounds like an old vinyl record playing, numerous other sounds come in and build-up as eventually the band's instruments come to life to get the album going.

"Given Up" has some great pieces of hard rock which I like, but I think the intro clapping-like sounds are stupid and I HATE the cursing. I always thought Linkin Park was a cool group for not needing to curse to have some powerful songs, and they just threw that out the window on this song. The latter half of Given Up is VERY loud and angry which I know a lot of people will like it, but I don't. I'm not emo enough to listen to that part of the song in public.

"Leave Out All The Rest" is a GREAT song, I love it! It's a softer song along the lines of "My December" (it sounds totally different, but it's the same kind of easy-going song), and I found myself reminiscing about my past when listening to this song. I hope this song gets a lot of radio play as this shows some of Chester's great vocal ability. The song reminds me a lot of Saliva's "Rest In Pieces" song.

"Bleed It Out" made me think of a country ho-down when it started (it's got clapping and a lot of people in the background hootin' and hollering). Bleed It Out also marks Mike's first appearance on the album and I'm not sure what genre this song would go into. It's got Mike rapping (kind of) and Chester doing his thing, lots of clapping in the background, and it's a fast paced song (and short too, only about two and half minutes).

"Shadow of The Day" is another slower song, and very different from anything Linkin Park has done before. Chester goes solo on this song as well. It starts out with low tone beats and fills out with some violin and electronic sounds, later on the drums come in. I really like this song too, but if I came across it on the radio I wouldn't have thought it was Linkin Park, so many fans might not like it. It reminds me of a band called Audio Adrenaline. This is one of the longest songs on the album clocking in at 5 minutes.

"What I've Done" everyone already knows about. Another song I like! And many people will like it since it sounds the most like Linkin Park's previous albums out of the rest of the new songs.

"Hands Held High" is song number 2 with Mike (3 if you count his background on What I've Done), more unneeded cursing, starts with some church-like organ, drummer boy percussion, and features background chorus from non-Linkin Park singers. Mike puts out some nice lyrical work here, and Chester comes in at the halfway point. This is a VERY POLITICAL song, which is critical of many of the things going on involving the United States in various places in the world. Cut the cursing and I believe this would be a more powerful song. This song didn't work for me though, felt too much like a song that could have been done by the Beatles or U2 just based on the song's melody.

"No More Sorrow" is a hard rock song with Chester doing his thing. I haven't soaked up the lyrics yet so I can't really say what it's about, but Linkin Park is angry about people with money (maybe another song bashing President Bush?). I was surprised by how abruptly it ended, it just stopped. Another Mike Shinoda drought on this song (I didn't hear a peep out of him), but other than that, its definitely my favorite song on the album since it reminds me why I became a Linkin Park fan to begin with.

"Valentine's Day" is another softer song, not surprising based on the title alone. People listening to this song will probably be able to name a dozen bands that sound just like this, not to say it's not a good song, but it does sound familiar. I do like the song and the second half is really good when it kicks into higher gear.

"In Between" is Mike's biggest song, and it's the first time he's ever just sung lyrics; there's no hip-hop coming from Mike on this song, it's just him out there singing. This is a softer song as well and it's very melodic. I like this song too, but again, it could easily be mistaken for a non-Linkin Park song, and unfortunately it's somewhat repetitive and easy to forget which part of the song you're at.

"In Pieces" reminds me of Reanimation a bit, it's got lots of sound effects and about three quarters of the way through the song guitars will come out in full force (similar to the slow build ups in Reanimation), and is another Chester-only song. This is a good song and is very active and it sounds like it has a guest singer behind Chester but I don't know who. This song had another abrupt ending.

"The Little Things Give You Away" has a very soft-singing Chester start things off. Things build up consistently throughout the song and there is another big guitar piece here. This is also VERY political based on the lyrics, mainly influenced by the events in New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina. This is the longest song Linkin Park has ever done on an album clocking in at 6 minutes 25 seconds, and Mike is mostly absent from it until the second half. The tone and lyrics don't work with Chester though, it feels more like a song that should have given to perform by a diva. Final song of the CD.

Well, Linkin Park did accomplish one thing they laid out, and that's to totally change their sound. This is, for the most part, nothing like Hybrid Theory, Reanimation, or Meteora. It'll be easy to spot these songs on the radio based solely on Chester's voice, but aside from that these are quite different from previous songs. There are songs here which are hard rock for the Nu-Metal LP fans out there, and there are lots of songs for people, like me, who have always enjoying LP's lighter and more lyrics songs like "My December" and "Numb". I really like "Shadow Of The Day", it's just a very enjoyable song and the sound is smooth with some great lyrical work from Chester.

I've only listened to the album about a half dozen times through and I'm still soaking up the meaning of the songs, and perhaps I've missed Mike's contributions on some songs, but I was still surprised by how little he seems to appear. On the previous albums I always enjoyed how LP mixed opposites, they'd have hard rock pieces with Chester and the hip hop element with Mike, I thought that formula worked. On this album however it's hard to guess where'd Mike will come in and what Chester will do. I guess you could say it's a more seamless sound in the songs. Also, I imagine Joe Hahn must have been bored out of his mind at times, there are very few instances of his trademark turntable work ("What I've Done" would seem to be his biggest song), but I'm sure he did lots of the artwork and that he'll be in charge of Linkin Park's music videos for this album as well.

One thing I was expecting based solely on the title was a kind of story being told throughout the album. When I heard the title would be Minutes to Midnight I thought it might be a build up to a huge song at the end, with a common meaning linking all of the songs together. But that's not present, and even though the last song is the biggest, there isn't a noticeable theme to the album. Three of the songs do have political contexts which are decidedly critical of the Bush administration, and while the members of Linkin Park are entitled to their opinion, I don't appreciate artists trying to shove a political statement in my face. I want to be able to just listen to a song and enjoy it, not to hear political propaganda. Besides, when the United States' involvement in Iraq is wrapped up (and when President Bush leaves office), those 3 political songs will lose their relevance and eventually people will begin to forget their meaning.

All-in-all this is an okay album with some enjoyable songs, and even though it's very different from previous efforts I'm sure real Linkin Park fans will come to love it while alienating other fans of the band at the same time. I hated Reanimation when I first listened to it, but it really grew on me and I think that's what might happen with Linkin Park fans when they first listen to Minutes to Midnight.

As an "older" (43) music junkie who's not a fan of rap rock, and I understand this band's history is heavy with it, "Minutes To Midnight" is genius. I love the darker and introspective lyrics on most of the tracks. You can feel the emotion and feeling that went into them - transports you. Also, these guys are so musically tight and so much more interesting on this album than most anything I've heard in some time it just makes you want to turn it up real loud in a room or car by yourself and dig it. Really great.

Okay, I will be short and to the point. This is a different CD than the previous ones. The songs, "Given Up" and "Bleed it Out" are reminiscent of Linkin Park's traditional style. There is much less Mike Shinoda presence (unfortunately). However, all hope is not lost. The songs "Leave Out All The Rest" and "Shadow of The Day" are a little "emo" some might say, but they are very well written and full of a lot of meaning. The song "Hands Held High" is VERY excellent Mike Shinoda creation. To the listener it is obviously a giant political message - and very well done at that. It's vague, yet at the same time everyone knows what is being discussed/attacked. The rest of the songs are also good, but I'd say they aren't as strong as the rest. Overall I'd rate this album a solid 4. But I'm giving it a 5 because fans have been too hard on the band. It's worth buying if you're into Linkin Park.

I am a huge fan of Linkin Park, and i was vastly dissapointed in the album as the sound was not LP worthy. I recognized maybe 2 songs that sounded like them, the rest seemed like political crap that I personally don't care about. I wouldn't recommend it and hope they get back to their sound on the next one.

I have been a fan of Linkin Park since the Hybrid Theory days and they have since then continually made great and risk taking music. With this album many risks are taken. Some risks paid of and some just led to not so great music. Many people seem very upset about this album but to me, I'd rather see an artist I like taking risks and finding new sounds then for them to just keep making repetitive music. At least with MTM, they broke up the box and scrapped together way different styles and came out with some stellar stuff. Upon my first listening I wasnt so impressed but as the year has passed since its release I've come to love alot of these songs. So my suggestion would be to listen to it, sit on it, then review it. A few of these songs happen to be either my favorite all time Linkin Park songs, and some are my least. But hey, thats music.
Here is my individual review of each song:

Wake-(7/10)- Im not a big fan on intro's, but this was much better the Meteora's opening track (foreward). The Guitars sounds really cool, shouldve been used for a real song.

Given up-(6/10)- This song has some strengths and weaknesses. I really love the clapping used, but the verses are too ordinary. The Chorus can get you pumped but I wouldnt say this song shouldve been on the album. To Me, it doesnt really fit in.

Leave Out All The Rest -(10/10)- Fabulous song. They took a great approach to this song and made it great. Chesters vocal performance is top notch and everything in this song flows perfectly. Great Example of how some of their risks paid off big.

Bleed It Out- (10/10)- I really wish they would make more songs like these. Great rapping, great singing, fast paced, etc. If your looking to get pumped up for a night of drinking and womanizing I suggest this song.

Shadow of They Day- (8/10)- This is a pretty Soft spoken track. A different kind of LP track. I wouldve given it a higher rating but the songgets a little repetitive but I would say this track keeps the album going.

What Ive Done -(10/10)- Easily one of my favorite Rock songs this decade. Mixes pianos, guiatars, samples and dynamic vocals all together seemingly perfect. When I heard this song I was very excited for this album. Excellent choice for a first single.

Hands Held High-(5-10)- This is Mike's second and last time rapping on the album. I like some of the lines he ahd but for the most part i didnt keep interested. If I wanna listen to political rap/rock, I'll put on rage against the machine. And the "Amen" singing threw me off a bit. I skip this one almost everytime.

No More Sorrow-(9/10)- I love playing "Gears Of War" to this song. Another song I wish they made more of. I had to give it a 9 though just because I wouldve loved to hear Mike spitting ryhmes over these verses but hey, you cant always get what you want.

Valentine's Day- (8/10)- Pretty decent song. Not very "LP".

In Between-(2/10)- Nothing good to say about this song. Mike, leave the singing to Chester please.

In Pieces -(8/10)- Really cool song. Mike and MR Hahn show they still know how to provide some good samples and mix them well with rock music.

The Little Things Give You Away- (7/10)- Im not a fan of the beginning but it does pick up towards the end and it was a decent way to end the album so I feel good about giving this one a seven.