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Linkin Park
Throwing Old School Hip-Hop, Classic Rock and electronic elements into the mix, Linkin Park burst out of the So. Cal music scene. Their debut, "Hybrid Theory" was released in late '00. Interestingly, the CD's title was the group's original name.
The aggressive Rap/Rocker "One Step Closer" led the way with Hahn's scratching and Delson's sledgehammer guitar. No mercy. The break, with Chester Bennington raving "Shut up when I'm talking to you," was brutal. '02 saw the release of their video "Reanimation." A year later "Meteora" (named after six monasteries located on rock pinnacles above the plains of central Greece) with the "spray painter" cover came out.
For a lot of successful groups their third album is tough. All the initial "brilliant" ideas have been done. They either repeat themselves or find something new - which may cause them to lose their audience. Much time is wasted as musicians sit around wracking up studio hours (and costs) staring blankly at each other. And just to break the tedium, there are often spirited and entertaining arguments.
Though Linkin' Park's "Minutes To Midnight" took nearly a year and a half to record it wasn't for lack of material. In a September, '06, interview Mike Shinoda claimed they had over 100 roughs for songs. "When songs are pouring out you don't ever want to stop that," said the vocalist. "We've narrowed it down since but we're not ready to commit to those yet." Delson felt the arduous process was worth it. "Not only is this album incredibly diverse, but the depth of the material is really strong."
"We have put more into the new album than anything we have ever done before," added "Phoenix" Farrell.
They had a point. The album's first single, "What I've Done," was an out-of-the-box #1 on the U.S. Modern Rock chart. A month later, May, '07, Linkin' Park's third studio album was released. "Minutes To Midnight" too made its debut at #1, only this time it was on the more impressive Billboard 200 chart, selling 623,000 copies during its first week. "We're shocked and humbled by this extraordinary show of support," said guitarist Brad Delson.
Leave it to Bennington to have the last word. "We've really moved away from anything that sounds like Nu-Metal," went the quote. "I know that we kind of helped create the sound of that genre, but I hate that genre."
Touring in support of a successful album is about as good as it gets in the music business. But there are still challenges. Considering all the bad things that can happen on a world trek, the following was minor but still painful. Bennington broke his arm during the group's October, '07, concert in Melbourne, Australia. "He broke it about four songs (into the show), but didn't let it stop him from playing the rest of the set," wrote Shinoda in an online post. "It was crazy." How did it happen? "I went to do a jump off the top of the stairs and . . . fell straight back and landed right on my wrist," explained Bennington. "It f**king hurts, dude." No doubt. File that one under "the show must go on."
Also in '07, Linkin Park's Music For Relief and Unite The United launched an eBay auction of music memorabilia to raise money for victims of California wildfires. On the block were autographed items from the group, Aerosmith, Green Day, My Chemical Romance and the Smashing Pumpkins.
Bennington proved again to be an injury prone frontman. Linkin Park had to cancel a planned '08 tour of China and Taiwan because of Bennington's hurt back. Doctors ordered him not to travel or exert himself. The tour was to raise funds for China's earthquake ravaged Sichuan Province. The band still donated money to the cause via Music For Relief.
"Hybrid Theory" is the group's debut. Aside from "One Step Closer," "By Myself" is another riveting track. Overall, the album is a thrasher and was among the year's top sellers. Good works get rewarded.
'03 album "Meteora" hasn't got "Hybrid Theory's" edge but his has a lot going for it including sure-fire pop hits "Somewhere I Belong," "Easier To Run" (using a Japanese flute called a shakuhachi) and Rocker "Don't Stay" which, not surprisingly, is the best of the lot. "Faint" is another kicker.
It's one of the peculiarities of the music business that when a band member publicly talks about the plethora of material available for an upcoming album (the way Shinoda did) and the problem is deciding which tracks to include, the set rarely lives up to expectations. That's the case with "Minutes To Midnight." It's hard to figure how that happened. Linkin Park is one of the best, most popular bands around. Rick Rubin is a top-flight producer, a near legend. But instead of a killer album, "Minutes To Midnight" is largely a synth and guitar, moody, contemplative effort.
Rap-Rock "Bleed It Out" and "What I've Done" got a lot of initial attention for two reasons. They're the best tracks and everything else pales in comparison. "Given Up" tries for hard-edged Rock but just comes across angry. At least it has some force. The tough, melodic ballad "Leave Out All The Rest," "No More Sorrow" with its dark, downward spiraling guitar, and the airy, in a good way, "Valentine's Day" makes an impression which is more than can be said for the rest of the album.
According to reports, the band had to agree on every aspect of each song. Despite the impressive sales figures (see above), "Minutes To Midnight" proves that Rock by committee doesn't work.