[.ca] Minutes to Midnight

From Amazon.com:
Minutes to Midnight stands to defend Linkin Park's status as the hardest-rockin' softies in mainstream music. Like its predecessors Hybrid Theory (2000) and Meteroa (2003), Minutes to Midnight flexes plenty of decibel-heavy muscle ("Given Up," "Bleed It Out," "No More Sorrow") and made-to-order, melodic radio fare ("Leave Out All the Rest," "Shadow of the Day," "In Pieces"). But for all its volume, Linkin Park likes to paint its heart openly on its sleeve with suspicious sonic drama, as in the palpably saccharine "Valentine's Day." Fortunately, co-producer Rick Rubin brings all these elements to pinnacle effect with the surprise "Hands Held High." On past efforts, the combination of breezy keyboard, arpeggiated guitar, choral vocals, and a military snare-beat would yield another slab of smarm, here MC Mike Shinoda drops the two best verses of his career, blending vocal styles with singer Chester Bennington for a moving piece that's as welcome a repertorial addition as Linkin Park is ever likely to muster. --Jason Kirk

A Huge Disapointment:
First off, I absolutely loved Hybrid Theory and Re-Animation. But, this album feels like the record label said "We want more of a mis-placed teen angst, but the 14 year old girls will still swoon over you kind of sound. Oh, and absolutely nothing original. We want to hear played out heavy riffs on the rock songs and do you think you could sound a little like the Backstreet boys on the slow ones?" I mean, this album is terrible if you are over the age of 14. And no, listening to it a few times over did not help. The next kid I see wearing a Linkin Park t-shirt gets this CD. Too bad too, cause Linkin Park really came on to the scene with a good sound and have just givin in to the record label like so many before them.

avoid at all costs:
After the first two brilliant albums, this is an unbelievably sad diversion. If you liked the first two albums, don't buy this!

Very Well Done:
I don't really understand where all of these average and mediocre reviews are coming from. I've been a fan of Linkin Park since Hybrid Theory and trust me, this CD will not disappoint. Granted, it is a little different from some of their other stuff. "Shadow of the Day", which is one of their best songs in my opinion, is unlike anything they have ever done before. If you are a fan of any of the singles released, you will not be disappointed with this album. If you are a longtime fan who is willing to listen to something different (but good!), you will not be disappointed either. Definitely one of the best CD's released in the last while!

Hybrid Theory it ain't:
This is a bunch of crap! And what's with all the handclapping on the record? I can't believe what happened to these guys... what's next ballads with Kid Rock? What a bunch of posers/losers... 1/5

Disappointed:
I wish I would have waited before purchasing this CD. I had been waiting for a real follow-up to 'Meteora' for years. Maybe I expected too much... I can't blame artists who try to change their sound. Everyone goes through phases where they like different things. I don't have to LIKE the change though. Too many of my favourite bands (Adema, Stabbing Westward, Econoline Crush for a few examples) changed their sound for the worse in my opinion, and now I can add a new band to that list. I have been a pretty rabid fan of Linkin Park since I first heard the song 'Points of Authority' on the Little Nicky Soundtrack before they became popular. I had to go from CD store to CD store to buy Hybrid Theory because no one had it in stock. Perhaps I was hoping for too much. Maybe I'm just upset because it's another nu-metal band changing their sound to become more 'progressive' or rocky. There are already enough quality rock bands, I don't need my favourite nu-metal or industrial or synth-rock bands changing styles to the mainstream. Oh well, saves me money in the future. Won't need to buy another LP CD again...

• Wake
• Given Up
• Leave Out All The Rest
• Bleed It Out
• Shadow Of The Day
• What I've Done
• Hands Held High
• No More Sorrow
• Valentine's Day
• In Between
• In Pieces
• The Little Things Give You Away