*Thanks to Aerocat for helping know now to write a good music review*


The first single "One Step Closer", I rocked out to it every time I heard it, but I had no hope for the actual band Linkin Park. I thought that just like so many other new Punk bands before them, they had released the only good song on their album, and we would probably never hear from them again. I really didn't give much thought to actually purchasing the album.

Then I fell in love with the single "Crawling", I liked and felt the message, it was more than just an angry song like "One Step Closer" (more about the individual songs later). Still, I didn't consider buying the album.

Next came the song "In the End", this is when I knew this album was for me.



The Lowdown:

Linkin Park is an amazingly tasteful and deep combination of rock/punk guitars, and squeaking turn tables. This added to the sweet blending of screaming rock and rhyming rap creates a atmosphere that is unlike any other. Also, I found it quite interesting and refreshing that with all this hard rock and rap there was no parental advisory on this CD. There's also no sign of head banging insencerity, or big daddy pimpin. Linkin Park has managed to create music that incorproates two very different types of music,(overcoming the stereotypes that come with each) and magically produce a new hybrid, they're now in a category of their own.



The Songs:

The first track is called "Papercut". It's quickly becoming a favorite of mine. It's about conscience, and having a "voice in the back of my head" and "a face that I hold inside". At frist listen I thought this was about a dude with mulitple personality disorder, but now I realize it's about being paranoid and afraid of your own mind...cool.

Second is "One Step Closer", the first single mentioned earlier. This song is all about anger, with someone else, with yourself, with everything. It's basically about blowing up, and not being able to take it anymore.
"Everything you say to me, takes me one step closer to the edge, and I'm about to break......shut up when i'm talking to you!!!"

Third is "With You". For me this is a song about a relationship gone wrong. Someone who stills love someone even though they've had a horrible fight, and is hurt by broken promises. The tone of this song is somewhat like "One Step Closer", but there are some slower parts, that I feel are symbolic of remorse and regret. Nice track.

Next is "Points of Authority". This song is about competition in a relationship, who can hurt the other more, who can love the other more, and so on and so forth. Very cool message, but the song is a little montonous, after the first three songs, you feel like you're listening to the same song again musically. But it's okay cuz the message is so awesome.
"You love the way I look at you, while taking pleasure in the awful things you put me through."

"Crawling" comes next, is one of my favorites. This song is basically slower than the other tracks, and is a nice break from the first four songs. The song is about lack of self control, and "something inside that pulls beneath the surface, consuming/confusing". I feel like this song is coming from the perspective of perhaps a wife beater, or child beater, or really any of us who is unable to control something (like alcoholics, drug addicts, and so on). Perhaps one of the coolest songs on the CD.

"Runaway" is about the fall of trust and deception. Again, a trully deep and powerful message, different from the others, but the music creates that sense of repition.
"I wanna run away, never say goodbye, I wanna know the truth, instead of wondering why."

Next comes "By Myself", this song is probably my least favorite, the music and lyrics are average, and are both repeats of earlier tracks. Good song, but nothing spectacular to help it hold it's own.

"In the End" is definitely my favorite track. The sound is completely different from the other songs,(more real emotion) and the message is probably the coolest. I can't say enough good things about it, so I'll just leave you with some lyrics. I could type out all the lyrics, that's how much I think you should hear and appreciate this song, but I'll spare you. :)
"I tried so hard, and got so far, but in the end it doesn't even matter, I had to fall and lose it all, but in the end it doesn't even matter."

"A Place for my Head" has a very cool, and sort of creepy sound. It's about a friend who's not really a friend, someone who is only a friend when they need something from that person. I think it's something a lot of us can relate to and understand.
"You try to take the best of me, go away."
"You do favors and then rapidly you just turn around and start asking me about things that you want from me."

"Forgotten", this song is about memories and how you can't change them, but how they become distorted through time. It's not particuarly amazing, again, it sounds like the others, and doesn't stand out.

"Cure for the Itch" is just a turn table scratching demonstration. It's purely instrumental with a few pre-recorded voices floating around. Very cool sounds, and a nice break from the flow of the album. It's one of my faves, you might even catch a few piano notes if you listen closely.

"Pushes me Away" has an awesome message. It's about being with a certain person simply for the sake of being with someone. I know a few people who should give this song a listen.
"I've lied to you, the same way that I always do, this is the last smile, that I'll fake for the sake of being with you."
"Why I never walked away, why I played myself this way, now I see your testing me pushes me away."



Overall:

This album hits the mark for me, it's a great CD for when you're in the mood to release some anger and emotion. Good for the weekend when you're hanging around recovering from the week you've just completed. Also great for driving. I don't recommend listening with friends, unless they're the friends you release with. This CD is reserved for when you need to get away and crawl into your corner and have some "you" time.

I gave the album a four star rating only because of the occasional reptitious sounds. Some of the songs tend to blend together which can be annoying if you're not in the right mood. Otherwise I would've given it a five no doubt.



Recommended: Yes

Great Music to Play While: Cleaning the House