"Everyone want's the next thing to be just like the first" - A verse off the song When they come for me. Keep this in mind... this is the quote that summarizes the entire album.
To start off, here is some back round on Linkin Park:
They released 2 studio albums called Hybrid Theory and Meteora (arguably their best music to many) in the years of 2000 and 2004. They also released a remix album called Reanimation in between, in which Mike Shinoda (band's rapper/singer/guitarist/keyboard/producer... he pretty much does everything) collaborated with many other artists, remixing the bands first album and some of their unreleased songs such as High Voltage and My December. Linkin Park was known and labelled under the genre "Nu-metal" which was very popular at the time... think of the 90's grunge rock era. Linkin Park and the rest of the industry knew that Nu Metal was dying. Meteora was their last Nu Metal album (2004). After that, the band toured some more and released another collaboration album with Jay-Z called Collision Course which proved to be very successful. In 2007, Linkin Park released their 3rd studio album called Minutes To Midnight... completely different from what they have done before. The album contained many ballads, less rapping from Mike Shinoda and more singing. Linkin Park was not angry anymore. Some say they matured, others say they became sell-outs. Their next album really shook the music industry; they released their 5th studio album in 2010 called A Thousand Suns. It was a concept album that had an apocalyptic, electronic, political feel to it. Completely different from what any other artist had put out at the time, to say that A Thousand Suns was highly controversial was an understatement. Critics and longtime fans alike created uproars, saying that Linkin Park's best days were behind them. What A Thousand Suns did do however, is create a fully functional, fluent, well crafted album that had clear direction and purpose while also doing something completely different, genre creating if you will, which is what Linkin Park has sought to do since the death of Nu-Metal.
Introduction:
A Thousand Suns is completely different from every other Linkin Park album, just listen to it and compare it to In the End, which summarizes their first two albums. Not only does Mike Shinoda take a back seat in this album, helping to fully produce the album and mix every song, but every other band member also takes a back seat role. In one song, they all sing in harmony. The next, they are all beating a variety of drums. The next, you might not hear many band member because they were helping to produce the song. In terms of actual instruments, its lacking in this album, which is why it is not #1. Besides that point, this album is perfect. Lets break down every song, and see what I mean
1. The Requiem
Right off the bat, this introductory song sets the tone for what to expect. Difference. Creativity. Apocalypse. It's hard to give this song a solid score because... it's not really a song at all.
The Requiem does not get a score, because it does not apply.
2. The Radiance
A direct continuous flow out of The Requiem, this...thing is a quote. "Now I am become death, the destroyer of worlds." Again, can we really classify this as a song? No. Though, the quote does set a very dark, and surely different tone for the album.
The Radiance does not get a score, because it does not apply.
3. Burning in the Skies
3 tracks in, and we get our first song.... And it's a masterpiece. It flows so perfectly out of the first two tracks, and the melancholic tone that continues to radiate in this song really brings you into the song. A beautifully mixed song, with fantastic vocal efforts from Chester and even Mike. What's even more amazing, the lyrics. "And in the end we were made to be apart, in separate chambers of the human heart." "I'm swimming in the smoke, of bridges I have burned. So don't apologize, I'm losing what I don't deserve." One of Linkin Park's best lyrical songs. And atmospherically, its perfect. There isn't a single bad thing I can say about this song. The guitar solo at the end is a nice touch as well. Linkin Park clearly made this album to connect with people, and to make a political statement. Arguably the best song on the album, and one of the best songs they have ever produced. Ever.
Burning in the Skies gets a 9.7 out of 10.
4. Empty Spaces
Another...thing that was on the album. Leading perfectly out of Burning in the Skies, the sound of cannon fire, militaristic shouts, and distant muffled explosions... leading right into the next track.
Empty Spaces does not get a score, because it does not apply.
5. When they Come for Me
Another lyrical masterpiece, and another song that fits the atmosphere perfectly. Constant violent electronic sounds soar while many drum sets beat the song along. The really cool thing about this song, is that when Linkin Park performs it live (they are incredible live btw), they have Chester, Brad (guitarist), and Rob (regular drummer) all hitting their separate drums. It sounds perfect. Mike really puts on a stellar performance in this song, and the chorus is great as it's just a collection of the entire band yelling together in harmony... it sounds almost religious, as they proclaim "Try to catch up motherfucker." This is the song where mike proclaims that "even a blueprint is a gift and a curse cause once you got a theory of how the thing works everyone wants the next thing to be like the first." Those words explain exactly what Linkin Park is feeling and trying to get away from. Trying to innovate, unlike so many other modern groups and so-called artists... I'm looking at you One Direction and Drake. Anyways, back to the song; When They Come for Me is another stellar song. Chester really steals it at the end when the violent sounds stop for a brief moment, and puts on another vocal masterpiece. The best part about Chester is that he really puts emotion into every song.
When They Come for Me gets a 9.4 out of 10.
6. Robot Boy
The strangest song on the album, easily the most emotional though. Reading between the lines, feeling the lyrics, you get a sense of connection that few songs can really do. The song itself is very electronic, and the vocals are a combination of Chester and Mike, along with some electronic distortion (NOT AUTOTUNE, thank god for that). There is a piano that Mike plays in this song as well. The lyrics are very moving, things like "You say, you're not gonna fight, cause no one will fight for you, and you say that there's not enough love and no one to give it to," "you say compassion's a fault, and you'll never let it show" and "Hold on, the weight of the world will give you the strength to go." I could honestly just list off the entire lyric. I remember the first time listening to this song, it gave me chills. It still does. It's so different, yet so calming... and at the same time really depressing. Bravo.
Robot Boy gets a 9.6 out of 10.
7. Jornada Del Muerto
Again, another interlude out of Robot Boy and into the next song... I think that I am going to give this one a score though. The lyrics are 持ち上げて, 解き放して. Get that? Of course you did, but just in case you didn't, it translates roughly to "Lift me up, Let me go." We'll hear that later in the album... very calming and moving throughout the entire song. Good job, this is getting a score
Jornada Del Muerto gets a 9 out of 10.
8. Waiting for the End
Transitioned perfectly out of Jornada Del Muerto... this song starts off with almost a Caribbean feel as Mike raps in a way he has never done before. Very well done again. Chester does a great job in this song as well. He really gets the emotion and pain out of this song... "Holding to what I haven't got." Mike provides backup vocals, and the lyrics are extremely depressing... and motivational. "Picking up the pieces now where to begin, the hardest part of ending is starting again." There's good drumming in this song, good electronic sounds... perfection when it comes to mixing... you can really hear the bass amplifying the sound of the song, and guitar and piano can be heard as well. Again, great job.
Waiting for the End gets a 9.2 out of 10.
9. Blackout
The most aggressive song on the album, Blackout is an angry song where Chester really just kills it. Maybe not in a good way though. Fantastic mixing once again, great lyrics, and a great slow part with Mike, where he really shows how well he can sing. "Floating down, as colours fill the light. We look up from the ground, in fields of paper-white." Really well done, but pretty forgettable except for Mike killing the singing.
Blackout gets a 7 out of 10.
10. Wretches and Kings
A very strong song, very underrated. I love the speech that they included with the song by Mario Savio about revolution. "The people up top push the people down low." You know, just listen to this song. It's perfection up until the end where Mike implements some really weird act... From the front to the back and side to side if you feel what I feel put em up real high... I get what he was trying to do but it really doesn't fit with the theme of the album. Unfortunately, it ruins it for me.
Wretches and Kings gets a 6 out of 10. Yes, it ruins it that much.
11. Wisdom, Justice, and Love
Another interlude... but this is probably the best track on the album. I'm completely serious, this is the most artistic thing Linkin Park has ever done. Ever. It's a speech by Martin Luther King. "I come to this magnificent house of worship tonight, because my conscience leaves me no other choice." Some very simple piano is played in the back round, Mr. Kings voice sounds like the original recording, and there's this very uncertain, very moving empty wasteland atmosphere surrounding. It feels like an apocalypse is either happening, or has already happened. It's a very... nothingness feeling. It's fantastic. Brilliant. And the key thing about this that makes it so special... as Mr. Kings speech goes on, the background noise gets louder and louder, drowning him out... and as that noise gets louder and louder... his voice becomes more and more lifeless... almost robotic. It's all very creepy, melancholic... the word to summarize the mood of this song is apocalypse. Thank you Linkin Park, and thank you Mr. King for such an amazing speech.
Wisdom, Justice, and Love gets a 10 out of 10. Best thing about this album, and it's not even a song.
12. Iridescent
The song from Transformers: Dark of the Moon. You know, this album came out before that, and the Transformers mix of it is shitty. This version however, is beautiful. Mike once more shows how artistically talented he is in almost every aspect, this man can do no wrong! There's a beautiful piano playing, and that same empty atmosphere fills the air. "You were standing in a wake of devastation, you were waiting on the edge of the unknown. With the cataclysm raining down, insides crying save me now, you were there impossibly alone." Chester does a great job as well. There's a subtle electronic bass drum incorporated that helps the song as well. This song is Linkin Parks second best live song I have ever heard them perform, next to New Divide (another transformers song!). The killer part about this song is how after the second chorus, the entire band gets together and in harmony, just enough away from the microphone so that you can still hear them, but its distant, they sing "Do you feel cold and lost in devastation? You build up hope but failures all you've know? Remember all the sadness and frustration, and let it go... let it go." The second best thing about this album, next to Wisdom, Justice and Love. Fantastic job, once again Linkin Park
Iridescent gets a 9.9 out of 10.
13. Fallout
Another interlude, basically saying what The Requiem said, what Burning in the Skies said, and what Iridescent said, but in a much eerier voice. It sounds like Mr. King sounded. And we get that same empty atmosphere carrying over.
Fallout does not get a score, because it does not apply.
14. The Catalyst
The fist single off the album, The Catalyst has a very new electronic feel to it. Mike once again kills it, and Chester too. "God bless us everyone we were broken people living under loaded gun, it cant be outfought it cant be outdone it cant be outmatched it cant be outrun no!" The problem with this song is that I don't know what Phoenix (bassist) was doing. And that's a problem. The song itself is very different, even from the rest of the album. And here, "Lift me up, Let me go" appears once again. Thanks Jornada Del Muerto! This is where that apocalypse theme really applies itself. Good song overall, but could have been done a little better. It was missing that special something
The Catalyst gets a 8.6 out of 10.
15. The Messenger
This song could have been beautiful, and in its own right it still sort of is. Chester kind of butchers the vocals though. Way too much strain in his voice in the studio version. "When life leaves us blind, love keeps us kind." It's honestly a nice way to end the album, showing that love will conquer all, and as long as you are with those who you love nothing else matters. It's just Chester really did not convey it as well as he could have. The guitar is really simple (love playing this song), and when playing this song live Chester sings much softer, which sounds at least 10x better. I think an interesting twist would have been Mike singing this, he has the perfect voice for it. But oh well, maybe one live show he will take the mic and give Chester a break. His voice sounds tired, and rightfully so as this is the last song they recorded for the album. The song even sounds tired, but its nice nonetheless.
The Messenger gets a 7.5 out of 10.
In conclusion, this album has something that many modern albums are lacking these days... flow. Every single song in this album feels like it was put in that spot for a reason, and every single song flows beautifully from one to the next with help from the interludes and transitions. The lyrics in this album are the best they have ever written, the artistic design of the album is flawless, the theme is constantly conveyed throughout the album, and though this is the most different thing that Linkin Park has ever done, it is their best. If it wasn't for Meteora (which I will review soon) being the perfect album, this would have been the best album they have made. Meteora defined the Nu-Metal age... just as I think A Thousand Suns will mark change in Linkin Park's future. Think of Hybrid Theory and Meteora as Nu-Metal, Minutes to Midnight as a transition, and A Thousand Suns and Living Things as their own genre. Seriously, there is nothing else like this on the market.
Final Rating for this album:
9.5 out of 10
- Completely different, innovating
- Perfectly mixed
- Sounds and feels creative
- The album feels like one big story rather than a collection of songs. Bravo.
- Some weak elements on some songs keeps this from being #1
As a fan of Linkin Park: If you are still immature and stuck in the Nu-Metal age and are unwilling to accept change.. like many of the critics and fans are... this is not for you. You will hate this. If you appreciate change, and want to listen to an experience rather than a bunch of radio-friendly songs.... This is for you. If you haven't listened to Linkin Park avidly before, this is for you. If you are willing to try new things, this is for you.
As a critic: Completely different, shocked. Listen to a couple songs first (stand-outs like Iridescent, Burning in the Skies, and When They Come for Me would be a good start) and then make your decision. Still a fantastic album.
How it ranks compared to their other albums:
1st place. Meteora
- still overall best album in every area
2nd place. A Thousand Suns
- completely different, but beautifully crafted and a complete album like Meteora.
3rd place. Hybrid Theory
- the bands origins. Some really great songs that were groundbreaking back in the day.
4th place. Living Things
- Using elements of all other albums, this album is a great entry.
5th place. Minutes to Midnight
- a good entry, but this was completely new territory for LP. Some good songs, but still uncertain feel.
A Thousand Suns marches to the beat of its own drum, and in some songs, many of its own drums. I am glad that Linkin Park tried this hard to do something completely different, because it worked. It worked extremely well. It ranks 2nd overall on their studio albums.
Buy it!
Here is Wisdom, Justice, and Love... directly following Iridescent. Enjoy :)
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