Hidden in my perfectly alphabetised CD
collection, under the letter “B”, are all the Backstreet Boys albums. Yip, back
in the day I was quite the pop princess, not something I like to admit, but we
all have our dark secrets.
My taste in music changed one day in 2001. I
was lazing in front of the telly, like most matriculants do, watching MTV, when
on came a band called Linkin Park. I loved the combination of the screaming
vocals and rap, not to mention the sound of the electric guitar.
What started out with Linkin Park progressed
to Korn, Rob Zombie, Slipknot, Disturbed, Apocalyptica and Amon Amarth – to
name a few bands known by the average person.
While I was introduced to a world of wonderful
bands, Linkin Park held a special place for me and I remained a great fan. Hybrid Theory and Meteora benchmarked Linkin Park as a nu-metal band, taking music to a new
level with their brilliant and unique sound.
Then came Minutes
To Midnight. While the album wasn’t a complete disaster, it wasn’t the
band’s best attempt either. But, I reasoned, no band can bring out masterpieces
all the time. Korn’s Korn III: Remember
Who You Are and Marilyn Manson’s High
End Of The Low are good examples.
However, the release of A Thousand Suns was like an asteroid the size of Texas hitting Earth. Enough said.
Living Things review
When I first heard Linkin Park was bring out a new
album I cringed ever so slightly.
One of my favourite online music webzine,
Music Review, reviewed the album and gave it 85/100, stating that “LIVING THINGS is the band at its finest in years…”. The reviewer included that the group
has (constantly) reaffirmed that they’ve moved away from the nu-metal sound. So
I wasn’t expecting the Linkin Park that was.
The first three songs were listenable and it gave me
the hope that I would be clicking on the ‘Like’ button on Linkin Park’s
Facebook page. The tracks that followed made me realise that never again will I
click that ‘Like’ button.
A complete overkill on the electronic sounds, which
drowns out Chester Bennington’s vocals on some parts, made me want to bounce
the ball in mockery. Other songs made me want to take out the album and recheck
that it really is Linkin Park and not some boy band from my previous life.
Perhaps Linkin Park should contact Wade Robson to choreograph some synchronised
moves for them during their next tour.
Both Chester Bennington and Mike Shinoda have insanely
brilliant voices. Mr Hahn clearly still got the moves and Rob, Brad and Phoenix
are still masters in their respective instruments. The lyrics to the songs are
still deep and meaningful, but the sound is awful.
I remember the last time I bought a Backstreet Boys
album. I listened to the first two songs then shoved it in my CD collection and
forgot about it. The same will happen to Linkin Park, the exception being that
I listened to Living Things twice
(all the way through).
Living
Things is a sad reminder of a band that was and will never
be again – and I can’t get over it.
Listenable tracks: Lost In Echo, In My Remains, Burn
It Down – skip to track 7 – Victimized – eject CD.
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