Linkin Park - Meteora
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Free Music Notes for Meteora
Free Music Review: Linkin Park at their finest
Hit: 5 Stars
I went to my local music store today and looked around. I was thinking, "well, I have 20 bucks and I could get anything." So I looked around some more and I basically wanted something very mainstream with some hip-hop mixed in with rock. I looked no further than the Linkin Park section. I found Meteora and immediatly bought it. Don't get me wrong, this is good quality mainstream, but if you hate any form of hip-hop or rap, I wouldn't buy this album because some of it is rap-rock influenced. Anyways onto the review.As soon as I popped this in my Aiwa Portable CD Player, and heard the first REAL song (not the first track), I was hooked. The bass and guitars roar in your headphones if you have good ones and the production quality of the CD is overall polished. The first track, Don't Stay opens with monster riffs that are so awesome that you'll be blown away if you have your volume up loud. The cool little intro to Don't Stay is nice, as it builds up higher and higher to the point where they start singing and it gets quiet, then goes on rocking away. Nice use of lyrics and rhyming by Chester (Lead vocalist).
(One thing I noticed is that Mike doesn't sing too much on this track, so all you Chester lovers, don't skip this track.)
As that track was over, the next track rolled on, Somewhere I belong. As you all probably know, this is one of their "radio hits, and its definately catchy, from the beginning of the scratching and the piano which in my opinion, sounds beautiful, to the harder parts in the song such as halfway into the song as Chester screams his throat out. Nice rapping by Mike. Kudos to Mike, again, for the scratches.
The track finally faded off and on came the next track, Lying From You, which is definately one of the harder songs on here. Weird intro to the song with Mike being the DJ, then onto the killer riffs and back to the weird little sound that Mike does with his DJ equipment. Mike's rapping in this one is reminiscent of Figure.09. Chesters screams get truly deep in this song as the track tends to get harder in guitar riffs.
Hit The Floor is a cool little rapish song near the beginning, then Chester kicks in and screams his heartfelt lyrics out, then kicking back to Mike's rapping and scratches. This song reminds me of way back when in Hybrid Theory of the song Papercut. Very fun to listen to. Kudos to the nice DJing.
Easier To Run starts out very slow and soft, gradually building up to being one of the most melodic tracks on here. If you liked Crawling and such by the way back when, you will most likely enjoy this track. Personally, I think it's a very relaxed, and layed back track to lay back and daze off to. Good melody here.
Faint is the first song I have heard from Linkin Parks new album, and it was a very good one indeed. Nice use of the looped little violin soloish thing. Chester's voice is especially good on this song and Mikes rapping is essential on this song. Without it, this song would be nothing but a rock track that would be "missing" that special touch. Great track overall, especially if you're just getting into Linkin Park.
Figure.09 was another of my favorites when I first heard it. Following right after Faint, it blends in nicely to the track transition and has a sick beat and intro riff to it. Very catchy and melodic. Definately a song to check out if you're into Chester more than Mike. Good chorus, "Now you've become a part of meeee." I can't get that out of my head.
Breaking The Habit is a boring song to me with nothing special to spark me up and say, "wow that was an awesome track." I don't like the intro to it and I never did like the riffs. Although some of it is a little catchy in the beginning, it's nowhere near good enough to be called a "superb track."
From The Inside was a cool song with a very nice intro to the song with the riffs smashing down on the listener and then breaking into Chester's "singing" voice. Mike raps along with Chester in this one and they both get their share in singing in this song. The chorus has an exploding riff and its so catchy that I have to put this song on repeat.
Nobody's Listening is...well...I don't like this song. VERY rap influenced. Mike raps most of the time here and there is a flute in the background. No guitars and no drumming 'till the end. Very boring, although the beat gets me nodding my head....
Session is a wicked awesome instrumental and all the scratches and drumming and such is fantastic. Mike does a good job being the DJ here and mixing things. Very nice beat/tune overall.
That just leaves Numb, my ABSOLUTE favorite on this CD. This song is EXTREMELY catchy and chances are, most people have heard it. The intro to it is very nice, going on to the most catchy, melodic guitar riff ever! Mikes rapping and Chesters screaming fit perfectly on this track. Kudos to the bass player for giving us some very good bass throughout this song and the whole album for that. Do not skip over this track.
Even though the CD clocks in at 36:41, it's still excellent quality. Wouldn't you rather have quality over quanity. Plus, there are NO filler tracks which is EXCELLENT. Great CD to own if you're a Linkin Park fan or if you are just discovering them. Now I leave buying the album up to you....
Free Music Review: Linkin Park: Still kickin' bum
Hit: 5 Stars
When I first heard of Linkin Park's Second Album (Reanimation not counted as an album, just a collection, IMO), I was so pumped. Hybrid Theory was amazing. Although once I heard Meteora, I found Hybrid Theory to be more 'trendy' than Meteora in a way, but still, both albums are unforgettable classics. Meteora is more of a step towards the metal genre, with much heavier songs than on Hybrid Theory, but the rap element still remains strong throughout the album. Some people may think the songs sound the same as on Hybrid Theory, and to them I say this: Meteora sounds a bit like Hybrid Theory because IT'S THE SAME KIND OF FREAKIN' MUSIC! Here's a breakdown of the songs for you:Foreword/Don't Stay: I count Foreword along with Don't Stay, just cause that's me. Anyway, Don't Stay is the album's opener. It is a hard hitting, heavy, fast track with a great performance by Chester. The lyrics are not as deep as the other songs, but it is still an excellent track. My personal favourite on the album. Rating: 5/5
Somewhere I Belong: The first single off of Meteora. A good choice by Linkin Park. It's not as in your face as Don't Stay, but it is much deeper than it. Somewhere I Belong is a good all around track, but is just between Linkin Park's heavy stuff, and their emotional stuff, giving it a new sound to it, which makes it stand out. Rating: 4.5
Lying From You: A heavy rap-track. Lying From You is an exceptional song. Although slow, I find it to be a part of their heavier stuff, since the lyrics don't cut so deep as the up and coming tracks. Another fave of mine, this one is yet again, exceptional. Rating: 5/5
Hit The Floor: Another good one. This one reminds me of Papercut from Hybrid Theory, it's how Mike sings his parts. This in mind, its a heavier track than Lying From You, and seems to have an element that gives it a unique sound to it. A great listen. Rating: 4.5/5
Easier To Run: To me, this one sounds much like Crawling from Hybrid Theory. Although more people say Numb sounds more like Crawling, I disagree. This is the first of Linkin Park's deeper tracks on this album. It has another element Linkin Park is known for, slow and heavy songs. Easier To Run may be a track some people might not listen to, due to its lack of rap and speed. But it is one of my favourites as well. However, overall, it could be a bit better. Rating: 4/5
Faint: Best track on the album according to tons of people. Fast, deep and has a great sample playing over it. The classical instruments add to the song greatly. This one has deep lyrics that many people, teens mainly, can relate to. The second single from Meteora, an excellent choice for it. Rating: 5/5
Figure.09: Sounds more like a hip-hop track, with the sampling. Also, Chester sings this one rather than scream it, moreless. His part during the bridge is screamed, but still, this track has a new sound that doesn't seem to match anything from Hybrid Theory. Rating: 5/5
Breaking The Habit: Another track that has a new style to it. The fastest track on the album, as far as singing goes. It is also a track where Chester does little screaming, and more singing, which gives it the new style I am talking about. Good track all around. More of an emotional song as opposed to a heavy one. Rating: 5/5
From The Inside: This one is also a new style. It is a slow, heavy song. The song is sung by both Chester and Mike in a duet, meaning they are singing a line or two of each verse of the song. With lyrics that hit deep, but not so much as Numb or Breaking The Habit, it has its own style that sets it far apart from the rest. Rating: 4.5/5
Nobody's Listening: A very different track. As soon as it begins, you'll notice the Japanese flute playing. This song also has more of a hip-hop element to it. Chester only sings the chorus of the song. Mike takes care of the rest, and does it, as usual, very well. Rating: 4.5/5
Session: This one is an intrumental. With a variety of all the band's instruments, this instrumental has more to it than just Joe Hahn going nuts on the scratch table. Howeverm this in mind, Joe Hahn's crazy scratch techniques prevail over Session. Although a more combined effort, it lacks something, making it a forgettable track, albeit a good one. Rating: 4/5
Numb: You want a song that knows what kind of crap is going through your mind? This is it. An excellent end to a kick ass album. Numb, the third single for Meteora, soon to be released. Has the emotional edge that has also made Linkin Park famous. It cuts straight through you, well, at least for me. This song has a sound much like Crawling and Pushing Me Away, but with the keyboard playing in it, it sends this song right to the top of the album, even though its last on the CD. Rating: 5/5
Overall Rating: 5/5
While some songs are lacking some things, it really doesn't matter. The album blends together so well, that you barely notice it. This album, in my opinion, was perfect for Linkin Park. Heavier than Hybrid Theory, it would've probably been a great debut metal album, but then, Hybrid Theory probably wouldn't have done so well, but thats just my opinion. Linkin Park knows what their fans like to hear, and are one hell of a group. I hope the next album is twice as good as this one.
Free Music Review: Meteora Rocks!
Hit: 5 Stars
Meteora is Linkin Park's second album after Hybrid Theory (unless you count Reanimation, which I DON'T). Their new stuff is a lot heavier and darker, with most lyrics being about betrayal, loss, and making wrong choices. This CD also contains a colored booklet with some cool art, lyrics, and info on the songs. And If you put it in your computer, you can see "The Art of Meteora", an interesting documentry on Meteora's art work, and the music video of "Somewhere I Belong".
Here are the songs you can expect to hear on the album:
Intro: Totally unnecessary. Just the sound of rain, and a glass bottle shattering. Did not need to be a seperate track. 0/10
Don't Stay: A very hard and fast pace song along the lines of One Step Closer. The guitar work by Brad Delson is very impressive and the DJ scratching is cool. The vocals are very good as well. My only complaint is this song's close similarity to One Step Closer. 9/10
Somewhere I Belong: A soft song along the lines of In the End. The riff used in the verses is an acoustic guitar effected and played backwards. However, I think the rest of this song is kinda dull. The bridge is pretty cool, but the chorus just gets annoying. I don't like the video very much either. 6/10
Lying From You: Another hard and anger driven song. The verses use what I think is an organ. This song is pretty good, but gets old fast. The bridge would have been bad if it hadn't been for the heavy guitar work that accompanies Mike's rap of "This is isn't what I wanted to be, I never thought that what I said would have you running from me, like this" over and over again. 7/10
Hit the Floor: Wow, Linkin Park's darkest song yet. The grind riff in the backround is eerie and cool accompanied by a variety of precussion. The chorus has some of the best screaming that Chester does on the album. The only thing I don't like is Mike's 'whispering' in the bridge, I feel that Linkin Park could have done something more original. Other than that, this song is awsome! 9/10
Easier to Run: Ugh, my least favorite song on the album. Sounds a lot like 'Runaway'. The verses are very soft and the bridge is very unoriginal and doesn't sport any creativity. The bearable thing about this song is the chorus, where Chester's voice blends perfectly with the guitars. 4/10
Faint: Alright! This is my favorite song on the album! This is probably the fastest song on the album. The verses use cool violins and the chorus sports an awsome guitar riff. I like how the 2nd chorus keeps a kinda 'heroic' theme and then breaks into the bridge's dark tone with Chester's screams. The outro where Chester harmonizes with himself is just awesome! I can't get this song out of my head! Best song on the album! 10/10
Figure.09: A great follow-up to Faint. A pretty heavy song with a cool intro riff and a great chorus. The bridge is also very cool, with Chester screaming between Mike's raps. However, Mike's rapping in the verses sounds a bit dull next to the heavy guitar chords being played in the backround. 9/10
Breaking the Habit: A nice eerie song that uses a lot of effects and other instruments. Chester voice in the verses is quite eerie and melodic. I only wish that the bridge and the chorus sounded a bit heavier, they could have added some guitar work to it. 7/10
From the Inside: A very cool soft song. The chourses are very climatic and sad. The bridge is anger-driven and has some pretty cool screaming and cool guitar riffs. The end of this song has one of the most climatic endings in the album. The only thing I don't like is the line in the verse: "Heavy thoughts shifting through dust, and the lies" that sounds plain wierd when Chester says it. 8/10
Nobody's Listening: A hip-hop song that uses a Japanese flute sample for the entire song. It may sound wierd to some, but I think it's just brilliant how Linkin Park comes up with these things. The chorus uses a bit of bass guitar, but there are NO guitars used in this song. But I don't really like the bridge that has Mike rapping more repetitive verses. 8/10
Session: Ummmm........don't really listen to this, I just skip it. Just a boring instrumetal with digitalized beats and effects.
Numb: A great ending to the album, although it's quite similar to Crawling in regards to the intro and outro riff and the outro chorus. I like the saddness and solemnity of the verses and the sound of despair in the choruses and the bridge. I love how Chester sings "I've, become so numb, I can't feel you there, tired of being what you want me to be" in the outro, it's just heart-wrentching. 9/10
In all, i think that this is a great Linkin Park album and should not be missed by Linkin Park and metal fans.
Free Music Review: 37 Minutes of Gold
Hit: 5 Stars
Meteora is an outstanding new album released by Linkin Park. Whilst being very short in overall length, the album almost completely matches up to their original album favourite, Hybrid Theory. Included in the album are 13 songs.Foreword: Simply a foreword, it blends into the second song quite nicely. Grade: -
Don't Stay: A very nice heavy guitar song to start off with. Conveys the main message of album thoroughly. Very nice mixing work in the background. Also makes notice of Chester's screaming ability. Grade: B
Somewhere I Belong: A rather positive outlook on life. This song has a surprisingly interesting introduction as it gets into the song. The ending is very drawn out and can be repeatative or even annoying at high volume levels. Still this piece is one of my favourites on the album. Grade: A
Lying From You: One of the better songs on the CD for sure. A very offtone song for Linkin Park. The lyrics meld into the song very nicely. Chester proves his singing ability in this song nicely. Grade: A
Hit The Floor: My personal favourite on the CD. I've always been a fan of Chester's singing and Mikes rapping. They're brought together very nicely in this song. The upbeat rock is very catchy, loud but simple. Grade: A+
Easier to Run: Chester has very nice vocals in this piece. The song is one of the calmer pieces on the album. This song shows similar characteristics to Crawling from Hybrid Theory, as it launched into the Chorus, then goes into the first verse. However this piece lost points for me because of its simplicity compared to the other songs on the CD. By itself this song is outstanding. Grade: A-
Faint: This is one of my personal least favourites on the CD. The introduction is downright annoying. It gets better as you delve into the song a little bit, but that annoying introduction keeps popping up. Mikes vocals tie in well with the general tune. Chesters worst song on the CD. Grade: C+
Figure.09: Best guitarwork in this piece. A very typical Linkin Park song. The chorus is very catchy and I find I cannot get it out of my head, however unlike other songs it doesn't become annoying. The title's originality scores points from me. Grade: A
Breaking The Habit: The message in this song is very encouraging. Unfortunately the song is very simple and has another annoying introduction which repeats over and over through the entire song. Perhaps this song would have scored better if it had been a little more intense in the bassline. Vocals are superb, very nice attempt by the band to go in a different direction. Grade: B+
From The Inside: This song reminds me of 'Pushing me Away' from Hybrid Theory, even more so the ReAnimation version. The vocals in this song by both Mike and Chester are among the best in the CD. Definately the most passionate song on the CD, as Chester supplies background vocals to Mikes rapping for a change. Grade: A
Nobody's Listening: A very typical rapping song by Linkin Park. Unfortunately I absolutely loathe this song. Rapping fans will love this. The Japanese flute does something nice to this piece. It's too simple for me with very little guitar, which awarded it the lowest grade on the CD. Grade: C-
Session: Outstanding Instrumental. Reading other reviews, this track hasn't pleased many at all. Drum and Instrumentals have always worked well for me. Mr Hahn's work at its best here with the drumwork. Several steps above Cure for the Itch. This piece is yet to lose its charm for me. Grade: A
Numb: This final piece disappointed me a bit. Possibly because I read so many reviews on it that said it was good, I had my expectations up high. It's a fine piece indeed. Closing nicely with both Chester and Mike showing their best. Unfortunately doesn't stand out as anything too interesting. Grade: B+
Overall Grade: A-
This Album stands out as Linkin Park's equal best next to Hybrid Theory. Although it is only 37 minutes long, there are several songs on it capable of being single hits. I personally would rather have a CD full of good songs than one with one or two good songs on it, and the rest are simply space fillers or money grabbers. This album is a must-have for all fans of Hybrid Theory. Anyone that enjoys rapping and/or heavy guitar work will like this album just as much. The messages conveyed in this album are suited for almost anyone, so there is no particular target audience other than everyone who feels like listening. Worth the Money, worth the time to listen, and well worth a moment of recognition or two.
Free Music Review: 37 Minutes of Gold
Hit: 5 Stars
Meteora is an outstanding new album released by Linkin Park. Whilst being very short in overall length, the album almost completely matches up to their original album favourite, Hybrid Theory. Included in the album are 13 songs.Foreword: Simply a foreword, it blends into the second song quite nicely. Grade: -
Don't Stay: A very nice heavy guitar song to start off with. Conveys the main message of album thoroughly. Very nice mixing work in the background. Also makes notice of Chester's screaming ability. Grade: B
Somewhere I Belong: A rather positive outlook on life. This song has a surprisingly interesting introduction as it gets into the song. The ending is very drawn out and can be repeatative or even annoying at high volume levels. Still this piece is one of my favourites on the album. Grade: A
Lying From You: One of the better songs on the CD for sure. A very offtone song for Linkin Park. The lyrics meld into the song very nicely. Chester proves his singing ability in this song nicely. Grade: A
Hit The Floor: My personal favourite on the CD. I've always been a fan of Chester's singing and Mikes rapping. They're brought together very nicely in this song. The upbeat rock is very catchy, loud but simple. Grade: A+
Easier to Run: Chester has very nice vocals in this piece. The song is one of the calmer pieces on the album. This song shows similar characteristics to Crawling from Hybrid Theory, as it launched into the Chorus, then goes into the first verse. However this piece lost points for me because of its simplicity compared to the other songs on the CD. By itself this song is outstanding. Grade: A-
Faint: This is one of my personal least favourites on the CD. The introduction is downright annoying. It gets better as you delve into the song a little bit, but that annoying introduction keeps popping up. Mikes vocals tie in well with the general tune. Chesters worst song on the CD. Grade: C+
Figure.09: Best guitarwork in this piece. A very typical Linkin Park song. The chorus is very catchy and I find I cannot get it out of my head, however unlike other songs it doesn't become annoying. The title's originality scores points from me. Grade: A
Breaking The Habit: The message in this song is very encouraging. Unfortunately the song is very simple and has another annoying introduction which repeats over and over through the entire song. Perhaps this song would have scored better if it had been a little more intense in the bassline. Vocals are superb, very nice attempt by the band to go in a different direction. Grade: B+
From The Inside: This song reminds me of 'Pushing me Away' from Hybrid Theory, even more so the ReAnimation version. The vocals in this song by both Mike and Chester are among the best in the CD. Definately the most passionate song on the CD, as Chester supplies background vocals to Mikes rapping for a change. Grade: A
Nobody's Listening: A very typical rapping song by Linkin Park. Unfortunately I absolutely loathe this song. Rapping fans will love this. The Japanese flute does something nice to this piece. It's too simple for me with very little guitar, which awarded it the lowest grade on the CD. Grade: C-
Session: Outstanding Instrumental. Reading other reviews, this track hasn't pleased many at all. Drum and Instrumentals have always worked well for me. Mr Hahn's work at its best here with the drumwork. Several steps above Cure for the Itch. This piece is yet to lose its charm for me. Grade: A
Numb: This final piece disappointed me a bit. Possibly because I read so many reviews on it that said it was good, I had my expectations up high. It's a fine piece indeed. Closing nicely with both Chester and Mike showing their best. Unfortunately doesn't stand out as anything too interesting. Grade: B+
Overall Grade: A-
This Album stands out as Linkin Park's equal best next to Hybrid Theory. Although it is only 37 minutes long, there are several songs on it capable of being single hits. I personally would rather have a CD full of good songs than one with one or two good songs on it, and the rest are simply space fillers or money grabbers. This album is a must-have for all fans of Hybrid Theory. Anyone that enjoys rapping and/or heavy guitar work will like this album just as much. The messages conveyed in this album are suited for almost anyone, so there is no particular target audience other than everyone who feels like listening. Worth the Money, worth the time to listen, and well worth a moment of recognition or two.