Intense secrecy. Security guards lingering. Restricted listening sessions for reviewers. Those are just a few of the precautions the band and the folks at Warner Bros. have taken to ensure that no one heard Meteora, the new disc by LINKIN PARK before the band and the label were damn good and ready to let it be heard. You know, it's a good thing they made us wait, because it was well worth it. Meteora is a great disc. Is it going to sell ten million copies like Hybrid Theory did? We shall see.
With that said, I'll immediately tell you that I think they chose the wrong song as the first single. "Somewhere I Belong" is a cool song, but there are stronger tracks on the disc. I hate to say that about a song that frontmen Chester Bennington and Mike Shinoda apparently wrote FORTY choruses for before deciding on the final one, but I just don't think it's the strongest track on the disc. Now, if this is a strategy they're using to ensure some sales longevity, then great. Fine. They'll release one song that's "pretty good" as a single, and then release two or three more singles that really smack you upside the head to make sure the record keeps selling as the band continues to tour.
The most obvious thing about Meteora is the work that went into it. Everything from the packaging, to the enhanced CD content, to the bonus DVD that includes 'making of' footage and exclusive content. None of that means anything however, without great songs...and these guys worked their asses off on those as well. "Easier To Run" is a great track; Chester sings his ass off, and Mike Shinoda's raps are very tastefully added. The main riff in "Figure.09" is reminiscient of "One Step Closer", down to Bennington's screaming and Joe Hahn's scratching during the bridge...which is fine; they know what works. The key is not to do that with EVERY song (bands will do that and shoot themselves in the foot...*ahem*...*cough*...DEF...uh...LEPPARD...). "Breaking The Habit" is another stellar track with a beautiful chorus, live strings and piano. Bennington can really dig deep into his gut and churn out some very raw, amazing melodies, and that's going to help these guys tremendously with every song they write. The best writing comes from raw emotion; Whether it's misery, or anger, or love...powerful emotions craft powerful songs.
While they have a signature sound, they don't seem to stick to a formula. They experimented with a Japanese flute on "Nobody's Listening"
The end result of LINKIN PARK's hard work on Meteora is thirteen tracks from six guys who have matured substantially as artists since emerging three years ago. Again, is it going to sell ten million copies? Who knows? ...if it doesn't, it's going to get damn close.
