Linkin Park: A Thousand Suns

Three years after the release of Minutes to Midnight, Linkin Park has finally released their fourth album A Thousand Suns. The album hit stores on the 14^th of September, with a promise by the band to sound unlike anything they’ve made before. They certainly lived up to their promise.

While the opinion remains whether the album is “good” or not, I’m not shy to say I love their new musical approach. The genre is almost too hard to describe, a seamless blend of hip-hop, alternative rock, pop, techno, electric, and even some screamo. Every song has a different theme.

For fans of Hybrid Theory and Meteora who were hoping for Linkin Park to return to its roots, let me tell you right now you’re going to be disappointed. In some ways A Thousand Suns has distanced itself even further from the old rock/rap style then the previous release Minutes to Midnight did. It’s obvious the band is looking to grow and experiment in their musical style, kudos to them for showing true musicianship

I don’t write without understanding the sentiment of older fans, and how they feel “betrayed” by such a dramatic shift in the band’s music. I myself was a bit taken back when Minutes to Midnight was released; I was even a bit angry from the sudden change. But I love Linkin Park regardless, and in the end many of the songs grew on me much like the songs on A Thousand Suns are now.

For those who are newer fans of Linkin Park, or never heard of them you should give this album a try. If you liked Minutes to Midnight, or are a fan of techno/rock/hip-hop then you will definitely enjoy it. A great example of the 3 genres blending together is in the song When They Come For Me, which is track number five on the album. Aside from the variety, it really feels like they had fun writing the music, and all the songs have heart. And when it’s all done, some of the tracks might move you.

A really good song on the album is called Waiting For The End, which is track eight. It starts off with Mike Shinoda rapping alongside an upbeat rock/hip-hop background accompaniment. Chester soon joins in, and the song shifts to a ballad in the core of the song. “I know what it takes to move on. I know how it feels to lie. All I want to do is trade this life for something new,” Chester says. These words resonate deeply.

The only downfall of the album is that while there appears to be 15 songs, there is in reality only 9. Six of the tracks are short interludes or introductions to the next song. These tracks are number 1, 2, 4, 7, 11, and 13.

It’s doubtful that Linkin Park will ever go back to their roots; they are too busy experimenting with and enjoying the art of creating music. It may take some fans time to get used to, but I think that’s the goal. We can’t keep comparing every new album they release with Hybrid Theory, because that’s in the past. Of course, that’s only my opinion. Let me know what you think of the new album!

Track List:

1.The Requiem

2.The Radiance

3.Burning In The Skies

4.Empty Spaces

5.When They Come For Me

6.Robot Boy

7.Jornada Del Muer to

8.Waiting For The End

9.Blackout

10.Wretches And Kings

11.Wisdom, Love, And Justice

12.Iridescent

13.Fallout

14.The Catalyst

15.The Messanger