Linkin Park: A Thousand Suns | Teen Ink

Linkin Park: A Thousand Suns MAG

November 3, 2010
By Anonymous

With the release of its latest album, “A Thousand Suns,” it is clear that Linkin Park needs to return to its roots.

The band's first two albums, “Hybrid Theory” and “Meteora,” featured a blend of rap, nu-metal, and alternative metal. The “hybrid theory” the band referred to was their fusion of rap and rock. Unfortunately, only three songs on “A Thousand Suns” include rapping from front man Mike Shinoda, and only two feature screaming from Chester Bennington, both staples on the first two records.

Starting with its third album, “Minutes to Midnight,” and continuing with this one, Linkin Park has tried to diversify, but it has taken it a bit too far. Although I can't say every track is terrible on “A Thousand Suns,” I do believe the group is losing its edge.

“A Thousand Suns” is a concept album, a first for Linkin Park, and I give the group credit for that, as it displays views on politics that I'm sure many would agree with. Some songs even feature speeches by American political figures.

The new direction of the album is also reflected in its styles of music. The hard rap, metal, and rock the band became famous for has nearly disappeared, with many of the these songs going for either a softer, melodic feel or a techno/pop vibe. Both Shinoda and Bennington sing – as seen in the first single, “The Catalyst” – but sadly they use tuners on their voices. The band has gone in a new direction, using electric drumbeats and incorporating more piano. At some points it's hard to tell you are even listening to Linkin Park.

In my opinion, the new techno/pop vibe is not good; “The Catalyst” is repetitive and boring, and most of the songs don't fit the sound the group is known for. The softer singing really brings down the energy level that gave Linkin Park its following.

But not everything is awful, Two tracks – “Blackout” and “Wretches and Kings” – show flashes of the old group. Additionally, “Waiting for the End,” a reggae-style song, and “When They Come for Me,” one of the songs featuring rapping, are a surprisingly enjoyable change from the band's usual sound. Sadly, if these songs had been on the earlier releases by Linkin Park, they might have been considered inferior.

It is understandable that the band is trying to broaden its horizons (lyrics from “When They Come for Me” state “Once you have the theory of how the thing works, everybody wants the next thing to be just like the first”), but I believe a return to its roots would be a wise move for Linkin Park's next project.



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This article has 4 comments.


on Sep. 5 2012 at 11:10 am
MarieAntoinette2014 DIAMOND, Scottsburg, Indiana
54 articles 2 photos 237 comments

Favorite Quote:
Isn't it ironic? We ignore the ones who adore us, adore the ones who ignore us, love the ones who hurt us, and hurt the ones that love us.

Agree with the author.

on Jan. 19 2012 at 9:31 pm
alanclarke714 PLATINUM, Kuna, Idaho
35 articles 0 photos 14 comments

Favorite Quote:
"...All you have to decide, is what to do with the time that is given to you." -Gandalf

I agree; this is their most creative and interesting album yet. I will always love Meteora, but A Thousand Suns is phenomenal

on Dec. 14 2011 at 3:28 pm
gabby0311 SILVER, Omaha, Nebraska
6 articles 0 photos 3 comments
I disagree with your opinion. I think this is Linkin Park's best album yet and I hope they continiue in this direction. Their album before this one wasn't very good at all, in my opinion. My favorites on the album are Burning in the Skies, Robot Boy, Iridescent, and The Catalyst.

Xeonius SILVER said...
on Jan. 23 2011 at 6:44 pm
Xeonius SILVER, Portland, Oregon
5 articles 0 photos 8 comments

Favorite Quote:
"The only thing we have to fear is fear itself."- Franklin Delano Roosevelt

Agreed, Anonymous.  Linkin Park was always something that I wanted to see branch out into different things, but I'm not very psyched about this.