I only reluctantly remember the day a friend pointed out the "cool and new album by Linkin Park" to me. A time full of pain, disappointment, and misunderstanding flooded my life and left me in despair.
Now comes the nasty part of the story: "Hey, I have a cool and new album by Linkin Park for you!". Fear sweat spreads, and I start to panic and create an escape plan, but it was too late: "Linkin Park – Living Things" was on my computer, and I had to get back to work...great! I expect a new time of pain, disappointment, and misunderstanding. Why does this person hate me so?
After I verbally annihilated the predecessor "A Thousand Suns" and filed it away in my mind, I am quite surprised at how much less crap I find this album here. How did that happen? And why only "less crap"? Could it be possible that the guys from Los Angeles read my review and decided: "Now let's make him happy for a change"?
Well, it's not quite like that. But read for yourself:
LP have by no means abandoned their new direction. This means that there is still some poppy nonsense present, which unfortunately is also underlined by some electronic rubbish. The sound of this band still sounds so sterile that if you could transfer this purity to your own floor, you could eat off the carpet. Linkin Park sound tame, conformist, and as little like what once defined and made them popular. The instruments have given way to the keyboard players (who even ruin the "positive points" discussed below), the aggressiveness to the vocals, and the energy to lethargy. It seems as if suddenly a lot of value is placed on securing as many appearances on MTV, VIVA, or other channels as possible to continue milking the cash cow that is gasping for breath from pain.
Of course, one might rightly think at this point that I could have saved myself the effort and just inserted my old review again. I could have, but I actually found a few positive things…
First of all: Chester is back (noticeably)! Even though his screaming and yelling no longer has the intensity it had, for example, in "Hybrid Theory", it feels good to find a bit of roughness among all the soft stuff and to (with a lot of work) remember the older times.
Secondly: There are a few (but not many!) places where there are again some decent rap inserts that actually stick in your ear. This at least somewhat fulfills the crossover status that a few radical fans still want to artificially maintain.
Thirdly: The song “Victimized“. Even though it sounds very crappy and extremely repulsive (because it's poppy) in the first few seconds, the song develops a damn good momentum. Because after a few moments, "Linkin Park" finally starts to shine through again. There is screaming, rapping, and the now dusty instruments have been unpacked again. Nice! Unfortunately, the song is only 1:46 minutes long, so the fun is over quickly...
Is that it? The magical moment that makes one realize that improvement is in sight? The long-awaited positive turning point for a band that needs it more than ever?
It would be desirable! Because among my positive points, there is still enough material that bothered me in "A Thousand Suns". The goal is therefore not yet achieved.
But if the band continues at this pace, we might expect a silver disc worthy of the name "Linkin Park" after about 5 new albums.
Until then, only friends of pop culture will enjoy the disc. Followers of the old Linkin Park style either adapt their musical taste or continue to wait eagerly for what will happen in the future.
For my part, I give the good intentions and positive surprises an extra point, but it truly isn't enough for more.
