As I said back in 2017, and I still feel today: "One More Light" is their most underrated album. Many people brushed it off because of its "radio-friendly" vibe, but honestly, it's got some of the band's best tracks and songwriting. Take out the pop elements and put this album in a different genre, and everyone would've been talking about how good the songs were. I guarantee it. Unfortunately, some fans and the public missed the fact that Linkin Park always had pop and radio-friendly elements in their music, which is a big part of why they were so successful. The only track I tend to skip is "Good Goodbye" because it doesn't quite fit in with the rest. If the album came out today, I'd replace that song with "Friendly Fire." I really hope Linkin Park's new music is anything but safe. Some fans who can't accept the band without Chester will probably hate it no matter what. I just want this album to be as bold and unexpected as A Thousand Suns. They shouldn't worry about pleasing everyone; this is their chance to show they're still as creative as ever.
Hi everyone. I think this is the 1st time since before Covid that I've signed in, let alone posted. I logged in to say my honest thoughts. Missed you and here. I'm not excited. I don't want a new vocalist, even though I suggested it way back in 2017 i think. Why? I won't be Chester. It won't be Linkin Park. I refused to listen to any Blink 182 songs after Tom Delonge left and only started again after he returned. Blink with Tom/Mark/Travis isn't Blink. I'd just listen to the new singer and never be able to get past, "hey your not Chester" it to me, would be a bad impression/dub when listening to there hits. It would sound off. Even if they played exclusively new materiel, that would be, in one way better, but also worse as a Linkin Park concert without the classic hits would be bad, or feel off. So in my opinion I'd much, much prefer them to just start an entirely new band with a different name and carry on. I'd have no issue with that. Glad the members are apparently making money which is good. By the way odd question is Rob not involved? I could swear one of the news posts said he wasn't or something and that implies he's not on board.
Ha I tend to skip Good Goodbye most too! Every album has one song I dislike with distance for some reason. It's tradition! I saw some talk about Bobby Amaru on LP Live, was he considered here yet? And could it be? Really liked his cover and appearance on the Already Over session! I will avoid all socials with a passion to avoid the haters after the reveal btw. If it's something to my liking I don't want it all spoiled by the trolls!
Bobby has been brought up since he posted he was in LA on Instagram. Not long after the rumors were gaining steam he made an Instagram story saying he isn't the new singer. With Rob being a social media hermit it's kind of difficult to tell. I'd take any speculation about Rob with a massive grain of salt. We'll probably find out on Thursday.
If Joe is involved, there's a good chance Rob is as well. Initially, when Billboard first reported that the band was potentially looking to book tour dates, they said that Dave, Brad, and Mike were putting out feelers. This is where the rumor began that Rob (and possibly Joe) were no longer in the band. Given that Joe shared the countdown, it seems likely that all of the original surviving members will be involved. Also, Rob has never been one for the press and has mostly kept to himself since Chester passed. He's done this so much to the point that it's become a running joke that he's missing. This is where all the speculation is coming from.
When the OML stems leaked, it became abundantly clear the album suffered from a very bad mix. There's a lot in the tracks that are just absolutely buried and straight up inaudible that would have greatly improved the songs. For example, the layers of Mike and Chester harmonies in NCSM, the loads of very folksy guitar that doesn't exist in others, the tubular bells in Halfway Right. There's an inherently poppy sound to the album which I get folks aren't into and may feel that they didn't break new ground. But the pop sound is something they never truly went fully into until then, so it was still new ground. The biggest thing I take away from the album is the absolutely massive step up in lyrics. LP has always had issues of being lyrically vague, from wanting to make them accessible to everyone, to tap into angst, or just to fall back into familiar tropes. How many times do they reference being a soldier in an army? How often are they lashing out at a vague "you"? Is there a lie? Some greed? Where the misery? OML is lyrically their most transparently personal album. Sorry For Now is a song from Mike to his kids. Halfway Right is Chester straight up narrating his past. One More Light is about the loss of someone that happened DURING the recording cycle. That's where I found the power of the record. It was blunt, honest, and came from a very personal place where the other albums never got close to, without veils.
This is my problem with some songs of OML. Not saying it's a bad thing but it's harder for me to connect to songs with such especific lyrics. I love the songs but they don't mean that much to me compared to others (except OML for obvious reasons). Other problem I have it's that lack of Mike rapping in this album. All we have it's 1 verse on a joke song. I would love if the band did some Reanimation type of thing with this album. I'm so curious and excited about the music direction of the band for this comeback, especially if it's with a new member. Personally, I would love some kind of heavier ATS music, but I take anything over nothing at all.
HOT TAKE: Mike's rapping has been pretty meh since LT, even through PT. I prefer him singing than rapping at this point. Too many kings and soldiers and firing guns at people who are going to get what they deserve.
I think rhythmically Mike's raps have gotten way better since like 2010, but lyric-wise I agree they've been a bit repetitive and the imagery is just kinda...meh.
Just because a song has a certain lyrical subject, doesn't automatically make it good. IMO Sorry For Now is boring, has no replay value, squeaking vocals sound funny, and I won't comment on Chester's rapping out of respect for him. For me the best songs have a mix of abstract and personal meaning like Burning In The Skies or the Final Masquerade chorus.
In regards to connecting to relatable lyrics: lyrics speak to me, but at a certain point I don't need them to enjoy or connect to a song. For example, I certainly don't relate to any of Mars Volta's tracks, or even know what the fuck they're actually talking about 3/4 of the time but holy shit they write some good tunes.
Lyrically, yeah, I can see the point made for OML. I think I liked that a lot about it at the time. Felt more personal and vulnerable. It makes me feel like the band would have had some untapped success with more exercise in that direction. I like getting as close to completely relating to a song as anyone, but there was something about OML that felt like it was a therapeutic step forward for the outfit.
I never had issues with people disliking or hating OML. After all, I dislike some Linkin Park albums more than others. What I took issue with, and still take issue with, was how they handled that hate. Rather than say, "Yuck, this isn't for me at all," and accept that the next album will likely be different anyway, they become vicious, vitriolic, and downright cruel. Chester, who was already in a fragile mental state, had to deal with increasingly hostile personal attacks that eventually made him snap in public towards those jerks, humiliating him when news websites and even other artists (Corey Taylor) commented on it. When you're depressed like that and humiliate yourself, you take the shame of those humiliations so much deeper. Mike has already said that the adverse reaction to OML really bothered Chester. And then those same people and publications that trashed Linkin Park for going pop posted mea culpa's about how they acted. It was shameful and disgusting. The band never owed anybody a particular sound, and believe me; I will not be friendly to any people who decide to be ugly towards Linkin Park for continuing on. Not liking the fact they are is fine, but if anyone is extremely nasty towards the band, I'll let them have it.
You didn’t like Living Things? I always find it interesting when people who likes the first 4 albums didn’t like Living Things because Living Things to me feels like all 4 of those albums combined into one. I know this is a hot take but that reason alone is likely why Living Things is my favorite Linkin Park album. It has everything in it. Blink-182 with Tom is my favorite band of all time. And I did this with Blink as well. but what makes Linkin Park different for me is Mike to me feels such a different presence to the band that I’m willing to give it a shot. Whereas Tom and Mark and Matt Skiba all sound similar enough to each other that I didn’t like the idea. Tom is also my favorite musician of all time. it’s weird that I never gave Blink with Skiba a chance, never gave Real Friends without Dan a chance, but am willing to give this a chance. I think part of it is the death whereas the others were just kicked out or self inflicted leaving.
Lol, for some reason I remember before the title for the album A Thousand Suns was confirmed and was only just a rumored possibility, you were so disappointed in that you hoped that it wasn't going to be named that because you thought it was bland title. I was just thinking about it the other day, and that was like 15 years ago, and you mentioning the album title now just made me revisit that thought.
anywho, what do you guys think a new LP album would sound like? I feel with Mike's recent rock / punk-ish look and sound and enough heavy subject matter to write about for the past 7 years we could be looking at some kind of mix between MtM, ATS and a splash of Already over.
Living Things is an identity crisis of an album to me, and the back is the better half by a long shot. It's like they couldn't decide between Mike's electronic ideas and Brad's folky ones so they said "sure both". But the electronic ones weren't as good. If it was all in on the back half it would probably trump MTM for me.
I'd like to bring a more nuanced view to this. Personally, I don't mind the pop direction that much. Invisible is an excellent pop song. The lyrics on that record are probably their most mature and intimate ones to date, no question. But there are simply a lot of decisions on OML - in the soundscape, in the composition, in the performance, and even in the melodies - that didn't do it for me. For example : "Sorry for Now" has a lot of potential, but I just honestly find the "chipmunks" sounds... not pleasant. The melodies/vocal performances on tracks like "Battle Symphony" or ""Sharp Edges" are some of my less favorite in their whole catalog. Can't really put words on why. There was also the multiple co-writer thingy. Not a fan of that approach, honestly. Some may disagree, but I think it takes some of the core alchemy of the band away. Same thing on THP with a track like Rebellion. Cool track, but there is no kidding Daron had a big role in writing it. I don't mind them writing out their comfort zone, but I'd prefer them to stick to their own ideas. All of that to say., I am one of those who think OML is not so good, but it doesn't really have anything to do with it being pop or radio-friendly ^^