I'm gonna say it now, if the new album has even a fifth of the emotion of "catapult" it'll be one of the best albums the band has ever done.
I'm happy with this. The one thing I'm still concerned about is that (assuming they do go down a more stripped back, acoustic route), I could very easily see them putting out an album where, apart from the overall sound and writing process, most of the songs end up being fairly safe. I really hope they continue to push themselves, I would be really, really excited for a more stripped back LP album, but at the back of my mind I can't help but realise that it's a genre that the band might... slip into too comfortably? If that makes any sense? As in, they might come up with an album's worth of great songs in the WID/BID/UIG/FM sort of style, and apart from the fact that they'd be more acoustic-y, the album wouldn't have anything particularly unexpected. Just a feeling I had, I don't think this will be the case but I'll stay cautiously optimistic. It's just that this kind of sound can sometimes lend itself towards "safer" songs. If they can pull off a soft, stripped back sound and give us something unexpected though? Then oh boy, we're in for a hell of a treat. Of course, we don't know if that's even the style they're looking at. Either way, I'm very happy with this, despite my concerns, I'm more excited for this than I was two years ago when they told us they were going back to a heavier sound. I just don't want to get too excited yet so I need to vent out any little worries I have.
I don't know why but something is telling me that LP is going into mainstream. Since the music is going to be soft and not heavy ... Maybe...
I think that just because the songs are piano and acoustic guitars now, does not mean that's what the record will sound like. Six months from now, it will all sound completely different, maybe not even recognizable to what they're making now. I imagine once they finish vocals, then they start to add on the layers of guitars, electronics, strings, etc. I want to have at least one song on this album where Phoenix really shines, either on Bass, Cello, or something else.
So, chances are that LP is really doing an acoustic record. I'd be SO happy with this choice! Not only it's a great way to follow up an heavy album (the "calm" after the "storm"), but it's a style where the band only scratched the surface. And everytime they did, I loved it: The Messenger, Final Masquerade Acoustic, the folk influences in Castle Of Glass. Hype train coming soon!
I wouldn't say the record will especially turn into an acoustic one though. Lot of layers could and probably will be added. But at the very least, all signs till now (the melody-centered approach, acoustic guitar and piano demos, Chester soulful vocals, Jon Green in the studio, the chill studio pics, etc.) point to a very ... "relaxing" sound. Would be kind of cool to have a first one without screaming / rap. And I do love those elements in their sound, but good for a change!
If at this point they don't know what direction the album would be in, I hope they're taking their time in making the album, even if it takes a few years to do it. Releasing it within the year seems too close.
Personally, I think he'll do one or two songs, like how Emile Haynie worked on one song for "The Hunting Party".
I would be disappointed if the album had no screaming or rap. I find it very hard to believe the whole album will be soft and acoustic, the band was formed on the concept of a 'hybrid theory' of different styles, and I don't think this album will be any different.
Oh boy oh boy oh boy it's that time again. Rapping is the worst aspect of Linkin Park's music and it should be dropped completely. All vocals provided by Shinoda should be sung.