Best to Worst: Album Openers and Closers

Discussion in 'Linkin Park Chat' started by Blake, May 19, 2017.

  1. #1
    Blake

    Blake Leave a Trace LPA Super Member

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    With this new album out, it got me thinking about all of Linkin Park's albums and how much of an impact starting off and ending an album make on the overall product. I'm creating this thread to see how people rank the album openers and closers of all 7 Linkin Park Albums. My own opinion has been moved to page 2 but I'm sure this thread makes sense :)

    LPA COLLECTIVE TIER LIST

    Hello everyone. Thank you for participating in this thread so far :)
    I am taking @Mark 's idea and using a mathematical equation to generate an "LPA tier list."
    So here are the results as of @TobinKnowsBest 's post and I will keep editing the results as more votes come in.

    ALBUM OPENERS:
    1. The Requiem/The Radiance/Burning In the Skies- 257 points.
    2. Papercut- 234 points.
    2. Lost In the Echo- 234 points. [Up 1 spot]

    4. Nobody Can Save Me- 176 points.
    5. Wake/Given Up- 171 points.
    6. Keys to the Kingdom- 153 points.
    7. Foreword/Don't Stay- 99 points.

    ALBUM CLOSERS:
    1. The Little Things Give You Away- 250 points.
    2. A Line In the Sane- 214 points.
    3. Powerless- 187 points.
    4. Sharp Edges- 173 points.
    5. Pushing Me Away- 151 points.
    6. The Messenger- 143 points.
    7. Numb- 135 points.

    MOST COMMON PLACING BY SONG:

    Papercut- 1st Place
    Foreword/Don't Stay- 7th Place
    Wale/Given Up- 6th Place

    The Requiem/The Radiance/Burning In the Skies- 1st Place
    Lost In the Echo- 3rd Place
    Keys to the Kingdom- 4th Place
    Nobody Can Save Me- 3rd Place

    Pushing Me Away- 6th Place
    Numb- 6th Place
    The Little Things Give You Away- 1st Place
    The Messenger- 7th Place
    Powerless- 3rd, 4th and 5th Place tied
    A Line In the Sand- 1st Place
    Sharp Edges- 4th Place

    RANDOM FACTS:
    • Don't Stay is the only song without a first place vote
    • Don't Stay still hasn't reached 100 points :lol:
    • Don't Stay has officially passed the 25 mark for last place votes
    • Lost In the Echo moves back up #2 after falling to #3 but currently sits tied in 2nd place with the same amount of points as Papercut
    • Burning In the Skies is still the only song to receive over 15 votes for first place!
     
    Last edited: Jun 1, 2017
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  2. #2
    Noosh

    Noosh Well-Known Member

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    Openers:
    1. Lost In The Echo
    2. Nobody Can Save Me
    3. Papercut
    4. Foreword > Don't Stay
    5. The Requiem > The Radiance > Burning In The Skies
    6. Keys To The Kingdom
    7. Wake > Given Up

    Closers:
    1. Powerless
    2. Little Things Give You Away
    3. Sharp Edges
    4. Numb
    5. A Line In The Sand
    6. The Messenger
    7. Pushing Me Away
     
  3. #3
    Spiderguy252

    Spiderguy252 Awaiting LP in India

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    I'll have a go at the openers for now;

    BEST:
    Papercut
    The Requiem / The Radiance / Burning in the SkiesLost in the Echo
    Nobody Can Save Me
    Foreword / Don't Stay
    Wake / Given Up
    Keys to the Kingdom
     
  4. #4
    Qwerty19

    Qwerty19 Well-Known Member

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    Yeah, just gonna do the openers. You guys are giving Keys a bad treat. The track is an absolute banger in my books.

    1. Keys To The Kingdom
    2. Papercut
    3. Lost in The Echo
    4. Requiem / Radiance / Burning in the Skies
    5. Wake / Given Up
    6. Nobody Can Save Me
    7. Don't Stay
     
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  5. #5
    TheZlajaZlo

    TheZlajaZlo Closing LPA Super Member

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    Openers:

    1 Papercut
    2 The Requiem / The Radiance / Burning In The Skies
    3 Foreword / Don't Stay
    4 Wake / Given Up
    5 Keys To The Kingdom
    6 Nobody Can Save Me
    7 Lost In The Echo

    Closers:

    1 Numb
    2 Pushing Me Away
    3 Powerless
    4 A Line In The Sand
    5 The Little Things Give You Away
    6 Sharp Edges
    7 The Messenger
     
    Last edited: May 19, 2017
  6. #6
    Michele

    Michele Praise Brad Delson, our Lord and Savior. LPA Addict

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    Openers:
    1.Lost In The Echo
    2.The Requiem / The Radiance / Burning In the Skies
    3.Papercut
    4.Wake / Given Up
    5.Keys To The Kingdom
    6.Foreward / Dont Stay
    7.Nobody Can Save Me

    Closers:
    1.A Line In The Sand
    2.The Messenger
    3.The Little Things Give You Away
    4.Numb
    5.Pushing Me Away
    6.Sharp Edges
    7.Powerless
     
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  7. #7
    Nicholas

    Nicholas Well-Known Member

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    This is actually pretty difficult for me to pick. "Don't Stay" is the only track here that I legitimately dislike.

    Openers:
    1. Papercut - Maybe it's the nostalgia, but the second those drums kick in I get chills. It's instantly recognizable.
    2. Wake/Given Up - If you want to vicariously vent out frustration through a song, this is an apt pick. That damn scream got me then and gets me now.
    3. Lost In the Echo - I love the confidence that exudes from Mike in this track, and the instrumental is so good.
    4. Nobody Can Save Me - May move up over time, great performance from Chester. Those guitar and synths :wub:
    5. The Requiem/The Radiance/Burning In the Skies - Some of the best writing from the band.
    6. Keys to the Kingdom - This is a rollercoaster of a track, so much that it can be exhausting. I don't listen to this one often, but it still takes me by surprise.
    7. Foreward/Don't Stay - To be frank, I think it's awful and their worst song, period. "Meteora" might as well begin with "Somewhere I Belong" to me.

    Closers:
    1. Tinfoil/Powerless - It's gorgeous and bleak and pretty and sad and beautiful, don't know how else to describe it.
    2. The Little Things Give You Away - I've listened to this so often to sleep I must've amassed 100s of plays, I think it's their strongest closer though "Powerless" edges it out on a personal enjoyment level.
    3. Numb - I still unabashedly love it and all its cheesy, poppy, edgy goodness.
    4. Sharp Edges
    5. Pushing Me Away
    6. The Messenger
    7. A Line In the Sand
     
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  8. #8
    Crankshaft

    Crankshaft Je m'appelle Baguette

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    Openers:

    1. Nobody can save me. (This might just be excitement over OML but for now this is my absolute favourite LP song.)
    2. Wake/Given up
    3. Papercut
    4. Lost in the echo
    5. The requiem/The radiance/burning In the Skies
    6. Keys to the kingdom
    7. Forword/Don't stay

    Closers:

    1. A line in the sand
    2. The little things give you away
    3. Sharp edges
    4. Powerless
    5. The Messenger
    6. Numb
    7. Pushing me away
     
  9. #9
    Sasuke

    Sasuke Modern Prog enjoyer LPA Super Member

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    Openers:
    1- Lost in the Echo
    2- The Requiem/The Radiance/Burning in the Skies
    3- Keys to the Kingdom
    4- Wake/Given Up
    5- Papercut
    6- Nobady Can Save Me
    7- Foreword/Don't Stay

    Closers:
    1- The Little Things Give You Away (what a surprise :halfkappa:)
    2- A Line in the Sand
    3- Sharp Edges
    4- Powerless
    5- Pushing Me Away
    6- The Messenger
    7- Pushing Me Away part.2 :kappa:
     
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  10. #10
    Hans Muster

    Hans Muster Well-Known Member

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    Openers
    1. Papercut - Despite the criticism that the early records often get here, this remains one of teir best songs to date for me. Great way to open an album.
    2. The Requiem/The Radiance/Burning In the Skies - This is their most ambitious opener and it's great. From the haunting requiem to the lovely pop song BITS, ATS couldn't work without it.
    3. Lost in the Echo - This is what makes LT: A modern retrospective to their earlier songs. Very catchy and aged well for me.
    4. Keys to the Kingdom - That was a huge surprise. Very in your face and more energetic than ever. Gives a great insight of what to expect from the following songs, just like LITE.
    5. Wake/Given Up - While I've never been a fan of Wake, Given Up is a cool song. Very raw and catchy.
    6. Nobody Can Save Me - One of my favorites from OML. It could grow on me, we'll see.
    7. Foreword/Don't Stay - I don't hate this, I don't care for the lyrics anyway. It's a decent opener for Meteora.

    Closers
    1. A Line in the Sand - One of their longest tracks: There's everything that makes Linkin Park in here. Outstanding climax.
    2. Tinfoil/Powerless - While some people seemingly find Tinfoil boring, I think it's a great way to lead into Powerless which is one of their best pop songs, there's a sweeping force in this one.
    3. Pushing Me Away - A classic to me, one of their mellower tracks back then. That's exactly what HT needed as an ending.
    4. The Little Things Give You Away - A fan favorite here, I know. While I can appreciate the details that ore going on here, I always found it a bit too melodramatic. Good closer nevertheless
    5. Numb - One of their greatest hits obviously, very catchy. I always thought it was weird though, to put Numb at the end of the album.
    6. Sharp Edges - Short and cool ending but not my cup of tea. But it's ok.
    7. The Messenger - ATS should have ended on The Catalyst. That would have made much more sense for me. Musically, The Messenger never really grew on me either. I mean it's a great showcase of Chester's voice but other than that it's weaker than the other songs.
     
    Last edited: May 19, 2017
  11. #11
    Halfway Dwight

    Halfway Dwight We are the fortunate ones.

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    Openers:
    1. The Requiem>The Radiance>Burning In The Skies
    2. Nobody Can Save Me
    3. Lost In The Echo
    4. Keys To The Kingdom
    5. Papercut
    6. Given Up
    7. Don't Stay

    Closers:
    1. Sharp Edges
    2. A Line In The Sand
    3. The Little Things Give You Away
    4. Tinfoil>Powerless
    5. Numb
    6. The Messenger
    7. Pushing Me Away
     
  12. #12
    blackout.

    blackout. Well-Known Member

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    I will choose based on how well it opens/closes the album, not on the basis of how I like the song, because then it has more sense for me.

    Openers:
    1. The Requiem / The Radiance / Burning In The Skies
    2. Wake / Given Up
    3. Keys To The Kingdom
    4. Lost In The Echo
    5. Nobody Can Save Me
    6. Papercut
    7. Foreword / Don't Stay

    Closers:
    1. The Little Things Give You Away
    2. A Line In The Sand
    3. Sharp Edges
    4. The Messenger
    5. Powerless
    6. Numb
    7. Pushing Me Away
     
  13. #13
    Deliveranze

    Deliveranze Well-Known Member

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    Openers
    1. Lost In The Echo- Just fantastic. Love the instrumental, love the rhyme pattern, delivery and chorus. Best "formula" LP song imo
    2. Nobody Can Save Me- Best song off OML imo. Amazing track. Beautiful and I cried to Chester's melodies.
    3. Papercut- Use to be indifferent but really learned to appreciate this song. Explosive, catchy and frantic.
    4. Keys To The Kingdom- Chorus is WTF, but the verses are alright and it's definitely a banging opening.
    5. Burning In The Skies- Really good opening track. Great lyrics, great chorus.
    6. Given Up- Alright. Kinda continues that OSC/Don't Stay vibe but it isn't bad. Great anger track. Lyrics ain't terrible either.
    7. Don't Stay- Meh. Catchier instrumental than OSC, arguably more descriptive lyrics too, but JEEZ, first LP song that made me cringe

    Closers
    1. Numb- Maybe nostalgia, but one of the few singles from their old albums that still is enjoyable. A fun pop song.
    2. The Messenger- Beautiful closer to their magnum opus.
    3. A Line In The Sand- Isn't amazing (fuck that chorus) but Mike does some nice singing and the spoken word poem is kinda cool.
    4. Pushing Me Away- Eh, it's not bad. It's not great. I feel they could've put dozens of better HT Era songs here.
    5. The Little Things Give You Away- I like it in theory. Great message, fantastic lyrics and really is the best closer for this album BUT is a long song and I'm not a fan of their long songs tbh.
    6. Powerless- Good song too and like most of LT, has great lyrics but lacks the emotional intimacy for me to give a shit about what's being said.
    7. Sharp Edges- Didn't sound as bad as I thought, but it's not my style. Great lyrics though.
     
    Last edited: May 20, 2017
  14. #14
    Nobody Can Shave Me Now

    Nobody Can Shave Me Now Formerly known as Ron Jeremy LPA VIP

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    Openers:
    1. Lost In the Echo (Best opener from an LP record IMO)
    2. The Requim/The Radiance/Burning In the Skies (Its ATS enough said)
    3. Papercut (Killer starter and a classic!)
    4. Nobody Can Save Me (Growing on me)
    5. Foreword/Don't Stay (Its ok)
    6. Wake/Given Up (I feel the opener could have been better)
    7. Keys to the Kingdom (I struggle with THP)

    Closers (This had me second guessing evsrything. Holy cow, Linkin Park is always fantastic at ending albums!):
    1. The Messenger (Vocally impressive and just a great positive song in general)
    2. Powerless (I love the production and layers in the song. So much raw emotion)
    3. The Little Things Give You Away (It was the first closer that showed a more "mature" LP. Its a FANTASTIC song)
    4. Pushing Me Away (I prefer the live acoustic version but this is actually one of my favorite closers but for its age it remains at the 4th spot.
    5. Numb ( I still love Numb its just it drives me crazy because this is the only song non LP fans know so its REALLY overplayed. More so, than In The End...)
    6. Sharpe Edges (It doesnt feel like a closer. Idkw they didnt chooseOML but I do enjoy SE quite a bit)
    7. A Line In the Sand (PASS)
     
  15. #15
    Joe

    Joe I'm tried LPA Administrator

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    Probably in this order at the moment.

    Openers:

    1. The Requim/The Radiance/Burning In the Skies
    2. Papercut
    3. Nobody Can Save Me
    4. Foreword/Don't Stay
    5. Wake/Given Up
    6. Keys to the Kingdom
    7. Lost In the Echo

    Closers:

    1. The Little Things Give You Away
    2. Pushing Me Away
    3. Numb
    4. A Line In the Sand
    5. The Messenger
    6. Powerless
    7. Sharp Edges
     
  16. #16
    Atticus

    Atticus Bullets lance the bravest lungs

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    Openers
    1. Keys To The Kingdom
    2. Lost In The Echo
    3. The Requiem/The Radiance/Burning In The Skies
    4. Nobody Can Save Me
    5. Papercut
    6. Wake/Given Up
    7. Don't Stay

    Closers
    1. A Line In The Sand
    2. The Little Things Give You Away
    3. Tinfoil/Powerless
    4. Sharp Edges
    5. Numb
    6. The Messenger
    7. Pushing Me Away
     
  17. #17
    Sonic

    Sonic Searching for the last Chaos Emerald... LPA Super Member

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    Openers

    1. The Requiem/The Radience/Burning in the Skies
    2. Papercut
    3. Lost in the Echo
    4. Keys to the Kingdom
    5. Wake/Given Up
    6. Nobody Can Save Me
    7. Foreward/Don't Stay

    Closers

    1. A Line in the Sand
    2. The Little Things Give You Away
    3. Pushing Me Away
    4. Tinfoil/Powerless
    5. The Messenger
    6. Numb
    7. Sharp Edges
     
  18. #18
    LohithMohan

    LohithMohan It's like I'm paranoid...or am I?

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    Openers
    1. Papercut
    2. The Requiem/The Radience/Burning in the Skies
    3. Lost in the Echo
    4. Keys to the Kingdom
    5. Wake/Given Up
    6. Nobody Can Save Me
    7. Foreward/Don't Stay

    Closers

    1/2. A Line in the Sand = The Little Things Give You Away (I love both songs and felt they both closed their respective albums in the best way possible. So can't really choose between them)
    3. The Messenger
    4. Sharp Edges
    5. Numb
    6. Pushing Me Away
    7. Tinfoil/Powerless
     
  19. #19
    Blake

    Blake Leave a Trace LPA Super Member

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    Nice responses everyone :)
     
  20. #20
    Mark

    Mark Canadian Beauty LPA Administrator

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    Openers
    1. Papercut
    2. Lost in the Echo
    3. Burning in the Skies
    4. Keys to the Kingdom
    5. Nobody Can Save Me
    6. Given Up
    7. Don't Stay

    Closers
    1. The Little Things Give You Away
    2. Pushing Me Away
    3. A Line in the Sand
    4. Powerless
    5. Numb
    6. Sharp Edges
    7. The Messenger

    Should attach a point system to each of these. 1st = 7 pts, 2nd = 6 pts, etc and provide a consensus rating after this gets to 25-ish responses.
     

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