Minutes To Midnight

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Editorial reviews

Amazon.co.uk Review
Minutes to Midnight stands to defend Linkin Park's status as the hardest-rockin' softies in mainstream music. Like its predecessors Hybrid Theory (2000) and Meteroa (2003), Minutes to Midnight flexes plenty of decibel-heavy muscle ("Given Up," "Bleed It Out," "No More Sorrow") and made-to-order, melodic radio fare ("Leave out All the Rest," "Shadow of the Day," "In Pieces"). But for all its volume, Linkin Park likes to paint its heart openly on its sleeve with suspicious sonic drama, as in the palpably saccharine "Valentine's Day." Fortunately, co-producer Rick Rubin brings all these elements to pinnacle effect with the surprise "Hands Held High." On past efforts, the combination of breezy keyboard, arpeggiated guitar, choral vocals, and a military snare-beat would yield another slab of smarm, here MC Mike Shinoda drops the two best verses of his career, blending vocal styles with singer Chester Bennington for a moving piece that's as welcome a repertorial addition as Linkin Park is ever likely to muster. --Jason Kirk

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Customer reviews

review by: wilberforce24 date: 2008-08-05 rating:
Extremely Disappointing
First off I'd like to say that I love their earlier album's, and that I was looking forward to this. I heard What I've Done and thought it was alright, not as good as their earlier stuff, but not terrible. However, I had the feeling that it wouldn't be very good from just reading the tracks on the back so I refrained from buying it. I then asked a friend what he thought the best track was. As soon as he said, "Uhhh, probably What I've Done" I was thinking sssshhhhhhiiit.

So I borrowed it off him, gave it a listen, I it was just boring to me. Lacked originality and there were too many very quiet songs for my tastes. I saw them live recently at the Milton Keynes Bowl, and I will say this: they were the first band that I'd come to see (excluding all poor support bands I've ever seen) that had been disappointing, and that I left feeling that I'd wasted money. I will not go to see them again. The older stuff they played was good, but they played so much off the new album it was ridiculous. Also, they left the stage 3 times, okay, once they came back with Jay-Z which was amazing, easily the highlight of the show, but other than that it just seemed they were trying to waste time.

Another thing, their set was 1 and a half hours! For a headline band, thats pretty short, and thats being generous as they took so many breaks during the set. I'll level with you, they have 3 albums right, the first two are little over half an hour, and the new one is a bit longer, so if they had played ALL their songs the set should have been about 2 hrs or just under, but they seemed to skip so many of the good songs.

Also playing Bleed It Out's chorus for 8 MINUTES is NOT a good way to end a gig. I was counting the minutes to the end of the show at that point. Anyway, back to the album, the only songs I like (to an extent) are Given Up, No More Sorrow and What I've DOne, essentially the heavier songs. However, the heaviest parts of No More Sorrow and Given Up where chester shouts "Thieves and hypocrites" over and over is terrible, which annoys me as I want to like it, but that part annoys me every time I hear it.

If you're a fan of the band's earlier work ignore this album, or borrow it from a friend, do not buy it, because I can guarantee your disappointment.

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review by: date: 2008-07-01 rating:
Not as bad as expected!!
This is not even close to being a 4 or 5 star album. Bands clearly have to evolve and usually when this is done correctly for every fan they lose they will gain 5 more, however Linkin Park have unfortunately evolved into overalll nothingness, the distinct lack of heaviness makes this record a bit of a chore to listen to. There are moments of promise dotted around the album but on the whole very little actually grabs you and forces you to keep playing it over and over.

The only really promising songs are the main single What Ive Done and Given Up, but once again despite the attempts to evolve it is very similar to the first track of Meteora though i must admit the simple but catchy guitar riff is a winner. On the subject of the guitars though it does sounds very synthetic and digitally enhanced and any reallyt gutsy playing is well and truly lost, Brad Delson by all reports is in any other surroundings a throughly decent guitar player with a wealthy knowledge of theory, however in Linkin Park he sounds like a typical teenager who has learnt that he can detune his guitar and play with one finger. But on the whole this is his best contribution to any of the Linkin Park albums.

The singing on the whole is losing its way too, it sounds very naisely and does begin to grate quite quickly but i am really starting to slag this album off in a way that paints the wrong picture. This is by no means the worst album i have ever heard.... far from it, the reason this album is receiving such a wide range of reviews is because it IS Linkin Park and as such we expect better. Should this have been done by another band then the reviews might well have been more favourable.

Not a classic but worthy of a listen, just dont expect anything of the magnitude of One Step Closer!!!!

6/10

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review by: date: 2008-06-28 rating:
Proving MORE than their worth!!
I loved LP and got this album knowing all the mixed reviews it had. Overall it's not as agressive as Meteora or Hybrid Theory tho there are a few songs that are still signature of the old LP. The new tracks hit out at something more and so extraordinary it really does break the mould from other commercialized bands who would just churn out the same old sounds. I loved it coz it's an experimental album and a unique piece that stands as high as their others.

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review by: date: 2008-05-24 rating:
Dissapointing
I could have given this album an even lower score because i find it annoying in most cases and from LP it is pitiful.

but having sed tht there are good tracks on here and it is listenable. but for me, the only way i can listen to it is to forget that it's linkin park and just listen to it normally but even doing that i still don't particullarly like it.

basically, if you hav heard a few of linkin parks songs but mainly the newer ones like numb and hit the floor the newer ones then get meteora, if you like proper nu-metal then get hybrid theory, the only reason to get this album is if you like the pop-rock style of the music or you just want to complete a collection of linkin park albums. (i don't have anything against you getting this, but just don't call yourself a "fan" of linkin park if this is the only one you like cos this isn't Linkin Park)

if you want proper Linkin Park then don't get this!!!!


review by: Symphonic Metal Fan date: 2008-03-31 rating:
Honest Rock...And Less Rap...
Big change in direction here. After the nu-metal aesthetics and the electro/sample/rap dominance of the first two albums, Linkin Park have produced a far more organic record then before. Vocals are far more blended instead of shifting from singing/growling to hip-hop and back again. And all the instruments now have a much more natural sound - guitars and drums now sound far more 'rock' than before with far more natural riffs and one or two solos now in the mix. Special mention on the Bass guitar - the bass lines seemed of limited presence on earlier albums but they really chug along now with far more bite (bit like the bass tone on Feeder's Buck Rodgers)so well done Phoenix Farrell. It has to be said the rap/hip hop is still there but its clear the direction Linkin Park are heading in now - Mike Shinoda actually sings here (Check out his solo project, Fort Minor for more of his urban side). Joe Hahn probably takes a
reduced role here in terms of samples, keyboards and DJ'ing but with songs this good , maybe someone had to take a step back. Chester Bennington continues to mature as a singer and develop more range with each release.
There are some surprisingly political lyrics on here with Hands Held High a particularly vitriolic attack on the US led War In Iraq & the Bush administration.
What I've Done may just be Linkin Park's first truly classic bona fide Rock song.
Plenty of influences shine through here, Depeche Mode, U2 (strongly), Metallica (Load era). Its not Heavy, HEAVY but it will appeal to any open minded rock or metal fan in the mood for decent tunes.
Special mention for Rick Rubin's production - perhaps He can reboot Metallica?! He's allowed Linkin Park room to breathe in the same way as his work with the Chilli Peppers on '91's Blood, Sugar Album. Every instrument sounds clear and distinct and REAL (I think a lot of Linkin Park's earlier stuff was maybe too over produced & sterile at times)
This album is fairly reminicent of Papa Roach's recent direction in the way that the rapping takes a back seat and bass/guitar/drums are ramped up for a more rock/metal vibe.

In short, a decent modern rock/metal album for our times

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