Linkin Park – A Thousand Suns

Releasedate: 10-10-2010; Label: Warner
By: Nina Mende

Linkin Park is an American rock band from Agoura Hills, California. Formed in 1996, the band rose to international fame with their debut album “Hybrid Theory”, which was certified Diamond by the RIAA in 2005 and multi-platinum in several other countries. Its following studio album “Meteora”, continued the band’s success, topping the Billboard 200 album chart in 2003, and was followed by extensive touring and charity work around the world. In 2003, MTV2 named Linkin Park the sixth greatest band of the music video era and the third best of the new millennium behind Oasis and Coldplay. Having adapted the nu metal and rap metal genres to a radio-friendly yet densely-layered style in “Hybrid Theory” and “Meteora”, the band explored other genres in their next studio album “Minutes to Midnight”, which was released in 2007. The album topped the Billboard charts and had the third best debut week of any album that year. The band has collaborated with several other artists, most notably with rapper Jay-Z in their mashup EP “Collision Course”, and many others included on “Reanimation”. Their newest album is called “A Thousand Suns”.

“A Thousand Suns” is definitely different from any previous release of the band. Fans are highly discussing about it and most rock fans are disappointed y “A Thousand Suns” and some even say they hate it. I must admit it is a very strange and different album, more art than music. But I also say that it only needs time to be understood, so give it a few listens before you judge it. I like this album a lot and I am sure over the time many people will change their mind about it. The first intro is very interesting and includes kids singing, but it is followed by another intro. A two-track intro is a very rare thing to have. “Burning The Skies” is more electro pop than rock with awesome lyrics. “When They Come For Me” is a typical Mike Shinoda track with hip hop, rap and Oriental melodies in the background. “Robot Boy” has a piano intro. “Waiting For The End” has some amazing lyrics. “Blackout” has a somewhat creepy intro with rapped vocals but the song is still awesomely catchy. “Wretches And Kings” has a somewhat Jamaican touch. “Iridescent” is a very deep song, extremely touchy with amazing vocals and lots of piano. “The Catalysts” is probably the rockiest song on the album and also the first single release. This album is a lot calmer than the others of Linkin Park. Yet is “A Thousand Suns” full of elements that will reveal slowly each time you listen to the album. As said in the beginning, this album may seem strange but it is amazing artwork done by Linkin Park. Enjoy.

Tracklist: 01. The Requiem 02. The Radiance 03. Burning in the Skies 04. Empty Spaces 05. When They Come for Me 06. Robot Boy 07. Jornada del Muerto 08. Waiting for the End 09. Blackout 10. Wretches and Kings 11. Wisdom, Justice, and Love 12. Iridescent 13. Fallout 14. The Catalyst 15. The Messenger

Links:
Linkin Park Official