Rough Edge: Linkin Park CD Reviews

LINKIN PARK

"Hybrid Theory" (Warner Bros.; 2000)

One thing you can say about Linkin Park, they've found what sells. You may not like them because they are called nu-metal, but that didn't stop the millions of people who listened to and liked what they heard. This is a great debut CD. It combines rap, metal, a little hip-hop, some dance and classic rock and it fits together so well that you would think that this band had evolved over years and this was their third or fourth album.

"Papercut" is the first song that starts this CD going and it lets you know right away that this thing has potential. This is the stuff that hits are made from. “One Step Closer” was the single that started the buzz for this LP.

There are many guitar assaults; in fact, it never really stops. Chester Bennington has an excellent voice, and you can sing along with him without tearing up your voice. Actually, you can sing along or rap along -- his style appeals to both vocal types -- and the band also has very good harmony together. Chester could sing pop and you'd never know the difference (don't tell him I said that). “Runaway” sounds like Bush, and rocks like Saliva.

“A Place for My Head” has a little 311 showing with the guitar during the vocal rap. The sonic assault comes in bursts and it is well placed. There are many layers to this song also; it deserves a couple of spins before you can hear everything. A little power metal at the end makes it crescendo out nicely.

The best tracks are “Papercut,” “One Step Closer,” “With You,” and “Pushing Me Away.”

Linkin Park: Chester Bennington - vocals; Rob Bourdon - drums and backing vocals; Brad Delson - guitar, bass and vocals; Joseph Hahn - records, sampling and backing vocals; Mike Shinoda - emcee, beats and sampling.

For more information, check out http://www.linkinpark.com.

P.S.: In his review of "Hybrid Theory," Snidermann said: I heard a rumor that the band's name is actually "Hybrid Theory" and the CD's title is "Linkin Park" - but the band decided to swap the two so they'd be next to Limp Bizkit at the record store. Don't know if it's true or not but - either way - it's pretty clever.

However, according to All Music Guide: The band was first known as Xero, then Hybrid Theory, but changed their name to Linkin Park when singer Chester Bennington joined them in 1999. Taking a piece from their past, they named the first album, "Hybrid Theory."

"Hybrid Theory" (Warner Bros.; 2000)

Reviewed by Snidermann

What a totally awesome surprise I got when my niece Sarah introduced me to Linkin Park and their CD "Hybrid Theory." Permit me to backtrack a bit; a Linkin Park is featured on the excellent soundtrack for the Wes Craven horror film, "Dracula 2000" (see the movie, it's absolutely incredible). So when Sarah bought "Hybrid Theory," I remembered the band's tune on the soundtrack and yet I was wholly unprepared for what I heard on "Hybrid Theory."

For one thing, Linkin Park is by far the closest to the very cutting edge of the metal/rap genre. Forget Rage Against The Machine or Limp Bizkit, Linkin Park is poised to take over the reins of metal/rap. Mark my words, this band is going to be big and I mean BIG.

What impressed me most about this recording is the total integration of hard rock, metal, techno and rap music. It's not metal with rap vocals and it's not rap with metal music. It's exactly what its title says: a hybrid. And a damn effective one.

Linkin Park is: Chester Bennington - vocals; Rob Bourdon - drums and backing vocals; Brad Delson - guitar, bass and vocals; Joseph Hahn - records, sampling and backing vocals; Mike Shinoda - emcee, beats and sampling.

Post Script: I heard a rumor that the band's name is actually "Hybrid Theory" and the CD's title is "Linkin Park" - but the band decided to swap the two so they'd be next to Limp Bizkit at the record store. Don't know if it's true or not but - either way - it's pretty clever.

Rating Guide:

A classic. This record will kick your ass.

Killer. Not a classic but it will rock your world.

So-so. You've heard better.

Pretty bad. Might make a nice coaster.

Self explanatory. Just the sight of the cover makes you wanna hurl.

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