Having first seen Linkin Park with their debut single 'One Step Closer' on MTV2 and seeing their rather boy band look, I will admit I was sceptical. Although 'One Step Closer' is a bosting tune, my other influences like Nine Inch Nails, Marilyn Manson and Slipknot, were holding me back, Admittedly I was in the middle of a change, listening more to Limp Bizkit, Korn and the Deftones. Then Linkin only went and released 'Crawlin' didn't they and safe to say ' Hybrid Theory' was in my CD collection immediately.
Linkin Park's contribution to the Nu-Metal scene is with emcee/rap/excellent emotional singing and lyrics with electronic sampling, sctratching and fast drums with hard guitar riffs. But this isn't to say that Linkin hasn't experimented, each track has an original sound and shows each members different abilities. Changing the Nu-Metal class forever.
Band: Mike Shinoda- Emcee vocals, sampling Chester Bennington- Vocals, some guitar work Mr Hahn- Sampling, decks Brad Delson- Guitars Phoenix- Bass Rob Bourdon- Drums, backing vocals
Track list and profile: 1. Papercut: From the moment I heard the introduction beats of Papercut I knew that 'Hybrid Theory' was going to be an exceptional album, especially since I
was going through some very trying times. Papercut consists of heavy rap style looped hard guitar melodies coupled with heavy drum styles and Shinoda's rap. Then at the chorus it cuts in superbly with Chesters amazing voice.
2. One Step Closer The bands debut single is a lot heavier and to the point then Papercut and follows Chesters singing though both verse and the chorus mixed with Shinoda's fast emcee cut ins. Unforgettable and original guitar riff continues right through. Excellent singing from an angry Chester at the end.
3. With You This song represents a more cheesy side to Linkin I think. Lyrically it is a boy band song, but with the excellent Mr Hahn scratching, well placed Shinoda rapping and some excellent singing from Chester they pull this off very well.
4. Points Of Authority Points has the lot, excellent guitar riff from Brad, to the point lyrics, amazing vocal exercise by the boy Bennington and some excellent beats. Clever use of sampling, the Hahn's decks and Mike's rapping polish this song beautifully. Catchy chorus.
5. Crawlin Chester excels himself with Crawlin, the vocal prowess of Bennington is amazing and it is executed superbly. Hard tuned E guitar riffs piece the song during the chorus while Chester sings undisturbed to background synth and drums during the verse. Mike's only contribution in this is background vocal and of cause sampling,
6.Runaway Well we all feel like it and Linkin certainly seem to have been reading my mind when they wrote this cracker. Nice warm bass by Phoenix, bouncy guitar riffs and drums stream the track while Chester takes care of the verse and chorus with some Shinoda intervention. Excellent bridge/solo with another excellent array of hard guitar riffs with a Chester fuelled screamathon backed up by Shinoda.
7.By Myself Another anger fueled song and Chester's singing reminds me a little of the late great Kurt Cobain when he used to scream. Soon as the first second kicks in you are into what becomes the bridge to main chorus, an amazing high peaked scream from Chester with quick drums by Bourdon and to the point guitar riffs, then the track loosens up to Shinoda rapping the verse and electronic beats with clever sampling, then the bridge comes in again which streams to a stretched out chorus continuing through til Chester has his fit using Shinoda as back up at the end.
8. In the End Another fantastic single release by the lads, this time Mike gives it a go on the piano and proves that rap can be used for verse in an emotional song. Chester's chorus intervention is a lot softer than what he is used to and gives the song its additional surge of emotion they were hoping for. Clever sampling, catchy lyrics and riffs make this song a classic to remember.
9. A Place for my Head Power fuelled lyrics, again with hard to the point guitar riffs enables A Place for my Head to be up there in the top five for my favourite songs. Unstable intro excellent verses with not too hard Chester vocals in the chorus, then the amazingly anger fuelled solo gives this song the cred it deserves and shows Chester's further talents greatly.
10. Forgotten Streaming beautifuly from the previous track, the Intro consists of a Chester/Mike fast swap a line, with a heavy guitar riffs, then the riff turns into a plucked almost acoustic riff with a nice warm bass while Mike continues the verse. The intro turns out to be a bridge to a chorus which reminds me a bit of the By Myself format. Excellent song.
11. Cure for the Itch This is something slightly different, no guitars, no lyrics except for sampling. Mr Hahn does his decks proud by moulding, samples, beats and scratching to comprise this short and sweet instrumental role for the last track.
12. Pushing Me Away Finishing off Hybrid in no better way is Pushing, with a more melancholy intro and a more easy listening guitar riff. Chester does most of the lyrical work in this, Mike intervening during the end, and the calmer more rock feel leads me to believe that Shinoda didn't have as much to do with this track then as the rest. It certainly stands out more.
What can i say an absolute classic I bought in 2000 and I still listen to it now more then ever. Streams through beautifully and is well engineered and produced. Despite my lengthy detail of all the tracks the album is only 35 minutes long as is Meteora their second album and both can be put on to one disc which is handy.
Sample mp3's of the tracks can be obtained free if you wish just email me at paulchell@blueyonder.co.uk
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It may be too cynical to assume Hybrid Theory changed its name to Linkin Park in order to ... more
appear right next to Limp Bizkit in your local record bin. But rock-rap workouts like "One Step Closer" and "Papercut" do make Linkin Park a comfortable fit with ...
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Apr 4th, 2004
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