New Genre of Music. Review on Hybrid Theory - Linkin Park

Before some ten-twelve years ago I would never expect myself listening to band like Linkin Park. The reason behind is the 'Publicity' through media, Internet, Television was definitely different before than now. So I wouldn't have bothered to listen to a debut album of a band comprising young guys with a blend or rather a 'Hybrid' of rap, rock, techno unless and until someone recommended me to do so. But now the scene has completely changed and in a country other than America one can hear Linkin Park without much ado. We must thank the technological development without which one could easily miss out a talented band like Linkin Park. In my opinion there sense of music is outstanding. With powerful music well suited by sound lyrical messages, good use of computers for mixing, sampling they sound thunderous and one of a kind. I mean who else could take rap, rock, techno, sensible lyrics, mix it and come out with something which wasn't a fertilizer. I might have digressed awfuly from my main objective here. But this protracted introduction is for 'Hybrid Theory' a debut album from Liknin Park.

Linkin Park is relatively a big band in number with two vocalists Chester Bennigton with most of the singing and screaming duty and Mike Shinoda with rapping parts in between songs. Brad Delsonwith guitars, Rob Bourdon with drums, DJ Joseph Hahn and bassist Phoenix. Linkin Park's guitarist Brad Delson describes ''The biggest misconception about us is that we're just a rock band. We think our music is a cross-section of many genres; a hybrid of what the six of us have grown up on''.

The title of the band's debut album , 'Hybrid Theory, tries to depict the artistic objectives and its approach to making music. Let's see how creative there conception of music is. The CD has 12 tracks timing just 40 minutes. Strange isn't it? It's better to have 40 minutes of tight music than having an hour plus of ordinary music. The CD kick starts of with 'Papercut' first explosive track on the CD. 'It's like I'm paranoid lookin' over my back It's like a whirlwind inside of my head It's like I can't stop what I'm hearing within It's like the face inside is right beneath my skin ' It's a fast track starting with a cool beat then comes guitar riff and rap verse from Mike. The song is about mistakes you did in the past which you just can't get over and keeps reminding you, the pressure, stress you suffered giving rise to 'Paranoia' and a feel of a 'Paranoid'. The song only tells you about the effects of problem but doesn't go beyond, leaving you to decide how to proceed. I like everything about the song esp. Chester singing above lines.

The second track is a overplayed first single 'One Step Closer' from Linkin Park. 'shut up when I'm talking to you ' This song is a voice of a troubled, dejected person who snaps others for not listening to him/her (The voice of the voiceless may be). When I first listened to this track my impression was that this is just another ordinary band like 'Limp Bizkit', but with the experience I learned not to judge anything by first impression. Since then I'm a happy person listening to Linkin Park. With You It tells us about the relationship which is contradictory or circular conflict in which they fight when together and also can’t stay away from each other.They are unable to resolve the conflict and lament each other. Even if you’re not with me I’m with you A good thing about the band is that their songs subject are more close to our lives and emotions involved are appropriately represented by heavy guitar riffs. That’s what I look for in a band.

Point of Authority This song lashes out people who think what ever they say is right and only they have the right to say because they have authority to force the point. Subject matter is great but music sounds redundant and too much distorted.

Crawling The second single released. This song is my most favorite track on the cd. Starts out with a nice melody and almost seems like a pop song until Chester screams, Crawling in my skin These wounds / they will not heal Fear is how I fall Confusing what is real I wonder sometimes Chester could have easily been in a Boyband if he wished. A Hard Rock, Metalhead fan may scoff at him for his soft vocals occasionally. But make no mistake he has a really wide Vocal range. This song again gives us a reminder of a tortured persona who can’t get away from the paranoia felt underneath the skin. 5/5 on this one.

Runaway This song describes the teenage angst over the lies being told by authority figure with a point. I don’t like the lyrics over this sound. The music is also very ordinary with same old scratching, screaming…etc. A skip away song.

Be Myself Yet another a fully tortured crap song. Hardest of all songs with lesser melody but lyrically refined and powerful. If I'm killed by the questions like a cancer, then I'll be buried in the silence of the answer... In The End The third and final single so far with all guns blazing. I tried so hard And got so far But in the end It doesn't even matter It embodies feeling of hopelessness after a breakup .Sometimes, no matter how hard you try, you can't change the other person's mind when they think it isn't working out.5/5 fro this musically well orchestrated song.

A Place for My Head The song is a whiplash on persons selfishness. The song is mainly a backlash against those person who are always on the taking side and other person is always giving. Best described by the Sun-Moon relationship in the song. The sun doesn't give life to the moon, assuming the moon's going to owe it one...

Forgotten It was a bit difficult for me to figure out the meaning of the song but it is something about troubled neighborhood. Right said Fred a easily Forgotten song.

Cure for the Itch A disk filler instrumental track. Strictly no no.

Pushing Me Away A Final song on the CD. Nearly 40 minutes of lamenting, screaming, head banging and what do we have another f*ked up relationship. Anyway they have stopped it in time before letting it slip away anymore.

I really appreciate these talented guys who have done outstandingly well in there debut album. Highly Recommended for hard music(won’t call it rock, ‘cause it may offend LP’s) lovers