 After releasing a phenomenal first album, "Hybrid Theory," there was a lot of pressure on Linkin Park to create a solid second album. While the second album doesn't have the same magic as the first album, it is an overall solid effort and stays true to the band's original style.
"Meteora" is an alternative rock album with grinding guitars, smooth melodies, and catchy hip hop beats. Like the first album, the vocals alternate between Mike Shindoa's heavy rapping and Chester Bennington's grating melodies. This unique style is what really set the first Linkin Park record apart from the rest of the Alternative genre. It also makes each song interesting to listen to. While I'm admittedly not a big rap fan, I do like certain rap beats, and the way Linkin Park blends the hip hop style into rock music is just cool.
The first single that was released from the album, "Somewhere I Belong," is a great composition of unconventional chords and unique sounds. Even though the sound is atypical, the song still sounds unmistakably like rock music, which is an impressive feat. "Figure.09" is the heaviest song on the CD, as it consists of mainly distorted power chords and showcases Bennington's characteristic shout-singing. "Breaking the Habit" is a lyrically-focused song about doing away with the past and becoming a new person. The lyrics are great and the melody, while a bit lighter than the other songs, is smooth and flowing. The final song on the album, called "Numb," was composed and recorded by the band in a matter of days, yet is one of the best songs on the album. This song does have a conventional chord progression and verse-chorus structure, but the sound is so pleasing, it is a great song to listen to over and over again.
Linkin Park is one of the more creative rock bands I've listened to, which is a large reason I like their music. They bring an unconventional sound to the mainstream and do it successfully. Their second album doesn't have the same originality as the first album, but it is pleasing to see that the band has not compromised their sound to meet industry norms. Overall, "Meteora" is a creative and enjoyable alternative rock album. |
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