What makes Linkin Parks, Meteora Such A Great Album
When you think of a good album, what do you look for? How catchy it is, or how they mix nu metal with a dj. It was done before them but not to the extent that Linkin Park uses him.
A little bit of information about Linkin Park is that they've been around since 1997 but didn't release their debut album until October of 2000. Meteora Released on March 25, 2003. It reached around 18 million copies signed worldwide and certified platinum 8 times. So people liked the album obviously but why, what makes it so good?
Foreword- It's nothing much except an opening for the album which used to be a normal thing back then. Nowadays it's been phased out of the mainstream because it didn’t actually add anything people would actively listen to but in my opinion it adds to the album and gets you excited for it.
Don't Stay- The first thing I notice in the opening of the song is the huge guitars. They lay down a great spark and it gets you ready for the song. The drums are also a huge part of Linkin Park's sound. It lays a great foundation and amazing pocket for the rest of the band to sit in. One of the main parts I notice is also how in this song they switch for chill laid back to intense. It’s that feeling of keeping you on your toes.
Somewhere I Belong- A great park about this song is how they come back to the same groove for most of the song. You get used to that groove and start to know when it's going to happen. Then right as that starts to click they switch up the rhythm with the bridge. It's that switch that gets people into it. Having the same groove gets bland after a while. I feel like people don't switch up the grooves as much nowadays in the mainstream music
Lying from You- Something I really enjoy about this song is how they use their two singers. One is really chill and the other is raspy and adds that crunch. It changes the feel up more than just keeping one tone the whole time, how they switch back and forth is during the chorus. It adds that up and down feeling that builds up for the bridge. Near the end they bring back the groove that we know, It adds confusion and uncertainty.
Hit the Floor- One thing I notice in this song is when they drop the intensity out of nowhere; it adds that uncertainty like in the other songs. This is also a perfect example on how they use the dj. He’s a big part of the song and adds a lot to it that you might now even notice. This is one of the shorter albums on the album but still manages a great sound and shows who Linkin park is.
Easier to Run- This is considered one of the ballads of the album. It’s a switch up from the screaming, the heavy guitars, and how the drums play. I think it's a great ballad for this album. It perfectly matches the tone and feeling that the album has set.
Faint- This is one of their most popular songs and for good reason. The build up at the beginning gets you ready for the big impact that comes. Another song with huge guitar parts and big hits. They keep the intensity through the whole song and it makes you excited.The Huge chorus is also one of the catchest grooves in my opinion. Right before the final chorus they do a down chorus and it's awesome. It's a great length for what the song is and it flows amazingly.
Figure.09- I enjoy the foundation that the drums set straight from the start, it sets a great base for the rest of the band. One thing that goes unnoticed usually is the bass guitar. I feel like in this song it’s a lot more prominent than their other songs. I love the jump from the verse to the chorus, it makes a great transition. The bridge sounds like a lot but it blends perfectly back and forth on the intensity that they do.
Breaking the Habit- This is one of my favorite intros in this album. It sets the tone and mood for the rest of the song. I love how you feel it slowly builds up from the first verse to the second, it makes you expect a big impact but goes back to calm. It gets you excited the first time hearing it for the unknown. It’s a calmer song from the rest of them but still an amazing song.
From the Inside- A huge intro sequence is always a great start to a song. They do it perfectly, without it being too big at the beginning of the song. In the chorus they up the intensity compared to the beginning. They manage to keep the energy up and continue to build it.
Nobody’s Listening- This is one of the songs I feel you really hear how they’re different compared to other bands. The dj is one of the main parts of this song and he does a great job mixing it while still adding spice where it's needed. It adds character and contour to the song. The drums do a great job of fitting into a beat like this. Beats like this are difficult to write a part for drums because of how it's off time but he does a great job.
Session- This song has a great drum beat and fits perfectly. I think that added a little reverb to them to make it more boomy than the other songs. There's no singing in this song and just songs like keys, Dj, and drums only but still makes for a great listen.
Numb- This is one of the songs that put Linkin Park on the map and for good reason. It connects with a lot of people, not just the music. People love the lyrics because many people feel what he’s singing. You can tell there's a lot of pain behind it. It 's a great back and forth and yet it doesn’t get old, the beats are so different yet feel familiar.
My takeaways from this album is that they know how to control when they are intense and when they’re calm. It makes people feel something even if they don't know. It’s like a roller coaster in that regard and it's enjoyable. I definitely suggest giving the album a chance because it changes how you look at certain genres. They mix a lot of different grooves into so many songs and that’s why this album did so well as it did
Favorite song- Lying from You
Least favorite- Session
