Linkin Park - One More Light (May 19, 2017) Album • Page 13

That's fair, I think we just differ fundamentally on the quality of this album. We'll see how this one ages for me - I liked THP a lot initially and then it quickly fell off. I think I'd be more disappointed if I expected the band to be putting out records that contend for my AOTY, but I've discovered so much more music since the time LP was one of my favorite bands, so now I'm really just content for them to put out whatever they want and if I like it, even better.

 

For me each album since MTM has been an aimless mess and this is the first that feels cohesive. Unfortunately for them they can't hide behind the experimentation angle anymore and the result is boring as all hell. Also I agree with the other comments about Chester's voice just not being suited for what they want.

 

I've had Heavy stuck in my head since it was released and same with Battle Symphony. The song's cheesy but the melody is now on repeat in my head. I actually enjoy this album but it is definitely their weakest. Nothing special and Sharp Edges is an awful and abrupt closer.

 

Man, I think Living Things is totally cohesive

 

Y'know, I've been wondering lately if part of why a lot of their lighter stuff doesn't stick with me is because Chester's just not that good of a crooner. Like it or not, he's an amazing alt-metal singer, and I don't think much of what LP has done post-Meteora has proven he has much range outside of that. Even "The Messenger" only kinda sorta works because he still scream-sings at the top of his lungs throughout it.

(Even his Dead by Sunrise project used his range better than LP is currently using it.)

Much agreed with that AllMusic review and whoever mentioned that their basic songwriting has taken a sharp decline, it's the same problem that haunted The Hunting Party.

 

There were moments in ATS where I was genuinely impressed with Chester's performances, in particular his versatility with the poppier arrangements (waiting for the end comes to mind). That being said, he's seemingly declined in ability since then. His performance on Hunting Party was fairly dreadful at times especially compared to their old material in the same style. I think much of it had to do with production choices on the vocals which made them come across as unpolished and weak.

On this album though I think his issue lies not in ability but in delivery. The band did themselves no favors by making the surrounding compositions ho-hum (again disappointing because I think they have the capability to write an interestingly composed pop album from the instrumental standpoint), but like others have said, his approach is simply not fit for this style. He takes away from any potential fun factor on much of the tracks by delivering a very melodramatic performance that comes across as quite cheesy as opposed to powerful. I think this issue was showcased at times in Living Things, but it is much more prevelant here.

Take for instance Battle Symphony. Relatively engaging synth riff that suggests potential at a fun track, but ultimately is done away with by the exaggerated, tacky delivery in the chorus that contrasts horribly with the instrumentals. Granted, I think that song was doomed irregardless because its an awfully written track. The point is that the band does themselves no favors in this very melody driven album with the heavy handed vocal approach. It was probably intentional to go along with the more personal lyrics, but from a listening standpoint its pretty cringey.

 

I would like them to pursue the A Thousand Suns direction. Over time that has become one of my favorite albums by them. If they can write some songs like Blackout or the Catalyst, I'd be very interested.

 

One of their best albums, they nailed every single thing they tried to do at the time. Such a fun listen

 

I love the variety on that album, I agree that it does make it a fun listen. I also think Lost in the Echo and Lies, Greed, Misery are two of their best songs as well.

 

I've had more time with the album, I think I can say I really do like it overall. There are only two songs I don't really care for a found myself skipping on repeat listens, Halfway Right and Sharp Edges. Even though it seems like everyone picks on Battle Symphony, I still really like that song. Chester sounds great in it and his melody is really catchy. I can say its a disappointment Mike only raps in one song, even though I know he does way more for the band than just that.

 

THOSE are the kind of electronic sounds that suit LP best, not whatever they tried to do with One More Light. Blackout especially is a wonderful, grand mess of a song.

 

Although I don't hate A Thousand Suns with the same passion I did when I first heard it, I still think it's a bad album. So many solid songs are ruined by totally unnecessary choices. It's the sound of a band so desperate to smash disparate sounds together that they don't even bother to ask if those choices actually make the song better.

I actually think a lot of One More Light suffers from the same problem: it's a band asking can we instead of should we. (And no, should doesn't mean making Meteora over and over again.)

I feel like I owe Fall Out Boy something of an apology. They've been able to incorporate a lot of elements of modern pop while still sounding like the same band. As far as Mumford & Sons ripoffs go, "Young Volcanoes" wipes the floor with "Sharp Edges."

 

i have a lot of time for pop sell-out records but the songwriting on this is lazy af

 

"talking to myself" is pretty ok and the rest of this is dogshit wow

 

Talking to Myself is my favorite too which isn't saying a lot. It's the only one that feels like it would be at home on a previous LP record

 

Also my favorite, and agreed. It feels more natural for them imo.

 

I think my main problem with this record is that it's all so happy. What happened to IN THE END IT DOESN'T EVEN MATTER or I'VE GIVEN UUUUUUUUP. You'd think at this point in history would be prime time for an angry, politically-charged record a la Minutes to Midnight

 

I think A Thousand Suns is pretty bad but When They Come For Me might be my favorite song of theirs these days

 

ATS is my 2nd favorite of theirs right behind Meteora. I don't love every song on it but I love the diversity and think it excels as a concept record

 

If I wasn't so emotionally attached to Meteora, I might say ATS is their best album.

 

Meteora > ATS > Hybrid Theory > MTM > Living Things > THP > OML

With their 3 most recent being increasingly not good (although I do seem to enjoy Living Things more than most), it does not bode well for their future trajectory :(

 

a thousand suns is their best imo, what a record

 

Minutes to Midnight > A Thousand Suns > Living Things > Meteora > Hybrid Theory > One More Light > The Hunting Party

The first two records are fine but haven't aged as well as I would've hoped (Meteora has definitely aged better than HT). The last two just have generally weaker songwriting, though I still enjoy parts of both. Middle three are their peak for sure.

 

I haven't actually listened to ATS in quite a while so it may replace MTM as #1.

 

I remember feeling ATS was dominated by interludes and sound bits with a couple nice songs and a handful of messy ones. God that album made me mad haha

Revisited hunting party tho and it's better than I thought