3.5/5
In The New Beginning
I remember the first time I heard 'Points Of Authority' (originally meant to be a single in the UK) by Linkin Park on BBC Radio One, like it was yesterday, back in those college days, that almost 40, don't seem that far away. It sounded like nothing I've ever heard before. The futuristic, electronic video game beat over growling guitars. The instantly iconic screaming vocals of the late, great Chester Bennington. He could never be replaced. The opening super singles of 'Hybrid Theory' ('One Step Closer', 'Crawling' (that trio of T. rex plastic puppet Vine), 'Papercut' and 'In The End'), the biggest hitters until The Killers slayed the beginning of their 'Hot Fuss' debut four years later with the tracklist singles of 'Jenny Was A Friend Of Mine', 'Mr. Brightside', 'Smile Like You Mean It', 'Somebody Told Me' and 'All These Things That I've Done', never letting up.
Just like LP never did. LP after LP. 'Meteora'. 'Minutes To Midnight'. The MTV 'Collision Course' with Jay-Z, best rock/rap collabo since Aerosmith and Run-DMC. The 'Transformers: Dark Of The Moon' soundtrack scorching score from 'A Thousand Suns'. The sweet spot, signature sounds of 'Living Things' ('Roads Untravelled', man) and 'The Hunting Party' ('Wretches and Kings'...maaaan). And the last album with the dearly departed, Chester, the experimental 'One More Light', which on originally missing after a tough year and some much-maligned, off-putting, I still haven't listened to yet, despite being a big fan of this band. Perhaps, now, I can't bring myself to bear Bennington's last album, like he's still here to be heard. But the harsh reality is he's not, and we, like the band of working musicians Dave Farrell, Brad Delson, Joe Hahn, and Mike Shinoda, must go on. Like they did without the likes of founding member and hiatus lost Rob Bourdon, and Mark Wakefield and Kyle Christener.
Some fans have not warmly welcomed Bennington's replacement, mind you. Although Dead Sara's own Emily Armstrong is not a replacement, she's her own artist on a new chapter in this band. Besides, Chester could never be replaced, like we said. In an artillery of female forces, this New Music Friday. The legendary Dolly Parton. Our generation's greats in Mary J. Blige and Gwen Stefani, no doubt. And the most amazing artist, speaking Spanish, in Annie Clark, AKA, St. Vincent, all giving Jon and Jin, of Batiste and BTS fame fits. Armstrong arms up in such a loaded week, we've finally got 'round to finishing up the 'round up of reviews, and it's almost next Friday (can you blame m? I'm on vacation!), like Ice Cube, minus Chris Tucker. We've saved the most controversial for last, if you've heard the comments Chester's son has made about Mike and the boys. That's between them. We don't know enough to comment. All we can say is it's all heartbreaking, like how happy Chester was on the Carpool Karaoke with Ken Jeong, just days before he was lost from us.
Linkin Park have to start again, 'From Zero' on their new album. Originally, Emily's debut of live takes of Linkin's greatest hits, didn't exactly knock it out the park. Social media reacted like that José Mourinho headphone meme. Since then, the new band, that also welcomes drummer Colin Brittain to the fold, have given us an onslaught of strong singles and glory days music videos. 'The Emptiness Machine', 'Heavy Is The Crown', 'Over Each Other' and 'Two Faced'. Holy smokes, they've still got it. Nu metal legends with a fully-charged half-hour of new music, dialled up to eleven, epic tracks. Not to mention an expanded edition after the 'Good Times Go' for this digital age with live single takes in London, Paris and native, Burbank, California. As the black pink washes over the leather of this album art, the polished 'Points' production is still here in a fresh sound that still feels familiar, but is not jacking anyone's style, or stealing their shine as it finds its own light in this new day.
Xero, was Linkin Park's original name, but this is a new day and way. Not to mention, logo. Logging a new turn in the outstanding opening of 'The Emptiness', following the instrumental intro, rapper/singer Shinoda reminds us there were always two frontmen, before he lets Emily come into play. 'Cut The Bridge' tears through, all the way to the hook, as this band may never be the same, but they don't sound completely different. And that's a good thing, like it is on tracks like 'Casualty' and 'Overflow', hurting for more. On 'Stained' Armstrong makes her mark, singing, "And someday/Your hands will be too red to hide the blame/You'll realize you had it comin'/Pretend you're spotless, but I don't wash away/And now you're stained/And now you're stained/And now you're stained." Whilst on 'IGYEIH', Mike makes his, singing along, "I give you everything I have." Just like this band do, in the face of it all. Love. Loss. The hate of looking like they're trying to replace, when really they're just trying to keep going. An admirable quality, even if they're no longer the most loved. Fans may be feeling the hurt, but outside the Bennington family and circle of friends, whose been hit harder than this one? Getting back up with a sonic soar from the ashes, remember, we missed this band too. Welcome back, Linkin Park! TIM DAVID HARVEY.
Playlist Picks: 'The Emptiness Machine', 'Heavy Is The Crown', 'Over Each Other'.
Spin This: Linkin Park - 'Hybrid Theory: Reanimation'