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Dynamix
Rock Review for Hybrid Theory
Like
events that occur in a person’s lifetime, in
which many events will come and go with hardly a
passing glance, others may linger for a time,
while certain rare events will leave a permanent
mark; bands within the music industry go through a
similar transition. There are hundreds of
bands that are out there today, each trying to
leave their own unique brand upon the music scene,
yet very few will even come close to succeeding,
and those few that do will leave a powerful
impression that will stay within the hearts and
minds of listeners forever. Linkin Park is
one of those very rare bands whose music will
continue to linger long past the final echoes have
resonated through your soul.
Combining a unique blend of electronica, infused
with live instruments and creative sampling,
Linkin Park’s sound takes the entire rap/rock
genre to another level. Then again,
labels cannot accurately describe this amazing
collage of musical composition, which is both
moving and raw at the same time, similar to a
cross between Incubus and Stabbing Westward.
Featuring memorable rhythms induced by artistic
programming that contains an energy and vibe that
is reminiscent of a mix between dance and
electronica music, likened to a cross between
Gravity Kills and Prodigy. This rhythm
section is accented by steady and brisk drumwork,
which in turn is underlined by tight, flowing
melodies and intricate guitar riffs that spew out
with authority and finesse. Add to that an
amazing array of sampling effects that merely
ripens and defines the overall sound, and you have
an aural assault that will leave the listener
entirely enthralled and amazed, never questioning
the absence of any bass player. The
incorporation of so many unique elements and
variety that is accessed throughout is highly
defined through song structures that are both
simplistic and complex in nature. The
passion, talent, and diversity that emanate from
these five unique individuals and are incorporated
into the single unit that is known as Linkin Park
will simply overwhelm the listener.
Utilizing the amazing range and talents of
vocalists Chester and Shinoda, whose powerfully
impassioned lyrics are expressed through a dynamic
dual vocal styling that definitely steals the
show. With Shinoda first grabbing the
attention of the listener with his crisp, engaging
rap/hip-hop style that is reminiscent of Crazy
Town’s vocal styling, it is the emergence of
Chester’s amazingly beautiful vocals who takes
the listener to the edge and beyond. Both
vocalists possess amazing range from rap/singing,
melodic singing and some harsher-edged, raw
singing and screaming, all of which beautifully
expresses the emotional outpouring that is
bursting forth from their hearts. As tight
as the flow is between the music and the vocals,
it is the charisma and chemistry between Shinoda
and Chester that truly makes the Linkin Park style
so very special, engaging in epic and meaningful
interplay between the two that will capture the
hearts of many.
The name of Linkin Park’s debut cd, “Hybrid
Theory”, which at one time had been the name of
the band, captures perfectly the essence of the
album, eclectic, diverse, intelligent, unique and
revolutionary. Definitely one of the more
engaging and memorable cds that can be found today
with each song being special in its own way,
“Hybrid Theory” is a cd that will definitely
become a mainstay. From the
first single “One Step Closer” to
“Runaway” which are two songs that combine
steady beats and grooves with rap-induced vocals
underlined by melodic singing, memorable rock-like
choruses and powerful harsher-edged interludes.
“Papercut” and “With You” combine a unique
mix of mainstream appeal with rawness to create
songs backed by powerful beats, scintillating
riffs and sampling and extraordinary vocal
interplay. “Points of Authority” has
more of an electronica/dance vibe as does “Cure
For the Itch” which is just an instrumental
sprayed with sampling. The two best
songs on the cd, “In the End” and
“Crawling” showcase the gentler side of the
band with beautiful melodies and vocals underlined
by steady grooves, excellent rap/singing,
powerfully meaningful choruses and great dual
vocal interplay.
From the moment this band first burst upon the
music scene, it was evident that Linkin Park
possessed something special. Even now, with
the band not really having established them
selves, the buzz has already spread like wildfire
with the band’s reputation far preceding them.
Fortunately, this is one band whose abilities will
definitely be able to achieve and exceed the lofty
expectations of any and all that may be out to
judge the band. For those of you who have
not heard of this band, fear not as Linkin Park
will soon become a household name within the music
industry and a foundation for many future bands
that one day will hope to leave a permanent mark
as Linkin Park no doubt will.
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Linkin
Park's Official Site Biography
Ask Linkin Park guitarist Brad Delson for a
wish-list of bands he’d like to tour with, and
he’s ready with a response. "We told our
manager, ‘Pick a band and we can tour with
them.’ Our music reaches out in so many
directions that there’s pretty much an unlimited
amount of cool bands with which we could
play.."
Delson is understandably proud of the diversity
and uniqueness apparent on the band’s debut
album, Hybrid Theory (the band’s original name).
Built on an aggressive hard rock foundation,
flavored with hip-hop vocal stylings and
electronic flourishes, Linkin Park’s sound is
utterly their own, an accomplishment strengthened
by the band’s remarkably powerful and unforced
songwriting. But almost everything about Linkin
Park has been unforced, including their Southern
California origins.
Delson and emcee/vocalist Mike Shinoda attended
the same high school together, where Delson also
met the band’s drummer, Rob Bourdon. Shinoda
then hooked up with DJ Joseph Hahn while studying
painting at the Pasadena Art Center. The final
piece in the puzzle was singer Chester Bennington,
a transplanted Arizona native who started making
records when he was sixteen.
"Since I learned how to talk I’ve been
telling everybody I was gonna grow up to be a
singer," laughs Bennington. "When I was
two, I used to run around singing Foreigner songs
– there’s tapes of me doing that."
The combination of Bennington’s rich, mammoth
vocal style clicked immediately with Shinoda’s
streetwise emceeing. "I think one of Chester
and Mike’s goals is to be as integrated as
possible," offers Delson. "We want our
sound to come across so that people go, ‘oh,
that’s Linkin Park,’ not ‘I heard this
hip-hop part, and now they’re hitting me over
the head with this rock chorus.’ We want
everything to have dynamics, but also a continuous
cohesive flavor, so that you know what band
you’re listening to."
It was that cohesive style and instantly memorable
songs that attracted immediate attention, starting
with a publishing offer after the band’s very
first show at L.A.’s famed Whisky. After
showcasing around town and eventually inking with
Warner Bros., the band began work on their first
album with producer Don Gilmore (Eve 6, Lit, Pearl
Jam). "We met with a lot of people and had a
very difficult time deciding," says Shinoda.
"But Don, aside from making things sound
good, stood out as someone who could really push
us further as songwriters.
The end result is an album that’s as
well-crafted and melodic as it is confrontational,
with a strong lyrical message.
"We try to push real things through in our
lyrics; whether it’s feeling insignificant or
questioning your own thoughts or discovering the
dark side of yourself."
Weaving influences as diverse as Deftones, Nine
Inch Nails, Aphex Twin, and The Roots into a
single unified whole, Linkin Park and Hybrid
Theory are living proof that a fresh combination
of talent, an unwavering dedication to craft, and
a pure artistic vision can result in a powerful
musical statement.
"I’ve wanted to do this my whole life, and
I feel really blessed to be here," says
Bennington. "A lot of hard work and
dedication and faith can get you through anything
and make it happen."
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