Linkin Park - Living Things Review

Linkin Park - LIVING THINGS 2012


Bands change over a period of time, leading from a usual raw and explosive début to a more relaxed and recognizable long-term sound. However, for Linkin Park, it is argued that this usual cycle of Award-winning Bands and Musical Groups is severely ruined and re-written.

Living Things is the fifth Linkin Park album since their début of Hybrid Theory in 2000, bringing back the power of loud guitars, strong melodies and telling lyrics. A very personal album reveals itself through similar territory whilst also grabbing the attention that A Thousand Suns managed to give out upon release.

"Lost In The Echo" harks back instantly to the sounds of Meteora with the traditional rap-verse, anthemic-chorus and screaming bridge drawing long-term fans close. Following with a more expected "In My Remains" the familiarity with Minutes to Midnight is truly eclipsed and Chester's dominating vocals sounding refreshed and revitalised. The album is very loud and grabs you in a different way that explains Linkin Park is nearby, but in a new place.

"Burn It Down" was released before the official album as the first single, and brought a direct rock song with a strong melody and electronic sounds squeezed in with the warmth of Brad Delson's consuming distortion. "Lies Greed Misery" gives the fans what they want with an almost gangster-beat with Mike's rapping combining explosively with Chester's screaming and yet accurate vocals. "I'll Be Gone" will be an instant fan favourite with memories of "What I've Done" in mind and even "New Divide", an extremely catchy melody with powerful guitars and an adept string section.

"Castle of Glass" turns the album on its head, and puts Living Things into another dimension altogether with an almost unnoticeable rhythm until the vocals appear amidst the punching piano sounds and increasing tempo and coherency. "Victimize" is aggressive, and goes beyond anything experienced even in Meteora and Hybrid Theory. Also harking back the familiar melody of "When They Come For Me", Chester's screams of "VICTIMIZE" sends everything into chaos and also unearths something completely new.

"Roads Untravelled" is possibly the most personal song on the album and couples with "Skin and Bones" very well with another drifting piano song with Mike and Chester combining vocal channels with excellence. "Iridescence" is a clear inspiration, but the band has grown further now, and has brought something new once again with a Linkin Park sound.

"Until It Breaks" can be arguably seen as the weakest song on the album with Mike's rapping over heavy beats, but then equalling out completely into an almost dreamy finish as the strings kick in. "Tinfoil" is another traditional, and very popular instrumental placed on the album with Joseph Hahn providing another excellent filler for the final song "Powerless".

The new Linkin Park album Living Things will receive mixed reviews because of the bands stand-out upbringings of the powerful guitars, telling vocals and aggressive leads. However, taking a step back, even slightly, will show fans that their band is still growing and learning. Exploring dark areas that we never thought would be reached, we hear a variety of different genres of music that blend together to create something different to their past four albums.

My Top Songs of 2011

50. Rearrange (Miles Kane)

49. Uberlin (R.E.M)

48. She's Thunderstorms (Arctic Monkeys)

47. Major Minus (Coldplay)

46. Switchblade Smiles (Kasabian)

45. Kingcrawler (Miles Kane)

44. White Limo (Foo Fighters)

43. Dear Rosemary (Foo Fighters)

42. Soldier Boys and Jesus Freaks (Noel Gallagher)

41. Police Station (Red Hot Chili Peppers)

40. Standing On The Edge of the Noise (Beady Eye)

39. I Hear Voices (Kasabian)

38. The Good Rebel (Noel Gallagher)

37. Back and Forth (Foo Fighters)

36. Look Around (Red Hot Chili Peppers)

35. AKA...What A Life (Noel Gallagher)

34. I Should Have Known (Foo Fighters)

33. Lotus Flower (Radiohead)

32. Library Pictures (Arctic Monkeys)

31. Inhaler (Miles Kane)

30. The Beat Goes On (Beady Eye)

29. The Daily Mail (Radiohead)

28. Dear Rosemary (Foo Fighters)

27. Acid Turkish Bath [Shelter From The Storm] (Kasabian)

26. Hurts Like Heaven (Coldplay)

25. Lotus Flower (Radiohead)

24. Piledriver Waltz (Arctic Monkeys)

23. Let England Shake (PJ Harvey)

22. If I Had a Gun... (Noel Gallagher)

21. All The Best (R.E.M)

20. Walk (Foo Fighters)

19. Arlandria (Foo Fighters)

18. The Hellcat Spangled Shalalala (Arctic Monkeys)

17. The Death of You and Me (Noel Gallagher)

16. The Adventures of Rain Dance Maggie (Red Hot CHili Peppers)

15. Codex (Radiohead)

14. Days Are Forgotten (Kasabian)

13. Four Letter Word (Beady Eye)

12. Stop The Clocks (Noel Gallagher)

11. Paradise (Coldplay)

10. Goodbye Kiss (Kasabian)

9. Little By Little (Radiohead)

8. AKA...Broken Arrow (Noel Gallagher)

7. The Words That Maketh Murder (PJ Harvey)

6. Bridge Burning (Foo Fighters)

5. Monarchy of Roses (Red Hot Chili Peppers)

4. Everybody's On The Run (Noel Gallagher)

3. Man Of Simple Pleasures (Kasabian)

2. Bloom (Radiohead)

1. A Simple Game Of Genius (Noel Gallagher)

Kasabian " Velociraptor" - Album Review

Kasabian are back at their best.

“Velociraptor” is the 4^th album of British band Kasabian, and it is their greatest effort yet. Bringing musical styles from across their album bases with a variety of instruments, backup vocals, powerful ambience and synthesized beats, Velociraptor has become an instant personal favourite of mine in my growing record collection.

The album, highlighted by single Days of Forgotten, begins with a trumpet solo bellowing out of background noises. Raising suspense for an up tempo verse, pumping with drums and Tom Meighan’s catchy vocals. Serge Pizzorno’s back up vocals bring that Kasabian-esque atmosphere immediately into the album with a song that grasps the rawness of their previous record West Ryder Pauper Lunatic Aslyum, and also a new sense of rock and roll.  Days Are Forgotten follows soon after, with a sense of Club Foot starting with a driving bass line over a drum beat. Pizzorno’s vocals high pitch and rising before Meighan begins his solid vocal layer. The drive of the song continues before breaking into an anthem like chorus that soars the album higher than ever expected. Guitars and continued beats bring the track back to down letting the listener beg for more.

Goodbye Kiss is perhaps the most unexpected song on the album especially from an electronic based band of Kasabian. The song grasps similar raw sounds heard on Arctic Monkeys’ album Humbug, and brings in acoustic guitars and a quaint string section. An instant classic at best with another chorus that keeps the album at stardom and rising. The songwriting and composition of this track is exemplary, and is one of the best on the album. La Fee Verte brings another flavour to the album with Pizzorno’s haunting lyrics over a catchy keyboard riff. Very raw with strings creating a rising suspense, another great track.

Rock and Roll is next defined with the track Velocirpator. Although not the best song written, the album needed a fast pace rock song on it and this fills in nicely. High tempo, strong drum riffs and insanely catchy verses brings the album back down to the ground. However, not for long as the next track Acid Turkish Bath sends the album into the instant classic zone. An opening Arabic sounding string section is coupled with powerful drums. Pizzorno and an acoustic guitar begin the verses creating  a haunting and mellow feel. This song should not be missed. It’s like a tune from the best film ever created.

I Hear Voices and Rewired bring back the sounds of the original Kasabian album, bringing a mixture of electric based riffs around catchy vocals and strong bass and guitar lines. A good familiar sound that will grab back fans who may have been lost with the slight tinge of change in the bands sound. Both songs are strong, and would excel in the live arena. Catchy and the album continues with no stopping with A Man of Simple Pleasures. An instant favourite, with a beckoning start with interesting bass lines coupled again by more haunting back ground noise. The chorus soars the album back high again with an unforgettable melody.

Switchblade Smiles is made for the stage, the live performances and the arena. Beginning with a typical Kasabian vocal with rising synthesizer loops before it breaks into haven with drums kicking in. Neon Noon then ends the album on the high note, a strong finish to an album that deserves extremely high praise for its effort and composition. A very good effort from Kasabian overall, and may branch their music style even further.

My Music

Live at the Indi Bar, Perth. June 2011

I have been writing music for 5 years to this day now. I will never forget the first song I had ever written, and it was done before I even knew what a guitar was. Was a very short piece of poetry that was inspired by the arrival of my teenage years, and the change of perspective on the world. That sort of set the beginnings to what my songs are all about now, and why I write.

Writing with purpose is always the top priority for me. I don’t write if I have nothing to say, because there isn’t a point or a purpose. If I have nothing to express, then I don’t see a reason for why a song has to be written. I know this differs for each musician or songwriter, as I know a lot who write upon impulse about anything they see. That is something I tried to do and got a bit lost as a result.

As of today (27/11/11) I have written over 80 songs and recorded just under half of those at my homemade studio. Studio is just a fancy word for a small room with an electric drum kit, a keyboard, piano, two guitars and an 8 track mixer crammed into it. I haven’t bought any new equipment since I began writing music properly and learning instruments. I always feel incredibly grateful for having such equipment, and the ability to make my ideas a reality. To me it’s a gift that was given out of nowhere, and something I hope everybody in the world is able to do some day.

I write songs about the world, society and depressions that occur. Whatever affects this world in a way that I see as chaotic and crucial I intend to write about because it affects me directly. I have no interest in writing about something positive in my life because it only occurs after a long period of depression in hard work. Why right about the success when the hard work was the backbone to it all, it’s something people always forget.

This post is a bit out of nowhere, but there isn’t much known of me on this blog and I don’t want to become an invisible writer to people who read this. My music can be located at: www.reverbnation.com/jerrodlew

Thank you.

Noel Gallagher: High Flying Birds

 

Noel Gallagher Returns

There is no need for an introduction for this musician. He has done it all. Sold millions of records, hit number one in the charts repeatedly, dozens of professional interviews and an awards cabinet many would dream of. Noel Gallagher was the back-bone to the Oasis success, the band that has sold over 50 million albums from 1994-2009 and known as one of the most influential bands of the past 20 years.

High Flying Birds was announced in August 2011 as Noel’s solo project after high anticipation since the 2009 breakup of Oasis. The album released in mid-October contains 10 completely original tracks written and recorded by Noel alone with a handful of new musicians in the process. After the video of “The Death of You And Me” reaching 1 million hits within hours of release on Youtube, the suspense and anticipation rose considerably for the release. Noel has nothing else to prove to the music world, and any doubters to his ability to craft masterpieces of music have been proven wrong again. High Flying Birds is his strongest release since the early Definitely Maybe/Morning Glory era.

Opening with the epic-sounding string set of Everybody’s On The Run, Noel leaves everybody in awe with its anthem sound and choir working to create an atmosphere of pure dreamland and astonishment. Dream On then follows with a “Roll With It” twist with a pumping verse breaking into the night sky for the chorus. If I Had a Gun returns long remaining Oasis fans to the days of Wonderwall. Starting with a quiet acoustic melody before guitars pump in for the chorus with the drums cracking the fills between lines. The song soars higher and higher before breaking cleanly through the ice into an acoustic finish; fantastic tune!

The Death of You And Me reaches the album to newer heights that seemed unreachable. Containing a horn and brass solo over the usual guitars, and bringing out a chorus that is uplifting. This is the furthest Noel reaches out on the album, and a personal favourite. Record Machine is one of the two former Oasis demos that appeared on the internet, highly anticipated and Noel does not let it rest. An acoustic guitar with delayed Noel Gallagher lyric wafts over the top of a soothing choir before breaking out into an anthem. A guitar solo picks up the tempo and guides the vocals to stardom in a state of melancholy that only a songwriter of this calibre could reach with such ease. This tune is one not to be missed.

AKA…What A Life is the real revelation of Noel’s latest accomplishments. An unlikely song due to his back ground with a purposeful bass drums dominating the sound, with Noel’s insanely catchy vocals over pianos, guitars and synthesizers. A new step out for Noel, and a song that could easily have follows the Standing On the Shoulders Of Giant’s era with Go Let It Out a landmark. Then album then takes another turn to a new place through Soldier Boys And Jesus Freaks. Lyrics about religious dwellings of war and inequality dominate a fast paced trumpet section over guitars. AKA…Broken Arrow continues the trend with a new flavour of bongo drums and more guitars. Catchy chord progressions lead to another anthem like chorus with drums filling in the blanks well.

(Stranded On) The Wrong Beach sends the record back down to Earth after its rising altitude of hysteria and aptitude for cleanliness. Similar sounds that were heard off Dig Out Your Soul return, and brings a raw based rock-song that makes you question where will the record turn to next. Chorus again brings a sense of hope, with Noel’s vocals over a raw guitar riff that dominates the track from start to end. Peace then arrives at a place of a well-known Oasis demo. Stop The Clocks was first heard in Liverpool back in 2002, and the want and popularity of the tune led to its final release at the end of an album of dreams. The song is Oasis-esque at the very best, with a killer guitar solo at the end that puts it to rest.

Perhaps the lack of guitar solos came as a surprise to many fans of Oasis and Noel’s previous work, but in return he brings back catchy songs that could inspire yet another generation. This album has Noel Gallagher written all over it. He has returned, but in retrospect…he had never really left.

Radiohead: The Albums (90s)

Pablo Honey

I heard this album late on in the system of things as the first records I ever picked up from Radiohead was Amnesiac and Kid A, but when I finally found a copy of Pablo Honey it answered a lot of questions I had about the band. For me the album was full of anger, rage and youth. The combination that any teenager has when they write music at the very start I think. Just that place to release everything you’ve ever hated or loved into one beautiful crafted piece of music. Pablo Honey is nowhere near just an ordinary album, but yet something that edges the beginnings of one of the greatest bands in the world’s history. It’s a timeless album that flashes by quickly at the start, and slows down in suspense only to hit you hard again on the next track. Its anthemic at times, and catapulted by the hit single Creep to an album that is outstanding. But you must look at the other tracks past the main single, such as You and Blowout, to really understand what Radiohead is all about. For me this is an album that was a fantastic beginning to what Radiohead would develop into towards the end of the 90s.

The Bends

Complete, confident and full of a variety of different songs. Ranging from the powerful Planet Telex to the ballad of Street Spirit, The Bends catapults the band to a place where not many others could reach at the time. It’s brilliance, I think, was only witnessed much later on the 2000s where many looked back on the bands history. The 90s was amazing for British music, and this album continued that tide it seemed. I find it very hard to review Radiohead’s 90’s era of music because of the fact that I wasn’t really around listening to music in that much detail (I was 2 when this album came out). But from my perspective now, I think The Bends is probably the most complete album of Radiohead out of their 8 released now, and has several hit tracks. The album has no filler tracks either, its full of execellently written songs that are ballad like and also anthemic.

OK Computer

This album deserves a lot more success than what it has already achieved. It is ground-breaking. Thom Yorke’s falsetto and Jonny Greenwood’s guitar work create the basis of one of the greatest records ever to be created for mankind to listen to. Paranoid Android is so very hard to describe, but is still the most unique track I have ever listened to. Contained within is such a variety of different genres of music all masterfully put together and composed by the band. I listen to this song every morning, it’s an anthem. A very brilliant song, words cannot describe how amazing it is. But the album continues and once again no filler tracks at all, every single song hits you hard from every angle alerting you to how incredible Radiohead have become in the scheme of music. Even the twisted Electioneering creates a well deserved but interesting turn on the album, twisting it away from what we expect to hear from the band. Full of guitar work, fantastically played instruments and composition of the songs. It is simply astonishing and life changing. From Pablo Honey to OK Computer is one complex journey that just seemed inevitable, but still so complex and unexpected. 

Charts

Usually this is on the Pitch Of Silence blog, but that is on temporary hiatus until I actually achieve more followers here first.

Here's some music to behold, some songs worth listening to.

1. An Accent Beyond - Portal 2 soundtrack (disk 2)

2. Staircase - Radiohead

3. Forwarding The Cause of Science - Portal 2 soundtrack (disk 2)

4. Pendulum - Konflict

5. Dirge - Death In Vegas

6. Colour Me - Dot Allison

7. Aftersun - Massive Attack

We listen, years upon years,We listen, side by side, We listen....nothing ever comes as close as this....the energy....the incomplete energy of what we need...what we want. Its Now Upon Us.

(c) Jerrod Lew 2011