The Arizona Republic
Two years ago, who would have thought we'd be looking at Linkin Park's new release as the first big barometer record of the year.
Of course, two years ago, we had no idea the band of savvy California musicians and a wailing Phoenix vocalist would have 2001's bestselling album. And we didn't know that releases from two other notable angsters, Papa Roach and System of a Down, would tank in 2002.
So, all eyes are on Linkin Park as the band looks to capture the magic that sent Hybrid Theory to sales of more than 8 million, and allowed its remix, Reanimation, to debut last year at No. 2 on Billboard's Top 200. Will it bring light back to the world of rap/metal hybrids?
The answer depends on whether you can catch lightning in the same jar twice. Meteora is a worthy extension of the winning formula from Hybrid Theory, with its only weakness being that it stays a little too close to that script: Singer Chester Bennington's vocal-cord-crunching wails exchange bummer views with Mike Shinoda's smooth rhymes, while Brad Delson's guitars chase away the faint of heart.
Reanimation showed a level of sonic exploration that made it a notable remix, but that level of risk-taking doesn't show up on Meteora. That's too bad for those who like Reanimation, but let's face it, about 7.5 million more people bought Hybrid Theory.
Those folks will be thrilled by the new record. The first single, Somewhere I Belong, is in heavy rotation and is a worthy extension of the band's hit list. Lying From You, Breaking the Habit and Easier to Run are also destined for heavy airplay.
It's a safe, tight, 36-minute set. Not groundbreaking, but enough to solidify the foothold established in 2001 and dodge the 2002 rap/metal doldrums.
