Linkin Park - A Thousand Suns

The thing is that I'd argue, from my very limited exposure to her, that Lady Gaga is very good both musically and songwriting-wise, and I'd think she'd be able to handle a shift in whatever music wants out of her. Linkin Park pretty much ran with a single concept, and then devolved into a confusing mix in "Minutes to Midnight", which seemed to be crappy try-hard rock, to the point where it was incredibly predictable and more abominable than usual.

One Step Closer, Crawling, In The End, Papercut, Numb, Somewhere I Belong, Breaking The Habit (there's probably more), each is based off one formula and I can see why they were enjoyable as radio hits. I don't mind if they show up on the radio these days, but it doesn't stop me from abhorring them in general.

Lady Gaga is very good both musically and songwriting-wise

You fucking piss me off.

Don't even compare Linkin Park (or whatever they are right now) to Gaga.

Linkin Park was never anything more than a band who received their billing by appealing to a mass audience. Their music, or at least whatever made the charts, never really broke any moulds. Does that make them any less enjoyable to audiences? Of course not. But then again, how is that any different to Lady Gaga? Even she's arguably experimented with the pop music she's produced - I listened to The Fame Monster once, and I don't plan to listen to it ever again - and I don't see how Linkin Park can be argued as above her musical level, when all they do is write the same rock hooks for each song, and then have Mike Shinoda do his rapping verses/bridges/whatever else.

Lady Gaga is yes brilliant in her songwriting and music, but Linkin Park is also in the context of where they exist. Of course they mine the same well for easy success, but many bands do. And that is what made them successful. And it's part of why I think this album need more respect, they rejected that a little and tried to explore a new path.

It's not brilliant, it's not amazing, it's not groundbreaking, but they resisted what they did for nearly a decade and put out something that's at least trying to find a new path. I hope they peruse it because I liked it and long ago tired of what they had been doing.

And of course, they lost/disillusioned, what, half their fanbase, because of it? More than half?

So they grew as artists? Maybe that's all they want right now, considering all that worldwide fame they've already achieved. Conforming to the mainstream demands, earning a shitload of money, then moving away from it to pursue musical interests seems a pretty smart way to go about a musical career.

I guess that's admirable, but I'm in no position to judge.

EDIT: Also, if that is the case, Katy Perry better do something like that too because I need a real excuse to like her music, instead of going by the "looks like Zooey Deschanel" angle, which really fails to cover the annoyingness of pretty much all her songs. Plus:

They were increasingly losing their fanbase by trying to rehash what they had done before, they're millionaires, time to do what you want.

Katy Perry is engaged to Russell Brand. No thanks.

I am infatuated with Zooey Deschanel, so with that, I'll always be irrationally attracted to Katy Perry, even if she is an obvious downgrade.

Linkin Park have always been a guilty pleasure of mine. I loved both Hybrid Theory and Meteora... Minutes to Midnight had 3 good songs on it, but apart from that, it was absolute dog's balls. Currently listening to A Thousand Suns... I actually think the slower songs in this one with Chester are better than the more upbeat Shinoda tracks. Burning in the Skies and Waiting For the End are currently my highlights so far.

This album has actually grown on me. I like about five songs on it now. Right now, I'd have to say my favorites are "Waiting for the end", "When They Come For Me", "Blackout", "Iridenscent", and maybe "The Catalyst", but really, that's it. Saying I like "The Catalyst" may be pushing it a little far.

I'm actually going to see Linkin Park in early December... one of my impulse buys, but I'm hoping they'll play mostly their old stuff.