Yes, its lyrics are chock full of whiny teen emo-angst brimming with grade-school nihilism meant to pass as deep and meaningful. But, even with that (quite large, I will admit) shortcoming, it's hard to deny the infectiousness of a well-crafted Linkin Park song, which "Minutes to Midnight" offers in spades.
Catchy hooks and the power of a grinding mix of pop, hip-hop and straight rock has proven to be an effective technique for the band. However, this time around, the band takes the time to include some moments of self-awareness in between the solipsism.
For instance, "Hands Held High" shows a different, even poetic side of the group. While it's indictment of the war in Iraq may feel rote, if not trite, the very fact that the band decided to turn its samplers toward the political is impressive. It also doesn't hurt musically because it's a beautiful piece. The execution of the song is enough to make up for the triteness, as Mike Shinoda's trademark rap vocals combine with a chorus repeating "Amen" in an almost angelic cacophony.
Nonetheless, the band still shows that it hasn't lost its edge that it brought screaming in with 2000's "Hybrid Theory" album -- songs such as "What I've Done," which has already enjoyed its fair share of radio play, with Chester Bennington's vocals referencing the band's efforts to reinvent themselves for their latest piece. Its aggressive guitars and heavy drumbeats contain an essence that nonetheless will seem familiar to long-time fans of the group.
According to the group's press, "Minutes to Midnight" is the result of over a hundred songs worth of experimentation. If so, then it could be said that the experiment was a mixed success -- the political aspects of the album fall flat and the added f-bombs feel arbitrary. With that said, the underlying music is still a recognizable blend of sounds that many of us fell in love with during high school, while tinged with a kiss of the new to feel like a worthy purchase.
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