Review of A Thousand Suns

[FORTsunrise]

Based off this review, this album sounds interesting. I get what everyone is saying about how it will divide the fan base. Like every album, it will do just that. Just looking at the posts in this form, it already has. I'll admit, if this review proves to be accurate, there are some things I'm looking forward to hearing and some things I'm iffy about.

 

One thing that doesn't sit well with me is it being described as a Fort Minor album featuring Linkin Park. It makes me think that Mike wrote the entire record and the rest of the guys sat back and approved or disapproved what he was writing. I'm sure however that isn't the case but seeing that makes me think it could have been possible.

 

I'm not one to judge before hearing an album, but this album could very well be LP's St. Anger moment, their finest hour, or an album that is good but not their best work. I'm incline to think the middle but I could very well be wrong. I've heard countless album's that have either been a group's best or their worst. We'll just have to wait until September 14 to make our own conclusions.

[mikeatron85]

Im not saying that the album is going to be POP,

but is more accessible to pop fans.(will not be like QWERTY or others heavy songs, that not all the people like this songs for "heavys".

probably in a minority here, but i never considered QWERTY to be a 'traditional' sounding LP song anyways.

 

definitely excited to hear the entire album - though the one thing that i am concerned about after reading the review was the whole chester moving into the background thing - his vocals are excellent and the more presence he has on the disc, the better IMO.

[[High_Voltage]]

ATS Pre-listening.

 

We entered a room with chairs and a couch where obviously Mike and Phoenix will sit.

They handed us wireless in-ear headphones so we could listen to ATS all on our own (the band wasnt there while we where listening to the album)

I won't say too much about the songs because I dont want to spoil it but what I can tell you is that you are going to be shocked.

 

Side Note: I couldnt clearly say when it was a new song, because they didnt pause to tell us the name and you hardly can hear it.

 

 

#1:

You can clearly say that It's a journey through an apocalyptical athmosphere and it's starting with a mysterious sound, similar to aliennoises and builds up into a keyboard play. This track is featuring a Choir and a female voice singing "Don't save us everyone, we are broken people living under loaded gun.." and ends with an original, digitally edited speech by Oppenheimer.

 

 

#2:

The second song begins with an heartbeat drum and is followed by a electric/pop guitar and Mike singing. The keyboard sounded like electro mixed with jazz elements and after that they sing "I'm loosing what I don't deserve" and the guitars fade out and you can only hear the keys and mike singing the end.

 

 

#3:

Starts with crickets and bombs in the background and later you can hear afican soldier marchsinging.

There is a sudden break in the song and a heavy distorted guitar fades in (I've never heard Brad playing such heavy guitars before) and a heavy rap rythm drops in.

Mike raps: "I'm not a robot, I'm not a monkey....."

And on this Linkin Park record, you hear Mike saying motherf**** for the first time ever (2x in the song) and what comes after that swearing is a perfect part for the crowd to sing (Ohhh's in the rythm to the heavy beat -> sounds like soldiers preparing for war)

It ends with chester singing: "When they come for me, I'll be gone" and the same african soldier marchsinging as the beginning (it also features some oriental music)

 

 

#4:

Starts with a Piano and Mike and Chester singing Ohhh

The genre reminds me of Soundgarden, older rock style

Chester singing "You say you're not gonna fight because no one's gonna fight for you"

And on this song (and also on the whole album) you can hear synthesizer strings and a similar fast drum beat as on the previous songs.

"Hold on to the weight of the world" is one of the main messages of this song.

 

#5:

Mike and Chester singing in another language (or english backwards) and followed by a guitar distortion and a drum beat in WID style.

It builds up slowly and fades out into an empty space.

 

 

#6:

Rough Guitar Intro (repeats 4x) followed by single key notes and on this track Mike is rapping in a reggae style but still fitting to the guitars. Another break fades in where it calms the speed of the song down and chester sings: "Waiting for the end to come"

A ballad tunes in and the whole song has a cruising (californian beach style) rythm )

* A song you can actually dance pretty well to it in the club*

 

 

#7: (WORST SONG)

Its starts with a synth organ pipe and is underlined with a fast drumroll. This song reminded me of the 80th Pop style with the cheap synthesizer keys but the most shoking was chester rapping the song really fast and (to me) awful.

And you think this song is going to be POP with Chester rapping, but in the chorus he screams his lungs out (Mike mentioned in an interview that he's loosing his mind)

This song is really weird and disturbing because the pop/rapping (autotuned) by chester don't fit at all to these crazy screams.

 

 

#8:

When the guitar fades in, it reminded me of a electro-rock/trash song by Marylin Manson and the beat was dubstep like.

And the song has a really fast speed but its being calmed down by mike singing in a soft voice "calm down" and it ends with another singing by Mike and Chester together.

We all somehow messed the tracklist up but I can cleary tell you

 

 

#10: Wretches and Kings

Starts with a public speech (obviously from the WWII era)

The guitar sounds very strange and the beats style is similar to the 2009 Lying From You Intro.

Mike is rapping on this one and chester sings with a very dirty (similar to skindred) voice and its another perfect song for the crowd to sing. On this track Joe is really present.

 

 

#11(must be wisdom justice and war)

A very sad keyboard intro with a historical speech by Martin Luther King. An unknown male voice says "the end is near" and turns slowly (by effects) to an evil-like voice.

(At the end you can hear MLK saying wisdom, justice and war)

 

 

 

#12: Iridiscent

Starts (again) with a piano to which mike sings in a sad voice (very emotional)

Chester joins Mike to it and the beat is similar to a one republic song (marching on)

-> To me it's a Pop Ballad (similar to SOTD) <-

The song ends with a choir by the whole band.

 

 

#13: Fallout

(reminds me of the song Buddha For Mary by 30 Seconds to mars -> the beginning with the distorted voice)

 

 

#14:

The Catalyst.

 

#15: The Messenger

Very similar to Hero Of War by Rise Against

Acoustic Guitar with chester singing: "When you feel you're alone, your instinct tells you to run.."

(I marked that chester became angrier with his voice)

The piano follows the acoustic guitar and chester repeats "Back home, where live/love keeps you blind...)

 

 

I'm really sorry that I can't remember everything really well and that I messed up the beginning but it was really difficult to hear whenever a new song is played.

About the guitar:

The guitar is mostly in the background, and has a lot of effects (Flanger, Disortion) but sounds totally different from MTM, HT and Meteora. Sometimes the whole beat stops and you can only hear the guitar.

About the singing:

 

With this album you say that Mike is the lead singer, and chester just the second voice. Because most of the time they sing the songs together (30% autotune) and on only 1 song chester is singing all alone.

About the album:

 

This album is mostly a new Fort Minor album featuring Linkin Park record. The drums sound all electronic and hip hop like, there is a lot of different percussion (e.g bushdrums) and as I mentioned before Mike is much more present than Chester.

Chester only screams 2x.

 

My personal statement:

This album totally blew my mind off. It doesnt sound like Linkin Park at all. If you carefully listen to all the remixes Mike has done (and also the intros of WID/Ambulance, LFY) you could compare this style to the new album.

 

Linkin Park risks a lot with this totally different direction and fans will either love it or hate it.

I do like it, and you cant tell the genre because it features so many. It sounds like:

Soundgarden, Muse, Metric, 30 Seconds To Mars, Rise Against, Dr.Dre, Eminem, Pendulum, Dubstep, Electronica etc. etc.

 

 

I hope this review didnt confuse you too much. It is really really hard to describe the new album and I can't compare it to a specific style.

 

 

edit: length ~50mins

what would you rate the album on a scale of 1-10?

[KitsuneInferno]

According to this, there's definitely more rapping than was present on Minutes to Midnight and a song reminiscent of Soundgarden. I am pleased for now.

[lp12311]

My question is, will the album actually have verses? The lack of verses is what holds The Catalyst back from being great in my mind.

[Geki]

this. but B12 is one of my fave Grey Daze songs so im more excited than worried =D

B12 is actually my favorite Grey Daze song. I never thought that I wouldn't like the track with Chester fast rapping though. I think it will be awesome to hear. I'm open to hearing anything. I'm not expecting ATS to sound like any of LP's previous work at all. This is also why I'm thinking this will be my favorite LP album. If I want to hear the aggressive, heavy side of Chester, I'll listen to HT/Meteora/DBS (Some tracks).

[LPPanther]

My question is, will the album actually have verses? The lack of verses is what holds The Catalyst back from being great in my mind.

Not trying to be rude but why is that? Just wondering your reasoning for that. There are two distinct parts of the song to me. Not the same thing repeated a million times which makes the no verses okay in my book. Yes the two individual parts are somewhat repetitive vocally but the way the first part (god save us) builds and transitions to the second part (lift me up) is pretty awesome IMO. And even after that the lift me up part builds itself to it's own climax. It's epic IMO lol.

[ceZAR_LP]

Right, but if with Catalyst LP losed alot of fans... imagine with the complete album,

i say it cuz i know some peoples that dont like more LP

more than ...like the new style

maybe they lose some fan, but they obtain more fans. Who cares? The most important thing is that they want to invent new music styles.

 

I hate that always the people try to compare LP with other bands or music. LP is unique.... or now exist another band with 6 members with 2 vocalist and DJ?

 

Check this, there are a FANS OF LP (people that hear a lot of kind of music) and there are fans of Hybrid Theory, Meteora, etc.

 

Only wait 28 days and each of you will have your own review

[LPPanther]

I'm open to hearing anything. I'm not expecting ATS to sound like any of LP's previous work at all. This is also why I'm thinking this will be my favorite LP album. If I want to hear the aggressive, heavy side of Chester, I'll listen to HT/Meteora/DBS (Some tracks).

These are my thoughts EXACTLY! Way to sum it up simply haha.

 

Check this, there are a FANS OF LP (people that hear a lot of kind of music) and there are fans of Hybrid Theory, Meteora, etc.

Wise words as well.

[lp12311]

Not trying to be rude but why is that? Just wondering your reasoning for that. There are two distinct parts of the song to me. Not the same thing repeated a million times which makes the no verses okay in my book. Yes the two individual parts are somewhat repetitive vocally but the way the first part (god save us) builds and transitions to the second part (lift me up) is pretty awesome IMO. And even after that the lift me up part builds itself to it's own climax. It's epic IMO lol.

I totally get your point, and I agree mostly. Don't get me wrong I think its a great song. It just seems like there might be something missing that would make it an amazing song. I really like the synths and the overall beat and I love the intro (it reminds me of "Where the Streets Have No Name" which is one of my favorite songs of all time). I just think it has two small flaws that keep it from being amazing:

1. The lack of verses almost make it sound like some kind of remix with similar vocals repeated (not that that's a bad thing, its just I'm not really into remixes).

2. This is more of me wanting something than a flaw in the song, but I would've like a huge heavy guitar riff that "knocks you out" rather than the repetitive synths. The perfect time for this riff would have been right after "Far from the world of you and I, where oceans bleed into the sky". The song builds up perfectly to this point and a huge riff would have blown me away.

 

But, other than these two things, I like the song.

[ernieball003]

Mike explained how the vocals were effected, yet people are still saying it's auto-tune.

 

Mother flanger...

[ChuckCheese]

And the entire community shall now base their opinions on one review.

 

Honestly, this album sounds fucking dope. Thank you for all the details on certain things, Ana.

 

However, I'm highly doubtful of two things.

 

1) Chester rapping. That's not being edgy and different, that's just stupid. My guess is that Chester's "rapping" is more chanting or just paced yelling (don't tell me that's basically what rap is), similar to Mike's "God bless us" parts on The Catalyst.

 

2) Auto tune. Calling BS on that. Linkin Park would never do that. Probably just weird vocal effects that they said they were experimenting with, again, similar to The Catalyst.

 

 

I'm making my judgement from listening to the album myself.

[Residentpark]

Well sincerely the review makes me think a lot on how is gonna be the new album. I don´t like the fact that chester´s voice will be secondary voice ( I like mike´s voice but chester voice is more powerfull). The screaming part don´t dissapoint me (but I love chester´s screams). And the autotune thing, just hope that is not true(I think is fake because I can´t imagine LP doing such a thing).

 

The catalyst is an excellent song and I like it so much. I´m waiting to judge the album myself.

 

Thanks for the review!

[thesungoesdown]

Im all for experimenting and a different record, but WTF I don't want Mike singing so much he's awful

[avo17]

I'm so glad Mike's singing more and that Chester's not screaming as much. However, I still don't know about the electronic-ness. Don't get me wrong I love The Catalyst and I'm definitely gonna love ATS, but I prefer real instruments. I think some live strings would've been a perfect substitute for Joe's synths, especially during Mike's "Lift me up"s.

[LPxDC]

Saving my thoughts on anything till September 14th

I appreciate you doing all this for the community Ana

[libyanhead]

Guys, dont judge the album because it has auto-tune, auto-tune fucking works with rock, even metal...Proof?

 

 

I hope LP's track with auto-tune is used perfectly just like "Lost".

[ernieball003]

Guys, dont judge the album because it has auto-tune, auto-tune fucking works with rock, even metal...Proof?

 

 

I hope LP's track with auto-tune is used perfectly just like "Lost".

1. Proof cannot be proof if it is not proof.

 

2. For the [RANDOMHIGHNUBER] time, it's not auto-tune.

[aravind221]

#5:

Mike and Chester singing in another language (or english backwards) and followed by a guitar distortion and a drum beat in WID style.

 

 

 

 

reminds me of announcement service public , ill be glad to hear a track once again like that and trying to fig out the lyrics is going to be fukin hard

[maik_gianino]

First of all, thank you Ana, and i have one question for you, maybe two:

 

1-What was your first feelling after you finished to listening the Album ?

2-How you feel now ? i mean after hours and hours...

 

Now my answers to the LPLive members...

 

If the album is like the description.

bye bye 50% from the real fans base

+20% Pop fans.

 

and bye bye tours or festivals with heavy bands.

I think that LP will sell alot of recors with this album, but lose alot of fans.

 

Im not saying that the album is going to be POP,

but is more accessible to pop fans.(will not be like QWERTY or others heavy songs, that not all the people like this songs for "heavys".

Jesus, Linkin Park will be who lose fans not you, take it easy if you want screams go to a psychiatric hospital...

Is just a new sound, a new album, your life will be continuing, mine too... if you don't like the Album you have the Hybrid Theory, Meteora, and MTM, and much more LP Music

 

Right, but if with Catalyst LP losed alot of fans... imagine with the complete album,

i say it cuz i know some peoples that dont like more LP

more than ...like the new style

 

but is one opinion

Again, what is your problem with the fans ?

i mean, LP want a change if you like it, take it, if you don't like go away, is simple, they want that...

changes everything changes, life changes, Linkin Park changes...

 

maybe they lose some fan, but they obtain more fans. Who cares? The most important thing is that they want to invent new music styles.

 

I hate that always the people try to compare LP with other bands or music. LP is unique.... or now exist another band with 6 members with 2 vocalist and DJ?

 

Check this, there are a FANS OF LP (people that hear a lot of kind of music) and there are fans of Hybrid Theory, Meteora, etc.

 

Only wait 28 days and each of you will have your own review

I agree with you my friend...

 

Linkin Park is part of my life and i love the band, i love the members and the most important i love his music...

 

If they need to make a change, perfect...

 

Is just a review, every person will recieve this new album according with his personal taste and passion and that is part of the life and off course part of the music...

LP know that and they want a change running with the risk of being humiliated, underdevaluated, and recieving all kind of comments like are recieving in this forum just for the review of one girl that just heard the album one time, and in a special situation...

 

so in my opinion guys, just feel free to open your mind, and try to appreciate that LP will change his style and will change the music one more time, while other bands don't have the balls to change because they have the fear to lose everything because they don't want to take the risk that LP do...

 

 

Sorry for the long comment...

[McArt]

Does track 7 remind anyone else of B12.

hmm... excellent point. at first i was horrified of the idea of chester rapping... but i actually quite like b12. thanks for giving me hope

[spraypaintninkpens]

Mike explained how the vocals were effected, yet people are still saying it's auto-tune.

 

Mother flanger...

hmm, maybe because they sound pretty much the same?

[Xero21]

hmm, maybe because they sound pretty much the same?

Doesnt make them the same.

[spraypaintninkpens]

Doesnt make them the same.

So that makes it okay? You all hate on artists who use auto-tune and now LP uses a similar effect but its okay because they're "genre busting" now?

[RiderSSPU]

#3 and the messenger sound like they will be the best