Dam, just realized I never put my review
Anyways here she is
1. The Requiem
Such a great Piece to start the album, The female robotic sounded voice is great! Also the fact shes singing lines which the album was named after is a big bonus.
I could really see this being a great Set Opener and somehow Leading into The Catalyst (with the link in lyrics and all)
RATING: 8/10
2. The Radiance
First of many political speeches/comments on the album. Not as good as the others but still a strong message.
Music backs it really well.
Leads perfectly into BITS, I could swear it was just a long into for the song (EG like the long intro with the poem on Don't Stay Live)
RATING: 8/10
3. Burning in the Skies
I really love Mike on this, His voice suits the lines so well.
The back and forth between Chester and Mike is done really well
I love the guitar track on this. Beats so much of the heavy power chord stuff from the old albums.
Also love the fact that You can hear rob acoustic drums on this when most of the other songs are majority electronic.
Mike ends it perfectly
RATING: 9/10
4. Empty Space:
Seems kinda of pointless because it doesn't fade into WTCFM at all.
But other then that its short and sweet
RATING: 7/10
5. When They Come for Me
Still little unsure about the very start. The Synth riff being very very VERY syncopated throws me off.
As it builds it getter better and better
Mike rips his verses. Really awesome flow hes got going.
I love how Mikes Used intellectuality here. Specially when he refers to POA (There's your Hybrid Theory New LP haters)
Also when he refers to the artist at the second verse (I know biggie is one aka Mo Money Mo Problems). Brilliant
Also Chester's parts seem to have a very Arab feel to them. I think only because I live in a area where Lebanese people are everywhere so i hear there music alot of the time. Both the chorus and also the outro give me that impression.
Chester's breakdown vocals own period. Same with Brad with the Megaphone!
RATING: 9/10
6. Robot Boy
Great Beat, Really Powerful lyrics. I love the tremolo picked guitar in the background (if it is guitar) as well as the synthy sounds that start towards the end.
RATING: 8.5/10
7. Jornada Del Muerto
Fades perfectly. Seems like a long outro more for RB.
Vocal build is great, same with the synthy stuff
RATING: 7/10
8. Waiting for the End
Prob tied 1st for favorite song on the album.
The beat and Mike Verses are awesome on it. Love the feel of the kit on this. Great rhythm. Then drops perfectly for Chester Vocals. Great lyrics my I add to. The Harmonie rolls in the background. Also love the doubling of the Vocals in second verse. Then mike comes back and rips it to pieces. My favorite bit. Is accompanied well with the guitar. I love the line "I though it felt right but the right was wrong". Then you got Chester Vocal Line which seems to be done on the sampler. Sounds epic!
RATING: 10/10
9. Blackout
Marching type drums over the synth then followed but a low octave piano. Great start this is. I can hear the Chester's sampled vocals in the background like shown in the videos. Chester flow is so great! It reminds me of a song but i guess that's what makes it better. Screaming is tops too. Bring on the very New Divide style chopped guitar with the dirty beat, introducing Sampled Chester! That just a great rhythm. Mike Then starts to build the song in Dynamic again with another brilliant vocal piece. Top lyrics. He is then backed by Chester. Also love the real distorted type of vocals at the end
RATING: 8.5/10
10. Wretches and Kings: 10/10
The Political intro is a great thing for the song. I love it how its at the start and then comes back during the outro.
The bring out that dirty chopped Guitar with a top beat. Mike rips his flow once again. Chorus comes and I love the reggae style vocal technique by Chester. The start of the 2nd Verse is pure epicness! Breakdown time. And yes Mr Shinoda, I am feeling what you feel so my hands are real high. There's not much else to say besides its such an amazing song. Oh and once again Hahn scratches the shit out of it. Very Hip Hopish track
RATING: 10/10
11. Wisdom, Justice, and Love
Best interlude in my opinion.
Piano suits the speech really well.
I like how the speech begins to distort. To me it kinda shows how political is all evil and that.
RATING: 8/10
12. Iridescent
HOLY SHINODA. Mike, Where has this side of you been your whole career? Dead set those Lines make me want to ball out. My I ad the piano is beautiful! Then Chester comes in and just adds that 2nd opinion to the song. Then come 2nd verse. Guitar is amazing. Clean is soo much better then distorted tones. It reminds me a little of yellows Guitar part. Musically the song is just amazing! Break down comes and hit a little bit overdrive. This bit dead set is going to be amazing when done live. The crowd will be singing this. Build up of acoustic drums. Amazing drum pattern but Bourdie on this one. I am dead set lost for words with this song. Just too good.
RATING: 10/10
13. Fallout
Robotic verse which seems to be singing Lines from Burning in the Skies. I think its cool because it Kinda links the too songs together as well as the Requiem. For example Requiem has Catalyst lyrics and leads into burning. Fallout has Burning lyrics which lead into Catalyst. Cool IMO
Also i love how as the song progresses you can can hear the original vocal recording unedited.
RATING: 7/10
14. The Catalyst
All know my opinion on the song. Now I have the entire album, I think it has dropped in Popularity for me. Still is a top song tho.
RATING: 9/10
15. The Messenger
This song seems very amateur to me. Give me time and I Most likely will like it. But with that said Chester's vocals are a standout of this track. I consider this a very acoustic track (seening there's no drums and is basically based around the acoustic Guitar) Great ending to the album tho. Basically sums up the album and puts final note as it concludes it journey
RATING: 8/10
TOTAL RATING: 10/10
NOTES:
This is prob my favorite album LP have put out and cant believe so many people are kicking it Already. Here is a low down in my Opinion
Brad/Guitar: Very Minimal on this record but its good. When the guitar there it suits it perfectly. Sounds so much better then Hybrid Theory guitar work and so on.
Pheonix/Bass: Some great bass work here, you can actually here him on an album for a change without having to adjust EQ settings
Joe: Some really top notch scratching in here. Good to see he hasn't put the turntables away. Hes going to have a lot of fun come touring. He will be a busy boy with all those synths and chopped Guitar parts, Even the electronic drums.
Rob/Drums: As much as i loved the album I really missed the acoustic drums. It seems like electronic took over for this album. For example everything on The Cataylst is electronic until the outro, Then Bourdie just rips it up! I know he most likely will play the electronic stuff on the acoustic kit (Like BTH and Crawling etc) live.
Mike: Shit dude why the fuck haven't you sung like this on every album! When I heard the chorus for Carry Me Away I was like "Damn hes got a nice voice". Your vocals on this album has just blown me away. Cant wait to hear it live.
Chester: You seem to take the back seat to Mike on this but still your present and your kicking ass. Blackout is one of your highlight tracks, period.
Piano: One thing i love about the album is the fact that Piano plays a heavy part in it. By Piano I don't mean keyboard stuff or a part that's buried in the mix like Numb. I mean Piano that stands out in the song and actually makes the song mellow. great inclusion!
