Going back to the concept record idea, I don't think that's it.
Mike did a LPU chat a while back and I asked him about the concept record rumors.
Numbrocker02 says (15:55):
Is the album still a concept record?
mshinoda says to (15:55):
concept record?
mshinoda says to (15:56):
It wasn't really supposed to be one...it has themes that tie it together, but it's no rock opera.