Linkin Park’s seventh album comes as artists try to reinvent themselves to stay relevant (see Paramore last Friday), and One More Light is a mix of pop songs trying to get on the radio.
While the sounds on some of them are really good, it’s kind of strange hearing Chester Bennington stray so far away from the screeching and voice that put Linkin Park on the map (think One Step Closer and Crawling), and it just doesn’t work for Linkin Park.
Heavy (feat. Kiiara) was the single dropped, and it set the tone for what was to be expected. Meanwhile, Good Goodbye has ‘Stormzy’ in it, singing about how he’s performing with Linkin Park and everyone else can just get lost…but doesn’t actually contribute anything to the song or album, yet ‘Pusha T’ may be the saving grace of the song with a strong rap game mixed with Mike Shinoda dropping what he’s best known for (back in Remember The Name and Fort Minor days).
So with all that said, I am torn…I like the album for what it is, a dip into the Pop World; but as a Linkin Park fan, I miss (and need back) the Metal days.
The songwriting from Bennington and Shinoda are top notch, which helped move it up from 6 to a 7 out of 10.
Aviously 
I am in the midst or writing my own review and I, too, am torn. I’d hate to echo the same sentiments plaguing their YouTube videos, but I really do miss the nu-metal days of Linkin Park. Hybrid Theory and Meteora are such landmark albums. This one, less so. I can’t fault them for making music they’re passionate about. I suppose this one will take time to appreciate.
Chester got upset at the reviews, saying that they need to “move the f**k on from Hybrid Theory”.
While I understand his point, and I do feel like they are still making good music, I just feel like “good music” isn’t what we expect from them…we expect and crave “Original Linkin Park”.
Yeah man I saw that and I see where he’s coming. But how are you gonna knock on both the album AND the fans that made the band who they are. I see it as a sign of frustration more than anything else, and that frustration exists on both sides.
I just wrapped up my review of Linkin Parks album. I described it as “bitterly disappointing”. I really felt like they could have done better. You did a good review though.
I’m always too nice on my reviews…
No no, I meant to say that you wrote a good reciew, as in you did a good job. Apologies for the misunderstanding.
Haha, no misunderstanding! I understood what you meant 🙂
I meant that overall I’m always too easy on my reviews, never want to fully bash something, I try to find a bright side even when it’s mostly junk…
RIP Chester.