Change comes with a positive connotation to most.
We’ve seen a lot of technological advancements over our lives and even seen a presidential election essentially decided because of it.
But I have developed a relatively negative perception when I think of change for one reason – Linkin Park.
Throughout the 2000s, they were the most popular band in the U.S., selling more than 50 million copies of their albums worldwide. Their first album, “Hybrid Theory,” sold more than 10 million copies in the U.S. alone.
Not only were they one of the most popular rock acts of the decade, they had one of the most devout followings.
But in 2007, they alienated their strong fanbase with a new sound on “Minutes to Midnight.”
Their new sound got them lost in the crowd. From the opening of their first single of their latest album, “What I’ve Done,” they sound like they have ditched everything they stood for before.
The lame guitar and lullaby like vocals are gut-wrenching to the biggest of LP supporters.
Their first two albums hit the same chord many find with Slipknot, music about the trials and tribulations of life. But on “Minutes to Midnight,” they change direction.
They abandoned their aggressive and abrasive style to fit in the mainstream. Their most popular songs now are no different than those of a Switchfoot, and LP’s previous hardcore fans aren’t normally going to dig that change.
Now, that’s all in the past, and I applaud the band for trying to progress. But sometimes it’s obvious the progression made is a step in the wrong direction.
The problem I have is they seem to be refusing they made a mistake because their latest effort was “New Divide” for the “Transformers 2” sound track and it honestly took me a minute and a half to realize that it wasn’t “What I’ve Done.”
They are producing the same garbage that turned their once widespread fanbase away from them.
The next full-length production from LP is due out sometime this year and the news about it hasn’t been good for those wishing they’d return to their origins.
LP is bringing back Rick Rubin to produce the next album. I love Rubin’s work with Jay-Z, System of a Down and the Red Hot Chili Peppers.
But the only LP album he has worked on is “Minutes to Midnight” and that leads me to believe they are going to be moving in the same direction they were in 2007.
In addition, Mike Shinoda said only one of the new songs they have finished has his rapping on it.
I guess they have made enough money that they can decide what they want to play, but I hope they realize that there’s a lot of people in the world that loved them and called them their favorite band, and now they are nothing special.
Bill Hopkins is a sophomore sports communication major from Oswego. He is the Scout sports editor.
Bill has an iPod full of Switchfoot. It’s a secret.
Direct comments, questions and other responses to whopkins@mail.bradley.edu.
