10 Perfect Rock Singles On Bad Albums
8. Bleed It Out - Linkin Park: Minutes To Midnight (2007)
Minutes To Midnight was the album that saw Linkin Park mature. It was laced with some really great ideas but as a whole it just didn't pack the same punch as their earlier work.
The industrial nu metal sound of Hybrid Theory was all but gone at this point. Instead, the band went for a more mainstream approach to writing alternative rock tracks. Chester Bennington gave some powerful vocal performances; it was interesting to hear the band lean on a cleaner guitar tone, but there was also a feeling they were selling out...
The first single from the album, What I'v Done, perhaps best sums up this notion. It had merit, and Chester's lyrics exposed the raw sensitivity that fans loved him for. But, it felt a little too squeaky clean for a band who had previously released Paper Cut and Faint. The new suited and booted look, didn't help either... for those who had grown up watching these guys in baggy cargo pants and frosted tips, Chester's mohawk and biker jacket felt contrived.
The second single was different though. Bleed it Out, showcased the group's new approach to song writing perfectly. It was a pleasure to see Mike Shinoda take a more prominent role, dominating the verses with succinct, and appealing rap. Chester Bennington's lyrics were simple but were delivered with a passion that hit home. If only they had carried this through...