Linkin Park - 'Shadow Of The Day'
Double standards are funny, aren't they? When Tom DeLonge came out with Angels and Airwaves, a slightly epic-y, U2-apeing, politicised band, everyone said it was wibbly emo mush and told him to shove it. Well, I didn't, I bought the album because it had Noodles from The Offspring on it and it's a damn fine record. Meanwhile, Linkin Park reinvent themselves as saviours of the universe, announce their previous work is an unmentionable and everyone decides that this is the work of truly great men...
Don't get me wrong, there's a lot to be said for a band waking up to the world around them and reacting to it, especially in current socio-political climes but then there's also a lot to be said for not churning out a collection of dodgy wibbly emo songs with ambiguous videos in order to not offend anyone's views. Or perhaps I'm being overly cynical, after all, I'm not entirely sure what Chester Bennington in his boxers has to do with any ideology, as much as my fourteen-year-old self might have argued otherwise.
'Shadow Of The Day' is quite pretty, really, with genuinely sad lyrics and a deliberately epic feel to it - it's ideal for your local soft rock radio station, seeing as it sounds exactly and totally like a cross between 'The Machine' by the aforementioned Angels and Airwaves - who at least ought to get some credit for ripping off other people first - and overwhelmingly 'With Or Without You' by U2, which must surely be only slightly less famous than 'Imagine'.
Not that Linkin Park are the first people to rip off U2, nor the worst (yes I am looking at you, the Twang) but this song might have been far more effective in its (although ultimately, kind of positive) sadness if they hadn't been quite so overt and stuck maybe a little more of themselves into the mix.
I'm aware this review will take a good bashing for my coming down so hard on them because it's the sort of song that's going to mean a lot to a lot of people and there's nothing wrong with that, the fault is entirely with the band - not only are Chester's vocals, although presumably heartfelt, too limited to necessarily carry off something like this (which I'm aware is something very true of Tom DeLonge, too and can only really justify my appreciation for AVA by wild personal bias) which requires the kind of soaring voice that Bono's lucky enough to possess, but the band don't seem to fit the sound comfortably at all, as though it's a trick of production or a remix rather than necessarily something that came as naturally to them as the scope of the song somewhat demands.
This is, as I said, a pretty and sad song, almost a beautiful one but that doesn't necessarily make it good - my favourite song in the whole world ever is 'Lost In The Supermarket' by The Clash but I don't know if I'd give it more than three stars on merit alone.
If people enjoy 'Shadow Of The Day' and take something from it then that's all well and good but reviewing it, I can't give it the mark people might want purely because if all plagiaristic, half-lazy songs that will sell squillions were given five stars just because they'd sell squillions then there'd be no point in writing about them, to a large extent.
Something of a disappointment, at best and utterly irredeemable sales-fishing at the possible worst.
Download: Out now
CD Released: November 12th
(Hazel Robinson)
Comments
I think it's an awesome song!! It's kind of different to the other stuff they've done before, as it's more slow, but it's definitely not boring.
hmmm *bites lip*
I'm trying not to go crazy on your ass here Hazel. As a member of the LPST and LPU I am obviously not impressed with this review (Shock! Horror!).
However I am not going to have a rant as that would make me a hypocrite. I find it highly amusing when one of you guys reviews a McFly single and says something slightly offensive (sometimes not even offensive, maybe even complimentary) about their beloved band and they go absolutely mental!
Therefore, I am going to remain calm, let the rage pass and congratulate you on your review (however wrong it may. . . no! - sorry) and respect your opinion.
We all have our opinions.
I am and avid Linkin Park fan so of course my opinions will be biast (sp) Okaii so this song isnt one of their best, in fact personally this whole M2M theme isnt one of their best...but its not about being the best its about changing peoples lives and opening peoples eyes. I dont dislike the new Linkin Park but at the same time I don’t like it either. I prefer the "old school" metal that they used to turn out. But with most bands they "evolve" and change "to better" themselves.
Dont critisise them for it.
I still dont get how they can be compared to U2? Maybe it was with the opening single "What I've Done" and Chesters leather jacket and sun glasses the comparrrison with bono perhaps? But still the music is nothing like it! Open your ears?!
Jeese.
It ironic how back in May Radio 1 had Lp on the show and were bigging them up yet now you dis them! At the end of the day they are still better than the C*** chavvy S*** that gets played over and over again like Rhianna and The Sugababes. Radio 1 being the mainstream radio publicise that type of music far too much...and people wonder why its at no.1...cos its played 20 times a day!
Sorry but i like to rant :)
Steammmm!!!
Woah Lukey, calm yourself there buddy. Radio 1 is not dissing LP, it was just simply the opinion from the reviewer of this single.
I'd imagine there is a disclaimer somewhere that states 'the opinions expressed in this review are the opinions of the individual reviewer and not that of Radio 1 or the 91Èȱ¬' (I could've probably looked for an actual disclaimer, but I couldn't be arsed).
Radio 1 do play a fair amount of LP, 'Bleed it Out' was on at least 4 or 5 times a day back in August and likewise for 'What I've Done' in March/April.
I do agree with you on the U2 comparisons though, they are nothing alike. I love Linkin Park and I hate U2. . . I think they are one of the most overrated bands of all time and wish Bono would just shut up half the time.
[No such disclaimer exists. But only because ChartBlog credits you all with intelligence enough to realise this for yourselves. It's a compliment! - Fraser]
Yeah, I agree with the review, this is quite a subdued effort from LP - nice but nothing we haven't heard before with U2 and ilk. Nice guitar at closure. I love LP - they are my FAVOURITE band for being so original in their sound - rock/alt metal/rap/dance all done with such art polish and passion. It seems Mike's & Joe Hahn's contributions have been toned down for the latest album which is a shame. However, having seen LP at Manchester MEN 27/01/08 fear not fans - they are as passionate and amazing as ever live. I just hope they don't carry the 'U2' thing on - we get enough of music political social message preaching, there's nothing wrong with music celebrating love, betrayal, passion, rage, happiness, sorrow - it's the human condition & LP were bold enough to never shy away from expressing same.
I wasn't fearing Sue I've just seen them twice at the O2 Arena and they were simply amazing (as always). Those guys certainly know how to put on a show!
I'm afraid I really have to disagree with you on the whole 'Mike & Joe's parts being toned down'. Joe doesn't 'scratch' (in the DJ kinda way, not cz he has an itch) as much as he used to, but there are still alot of synthed sounds AND he directs all the videos.
As for Mike, well apart from playing guitar and keyboards and lending his vocals to alot of the songs, not to mention the writing of the music and the lyrics, he co-produced the last album!
It annoys me when people think that Chester is Linkin Park, it's Mikes ruddy band! He's not just the guy that raps!
Now I'm going to catch up on some sleep, no wait I can't I have Bullet for My Valentine tonight. Hell yeah!
Hi Jamie yeah I meant I was missing Mike's vocal contributions & Hahn's sythny sound effect thingy (excuse my non-technobabble!) which were so prevalent in earlier work. I love Mike to bits and him and Chester are great 'co-pilots' and yeah, it was Mike who hired Chester so it's definitely Mike's (incredible) band. Just listened to 'Bleed It Out' thru headphones - OMG !! Long live LP & I hope they're back to tour soon.
Hey Sue,
I do apologise, I think I must've misinterpreted your comments and then just went on a rant. I'm sorry for that.
I can see your point now. There isn't as much rap and 'sythny sound effect thingy' (fantastic description) as there was on previous albums, but I think they have had to change with the times.
I mean, if you think about all the other 'nu-metal' bands, were are they now?
Hi Jamie, no worries, nothing wrong with a good 'debate'! I think it's good to 'change with the times' to some degree but I also think sacrificing originality and creativity to bend to 'change' doesn't always work. I don't know if LP slotted comfortably into the nu metal category because they had so much going on with their sound. What do you think? I have always thought (with few exceptions such as Deftones or Korn) that nu metal was pretty much soul-less, contrived thrashing about (hence, as you've pointed out, it hasn't survived) and LP were never that.