Editorial Reviews:
Amazon.com
Minutes to Midnight stands to defend Linkin Park's status as the hardest-rockin' softies in mainstream music. Like its predecessors Hybrid Theory (2000) and Meteroa (2003), Minutes to Midnight flexes plenty of decibel-heavy muscle ("Given Up," "Bleed It Out," "No More Sorrow") and made-to-order, melodic radio fare ("Leave Out All the Rest," "Shadow of the Day," "In Pieces"). But for all its volume, Linkin Park likes to paint its heart openly on its sleeve with suspicious sonic drama, as in the palpably saccharine "Valentine's Day." Fortunately, co-producer Rick Rubin brings all these elements to pinnacle effect with the surprise "Hands Held High." On past efforts, the combination of breezy keyboard, arpeggiated guitar, choral vocals, and a military snare-beat would yield another slab of smarm, here MC Mike Shinoda drops the two best verses of his career, blending vocal styles with singer Chester Bennington for a moving piece that's as welcome a repertorial addition as Linkin Park is ever likely to muster. --Jason Kirk
Amazon.com
Minutes to Midnight is rock's most anticipated album of the year. This album redefines one of today's most adventurous, accomplished and acclaimed bands. Linkin Park Photos More from Linkin Park 
Hybrid Theory | 
Meteora [ENHANCED] | 
Live in Texas [ENHANCED] [LIVE] | 
Reanimation [ENHANCED] | 
Minutes to Midnight [CLEAN] | 
Frat Party at the Pankake Festival (2001) | 
Breaking the Habit (2004) | 
Minutes to Midnight (MVI DVD + Bonus CD) [ENHANCED] [EXPLICIT LYRICS] | 
Linkin Park - Live in Texas (CD/DVD Combo) |
| Customer Reviews: Read 673 more reviews...
 Good, but it won't scratch your Linkin Park itch... May 15, 2007
W. Scott Heitman (Gainesville, Fl United States)
208 out of 231 found this review helpful
A good number of my friends look at me with mild disgust when I suggest that Linkin Park owns a unique brand of musical genius. But as someone who listens to large quantities of music from mainstream to indie, I contend that no one has mastered the art of rap-rock like they have (Quarashi is the only band I can think of that even belongs in the same neighborhood). There's an almost mathematical perfection to both Hybrid Theory and Meteora, their first two full, non-remix albums. Ultimately, Linkin Park has offered something that I couldn't find anywhere else.
I'm not one to say that bands shouldn't change and mature. But, honestly, I didn't want to see Linkin Park change, because they're already unique. They have changed in Minutes to Midnight, and the metamorphosis isn't a positive one.
Upon a first listen, two things are glaring:
1) Mike Shinoda's rapping presence is minimal. I've always preferred Chester's raspy vocals to Shinoda's rapping, but he's so underutilized on this album that you realize that he's an integral part to the Linkin Park sound. The fusion of his rapping and Chester's vocals combined with excellent beats and melodies makes the band.
2) There are a lot of songs that almost qualify as ballads. The good news is, most of them are pretty pleasant. Chester really does have a great voice- even when he isn't screaming and rasping. The bad news is that they take up slots on the album that I wanted to see filled with the rap-rock-electronica-metal that immediately entranced me on Hybrid Theory and Meteora.
Undoubtedly, this album is the type that grows each time you play it, but it simply doesn't do what fans of the band wanted it to do. There are a few hints of where the band has been. Stand-outs What I've Done, Bleed It Out, Given Up, and No More Sorrow all convince me that this may actually be Linkin Park and not some evil clone band from Mars.
Again, the album isn't bad- I enjoyed it even on the first listen, but most of it doesn't really do anything to distinguish itself from the type of alt-rock that you can find almost anywhere. 3.5 STARS
 i'm a big fan of LP, but this doesn't quite make the cut May 15, 2007
Shann Yu (Nashville, TN)
108 out of 136 found this review helpful
Just got my copy on iTunes and I'm disappointed for the most part.
I loved every second of Hybrid Theory and Meteora. I loved the heavy guitar riffs, the mix of rap + rock. This album lacks the heavyness that characterized its predecessors. Most of the tracks are soft. Gone is the Points of Authority style headbanging except maybe that guitar solo part of What I've Done. I'm not even talking the peaceful serenity of the Easier to Run or In the End intro segments. This is way softer than all that. If you remember jumping up and down to the LP songs of the old days, use these to put you to sleep at night.
What I've Done is probably the only track in the album that still sounds like the old LP. It's got that old feel that distinguished LP from any other rock band. Some other tracks show promise and hints of the old style that endeared LP to the masses of us that rushed to get Meteora, like the intro track (Wake), Bleed it Out, No More Sorrow. In Pieces is an OK track in light of the band's past work. Valentines Day has a decent heavier part near the end but is still quite light and soft overall. But if they did write 50 songs for this album, I wonder how the other 40 or so were like.
I'm still a big fan of LP and will continue to be, but I must admit that their intent to sound different did not produce good results. I hope with the next release they can go back to the old days. I feel kinda bad saying this, but unless you liked "What I've Done", you probably should wait for the next release.
Interpret my 3 star any way you like. The only reason it's a 3 star to me is I can't decide how low to go. Also, I figure that like one or two tracks I deemed unworthy on the predecessors, some of these tracks seem like they could just as well grow on me.
For the meantime, check out RED - End of Silence if you haven't already. The blend of the entire band creates a similar style to LP as we know it without the rapping.
 What happened? May 17, 2007
Jason Jenks
80 out of 123 found this review helpful
I am reminded of the south park episode of faith+1, and also of listening to nickleback or some other pop-rock band all at the same time. Gone is the angry, angst-filled music of the old linkin park. Instead we have songs about how he was alone on valentines day and that made him sad. This change was not a welcome one, and anyone who loved the first two albums should NOT buy this album.
 You Haven't Heard The Album April 10, 2007
Joe (USA)
32 out of 37 found this review helpful
The album everybody is hearing is a fake. The band is called "Tribal Ink" and the album is called "Surrounded By Freaks". This is a complete joke and I am tired of everybody claiming they've heard the new album and they think it sucks, well it sucks b/c it's not linkin park.
To the reviewer below me, plz don't buy "minutes to midnight" when it hit stores, you don't deserve it. the liar liar pants on fire song is a song called "I'm A Liar (Believe Me)" from Tribal Ink's album. Why all of a sudden Amazon is letting you review album before the release is beyond me. I'm just fed up with this. The album hasn't leaked and that is a fact. If you don't find this review helpful, I don't care.
At least it made me laugh May 16, 2007
Gobi Kalooki (California, USA)
21 out of 29 found this review helpful
This CD is lowest-common denominator turd, and definitely not up to par with Meteora or Hybrid Theory. Linkin Park is trying to be "cool" by cussing in a couple of songs, but it just makes them seem more pathetic. The rapping, which was one of Linkin Park's best attributes, is almost absent on this CD, and it seems they have just become another emo band. It does get one star for making me laugh once (the lyrics to Valentine's Day made me howl so hard I almost fell off my chair: I never knew what it was like / to be alone on a Valentine's Day,). Seriously, quit whining Chester, nobody cares; quit writing emo music and grow up.
The worst album of 2007 thus far.
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