Linkin Park's Albums, From Worst To Best Part 4: Hybrid Theory

Hey everybody, it's me, Nik Brusk. And today, I am back with a review of Linkin Park's first album, Hybrid Theory!

Today, I will continue my Blog Post series of ranking and reviewing Linkin Park's albums from worst to best. This is the fourth post. It will cover Linkin Park's third best album.

Album #3) Hybrid Theory

Here it is! The debut album of Linkin Park. The one the LP fans enjoy the most and constantly compare Linkin Park's other albums to. But there is one question I am about to answer. Is it worth the all the praise? Let's find out!

Track 1: Papercut

This is a really good opening track. There is awesome rapping by Mike about hallucinations and voices in your head. Chester only makes it better with his eerie whispering when Mike is rapping, or screaming in the live versions. The turntables and blood pumping guitar makes it even cooler!. Papercut is a really great start to this album, and is still a staple in Linkin Park's live performances.

Track 2: One Step Closer

Yeah! This song is what Linkin Park Linkin Park! This song was LP's very first single, and there's a good reason why they chose this song! One Step Closer is about Chester being bullied when he was in school, and he's trying to stand up to himself and stay sane. "I'm one step closer to the edge, and I'm about to break!" is probably the thing teens in 2000 where like in school. The best part? The third verse, where Chester snaps and screams "SHUT UP WHEN I'M TALKING TO YOU!" behind scratching turntables. It's awesome! This is a great song, and still holds up to this day.

Track 3: With You

It's a huge shame that this song doesn't get the attention it deserves. With You is very underrated. It has an awesome instrumental and catchy lyrics. Im not sure what the meaning of the song is, but it seems like it is about staying with someone you don't want to be around with.
Then the turntable solo hits. My God is it awesome. It's pretty brief, but it still shows the talent of Joe Hahn. Anyway, this is a catchy but underrated song.

Track 4: Points of Authority

This song pumps me up! Chester sings about child abuse in this song, which is actually a little shocking, I though it would be darker if it was about something as sensitive as Child Abuse. Points of Authority has a cool instrumental and powerful lyrics, but the highlight is Mike's rapping in the beginning and third verse. It is exciting and insanely awesome. And the ending, holy crap. Awesome beatboxing by Mike and great turn tabling by Joe.

Track 5: Crawling

This song, in my opinion, is pretty overrated. It isn't a bad song, but it doesn't deserve to be a single or as praised as it is. The lyrics are about breaking, just like One Step Closer, but it isn't as adrenaline pumping. In fact, I think it's even a little boring. This song is mostly famous for the hook, "CRAWLING IN MY SKIN, THESE WOUNDS, THEY WILL NOT HEAL!!!" which has become a pretty popular meme. I think I read the Chester didn't like this song too much, but I'm not sure.

TL;DR this song is boring and overrated. Not atrociously bad, but certainly not worth the praise.

Track 6: Runaway

This song, if you couldn't already tell, is about being mocked and running away from modern society, and unlike Crawling, this song is actually exciting and blood pumping! The lyrics are awesome and pretty relatable. THIS song in my opinion should've been a single instead of Crawling. The end is pretty cool to, where Chester says "I'm gonna run away, and never say GOODBYE!", especially in the live version.

But you know what's sad? This song is the band's least favorite song they made. In fact, they hate it. Which sucks, because this is an awesome song.

Track 7: By Myself

I can't get into this song. The instrumental is a little boring, and kind of awkward with the random guitar boosts. Chester's screams are awesome, I'll give it that. Mike's rapping isn't bad, but not noteworthy. This song is nothing special.

Track 8: In The End

Here we are. Linkin Park's most famous song. You can't talk about Linkin Park without mentioning this song. In The End deserves its huge fame. Mike's rapping is fluent and masterful. Chester's mutters of "I tried so hard, and got so far, But in the end, it doesn't even matter" is legendary. This song has amazing singing, fluent rapping, a beautiful instrumental, and an insane legendary status. Linkin Park wouldn't be the same if this song was never made.

Track 9: A Place For My Head

Good lord this song is crazy! Mike's rapping about hating, pretentiousness and betrayal is awesome, and the instrumental is beyond heavy! And don't ever forget about the third verse. Chester whispers "You, try to take the best of me, go away" behind mesmerizing bass. And then, it gets HYSTERICAL. Chester starts screaming his throat out in front of an awesome instrumental, in easily one of the highlights of this album! Then there's the end, with a combination of intense rapping, heavy guitars, and hardcore screaming. This song is easily the best of the entire album!

Track 10: Forgotten

This song sure lives up to its name. Barely anybody talks about this song. In fact, I'd say it's even more underrated than With You! The lyrics are moody, and the instrumental is catchy. It deserves more praise!

Track 11: Cure for the Itch

This track really showcases Joe Hahn's talent. It's a pretty cool instrumental with great turntabling and samples. My favorite part is the part where it says "alright now, wasn't that fun? Let's try something else." And then it goes to a nice combo of all kinds of things Mr. Hahn can do with the turntables.

Track 12: Pushing Me Away

This is the closing track, and honestly I don't know what to say. This song isn't anything special. It's pretty plain and simple, and not in the good way. The lyrics are okay, but that's just what the song is. Just, okay. This is a very forgettable song, and rather a disappointing closer to this rather great album.

So that's my review of Hybrid Theory. What did I think of it?

It was a pretty awesome ride and great beginning for Linkin Park! Most of the songs are very heavy and deep, which is just the right way I want the music I listen to. Some of the songs were mediocre and forgettable, but the songs that were heavy and heart pounding were AMAZING. It is just as good as the LP fans say it is. Only two albums they made in the future could top this one. If they weren't made, this album would be the best Linkin Park made.

Best Songs: Papercut, One Step Closer, With You, Points of Authority, Runaway, In The End, A Place For My Head, Forgotten, and Cure for the Itch

Mediocre songs: Crawling, By Myself, and Pushing Me Away

Worst songs: N/A

Final rating: 9/10

That's my review. Hope you enjoyed it!

Anyway, this is Nik Brusk, singing out. Up next is a full review of Linkin Park's second best album, The Hunting Party. That album is where things reach new levels of awesome.

Comments

Extremely great review. I made a review on the same as well. While By Myself and Forgotten are my favorite tracks, In The End is undoubtedly the best on the album and the most underrated is Forgotten or With You. - visitor

Thanks! I liked your review too! - visitor

Thanks for reading mine too. I guess mine was kinda biased. - visitor

Good review here's my question though when is part 5 coming out? - visitor

Not sure yet - visitor

Might want to number these posts now that One More Light will be released in about a month or so.

Or not, considering how this could easily be the worst thing Linkin Park has made that it might not even be worth reviewing. - NuMetalManiak