"Shadow of the Day" by Linkin Park from Minutes to Midnight

What??!! What did Linkin Park go and make a song that sounded like a CCM song, for?

Okay, so it wasn't on purpose, and it has produced a rather soothing song, but something about it—the beat, maybe?—immediately makes me suspect it's a contemporary Christian song. Which it isn't. It also resembles U2's "With or Without You".

Chester Bennington's singing even brings memories of a myriad of CCM singers. Forgive me if I really don't like the sound of this song.

"And the sun will set for you" repeats a lot more than I like, though I get the point. The song is evidently saying good-bye to someone who's dying. "Sometimes good-bye's the only way."

Overall, it's an annoyingly average song from Linkin Park, to my ear.

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Lyrics: 3/5
Music: 3/5
Vocal(s): 3/5
Overall: 5/10

"In the End" by Linkin Park from Hybrid Theory

Hey, a piano-synthetic rock mix. This sounds famil—oh.

The words begin—I won't even call the rap "vocals", sorry—and now I recognize the song. Which, I suspect, I would like if not for the rap. (I really like the singer's voice when he actually choses to sing, which not often. Or, at least, not often in Linkin Park's older songs.)

One of the top songs from the band's debut album, the video was particularly popular. I've seen much better videos (like the one for Within Temptation's second UK single, "Frozen"), but I think it's one of the better I've seen that doesn't tell a strict story in the video.

The music for this song is on the better side of average and is better melded than many popular songs, these days. It's still a bit rougher than I like (the rap doesn't help, in my book), but excluding my personal preferences it seems better than average.

Lyricwise, it's hopeless and repetitive. "I tried so hard and got so far, but in the end it doesn't even matter." It's the hopelessness of time, which always passes and nothing we do seems to matter in the long run. That leaves me wondering, "…And what now?" Linkin Park's sadly left that point hanging. I don't find it depressing, true, but I know where I'm going and what actions matter in the long run. Most kids listening to this hopeless song don't.

I can see why this song helped get Linkin Park so popular, but I'd rather listen to a different song, thanks.

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Lyrics: 3/5
Music: 4/5
Vocal(s): 2/5
Overall: 6/10

"What I've Done" by Linkin Park from Minutes to Midnight

"What I've done, I've faced myself!" sings Chester Bennington of Linkin Park. That's not in answer to accusations, but it's part of a declaration: "For what I've done I'll start again." It's said to be a tribute to the band's new choice of music. Though still a hard form of alternative rock (not quite unlike "Bring Me to Life"), it's not nearly as hard as this band once was.

The multilayered music is a bit repetitive, but it's good quality and melds extremely well. The common piano, for example, was well-chosen as a background for the song, likewise suiting the softer verses and the harder chorus. The drums and (electric) guitar are tastefully reduced in softer sections, as well, used only mildly for emphasis.

There is a little bit of yelling, though not to the degree in "Numb." I understand the singer is Chester Bennington, whose excellent voice draws me into even the yelling that I usually can't stand.

The lyrics themselves are a nice change from a common refusal to accept responsibility. Granted, they could be read as being extremely independent as independent of Christ, but I don't believe anyone's accused Linkin Park of being Christian. I think it's pretty clear in the context that there's a specific choice being referred to, here, that healthily won't be permitted to send the choser on a guilt trip. He's looked in the mirror and has conciously chosen to turn away for another path.

Also, nothing in the song might be thought inappropriate for children except perhaps the opening which references blood. ("In this farewell, there's no blood; there's no alibi.")

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Lyrics: 4/5
Music: 4/5
Vocal(s): 5/5
Overall: 8/10