Creative Bones

It was cloudy and rainy today.  I made my daily trip, but didn’t stay long because of the weather.  Then I pretty much vegged out.  I did straighten up a bit, and then spent some time cruising the ‘net, read some blogs, and worked on CerealWednesday.com (which if your connected to me via Twitter is what your seeing there).  I was doing well until I came to Episode XVII.  I just couldn’t do it, so I skipped it… but just for now.  I’m not used to taking things one day at a time, as many of you may know, but there’s really no other way for me to go about it.

So anyway, I got this e-mail from this guy through the site, and unfortunately I got it AFTER I saw Transformers.  He basically asked me to record the trailer that they are showing before the movie for a new film by JJ Abrams.  Needless to say, besides the fact that I would never digitally record anything in a theater (I have people for that dontcha know), I totally got the message too late.  However… through the power of search engines… here is a recording of the “mystery” trailer.

Now since I saw Transformers with KC, who happens to be a LOST fanatic, I immediately heard from him that it’s either a LOST movie or a new Godzilla movie.  I don’t watch LOST to be totally honest with you, but I have seen plenty of Godzilla movies… and yeah… I could totally see Godzilla throwing the Statue of Liberty’s head in a fast ball.  She is kinda stiff ya know and probably would give him the cold shoulder.

Well it turns out that supposedly its a movie called Cloverfield, and it isn’t necessarily about Godzilla himself… but a monster movie along those lines.  Ontop of that, they’re supposedly shooting the movie using home cameras as if it was all being documented by the actual participants in the movie.  That’s a real novel idea.

Apparently the trailer isn’t the only thing going on.  There are two sites, Ethan Haas Was Right and Ethan Haas Was Wrong that are rumored to be attached to the project as well.  Supposedly if you solve a puzzle you get some “raw” video footage that has appeared on YouTube already… but then was quickly taken down.

Right there smacks of cover-up… which will undoubtedly generate a buzz.

I just hope all this hype doesn’t lead to a let down.  Anyone have any other theories?

I don’t think its any big secret that while I listen to a wide variety of music, there are only a handful of bands where I will actually BUY the album the morning of the release.  This isn’t because I plan on getting the songs illegally or anything… but I tend to reserve my shopping for night time as opposed to morning time.  So for me to get up and actually get an album in the morning usually means the band is really something special.

One of these bands is Linkin Park, who on Tuesday released their new album Minutes To Midnight.  So yes… I was at (of all places) Target to get it for $10.99.  After a slight disagreement with my in dash CD player I finally slipped it into the changer and headed to work with windows open and sun roof down.

The album opens with a building instrumental called Wake.  The accompanying CD booklet says this about the song, “This short song was created near the end of the album writing process.  The dual meaning of the word “wake” seemed an appropriate introduction to the record.” It’s important to remember this for later on.

After Wake comes Given Up.  With clapping and ringing bells behind a heavy rock riff and drum beat, this song is reminiscent of ‘80s metal hair bands with Chester screaming in the middle.  I ejected the CD at this point to make sure it actually was a LINKIN PARK CD.  Unfortunately there hadn’t apparently been a packaging mix-up at the plant.  The next track is Leave Out All The Rest… a much more current and melodic tune.  This song is a classic Linkin Park deep soul searching ballad similar to My December.

The CD switches over to the fourth track, Bleed It Out.  Mike Shinodah’s voice takes over… and FINALLY we have the signature rock/rap fusion that has become a Linkin Park staple.  No one has succeeded as well as Linkin Park in making this type of fusion work… including Limp Bizkit who imploded.  I liked this song so much… I used it in this week’s Cereal Wednesday.

Unfortunately Bleed It Out rolled over into Shadow of the Day which is yet another slow paced melodic song which reminds me more of U2 than LP.  I can understand being influenced by other bands, but to make it the whole song???  If I want U2, I’ll buy U2.  The next track is the single off the album, What I’ve Done.  The song caused a bit of an uproar with fans because it lacked the fusion element and the video showed Shinodah playing guitar instead of doing vocals.  The song itself however is stylized as a classic Linkin Park song would be with all the elements, including turntablist Joe Hahn, and only missing the fusion.

Hands Held High finally sees the return of Shinodah on vocals.  He delivers two very eloquent verses to a very melodic beat before Chester finishes the song with a repetitous chorus.  The song ultimately has an anti-war message, which while delivered well, dates the song with references to “mosques”.  The melody fades into No More Sorrow which caused one reaction in my gut.  Metallica.  The beats, the rhythymns, everything about the song just stank of Metallica including the mid song rhythymn shift and chant.  Once again, Chester is dominating the mic as James used to while everyone is left as back-up vocalists.

After that atrocity of a song comes Valentine’s Day.  Its a slow starter, but it ends with a pop and overall is a good song of which I can’t complain about because too often I’ve been there.  The next song is In Between which is quite literally Shinodah, a bass line, and some turntables from Hahn.  The simplicity in the song is where its beauty lies and although it may take a moment to appreciate it, the value it adds to the album as a whole is notable.

In Pieces continues the simplicity of In Between with a few more added elements.  In my opinion, this is the song where Chester shines as he’s able to deliver meaningful vocals with only one or two high screams that are still intune with the surrounding rhythms.  Finally, the CD comes to an end with The Little Things Give You Away.  It is yet another slow and simple song that picks the beat up midway, with lyrics inspired by a visit to see the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina in New Orleans.

After spending the last day or so listening to this album, I’m afraid to admit that the fear of the fans has been realized.  Linkin Park has shunned their successful fusion style for a more mainstream sound.  The question is why?

In my opinion, this is their way of trying to get away from Warner Music.  Their battles against their label is relatively common knowledge as they have been wanting out of their contract since Meteora.  The first song Wake to me says it all.  Hey Warner, Wake up and let them go to where they can be happy so they can make an album that is a wave instead of a Wake or this may truly be the Wake for the soon to be deceased Linkin Park.