Argonaut Online A&E

TUES, 15 APRIL 2003

‘Meteora’ rejects sophomore jinx

By Chris Martin
Assistant A&E Editor

Linkin Park’s “Meteora” starts out with Joe Hahn slowly laying down a turntable beat which blossoms into the first song, “Don’t Stay,” one of the heavier rock songs on the album and a good introduction to the new stuff.

“Somewhere I Belong” follows with very catchy intro lyric “When this began �,” by Chester Bennington, and a slower rap style by Mike Shinoda. It’s followed by my personal favorite song, “Lying from you.” With an excellent combination of rap lyrics, heavy guitars and excellent electronic background effects, it peaks with the lyrics “I’d rather be pushed aside/ so let me go” and reminded me of earlier Linkin Park songs.

“Hit the Floor” follows into an intro hip-hop style that the band hasn’t probed until now. Mixed with vocal filters and some more heavy choruses, it has as catchy a beat as anything from “Hybrid Theory.” But then, “Easier to Run” feels a little more reminiscent of “In the End” from “Hybrid,” as it is one of the only slower songs and follows a similar chord and vocal progression. That’s not to say it’s bad; it’s catchy, but just a little too familiar.

“Faint” follows a different formula. With quicker lyrics and a more electronic-inspired intro and vocal filters. Chester Bennington screams through the entire song and it gets a little annoying by the end, but some of the lyrics rock: “Don’t turn your back on me/ I won’t be ignored.”

“Figure.09” and “Breaking the Habit” are a little more forgettable, traditional and longer than the rest. And the latter is far too melodramatic.

“From the Inside” rebounds from the last quite well and goes back to the style “Don’t Stay” started with.

“Nobody’s Listening” is going to be big. It’s a hip-hop/rap/DJ beat infusion that just overall blows everything from “Hybrid Theory” away, and its certainly the band’s most original song.

“Session” is just what it sounds like. Joe Hahn lays down some nice beats. He’s good, but comparatively nowhere near the precision of DJ Krush.

“Numb” is just as forgettable. It’s exactly like “Crawling” from “Hybrid” in chord, vocal and chorus progression.

After their long hiatus since “Hybrid,” Linkin Park may have broken the sophomore curse with “Meteora.”

A&E Editor: Chris Kornelis Webmistress: Amanda J Hundt
UI Argonaut, 301 Student Union, Moscow, Idaho 83843 208.885.7845

Student to display art

The oil paintings by Emily Meyer, an art student at the University of Idaho, will be on display at the Moscow Food Co-op Art Gallery starting April 18 and running through May 9. An opening reception will be held at 5 p.m. April 18 at the Co-op.

Dance and Music

There is a Contra Dance from 7:30-11:00 p.m. Saturday, April 19 at the 1912 Center, 400 East 3rd, Moscow. The music is presented by Up All Night, from Spokane.

The door price is $4 for newcomers who arrive at 7:30 for instructions, $5 for members and $7 for nonmembers.