Overall Grade:  4.00 (out of 5.0)

This is the album everyone has been talking about. Fans. Critics. I'm sure I'm not gonna please everyone with this one, and I actually hope I don't. You aren't entitled to an opinion anyway, so ha! So, this is a review of a "new album", not a review of "the new album by Linkin Park". Big difference people. But I'll touch on that again later.

The album is in my Top 3 releases thus far this year. Jut an amazing sound. Great intro track "Wake". The single "What I've Done" is worthy of 5-stars, as are "Leave Out All the Rest" and "Shadow of the Day". Lyrically, this is a fantastic album. Rapper/Emcee/Guitarist Mike Shinoda has some amazing lyrics that he brings along with some of his Fort Minor sound into the song "Hands Held High". I also see the song "Bleed It Out" being a single off the album. I would like to see some of the ballads such as "Leave Out All the Rest" or "Shadow of the Day" make the airwaves as I think they would appeal to a mass audience.

What do I not like about the album? I really think the song "Given Up" is misplaced. You go from a melodic intro, to "Given Up" which is one of the two upper tempo songs on the album, back to "Leave It Out". The album is very chill and melodic. I don't think you should have a song like "Given Up" right after your intro. It sends a false sign of the remainder of the album. I also felt that there were a few abrupt endings to songs which left you wanting more – especially on "Leave Out All the Rest". Right when you thought there was going to be a build up or another chorus, the song just died.

Now, going back to this being a "new album by Linkin Park". I thought they definitely accomplished what they wanted to: it is different. One of the first things I noticed is that there is cursing on the album, where as in Hybrid Theory or Meteora, there was none. Secondly, this is a chill and melodic album. If you are looking for your typical Linkin Park, such as "One Step Closer" or "Faint", you won't find that at all on this album.  The first time I listened to the album I was going to sleep. Yes, listening to Linkin Park as I was going to sleep in bed. Sounds crazy, I know. Diehard Linkin Park fans? I don't know how they will react. I am a diehard fan – LPU since year number one baby! But I LOVE the album. I think the band will keep some of its fans, lose some of its fans, and depending on what the release as future singles, could gain a new audience as well.

If you take out the two songs that I rated in the 2.0 range (those being "Given Up" and "In Between"), this album could have ranked way higher than just a 4.00. Those are my thoughts on the album. Different for Linkin Park? Definitely. Fantastic music? Yes!