Few, if any, bands/music artists have been closer to my heart than Linkin Park ("LP"). LP spearheaded the nu metal genre and helped bring this particular niche of rock music into the mainstream. While many LP fans identify their first release Hybrid Theory as the band's greatest album, Meteora and Minutes to Midnight also had a solid list of charted hits. To an extent, subsequent albums in the late 2000s and into the 2010s have evolved into different stylings (which for a lot of fans have produced albums that are rather hit or miss). To me though, Chester Bennington is one of the greatest front men of all time and a creative genius capable of adapting to changing times. Mike Shinoda also deserves great credit for being the true experimental artist of the group leading LP into new and different directions.
Considering the history of LP up until early 2016, here is a list of the ten songs which stand out the most to me as LP's best:
#1 - New Divide
In 2009, LP produced a song to go along with the latest Transformers movie, Revenge of the Fallen. This song is packed with unbounded energy and allowed LP to bring all the intensity a song can pack.
#2 - We Made It (with Busta Rhymes)
One of the great aspects of LP is that this band can collaborate with the best of them. Released in 2008, the lyrics in this song are powerful and inspiring and Busta combines his talent with Chester's amazing vocals to knock this collaboration out of the park.
#3 - Bleed It Out
On the Minutes to Midnight album, among the other hits, Bleed It Out allows Mike Shinoda to incorporate rap vocals which at its core, is Mike's true gifting.
#4 - Numb Encore (with Jay-Z)
A collaborative effort with Jay-Z spices up one of the truly outstanding songs LP has ever made. This song was a single.
#5 - Numb
A 2003 release on Meteora, Joe Hahn directed this song and I believe this song showcased Joe's talents in a way that caused LP fans to appreciate the distinct sound he brings to LP.
#6 - Burn It Down
The anguish in Chester's voice carries this song into a place that captures the essence of everything that makes LP the greatest band ever.
#7 - Breaking the Habit
Songs with meaning. Songs with heart. Songs that can even leave you disconsolate. This song evokes profound meaning for anyone who has struggled with a self-destructive habit that they know needs to be broken.
#8 - What I've Done
Another song that causes the listener to carefully consider the lyrics and the meaning behind such lyrics in the individual life of the listener.
#9 - One Step Closer
All of Chester's pent up anger is spilled out in this song which borders on Chester simply screaming out his emotions as powerfully and with the emotion that only he can produce in such quantity.
#10 - Lying From You
Another song that blends in the rap stylings of Mike and Chester's intense vocals. Two great ones like Lennon and McCartney.
Copyright 2016 - Luke Enno
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