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What’s the Story?

Reviewed by Kathi Kamen Goldmark

MINUTES TO MIDNIGHT, the title of Linkin Park's third album, refers to the Doomsday Clock, a concept cooked up by scientists to show how close, in imaginary "minutes," the world is to nuclear destruction, aka "midnight." Originally set to 11:53 p.m. in the 1940s, the clock has been pushed forward and reversed several times since, and now stands at 11:55 p.m. On this CD, Linkin Park seems to equate the concept of our civilization's current brink-of-annihilation status with the very personal concerns of angst-filled young adults. Consider lyrics like "When my time comes/forget the wrong that I've done/help me leave behind some reasons to be missed" ("Leave Out All the Rest").

Is It Any Good?

4

Aspiring young musicians will really enjoy the extra notes provided in the CD insert, explaining a little about the process of writing, recording, and producing each song. They'll also dig the excellent production and hard-rocking, hook-filled, heart-felt performances. "I'm giving up/I'm sick of living/Is there nothing you can say/take this all away/I'm suffocating/tell me what the f--k is wrong with me" (on "Given Up") may not be brilliant poetry, but it should resonate with teens wrestling with raging emotions in a sometimes scary world.

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