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Minutes to Midnight (by Linkin Park, Rock)

common sense media says

Angst-ridden rock is dark and depressing.

parents & educators say
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What parents need to know

Parents need to know that the band likes to say "f--k" quite a bit in one song, and there are many subtle (and not so subtle) references to the "Three D's" (Depression, Destruction, and Death) on this earnest, enjoyable album. Words associated with death ("hearse," "noose," "hand grenade") are used in the context of personal revelation and interpersonal communication and not in terms of actually harming someone else.

Positive messages: All over the map -- alternately pissy and poignant.
Violence: Some violent imagery, mostly in the context of personal angst.
Sex: Not applicable.
Language: "F--k" (and its derivations) is used often in one song.
Consumerism: Not applicable.
Drinking, drugs, & smoking: Not applicable.
Our ratings and reviews are informed by child development guidelines. Learn more.

More on Minutes to Midnight

What to talk about

Talk to your kids
Families can talk about using dramatic lyrics to get your point across. Do they make the songs sound more believable? Can you be less intense and still have the same effect? Families can also discuss the title of the album, which refers to the Doomsday Clock, created in 1947 to show how close (in imaginary "minutes") the world is to nuclear destruction. Why do you think the band chose this title? What can you, as one single person, do to help increase the minutes left until "midnight?"

What's the story?

What's the story?
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?

Is it any good?
 
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.

Music themes & details

Music Details
Released on: May 15, 2007
Label: Warner Brothers
Genre: Rock
Parental advisory: Yes
Edited version available: Yes
This review was written by Kathi Kamen Goldmark
 
 

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What parents & educators say

13

Most useful reviews by all members

Kakarot
parent of 19 year old
14
 
too depressing but brilliant composition
best band ever formed in nu-metal history......
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kid, 12 years old
13
 
LINKIN PARK IS SO AWSOME!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
BEST BAND EVER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I LOVE THERI MUSIC MY FAVORITE BAND!!!
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teen, 14 years old
13
 
LINKIN PARK IS SO AWSOME!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
BEST BAND EVER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I LOVE THERI MUSIC MY FAVORITE BAND!!!
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kid, 11 years old
13
 
LINKIN PARK IS SO AWSOME!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
BEST BAND EVER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I LOVE THERI MUSIC MY FAVORITE BAND!!!
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kid, 12 years old
13
 
LINKIN PARK IS SO AWSOME!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
BEST BAND EVER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I LOVE THERI MUSIC MY FAVORITE BAND!!!
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teen, 14 years old
13
 
LINKIN PARK IS SO AWSOME!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
BEST BAND EVER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I LOVE THERI MUSIC MY FAVORITE BAND!!!
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kid, 11 years old
13
 
LINKIN PARK IS SO AWSOME!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
BEST BAND EVER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I LOVE THERI MUSIC MY FAVORITE BAND!!!
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noah719
teen, 15 years old
2
 
Dark
I love all of the songs, and a big LP fan in general but may send some over the edge with "Given Up". But suitable for anyone basically.
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BITCHSLAP
parent
13
 
Linkin Park
Linkin Park is awesome so screw all you parents that act like you can keep your kids in a bubble. Someone here needs to stop being so goddamn naive.
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ThenewWelxhGirl09
kid, 10 years old
8
 
I'm really not sure if you should listen unless you get the edited version.
I like Linkin Park, I've never heard the cussing because my dad gets the edited version on his iPod.
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CritiNumba1
teen, 16 years old
11
 
Edited Version Is Better
I like most of the songs on this album, get the edited version if you don't want your kids to hear f--k. My parents did.
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DangerDaysTheT ...
kid, 10 years old
2
 
QWERTY
Goin out of my %$#@%$@# Mind
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SamaraMorgan
teen, 14 years old
6
 
Amazing
What I hate about this site is they make everything sound worse than it really is. This album is amazing.
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MeTheCrazyOne99
kid, 13 years old
13
 
Some good songs, strong profanity
I don't have this album, but I love many songs from this album. The f bombs don't need to be in there. Nuff said.
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Lislynn
teen, 15 years old
14
 
Great album, mixed signals.
Alright, as
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Cimerax
teen, 16 years old
10
 
I personally live the album, because I feel like most of the songs on that album a lot. Now is it appropriate? Definitely, as long as your kid doesn't go around repeating the lyrics. Every single person reading this has felt the emotion in the song, "Given Up" and that song has a way of making some people feel better. If you listen to the song, and are smart enough to see the swearing as just regular lyrics, you may see what I mean.
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corneater
parent of 12 year old
15
 
Lyrics and messages may suit people of older taste
LInkin Park are the best band/musicians ever. THEY R CORNEATERS!!!!!!!!!! That is a high complement. This album is Fantastic! I do like their old stuff better but, LP has proved that they can do 2 different genres which makes them AMAZING! on their next album I will hope to hear more of their rapper Mike and Mr. Hahn to create the funky nu-metal addiction, but this was also PHENOMENAL! NICE LP! YOU NEVER LET YOUR FANS DOWN!!!!!! LP 4 LIFE!!!!!!
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Slipknotsarah
adult
12
 
Pretty good
I was quite dissapointed by this album, and i thought metora was a lot better. I still bought it though and its still very good. Concerned about the launguage? the only really bad song is given up, with lyrics like "Im suffocating, tell me what the f--- is wrong with me." but theres a clean version.
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RedDragonKnight
adult
 
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The Lizards ...
teen, 17 years old
13
 
fgjuijwriotguweriotueriotuwrioter
So how does this album have a bad message? Just because they have songs about depressing stuff doesn't mean they're bad role models. Not everyone's life is perfect, you know.
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