Linkin Park -- "What I've Done" -- Single

There's been a somewhat-uncomfortable trend in music lately. You know all those bad 90s rap-metal bands that debuted on the scene after that genre had lost relevance? Well, they aren't giving up just yet: these bands (Saliva and Papa Roach, I'm lookin' at you especially) have all but denied their nu-metal roots (save for the one hit each of them had) and are now dolling themselves up with emo hair, eyeliner, punk suits, and enough "hXc" attitude for THREE Hawthorne Heightses. This proves the sad fact that they don't really care about the music: just the fame and the edginess.

On this level, Linkin Park's newest single, "What I've Done," deserves props for clearly holding higher ambitions: the ultra-popular sextet are obviously aiming for the arty indie alterna-pop trappings of The Arcade Fire, The Decemberists, and their ilk. In some ways, it works: the guitar/piano interplay of Brad Delson and Mike Shinoda adds a much-needed simmering tension to the song. However, the band has always been (and likely always will be) intending to fill arenas, and as such, the song is a ready-made, lighter-waving sing-along. Also, as good as the band around him is doing, vocalist/lyricist Chester Bennington can't quite seem to hack it: when presented with the concept of straight-out singing (rather than switching between rapping and screaming) he can't hold his own, and his lyrics are far too overwrought for the mood that the rest of the band is trying to convey. A good effort--and maybe the full-length album, "Minutes to Midnight," will fare better--but still not quite there.

In summary: a venerable rap-metal band searches for higher ground, and gets lost along the way.

Overall: 6.0/10

Queens of the Stone Age -- "Era Vulgaris"

Here's a question for you, alt-rock hipster kids: what does Josh Homme have in common with Kurt Cobain, Thom Yorke, Billy Corgan, Isaac Brock, and just about every other 90s singer/guitarist in a pioneering indie band? He and his band, Queens of the Stone Age, have gained a huge mainstream following without really wanting it. Due in large part to the band's two uber-hits--"No One Knows" and "Little Sister"--Queens have gained a much-undeserved reputation as pop-oriented rockers who seek to equally please pot-smoking, Led-Zeppelin-worshipping, baggy-jeans wearing 12-year-olds and preppy kids the world over. A cursory listen to "Era Vulgaris" proves that Homme (the band's one constant member) has other plans.

From the jarring opener, "Turnin' on the Screw," it's clear that J. Ho (as he's known affectionately by hardcore fans) has no desire to stay in the limelight. Very few, if any of the songs, actually stay in key: with this album, Homme has created a carefully-calculated series of musical disasters, much like his forebears in bands like Black Flag, Sleep, and Sonic Youth. This is music that is intended to drive away the legions of pseudo-fans that he won with 2005's "Lullabies to Paralyze." As evidenced by the album's first single, "Sick, Sick, Sick," our dearest Josh wants nothing more than to lock himself in the studio and record music that will piss off his record label and his newfound fans.

In summary: QOTSA gleefully destroy their popularity by reaching back into their collection of 80s hardcore vinyls--with gut-busting results.

Overall score: 7.5/10

An introduction

Recently, I created an account on this website so that I could post comments on my girlfriend's fashion blog, Fashion On The Edge (http://fashionontheedge.blogspot.com/) It occured to me, however, that I could very well start posting on a blog of my own. But what about? I've already got a LiveJournal for bitching to the world. So, I decided that I'd follow my girlfriend's model and use this blog as a way of offering my thoughts on the latest albums, singles, and concerts in the rock-music world. Always something I've wanted to try. Here's hoping you enjoy!