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
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