Linkin Park - Living Things

Track Listing:

1). Lost In The Echo
2). In My Remains
3). Burn It Down
4). Lies Greed Misery
5). I’ll Be Gone
6). Castle Of Glass
7). Victimized
8). Roads Untraveled
9). Skin To Bone
10). Until It Breaks
11). Tinfoil
12). Powerless

Linkin Park return with an impressive 5^th studio album that has been said to be the best since the debut Hybrid Theory in 2000. Though, It doesn’t seem long ago that Linkin Park were releasing ‘A Thousand Suns’, an album that would change the face of Linkin Park and many fans. Living Things provides another direction for Linkin Park. When first hearing the record, I couldn’t help but think that they had literally sat down, pulled out Hybrid Theory and just listened and analysed it. ‘Lost In The Echo’ was a starting point. The point being that this is STILL Linkin Park. A Thousand Suns seemed to take something from Linkin Park, I personally thought it was a mighty album that deserved more praise. Not many bands would have the balls to do what Linkin Park did. With ‘Lost In The Echo’ having the classic LP riffs and Bennington’s screaming, it is a fitting introduction to the album. ‘In My Remains’ is a lovely follower. Harmonies from Shinoda and Bennington bring in that Minutes to Midnight feel before leading us into first single ‘Burn It Down’. The catchy introduction which is essentially Linkin Park steers the song into a great headbobber.

Living Things has received mixed reviews which seem to be leading fans into a sense that Linkin Park aren’t the band they once were. I have an eye for anything, and as much as I love a band I can always express what I think works and what doesn’t. Living Things is brilliant in my eyes. As I’ve said, the album takes you back 12 years to Hybrid Theory but at the same time brings you back to 2012 wheer music has developed. My personal favourite ‘Lies Greed Misery’ has it all. It’s as sexy as Rooney Mara’s pierced nipples in The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo. ‘I’ll Be Gone’ and ‘Castle of Glass’ both include terrific vocals from Bennington with additional vocals from Shinoda who seems to have done a lot with this record. Being co-producer alongside Rick Rubin, Shinoda is a great visionary who can see when something is right or wrong. What can I say about ‘Victimized’? Even if you have no desire of listening to the record, this 1:46 track won’t take much of your time. If you like a little of LP then go listen. Shinoda starts the sing with a nice verse before Bennington shrieks down the mic ‘VICTIMIZED NEVER AGAIN VICTIMIZED’. An outstanding track that deserves a lot of praise.

Without going off on one, the rest of the album seems to calm down and musically is terrific. ‘Roads Untravelled’ is a lovely addition before the incredibly catchy ‘Skin to Bone’. My least favourite track ‘Until It Breaks’ still has me thinking to myself after every listen. The song starts oddly and continues until about half way when the song picks up. I love the ending to the song but cant see why the song couldn’t have started the same as the end. The final track ‘Powerless’ (which features in the latest Abraham Lincoln Vampire Hunter movie) is a wonderful way to end. Gives the sense that there is still more to come from Linkin Park. ‘Powerless’ is just a typical and terrific Linkin Park track. Starts off slow before ending triumphantly.

Living Things is a great addition to Linkin Park’s discography. I’ll always love LP’s earlier material but what they’ve given us now is more produced and generic. It’s a great listen and a huge step for music in general. Living Things provides the Linkin Park fans everything they’ve ever done within 40 mins.

Blink 182 - Live at the Motorpoint Arena, Sheffield

Blink 182
PLUS Twin Atlantic and The All American Rejects

SETLIST:

Feeling This
Up All Night
The Rock Show
What’s My Age Again?
Down
I Miss You
Wishing Well
Dumpweed
Always
Violence
After Midnight
First Date
Hearts All Gone
Man Overboard
Ghost On The Dancefloor
All The Small Things
Josie

ENCORE #1
Reckless Abandon (Acoustic)
All Of This (Acoustic)

ENCORE #2
Can A Drummer Get Some (Travis Barker Drum Solo)
Carousel
Dammit
Family Reunion

Yes that’s right, all of the above was included in Blink 182’s setlist at the Motorpoint Arena during Blink’s incredible European tour this year. Having postponed the tour from last July to this June, fans in 2011 were bitterly disappointed, so much that I saw tickets on ebay going for a huge price. I can’t say I wasn’t disappointed with the push back of the tour, though Blink had their reasons. Neighborhoods wasn’t finished, it’s as simple as that. The wait was most definitely worth it!

With support from Twin Atlantic and The All American Rejects, the night was already promising for a terrific display. Twin Atlantic were first to hit the stage, infront of a semi full crowd who actually could be bothered to get there on time (this is Sheffield after all) they had it all to do. Kick starting their 7 track setlist with ‘Edit Me’, the crowd began to bounce with the upbeat feel  that it has. Other crowd pleases were ‘Make A Beast Of Myself’ and the finale track ‘Free’ which were both exceptional. ‘Yes, I Was Drunk’ (TA’s next single) was probably my most favourite of the set. The slower and more headbobbing track was a track I wasn’t so keen on the ‘Free’ album, though after their display, my opinion was changed. Great performance from the Scott’s.

The All American Rejects followed in great style. Getting the crowd pumping with ‘Dirty Little Secret’ which of course, went down a treat. AAR weren’t as good as I was expecting but I can’t take anything away from them, I own a couple of their records and they are easy listening. Unfortunately, I have yet to hear their latest record but playing new single ‘Kids In The Street’ was the only track of the set I was unfamiliar with. ‘Move Along’, ‘Swing Swing’ and ‘It Ends Tonight’ were all great additions and had echoes of chorus’ from the crowd now growing with every minute passing to Blinks entrance. With great interaction to the crowd and general chit chat with security guards and live team, AAR were exceptional and a brilliant choice for main support acts.

Then came the moment that every 14+ year old in the crowd had been waiting for. The lights went down, and the crowd stared at the curtain in the way of those 3 magical people behind it. The curtain dropped as the first drum beat of ‘Feeling This’ struck revealing a happy faced Mark Hoppus, a stern faced Tom Delonge and the incredible Travis Barker. The crowd couldn’t have reacted aby better. The first 5 songs were crazy as kids were flying everywhere especially to the dark ‘Up All Night’. My only concern was how young the crowd around me actually was. It was unbelievable how young these kids were. This emphasises the impact a band such as Blink 182 has had on the world. Inspiring other bands as well as what they have given the fans. Favourite track on Neighborhoods ‘Wishing Well’ went down a treat but it was ‘Dumpweed’ that made my night. All-time favourite Blink track echoed through the arena as yet again the mosh pits opened and people began to gain self-inflicted wounds. Crowd pleaser ‘All The Small Things’ was obviously a treat, Delonge bringing out his younger mischievous self when changing the lyrics “watching, waiting, mastur-bating”, just beautiful. Having seen Angels & Airwaves earlier this year, I’ve been impressed with Delonges singing lately having seen and heard that his vocal skills weren’t exactly ‘great’. Hoppus and Delonge’s friendship is clearly as stronger than ever. No one can even distinguish a time when these 3 people were at locker heads. Blink was back and better than ever!

Encores are always a thrill, especially when Hoppus and Delonge enter the centre of the arena with acoustic guitars to play 2 tracks that essentially just made the night fantastic. Over the course of the tour, Blink have been playing different tracks (previous nights have included ‘Wasting Time’ and ‘Going Away to College’). In Sheffield, we were treated to ‘Reckless Abandon’ and ‘All of This’ (first time being played since 2004). Barker awaited on stage before hitting the kit for his incredible drum solo. How anyone can say he is not gifted is beyond me. The man is a musical genius, the way his arms move seems impossible. The solo was just beyond belief. If Barker did a solo tour I’d pay anything to go after this display. Hoppus and Delonge re-entered the stage for old classics ‘Carousel’ and ‘Dammit’ before confetti exploded and fell all around filling the arena. Delonge then kept the party going with ‘Family Reunion’. A “shit piss fuck cunt cock sucker mother fucker tits fart turd and twat” was all that was needed to top the night!

Blink’s display was incredible. The support couldn’t have been better and the night was fantastic. They have made the wait for the tour so much worth it. “Blink 182 life. For life”

Prometheus

A team of explorers discover a clue to the origins of mankind on Earth, leading them on a journey to the darkest corners of the universe. There, they must fight a terrifying battle to save the future of the human race. (iMBD)

First it was going to be a sequel to the brilliant 'Alien' film in which director Ridley Scott scared the shit out of a hell of a lot of people. Then, it changed to a prequel but not a prequel... confused? Simply, Prometheus is a prequel to 'Alien' but not a direct prequel. Same universe, different direction. Scott returns to the genre that started it all for him in this brilliant sci-fi that couldn't be any more sci-fi if it tried.

Prometheus centres on a team who go searching for our creators. 'The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo' star Noomi Rapace takes centre stage for her second english film. Her performance is quite brilliant and believable at the same time. It's rare to see someone so believable in these types of films. Sigourney Weaver is probably the only other person I can think to compare her to ironically. Though the film essentially has no 'action' as I've heard some people say, it's still far from boring. Impressive performances from Rapace and the incredible Michael Fassbender bring the film up highly. Fassbender's character 'David', an android in which are very familiar with the 'Alien' franchise. Prometheus is a great and intriguing film that provides the thrills, the sci-fi and of course a great story. However, my only criticism of the film was that everything that 'Alien' had was missed in Prometheus. The suspense was never there, I was never at the edge of my seat trying to see what was coming next. The scares were small and the build ups didn't lead me into a fasle sense of security. On the other hand, the score for the film was magnificent. True sci-fi music was on at hand and viewing the film in IMAX blew you away. At times you felt you were too much in the film.

Though Prometheus succeeded in pleasing most fans, I was left a little disappointed until the final sequence where I literally smiled ear to ear. Prometheus is the ultimate film for scientologists. A good attempt from Mr. Scott and from what I'm hearing of a sequel, it can't be too long before the unanswered questions of the first film will be resolved.