Linkin Park "Hybrid Theory" [2000]

Here's a hybrid for ya: Eminem with a mullet -- that's exactly what Linkin Park's debut album "Hybrid Theory" reminds me of. Too stupid and trying too hard to prove they're really angry, Linkin Park sounds like the cast from Star Wars (including R2D2) starting a Metallica cover band. Even more accurately, they're Cake with studded dog-collars. Elsewhere, they employ the worst pop-pandering of Depeche Mode, then predictably open up their screaming noise-choruses like Dave Gahan having his smack withheld for 5 minutes too long. Angst this overbaked is really no good for anybody but sports-bar owners who look forward to seeing lots of fights outside around closing time. But clearly this band's promotion is the direct result of corporate music biz group-think: combine enough genres into one and you're bound to sell product. Squeaky-clean din like this for some reason always seems to find an audience with spoiled white guys, though perhaps this has to do more with the lyrics constantly citing being persecuted by those who don't understand them. But the band -- and its audience -- get it all wrong: in fact, as fellow spoiled white guys, you're understood all too well. That you feel any sense of persecution at all is more than likely very well deserved. Nobody forced you to get that tattoo on your neck, for instance, you frickin' moron.