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Living Things Image
Metascore
60

Mixed or average reviews - based on 15 Critic Reviews What's this?

User Score
7.9

Generally favorable reviews- based on 450 Ratings

  • Summary: Personal relationships influenced the lyrics on the fifth album produced with Rick Rubin for the alternative rock band.
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Burn It Down
The cycle repeated As explosions broke in the sky All that I needed Was the one thing I couldn't find And you were there at the turn Waiting to let... See the rest of the song lyrics
Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 4 out of 15
  2. Negative: 1 out of 15
  1. Q Magazine
    Jul 27, 2012
    80
    Bold stuff and proof Shinoda remains a richly talented creative force. [Aug 2012, p.103]
  2. 75
    What remains is a barrage of cyber-metal elbow jabs, with just enough fluffy new-wave padding to soften the onslaught.
  3. Jun 27, 2012
    70
    It doesn't stay still, it peaks and ebbs, flowing steadily between brooding and explosions of repressed rage, a fitting soundtrack for aging rap-rockers who are comfortable in their skin but restless at heart.
  4. Jun 25, 2012
    60
    While it lacks the finesse of the band's previous work, somewhere in amongst all the bluster, soul-searching, adrenaline and anger, the record carves out a space where everything seems to fit together.
  5. Jun 25, 2012
    60
    Living Things feels more like consolidation than advancement, perhaps in an attempt to pacify fans alienated by the new direction, while keeping new converts interested, too.
  6. Jun 25, 2012
    60
    By refusing to play it safe, they'll further diminish their original fanbase, but such boldness is to be applauded.
  7. Jul 2, 2012
    20
    Breaking down barriers is not the forte of Top 40 rock music, but when you can't tell the difference between a Linkin Park track and something produced by a plebeian confusing dance beats for real drums, something has to give.

See all 15 Critic Reviews

Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 90 out of 110
  2. Negative: 6 out of 110
  1. Oct 1, 2013
    10
    Easily my favorite album from last year! Im listening to the whole album right now! Almost as good as Hybrid Theory!!! LINKIN PARK FOREasily my favorite album from last year! Im listening to the whole album right now! Almost as good as Hybrid Theory!!! LINKIN PARK FOR LIFE!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Expand
  2. Oct 15, 2012
    10
    Linkin Park made it! This album is really a pleasant surprise and a proof that Linkin Park deserve their good stature as a rock band. I loveLinkin Park made it! This album is really a pleasant surprise and a proof that Linkin Park deserve their good stature as a rock band. I love all song of this one, it's an album I can listen to over and over again. A perfect job from Linkin Park; this is gonna be one of my top contenders for the best album of 2012. Expand
  3. Jun 26, 2012
    10
    I kept refreshing the page to ensure that I got the first user review in. Guys and gals, IGNORE THE CRITICS. This is LP's best album sinceI kept refreshing the page to ensure that I got the first user review in. Guys and gals, IGNORE THE CRITICS. This is LP's best album since Hybrid Theory, and one of the best rock albums EVER. The amazing thing about this album is that not one song is weak or half hearted. All of them have some quality that makes them shine. The melodies are usual LP stuff, nothing out of the ordinary. What's new is a delicious mixture of electronica which means that every song is in a genre of its own. The deaf and dumb critics, while heaping praise upon smelly, skinny rock bands who can't wear a shirt decently and whose pimples show in their music, have always derided LP. We, the fans know better. I know their lyrics get heavy handed at times - they are not the best lyricists out there. But hey, the music - that INCOMPARABLE mixture of electronica and metal, coupled to earnestness about world and emotional issues, means that even a 33 year old daddy like me can't get enough of them. So go ahead and buy it without fear. LP fans will rejoice, while other rock music fans will find a remarkably consistent album that defies categorization and sounds different from everything else out there. If you're not willing to take that chance, listen to the stream on iTunes or the various videos on YouTube. I can't get myself off this album. The new Smashing Pumpkins album is good too, but the sheer bombast and ambition of Living Things keeps calling me to it. There is something to be said for the incredibly goovy rhythm section that LP have fashioned over the years. This stuff will eat Blink 182's and David Guettas of this world for breakfast. IGNORE THE CRITICS. DECIDE FOR YOURSELF. PLEASE. Expand
  4. Aug 1, 2023
    9
    I'm honestly surprised, this is a stellar album overall, and I really dig the new direction.
  5. Mar 10, 2022
    8
    A perfect mix of electronic and rock,
    The album blends together nicely.
    Tracks like lost in the echo, burn it down and victimized are your
    A perfect mix of electronic and rock,
    The album blends together nicely.
    Tracks like lost in the echo, burn it down and victimized are your more traditionally sounding linkin Park tracks, a few ballads thrown in like roads untravelled and powerless and a few electronic ones like lies, greedy, misery. along with castle of glass give the album a prefect balance, really enjoyed this one
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  6. Jan 25, 2016
    7
    One of the most enjoyable Linkin Park albums the best since Hybrid Theory if they had continued with this genre it would have been brilliantOne of the most enjoyable Linkin Park albums the best since Hybrid Theory if they had continued with this genre it would have been brilliant still a brilliant album. Roads Untraveled and Powerless are two of my favourite tracks on this album. Expand
  7. Jun 27, 2012
    1
    My score: 1 (for Burn It Down and Lies Greed Misery)... The rest of the record SUCKS!
    I really miss the band that brought us Numb, Crawling,
    My score: 1 (for Burn It Down and Lies Greed Misery)... The rest of the record SUCKS!
    I really miss the band that brought us Numb, Crawling, Faint, In the End...
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See all 110 User Reviews