A Thousand Suns
by Linkin Park
User Score
7.6

Generally favorable reviews- based on 511 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 380 out of 511
  2. Mixed: 68 out of 511
  3. Negative: 63 out of 511
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  1. Alfred
    Sep 14, 2010
    3
    The band spoke about this album being much different from their past albums. While there's a change, it's not for the better. Out of the 16 tracks on the album, 6 of them are filler tracks consisting of distorted speeches, piano chords, and what feels like parts of song that were not good enough to be developed into full tracks. Of the rest of the 9 tracks, there are few tracks thatThe band spoke about this album being much different from their past albums. While there's a change, it's not for the better. Out of the 16 tracks on the album, 6 of them are filler tracks consisting of distorted speeches, piano chords, and what feels like parts of song that were not good enough to be developed into full tracks. Of the rest of the 9 tracks, there are few tracks that successfully stray away from the sound Linkin Park has banked on in their past two albums. Either they fall back into their previous tendencies and create another version of What I've Done/ New Divide (The Catalyst), or they completely fall apart musically (the Messenger). The one standout track on this album is Blackout. This track manages to break through the wall of dull emotions that this album is built on and manages to actually be an enjoyably different sound from Linkin Park. This album is far from perfect, and far from good. After listening to the album, there's nothing even memorable besides Blackout and the feeling of aggravation brought on by this sub-par album.… Expand
  2. JaydenPickens
    Feb 20, 2019
    2
    When I first heard this album back in 2010 I literally cried at how bad it was. Bands evolve and change and that's good, but this? This is evolution? If this is evolution then I'm not surprised there are people that don't believe in it. This is garbage. I'm surprised at people liking this album, but well different people, different strokes. Do not waste yout time on this... better listenWhen I first heard this album back in 2010 I literally cried at how bad it was. Bands evolve and change and that's good, but this? This is evolution? If this is evolution then I'm not surprised there are people that don't believe in it. This is garbage. I'm surprised at people liking this album, but well different people, different strokes. Do not waste yout time on this... better listen to silence... if you're schizophrenic you might even hear better music in the silence. Pickens condemns!… Expand
  3. Jay_Pickens
    Jul 25, 2018
    2
    When I first heard this album back in 2010 I literally cried at how bad it was. Bands evolve and change and that's good, but this? This is evolution? If this is evolution then I'm not surprised there are people that don't believe in it. This is garbage. I'm surprised at people liking this album, but well different people, different strokes. Do not waste yout time on this... better listenWhen I first heard this album back in 2010 I literally cried at how bad it was. Bands evolve and change and that's good, but this? This is evolution? If this is evolution then I'm not surprised there are people that don't believe in it. This is garbage. I'm surprised at people liking this album, but well different people, different strokes. Do not waste yout time on this... better listen to silence... if you're schizophrenic you might even hear better music in the silence. Pickens condemns!… Expand
  4. LogRock18
    Sep 14, 2010
    0
    Insanely slow with 10-30 second songs that are merely nothing or just small noise. A huge disappointment from Rubin again, who is absolutely destroying Linkin Park. Hybrid Theory and Meteora were the band, while Minutes To Midnight had several low spots and lacked half the hard nu-metal that LP used to do, it still followed fairly well. But now, there is nothing resembling the original LP.Insanely slow with 10-30 second songs that are merely nothing or just small noise. A huge disappointment from Rubin again, who is absolutely destroying Linkin Park. Hybrid Theory and Meteora were the band, while Minutes To Midnight had several low spots and lacked half the hard nu-metal that LP used to do, it still followed fairly well. But now, there is nothing resembling the original LP. If you liked Hybrid and Meteora, this album is a total failure. If you enjoyed Minutes but thought there should be more "techno" and "slow" songs, then this just may be the one for you. With this album LP could be on tour with Coldplay......unfortunately.… Expand
  5. cjm
    Sep 18, 2010
    1
    They should remove the words "metal" and "rock" from their genre tags - there is not a guitar to be found here. Glad I didn't go out and buy this one, the album title makes it sound like it's going to be energetic, but the music falls flat. "Wretches and Kings" wasn't bad for a rap song, download that one and skip the rest of this turkey.
  6. enrez
    Sep 17, 2010
    2
    Change is always welcome, but change has some negative effects too. Back in 2002 I bought Hybrid Theory and Reanimation altogether. I liked the strong guitar riffs and strong raps with screamo, and also the hiphop mixing of the album's most of the songs in Reanimation. I also liked Meteroa for alternative metal sounding guitar riffs with aggressive vocals. Time has changed and is changingChange is always welcome, but change has some negative effects too. Back in 2002 I bought Hybrid Theory and Reanimation altogether. I liked the strong guitar riffs and strong raps with screamo, and also the hiphop mixing of the album's most of the songs in Reanimation. I also liked Meteroa for alternative metal sounding guitar riffs with aggressive vocals. Time has changed and is changing quicker than often. I will not say MTM was a bad album, but it was soft. I have seen many old LP fans are humiliated by new LP fans. I think older LP fans can obviously demand their old styles. The new album ATS reminds me more of a remix album than a true alternative rock album. There are in total FIFTEEN tracks, NINE of them are actually shaped in full length songs and I personally liked TWO among them. At first I listened to Wretches and King and I liked it, but more I listen to it, sooner it became clear to me it sounds more like a remix. Just think about the In The End remix made in Reanimation album. Anyone who did not listen to that song's original mix and accidentally hear the remix could not predict how awesome the original song was. So, I think to make the songs Genre-Busting (so called) Mike and his gang made rough versions of the songs and mixed them heavily to sound like Genre Busting. For example: Look at the song Blackout- Chester screams and techno/disco like sound can be heard- this only possible when musicians remixes a rock song. At least people like me on God's green earth would not expect a scream-oriented song layered up by techno-disco beats. Another interesting Look is the song When They Come for Me. Many Review site labelled it as mixed with Tribal sounds. But for their information, it is a clever mix of Indian Bhangra beats, the drums are styled to Bhangra beats, at the end of the song Brad Delson (as featured in LPTV in Youtube) provided mikings in Indian Hindi language. The chorus is common in Bhangra songs.
    The rest full length songs are a show off of their departure from true guitar riffs (be it down tuned or alternative rock) with apocalyptic atmosphere mixed with clever disco/techno/Indian styles.

    Bands explore different genres, that is not their fault. But it becomes annoying when they dig in so much that their orginality vanishes, they know they have created huge Fan base, so whatever they produce their fans will accept that- no matter if it is a clever imitating of others, or peculiar remixes to produce so called cheap genre busting crap. Most probably we are going through an era of Lady Gaga techno stuffs and Justin Beiber softy vocals- that impacts on every body- even on an once-true-alternative-metal-sounding-rock-band to softy disco-techno-clever-poppy boy band.    … Expand
  7. Imdamann
    Sep 22, 2010
    1
    Absolutely terrible.

    I have never felt so let down by an album in a long, long time. The first third of the album is all filler, simply clippits of speeches over the top of ambient sounds, with some of the tracks only lasting around 10 seconds. The songs don't really start to kick in until about song 4 or 5, but are nothing to get excited about. Every song on the album is either    Absolutely terrible.

    I have never felt so let down by an album in a long, long time.

    The first third of the album is all filler, simply clippits of speeches over the top of ambient sounds, with some of the tracks only lasting around 10 seconds. The songs don't really start to kick in until about song 4 or 5, but are nothing to get excited about.

    Every song on the album is either rap, hip hop, ambient, filler, weird electronic sounds, or boring piano ballads. The only song which will stay in your head is "The Catalyst" Which is still pretty bad.

    There is a complete lack of electric guitar, excluding one song which is just screaming over a simple song structure. The sheer rock punch, sing-along anthems and spirit of a band I loved has died.

    Not even worth listening to.    … Expand
  8. centurysleuth
    Sep 30, 2010
    0
    Seriously, this is what Linkin Park releases? I'm not even sure what the hell I'm listening to. Certainly it isn't music.
  9. Rmin
    Sep 22, 2010
    0
    this album is the worst album of this band.nonesense lyrics hard to follow lyrics bad vocal no song meaning this album coul be the worst album of year!!!!!!
  10. Razv
    Oct 16, 2010
    2
    Highly disappointing. I expected something different but different good, not different bad. It's painful to see so much potential wasted on such poor and uninteresting music. I hope they see what they did wrong and go back to the old style, the real LP, that i used to love.
  11. paulocoruna
    Sep 15, 2010
    3
    Soy un fan de Linkin Park desde hace dos años, y siempre me gustó, incluso cuando cambiaron tanto su estilo en 2007, sin embargo en este disco, me estoy arrepintiendo de haberlo comprado un poco.
  12. Miguel826
    Nov 5, 2010
    2
    I'm betting that I'm not the only one that was polarised by this bizarre turn of events for the former Nu Metal juggernauts. This release reaches for the stars in an attempt to combine multiple genres into one cohesive piece. What we get, however, is schizophrenic noise vomit that more often that not is simply 1 or 2 minutes of needless sonic interlude.

    Perhaps the term 'Genre-busting',    I'm betting that I'm not the only one that was polarised by this bizarre turn of events for the former Nu Metal juggernauts. This release reaches for the stars in an attempt to combine multiple genres into one cohesive piece. What we get, however, is schizophrenic noise vomit that more often that not is simply 1 or 2 minutes of needless sonic interlude.

    Perhaps the term 'Genre-busting', as Mike Shinoda says, is apt; but not in the positive sense, this album strikes me as something that started out as a plethora of sonic industrial experiments... and ended as a plethora of sonic industrial experiments. Whatever this record is trying to be, it isn't working. I suggest that if you like the Industrial sound, ignore this and listen to anything by Nine Inch Nails.

    As a conceptual piece, I've heard it be likened to iconic works such as 'The Dark Side of the Moon' by Pink Floyd. If I were a member of Pink Floyd, I would be both ashamed and disgusted that any self-respecting music journalist could compare something so brilliant with something so... unnecessary.

    I don't really know what possessed Linkin Park to take this route musically, and as a long time fan of their earlier material, I do not understand the thought process behind this album. All bands usually follow some form of artistic maturation, taking the form of a continued refinement of their chosen craft. This however, doesn't strike me as a continuation of anything. Where, I would ask the members of Linkin Park, did you come to this result, considering all previous works? They are a rock band, this album sounds like Mike Shinoda playing around with a synthesizer for - apparently - 4 years.

    Honestly, if I was him, I would simply fire everyone else (save Chester), and take all the royalties for myself. All the riffs (if there were any [?]) were inaudible, hidden underneath the irritating noise vomit of the samples and synthesizers. The drum beats were all electronic, which could have been recreated fine with a sampler. And Chester Bennington's input vocally appears to be getting smaller and smaller as this band ventures through their life cycle.

    I've always had a soft spot for Linkin Park, being the first band I ever saw live, but - unlike Minutes to Midnight - do not see any sudden desire to rethink my position on this album any time soon. As for the live setting itself, I can't help but wonder how they plan on integrating this nonsense into their set without it sounding terribly out of place. In this one album they've successfully destroyed their in-studio appeal and live appeal, for me, anyway.

    I don't think I'll be purchasing their next release, if indeed it ever comes about. I can only hope, for the sake of the music industry, that it doesn't. Now, if you excuse me, I'm going to listen to some Nine Inch Nails.    … Expand
  13. LostXray
    Oct 5, 2010
    2
    I seriously thought that it was going to be a decent CD but its not like linkin park to crash this kind of success that was of their last CD Minutes to Midnight. i seriously think they could have done far better than this.
  14. FakeLies
    Apr 30, 2015
    3
    For me this album is an abomination and the final hit into my face to tell me that they wont come back to the glory of Hybrid Theory...The only memorable tracks were Blackout and Catalyst, the rest was rubbish...its hard to see your once favourite band fade away like that. I respect that a band sometimes has to improve and change over time, I just can not reccomend it anymore.
  15. BootyHunta69
    Oct 2, 2010
    0
    disgrace to be called an album disgrace to be called an album disgrace to be called an album disgrace to be called an album disgrace to be called an album
  16. lilalindahouse
    Feb 21, 2011
    1
    Linkin Park used to make awesome kick ass stuff. Now there just some f**ked up band it's like they died in 2006 R.I.P. the sound is terrible like the song. It isn't really rock, it's just electronic, droning and alternative The entier album is full of sleepy crap and electronic fused with alternative my dad listens to. The first 2 tracks are just snippets and sh*t and not to mention theLinkin Park used to make awesome kick ass stuff. Now there just some f**ked up band it's like they died in 2006 R.I.P. the sound is terrible like the song. It isn't really rock, it's just electronic, droning and alternative The entier album is full of sleepy crap and electronic fused with alternative my dad listens to. The first 2 tracks are just snippets and sh*t and not to mention the majority of the album are full of crappy pointless skits and snippets. The first one already sounds like Waiting for the End with Justin Bieber signing The Catalyst. The 2nd track is just telephone and nothing but electric random. The 3rd track "Burning in the Skies" is sang lazily by Mike for 3/4 of the song, awesome singing from Chester for 1/4 of the song but still terrible sound and puts me to sleep. 4th track another fail skit. 5th track is already is pretty impressive with Mike's rapping but the chorus sounds like a fail imatation of native american's singing. The 6th track "Robot Boy" is more syncronized singing and more slow crap. 7th track fail skit again. The 8th track "Waiting For The End" already sounds like the 1st track a bit and Shinoda's vocals sound almost like the Black Eyed Peas' "Gone Going". Now if you normally listen to the regular Linkin Park stuff from their previous three albums. You are now officially snoozing or saying "What the f**k is this sh*t". It's not rock, metal, nu metal, rap metal or anything like that. In "Blackout" has some screaming but terrible sound. The bass and electronic destroys the rest of the album. I don't need to explain the rest because it's like the first several tracks repeated over and over. Finally it brings us to the final track "The Catalyst" which is pretty good. And the ending track "The Messenger" is terrible and chester's signing is all over the place.Therefore unless you like U2 and sh*tty bands like them . Pick up a copy of A Thousand Sun and for regular Linkin Park fans comme moi. Don't buy it. It's not even Linkin Park. I can't believe they could make crap like that.… Expand
  17. Dudsound
    Apr 16, 2012
    0
    **** just **** some electronic **** with some unmelodic **** plus some primitive riffs and some VERY primitive solo. it's absolutely primitive. concept album? no, they try to do smth like conception on this album, but "conception" is very simple, for 13 years old boys and girls. THIS SUCKS. 0/10
  18. asylumspadez
    Nov 14, 2011
    3
    Wouldnt have been so bad if it wasnt filled with instrumentals. The actual "songs" of the album were actually pretty good and I enjoyed them a lot more then the previous album.
  19. Genesius
    Jan 5, 2011
    3
    When you first listen to this album, you're like, "huh, this sounds cool." Then when you listen to it again, you're like, "okay, this is getting boring." After listening to any song in this album ten times, you get bored of it. I haven't listened to any of the songs in this album since November (it came out in late September), except maybe "Wretches and Kings." My suggestion is to justWhen you first listen to this album, you're like, "huh, this sounds cool." Then when you listen to it again, you're like, "okay, this is getting boring." After listening to any song in this album ten times, you get bored of it. I haven't listened to any of the songs in this album since November (it came out in late September), except maybe "Wretches and Kings." My suggestion is to just listen to this songs on a free site (like YouTube). Don't spend money on this, because you'll regret it.… Expand
  20. jAbMaN
    Mar 21, 2011
    0
    I like their old music from Hybrid Theory and Meteroa because they were original good at, which is rap rock not just rock with a little rap. I wished that they would just go back to their old ways and make better music than this pop ****
  21. Venom2286
    Jul 10, 2011
    1
    Linkin Park is no more a Metal band.....The new album doesn't have Guitar Riffs nor beats...Many beats are just electronic and for me they sounded worst than Britney spears.. :(
  22. KitsGravity
    Apr 6, 2012
    3
    The songs Iridescent and Waiting for the End are really good but many songs in it are fillers and should have been completely omitted, such as Wretches and Kings, When They Come for Me, even the lead single The Catalyst and Blackout. These songs are worse than most band's b-sides to be honest. The album is conceptual not a satisfactory one. It is the most mediocre album LP have recorded so far.
  23. TJD2
    Jun 20, 2012
    0
    Overwhelmingly horrid album. The band reformed their sound with Living Things, however that doesn't excuse the atrocity that is A Thousand Suns. This is NOT Linkin Park; it's a collection of filler and sound tracks with a few fully formed songs (that sucked mind you). This is one of those albums, like Metallica's St. Anger, that should never have existed.
  24. edbezant
    Dec 23, 2012
    2
    1 mark for iredescent, and one mark for the catalyst cos those are the only two decent tracks on the album. the rest sucks! this album is an insult to hybrid theory and meteora!
  25. sil3nt_nick
    Mar 24, 2013
    2
    This was simply not a good album.
  26. Steeliosis
    Mar 16, 2014
    2
    A Thousand Suns is almost insulting to Linkin Park fans (at least, true Linkin Park fans). Just seems like a sellout to make an extra buck, and is far from the sound that I (and I'm sure, many other people) loved from Meteora, Hybrid Theory, etc.

    I wouldn't mind a little electronica, but this is too much. Overproduced and dull, could hardly listen through three songs before giving up.    A Thousand Suns is almost insulting to Linkin Park fans (at least, true Linkin Park fans). Just seems like a sellout to make an extra buck, and is far from the sound that I (and I'm sure, many other people) loved from Meteora, Hybrid Theory, etc.

    I wouldn't mind a little electronica, but this is too much. Overproduced and dull, could hardly listen through three songs before giving up. I'll admit it's not all entirely bad, but coming from what used to be metal and hard rock to this is disorienting and angering. It hurts thinking people actually respect this album, and whilst I can't disagree with their opinions, I'm assuming they don't understand what it means to a true metal and post hardcore fan such as myself to have something almost perfect revoked.    … Expand
  27. Michalis
    Mar 13, 2016
    2
    If you loved their previous albums with their nu-metal sound, then you can't love this one. If Linkin Park wants more hits, they should stay at their nu-metal sound or make more masterpieces because there is nothing here like In The End, Numb, Crawling e.t.c

Awards & Rankings

9
#9 Most Discussed Album of 2010
19
#19 Most Shared Album of 2010

Critic Reviews

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Metascore
66

Generally favorable reviews - based on 10 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 5 out of 10
  2. Mixed: 5 out of 10
  3. Negative: 0 out of 10
  1. Rolling Stone
    60
    With Rick Rubin co-producing, the band embraces not just synth-pop clamor but also dancehall-style chants and U2's grandiosity. It's the sound of Linkin Park feeling their way toward a new identity, but their skill for melody is obvious.
    Read full review
  2. BBC Music
    60
    They didn't want whatever their next album was to be predictable, and while A Thousand Suns might have emerged by accident compared to previous LPs, it's certainly a far from plays-to-perceived-type affair.
    Read full review
  3. Billboard.com
    75
    On its latest release, A Thousand Suns, the six-piece rock act truly breaks the habit of everything we've heard from it before.
    Read full review
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