Can 4 million Linkin Park fans be wrong?
(Credit:
James Minchin)
I have a friend. Let's call him "Fred." Fred and I have known each other for 12 years, and I consider Fred to be one of my best friends in the world. We have a lot in common, from political views to our tastes in movies. Fred is a huge fan of Linkin Park. I am anything but. I've made fun of Fred's adoration of the band for many years, but now I'm coming to realize that Fred is not alone.
According to iLike, Fred is in no danger of being alone anytime soon. On Monday, iLike announced that Linkin Park is the first group to ever surpass the 4 million fan milestone on the music service. This means that more than 4 million Linkin Park fans have added the band to their iLike profiles.
This makes sense to me, as Linkin Park's fans seem to skew young, and you know, the kids love them some Internets. Not to take anything away from the band, though. Four million is a lot of fans.
Despite this post's opening, I don't hate Linkin Park. I actually think they have a unique sound that has recently been imitated by a number of new bands. It's just not my cup of tea. Now to see if Fred is one of the 4 million...
Eric Franklin refused to write a bio, saying, "Why are you bothering me about this bio business again? If I wanted people to know more about me, I'd send them to the Inside CNET Labs Podcast" (shameless plug). E-mail Eric. 
those are 4 million wrong people.
LINKIN PARK is dirty balls
But more importantly: do you really think Linkin Park have a unique sound? Nu metal is about as derivative as a sound can get, right down to the name.
If you are going to add vague praise to buffer criticism, it might help to say something accurate, or interesting. You've done neither.
As for the rest of this post, either it's pure astroturfing, or you are really desperate to find a story.
At least these guys actually PLAY an instument.
I don't consider my music taste awful, my favorite band is still Nirvana and I listen to mostly grunge of that era, so called "alternative" and a variety of punk and old school rap of importance. But, for someone who had as much trouble with women as I had back then, and continued to have through college, something about screaming "Shut up when I'm talking to you" along to LPs song One Step Closer, or "Hear me out NOW, you're gonna listen to ME!" along to Faint, just felt really good.
So I won't say they're amongst my favorite bands of all time, or even that they are one of the "best bands" in history, but I like some of their songs a lot, they were and are cathartic to me.
Also I agree with a few of the above postings saying that they can't believe this junk, crap, useless information is posted.
The new album was really weak, but I hope it was a singularity of poor judgement on their part.
As to iLike and it's ilk, I guess I am a geezer because I don't get it. There was the Me generation, and the Us generation, and now we have the "Look at me, Look at me" generation that parades around on the Internet like a bunch of prima donnas thinking the world actually cares about the details of their everyday life.
Guess what guys.. your not.
All that matters for me music wise is that they're putting their own originality out there. Of course it's not totally original, but I cannot stand copycat bands. I'd rather listen to a crappy band that has their own sound over a copycat band that's really really good at sounding exactly like someone else. There's so much crap out there that sounds exactly the same, usually no matter how crappy it is if it sounds unique I'll grab it up and just be thankful for something new.
I have an account on iLike. There are plenty of bands that I've clicked the button, even though I'm not a die hard fan. Linkin Park hit this mark because their demo is kids and young adults, and iLike is generally populated by that group. I'm sure, in the long run, a band like the Beatles and/or Rolling Stones will pass them. Other than that, what does it matter?
Also people in general just LIKE them. lol
- by ThreeDoorsDown1 December 12, 2008 8:33 AM PST
- Linkin Park are amazing.
- Like this Reply to this comment
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(28 Comments)To that comment below, I've seen them live too, your point? They are amazing live, infact, one of my favourite bands to see live.
I'm not a huge lover of their new music. They have got older and their music has changed, it's still good, Chester is still an amazing singer, Mike too. THEY havent changed, just their music, they're still good though.