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
Buy Now
Buy on

Review this album

  1. Your Score
    0 out of 10
    Rate this:
    • 10
    • 9
    • 8
    • 7
    • 6
    • 5
    • 4
    • 3
    • 2
    • 1
    • 0
    • 0
  1. Submit
  2. Check Spelling
view
per page
  1. DaArchaize
    Sep 20, 2010
    9
    Different people have different views and different thoughts . Linkin Park's A Thousands Suns has a whole new genre , taking music to the next level . The album does not sound anything akin to any other . People complained about having too many skits , well the Hybrid Theory has 12 songs with 1 of the 12 an instrumental , Meteora has 13 songs with a skit and a instrumental out of the 13 ,Different people have different views and different thoughts . Linkin Park's A Thousands Suns has a whole new genre , taking music to the next level . The album does not sound anything akin to any other . People complained about having too many skits , well the Hybrid Theory has 12 songs with 1 of the 12 an instrumental , Meteora has 13 songs with a skit and a instrumental out of the 13 , Minutes to Midnight has 11 songs and 1 skit and A Thousands Suns has 15 songs and out of the 15 , 6 of them are skits . Despite having only 9 songs , all of the songs are totally in a different level . All the songs contain a special element in it , an element that no other artist have tried . A very good example "Blackout" and "The Messenger" . I think if people can accept the birth of Auto-Tune , why not this new genre ?… Expand
  2. Barr0918
    Sep 19, 2010
    4
    A Thousand Suns, a highly disappointing album for myself (huge fan of Linkin Park). Linkin Park have gained a huge fan base through the years and have kept them on going with their hard rap-rock style of music, but have decided to change to an electronic base this time. The album consists of too many skits especially at the beginning, needless to say the last two (Wisdom, Justice and LoveA Thousand Suns, a highly disappointing album for myself (huge fan of Linkin Park). Linkin Park have gained a huge fan base through the years and have kept them on going with their hard rap-rock style of music, but have decided to change to an electronic base this time. The album consists of too many skits especially at the beginning, needless to say the last two (Wisdom, Justice and Love & Fallout) cleverly set the scene of the follow up song 'Iridescent' and closes it nicely. The album seems very repetitive throughout, songs reverting back to a slow release of energy. One song that stood out for me was 'Blackout', a different sounding song from their whole album but yet relates back to their old ways, un till the second half which it reverts back to the drowsy album it is. As a music lover i do enjoy most songs on this album, but it is not what i want from Linkin Park and is upsetting to see the stubbornness they have become in changing their sound for the better!… Expand
  3. dot_hack
    Sep 18, 2010
    8
    As a long time fan of the band i can see why a lot of hardcore LP fans would be disappointed with this album as they stray even further from the sound that made them famous but this is a good thing. LP delivers a very different sound to their other music, incorporating a lot of different styles that give the band a fresh new sound that really shows how they have matured over the years.As a long time fan of the band i can see why a lot of hardcore LP fans would be disappointed with this album as they stray even further from the sound that made them famous but this is a good thing. LP delivers a very different sound to their other music, incorporating a lot of different styles that give the band a fresh new sound that really shows how they have matured over the years. While my only complaint is that the album has maybe a few too many interlude tracks, the album comes out very solid, giving the listener a large variety of very different tracks that offer much more replay value than previous albums where tracks fell into sounding very similar. While i know they may lose a lot of older fans due to this, they have most likely already gained a new legion of listeners who previously could not stand their sound.… Expand
  4. Alerius
    Sep 18, 2010
    8
    On first listen its quite a shock. The Catalyst was Linkin Park evolved somewhat from Minutes to Midnight and not to removed from the Transformers 2 work. Somewhat synthy, but left you no doubt who it was. But the album is actually quite a departure in many respects. I'm not sure all LP fans will make the adjustment, but I have given it half a dozen listens and its still getting betterOn first listen its quite a shock. The Catalyst was Linkin Park evolved somewhat from Minutes to Midnight and not to removed from the Transformers 2 work. Somewhat synthy, but left you no doubt who it was. But the album is actually quite a departure in many respects. I'm not sure all LP fans will make the adjustment, but I have given it half a dozen listens and its still getting better every time. Given their talent I would expect nothing less. Give it a chance - its quite a Grand piece of work.… 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. fr2g
    Sep 17, 2010
    7
    Like many others who have reviewed this album, I too remember when Linkin Park used to be a nu-metal act. Initially when I listened to samples of this album I was massively disappointed - I was hoping for a return to their roots rather than a sidestep into a completely different sonic world.

    Hybrid Theory and Meteora were great rock albums. A Thousand Suns is not a great rock album. But I    Like many others who have reviewed this album, I too remember when Linkin Park used to be a nu-metal act. Initially when I listened to samples of this album I was massively disappointed - I was hoping for a return to their roots rather than a sidestep into a completely different sonic world.

    Hybrid Theory and Meteora were great rock albums. A Thousand Suns is not a great rock album. But I have to admit, it's a pretty decent offering nonetheless. Comparing it to the mediocre Minutes to Midnight - the new album is inventive, clever and generally a more entertaining listen.

    My advice - if you're a closed minded music listener who doesn't like trying something new then this album is not for you. If, on the other hand you appreciate musicians for their creativity, I suggest you give it a go. It's not exactly revolutionary stuff, but it's got enough substance to be worth a few listens.    … Expand
  7. darkrevolution
    Sep 17, 2010
    10
    This album is different from the other but also is way more good and power full lyrically i think this album is unique as they created their own genre with hard work congratulations guys.
  8. Squared
    Sep 17, 2010
    4
    I could personally only state that 2 songs out of the 16 on the album is good enough to listen too. They seem to go in a different direction, In my honest option it was a wrong direction, nothing better than a 4/10. I can only hope they change back.
  9. maqstream
    Sep 17, 2010
    10
    This album is not for "Hybrid Theory fans"! It is an album for people that likes music and the originality on it.
    Linkin Park has made their most different album ("Minutes to Midnight" already was a different album) and the musical experiment is very obvious listening it.
    With fifteen track, nine are real songs, five are bridges between song and song and "The Requiem", one of the best    This album is not for "Hybrid Theory fans"! It is an album for people that likes music and the originality on it.
    Linkin Park has made their most different album ("Minutes to Midnight" already was a different album) and the musical experiment is very obvious listening it.
    With fifteen track, nine are real songs, five are bridges between song and song and "The Requiem", one of the best intros that I've heard in my life.
    "The Catalyst" is the presentation single of this album on an intelligent strategy of marketing. That track shows the change most significative of the album, but the rest of the album is most properly to what Linkin Park used to play.
    The best tracks: "Waiting for the end", "When they come for me" and "The Catalyst"
    The worst: Absolutely nothing.    … Expand
  10. 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
  11. danielkstanedam
    Sep 16, 2010
    8
    You may hate it at the beginning , but when you actually care about everything in the album and how this is something that you didn't expected and you hate to like it.
    The song that maybe will remind you more of the old LP is "Wretches and Kings" and other great song in the CD is "The Catalyst"
  12. Drakenkorin
    Sep 15, 2010
    9
    Linkin Park has definitely changed their sound over the years, but they've always kept the artsy touch to all their music, regardless of the album. This feels like a different Linkin Park, but it still feels like Linkin Park, all the while keeping everything fresh, new and awesome. Obviously it's a slightly different genre of music than it was in Hybrid Theory and Meteora, but if they keptLinkin Park has definitely changed their sound over the years, but they've always kept the artsy touch to all their music, regardless of the album. This feels like a different Linkin Park, but it still feels like Linkin Park, all the while keeping everything fresh, new and awesome. Obviously it's a slightly different genre of music than it was in Hybrid Theory and Meteora, but if they kept coming out with stuff that sounded like those two albums it just wouldn't be special anymore. As such, some fans of Hybrid Theory and Meteora may be slightly disappointed that this has a very different sound, but at the same time this album may attract new fans because it has its own sound. And despite the fact that it's a different sound, this album is put together very well, what with the awesome quotes in the songs and in the skits. It's an album that you have to put in and listen to from start to finish to truly enjoy. As there are no pop music tracks, it's hard to pick just one song from the album that you would call the best song. It's best to just take it in one after the other and let Linkin Park take you on an epic, fresh, artsy journey. I'm really happy they made this album and I can't stop listening to it! All the tracks are so different and it's easy to distinguish them all, they all have different artsy sounds and effects. Thanks again Linkin Park!… Expand
  13. Arsi
    Sep 15, 2010
    9
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. Experimental, different, but still Mikey and Chester, and still Linkin Park. personally i enjoyed the album, cuz i had prepared myself for new materials. to all those who say linkin park have lost their track: They're the band to follow, if they were to stick to their original music, they would probably turn into hundreds of other bands that top the chart and disappear the following week. LP dare to change, so they survive. human being instinctively doesn't accept innovation and new things, he tends to go on with the same old pattern of thinking, but get over it.
    There's enough of the old LP in ATS: Wretches & Kings and The Catalyst. absolutely awesome!
    Burning in the Skies is simply spectacular, though i cant name it the best song of the album.
    Then I'm so excited to hear mike's rapping, When They Come For Me is more like Fort Minor rather than LP, but why should i care since i luv mike and every line he drops!
    ATS is about to give a message, but i myself dont get the message thru several short 30 second songs, i just skip them. message lost! better put them along the full songs next time.
    i just found Waiting for the end a bit weird, its more like TEEN SONGS rather than LP, but guess i'll get to like it overtime.
    The Messenger was really really soothing, though again it's drastically experimental and new, but it worked for me, i guess i'll listen to that when i'm overwhelmed, :)    … Expand
  14. newppollution
    Sep 15, 2010
    10
    After Linkin Park produce their best record, an unfortunate situation is unfolding - it's a record that many LP fans may not adhere to, and arguably the people who will like it will be deterred by the fact that, well, it's a Linkin Park album. The band have always had a particular aesthetic, but somehow I'm left with the feeling this is the record they have always been trying to make.
  15. 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.
  16. T3D
    Sep 15, 2010
    10
    linkin park has always been one of those bands who amaze you every time they come out with an album.A THOUSAND SUNS is no exception...there just one word that can describe this masterpiece:wow.
    a thousand suns is like a delicious soup,with all the perfect ingredients mixed in perfect proportion. I am still humming the songs which means for me its a 'pass'
    these are the songs that are    linkin park has always been one of those bands who amaze you every time they come out with an album.A THOUSAND SUNS is no exception...there just one word that can describe this masterpiece:wow.
    a thousand suns is like a delicious soup,with all the perfect ingredients mixed in perfect proportion. I am still humming the songs which means for me its a 'pass'
    these are the songs that are worth listening to:
    the catalyst
    waiting for the end
    blackout
    the messenger
    when they come for me    … Expand
  17. KATHYxx
    Sep 15, 2010
    9
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. Something something really fresh and unique coming from Linkin Park. The old fashioned method of cranking formulaic radio singles is gone. The band has caught onto it's old creative gleam of it's Hybrid Theory days, finding new ways to combine and make new sounds, which has been missed since their second album is an expansion of Hybrid Theory, and their third ended up with a lot of reinvented wheels. Going against the standard grain, the band announced that this album wouldn't be all compact singles. It's an "album album", something designed to be listened to as a whole rather than in bite sized pieces than what's usual, nowadays. The digital download of the album even came with one 47 mp3 track containing the entire album. While this makes some parts as individuals unfortunately quite short, the album as a whole is quite a journey. It's also (basically) a concept album, while not like Pink Floyd's The Wall was. Themes of death and apocalypse echo though the whole of the album.

    Compared to their earlier work, the songs in this album generally carry more of a beat, and lack the layered distorted guitars, trading for it in parts for a heavy electronic buzz, but yet also turning soft often. If you were expecting a rehash of Hybrid Theory, this album's not it.    … Expand
  18. prodigy
    Sep 14, 2010
    10
    Linkin park has proved yet again why it is considered one of the best rock bands in the world with this latest offering. A thousand suns is unreal. Extremely impressed. This album has created a sort of thirst in me which can only be quenched by their next album. LP never ceases to amaze me . MY VERDICT
    -10/10
  19. 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
  20. parth09
    Sep 14, 2010
    10
    A thousand suns is awesome. I think the band has done a great job in redefining their music. If we don't compare this album with the previous ones, and listen to it, then we can find it enjoyable and meaningful.
    (Considering our current state)
  21. 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
  22. vichy97
    Sep 14, 2010
    10
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. This album is experimental again. Everybody remembers how surprising was M2M. Songs are deep like never before but 5 skits is little too much. The album kicks of with the loong intro...It's 2 songs already in 3 minutes. Disappointing! But then...The best song of this entire album is coming...
    Burning in the Skies is absolutely awesome. Chester's singing is beautiful and even Mike proves that he can sing! (10/10) ...
    Then another skit which could be intro of the next song. Track which has 18 seconds. Not so much...
    But next track When They Come for Me is good. I don't like the chorus that much and Mike has had better raps before but when the part where Chester sings: "Oh When They Come for Me, When They Come for Me, I'll be gone..." is the best part of the entire album. Amazing! (8/10) ... Robot boy is pop. I like it, Mike sings there, but it's not one of the best of the album. (7/10) ... Jornada Del Muerto is another skit and it's kinda like Robot Boy's outro but I like it better than Robot Boy. (8/10) ... Waiting for the End: I don't like Mike's weird rapping here but Chester's singing makes this song reaally beautiful! The chorus is probably the most beautiful of the whole album! (8/10) ... Blackout is an interesting track. Chester's screaming at the beginning is great because it's the only one song which contains his shout! The slow part is good too but I don't like it together that much. (7/10) ... Wretchers and Kings: I'm tired of the listening of the looong speech at the beginning and it's at the end again! C'mon LP it would be much better without that. The song is good. Mike brings some good rapping and Chester is really powerful. It's probably the closest song to the old LP. (8/10) Another speech after that but now it's skit...
    Then Iridescent. It's wonderful! Mike's singing is better than ever, Chester is great as always at slow songs and it got some beautiful lyrics. I love this song! (9/10) ... Fallout it's another skit and samples Burning in the Skies...Why?
    We all know The Catalyst. I didn't like it at first but it grew at me and even though it's not my favorite, it's one of the better songs! (8/10) ... The Messenger is the worst track of this album. It's probably Chester's worst singing ever. Weirdest song from Thousand Suns. (5/10)

    This album is going to be discussed a lot. I like it a lot but it has a little too many skits there and horrible outro. Many people would say it's not Linkin Park anymore. But I like it better, than if it was another HT or Meteora. They are older now and they're making a new music. It's not bad at all! Good job LP!!!    … Expand
  23. meemmoo
    Sep 14, 2010
    10
    They taked a big step with this album, actually their changed a lot, but, they changed for good, really, i like the new style, i think this album is better than minutes to midnight :P
  24. hulmiey2k
    Sep 14, 2010
    5
    Just to let you know that i am a massive fan of Linkin Park and have everything that they have done before this... I have anticipated this as there masterpiece as the other albums "i thought were the tip of the iceberg" and couldn't wait to buy it! I was shocked to see 15 tracks on the CD as album content nowadays isn't much... It was too good to be true... Out of the first 4 tracks, 3 ofJust to let you know that i am a massive fan of Linkin Park and have everything that they have done before this... I have anticipated this as there masterpiece as the other albums "i thought were the tip of the iceberg" and couldn't wait to buy it! I was shocked to see 15 tracks on the CD as album content nowadays isn't much... It was too good to be true... Out of the first 4 tracks, 3 of them are about 20-seconds long!! I was annoyed!! I had been waiting for this album for years and they give me 5 Min's in the first 4 tracks.. I want to love the album, i really do but at the moment i am trying to find words to defend them, i have listened to it about 4 times already and not much is growing on me... "Waiting For The End" "The Catalyst" are the songs at the moment to hit me as LP.. I like the fact that they have again changed there sound and have a different vision, the mood for the album is dark, electronic and moody.. it IS far far away from the "nu metal" tag they used to have.. It might just be me , i might have had a bad day listening to the new album but at the moment not much is making me think "this is the one" I bought the CD/DVD in which is only a little more expensive but is worth it, the DVD is a good watch and is good to look behind the scenes of an album.. This album is Mike Shinodas, in the past albums he was there in the background but not the main focus, now he has chucked the toys out of the pram and demands to be looked at in the main spotlight! This album will grow on me i have no doubts it will just take a little time and getting used to the new sound..… Expand
Page:

Awards & Rankings

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

Critic Reviews

All reviews »
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
See all critic reviews »