Exclusive: Mike Shinoda Discusses Linkin Park’s New Record

3/6/07, 5:54 pm EST

Linkin Park

We just got off the phone with Linkin Park’s Mike Shinoda, who filled us in on the details of the band’s first album in three years, Minutes to Midnight, out May 15. Shinoda, who, along with the rest of LP, spent an impressive 14 months recording Midnight, told us to expect lots of seemingly un-Linkin Park-like new sounds on the album.

Here are our favorite details:

  • Minutes to Midnight is composed of sounds made by a practically Arcade Fire-esque array of instruments including banjos, marimbas and vintage guitars and amps. “People have always tried to lump us in with the whole rap/rock stereotype, but we don’t intentionally want to be part of that scene. We’ve always had our own personality and I think it really shows on this record.”
  • Shinoda tells us the title of the album has two meanings: “It’s definitely a reference to the doomsday clock…the Apocalypse…a metaphor for death and rebirth, but it could also be applied to the music industry, sort of tongue-in-cheek.”
  • While there are no special artists featured on the album, Shinoda shares a co-producing credit with the Grammy award-winning producer (and all around badass) Rick Rubin, “I was raised on his music and to now be working with him, to be mentored by him, is such a huge thing.”

Comments

Anonymous | 8/2/2008, 5:04 am EST

Hey. Guys Linkin Park Are The Most Awesome Band That I’ve Ever Heard. So Don’t Talk About Them With Bad Words Because They Have A Lot Of Fans And One Of Them It’s Me! And Everybody Who Have Heard Them Only Just A Bit , Their Only Comments Are That They’re Great!

Forexman | 5/25/2008, 8:26 am EST

Hi. This is really interesting post. Thank You! I have just subscribed to Your rss!

Best regards

rielle | 3/11/2008, 2:14 am EST

go LP…even though mike was oweidy leavin in your band!!! stay cool and calm!!thres no band like linkin oark!!! i know he will be back!! keep rockin oweiz!!!!!!!!!!

biggest fan of LP | 1/23/2008, 5:16 am EST

Linkin Park is just great and their music is just awesome ,i love u mike and chester and every member of LP.And for those who hate LP they are just dumb.

kally | 7/15/2007, 8:12 pm EST

_____LinKin p@Rk foRevEr tHe BEST_____

somerandomguy | 5/16/2007, 10:09 am EST

Linkin Park is an amazing band! There music is awesome! There new album will be great! And LP haters dont post on these if you don like the band!!! Dont you realize that nobody gives a damn about what you think?!?

kenji lover | 4/17/2007, 8:41 pm EST

lptinkle is soooo right,why do you guys think its cool to come here and hate on LP?YA’LL WISH YOUCOULD BE LIKE THEM!

LPTINKLE | 4/17/2007, 8:33 pm EST

WHAT THE HELL IS WRONG WITH ALL THOSE LP HATERS? THEY SHOULDNT BE HATING ON MUSIC,SHIT THEY DONT SEE ME MAKING FUN OF THEIR FAVORITE BAND,(THAT PROBABLY SUCKS ASS)BUT THEY REALLY SHOULD HAVE SOME RESPECT!

CAMILA RANZANI | 4/5/2007, 1:54 pm EST

I LOVE LINKIN PARK(MIKE SHINODA)

BATON | 3/24/2007, 7:31 pm EST

Linkin park zebest

spafighting | 3/22/2007, 3:10 am EST

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Geka | 3/19/2007, 1:02 pm EST

Ziga!!!!!!!

Chera | 3/18/2007, 3:12 pm EST

I LOVE LINKIN PARK!
And that’s all!

ImPReZ | 3/17/2007, 7:03 pm EST

I am from Russia and I say for you, people: LINKIN PARK FOREVER!!!!!!!!

Lilly | 3/17/2007, 8:18 am EST

I love Linkin Park!!! LP is the best band in the world!!!!
Minutes to midnight will be awesome!! I can`t wait!!
LINKIN PARK ROCKS!!!!

BAILEY | 3/16/2007, 12:55 am EST

THE NEW LP ALBUM BLOWS, RIP LP

victoria.o | 3/13/2007, 2:12 am EST

i cant wait for the new linkin park album!!!!!!!!!!!! its totally awesome!!!!!!!!! I love mike shinoda and chester bennington and every linkin lover out there!!!! this ablum is going rock my sock!!!! linkin park kick green days ass

oony | 3/11/2007, 9:32 pm EST

b

ony | 3/11/2007, 9:32 pm EST

this album could be realy good or realy bad

Spike Minoda | 3/10/2007, 8:12 am EST

Linkin Park were and will always be the best band ever…They mastered music,they sent it to a higher level…LP is my best band,but i apreciate other’s people preferences too,and do not get in their chats to say that their favorite band sucks,which u are doing here…You just feel so bad about yourselfs,and decide to ruin other peoples days too by posting suckin comments about a legend…I’m not gonna say anythin else,the 1,5 billion people who downloaded/bought Meteora says it all…Their new record is gonna leave history once again,i know that…As for the lyrics,ffs,they were 20 year old when they were recording their first record,what did you expect them to do???write about politics???…Every age has deferent interests…And i strongly believe their new album will have mature and storng lyrics…LP fans,have fun waiting for the CD :) …LP haters,go kiss Timberlake’s ass!…

linkin park blow. | 3/8/2007, 1:53 pm EST

oh, please forgive me pretentious indie music fan, i should have thought of a much more eloquent way to say linkin park is a soundtrack for high schoolers to cut their wrists and then cry themselves to sleep. i promise you this record will be shit.

RossDE | 3/8/2007, 1:48 pm EST

I couldn’t agree more with PeteHagen! LP fuckin rules and I’m sure that this record is going to blow you peoples minds with words that actually have a meaning!!

Peace!

paul [linkin park only] | 3/8/2007, 1:31 am EST

maybe they’ll bring forth a stripped down rock/metal sound similar to that of metallica, ac/dc and black sabbath.

although this album will have rapping vocals, and artifical electronic samples/beats, it definatly will not fit under the ‘nu metal’ cliche.

sonic youth rule | 3/7/2007, 10:00 pm EST

what the hell are you talking about pretentious indie music fan? “the soft loud dynamic kurt cobain used to strive for”? are you nuts? couldnt agree with you more about arcade fire, but linkin park is just radio-friendly trash.

murry | 3/7/2007, 2:45 pm EST

These guys are damn smart. I love how all of their album names have double meanings and always set the vibe for the record and the band’s direction. Always with the symbolism and high concept. I hope they get respect for their work this time.

Steve | 3/7/2007, 11:17 am EST

*gags after reading article*

Jacob | 3/7/2007, 10:53 am EST

i haven’t liked any of their previous records very much, but i’m going to check this one out. i do think they are talented…..but WAY overproduced. to me they have always sounded more like a computer with a singer than a rock band.

Pretentious Indie Music Fan | 3/7/2007, 5:41 am EST

“linkin park blow, and this new record is going to blow.”

That’s about the level of intelligent discourse I’d expect from the average Rolling Stone reader. Thanks for confirming my suspicions.

Beyond that, I can’t wait to buy the new Linkin Park album. Should be fantastic.

linkin park blow. | 3/7/2007, 3:00 am EST

linkin park blow, and this new record is going to blow.

Pretentious Indie Music Fan | 3/7/2007, 2:51 am EST

For starters, the Arcade Fire - as creative as their are - produce mostly mediocre indie rock, with a few noteworthy songs between the filler.

Linkin Park - despised by pretentious hipsters though they may be - have damn near mastered the soft/loud dynamic that Kurt Cobain used to strive for. Lyrically, I’d agree that Linkin Park leaves a lot to be desired. But musically, they’re nothing short of fantastic. I’m sorry that appreciating a nu-metal band isn’t “in” these days, but I speak the truth.

Matt | 3/7/2007, 2:38 am EST

I’m definitely intrigued/excited, sounds like it should be good. It’ll be interesting to see if the change in direction can impress critics and win over new fans without alienating loyal fans (a la The Black Parade) or if the departure from their usual formula will polarize and be maligned (a la Sam’s Town).

WarHand | 3/7/2007, 12:15 am EST

L.P fuckin rules, just reklease it so it shows how SHITTY emo is

PeteHagen | 3/6/2007, 10:55 pm EST

Oh, blah blah blah!!! I’m gonna prove how cool I am by posting how much Linkin Park sucks on an article about Linkin Park. The LP dudes are actually pretty damn good. Great hooks. Best “rap rock” group beside Rage Against The Machine. And, most importantly, they have a sound that appeals to young kids, and they don’t curse on their albums. I have a 10-year-old brother who loves them, and I really appreciate that he isn’t hearing the kind of shit he’d hear on a Limp Bizkit CD. And where in the article is the word “weird” even used to describe a banjo?

Gerald | 3/6/2007, 10:39 pm EST

I am crazy for all of your music and really hope to meet you in a flash…

ernie_vzla | 3/6/2007, 10:03 pm EST

this so going to be a hit…

Rez | 3/6/2007, 9:29 pm EST

This record is going to rock!!!

Evan | 3/6/2007, 9:23 pm EST

Linkin Park couldn’t sound like the Arcade Fire if they tried their hardest. You understand it isn’t “weird” instruments that make the Arcade Fire sound like they do, right? It’s the way they arrange and their creativity…which Linkin Park lacks.

Also, the banjo is by no means a weird instrument. Do you guys have any clue how many bands use the banjo?

Ken Loggins | 3/6/2007, 8:56 pm EST

Don’t ever put the Arcade Fire and Lincoln Park in the same sentence. That’s blasphemous.

Rascoon | 3/6/2007, 8:40 pm EST

It’s May 15th…not March.

boyman | 3/6/2007, 7:29 pm EST

tottaly tits…

Jeff | 3/6/2007, 6:12 pm EST

Awesome, can’t wait.

I think you meant May 15th though, not March?

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