"Papercut" by Linkin Park (2001)

Longing for the old Linkin Park

Too bad Linkin Park doesn't make music like this anymore, and we old fans are kept wanting for more nu metal or rap metal. We long for Chester Bennington shouting or screaming at the top of his lungs and Mike Shinoda blowing us away with his rap while the rest of the band play their instruments. We still long for the sound that's reminiscent of the songs in Hybrid Theory and Meteora.

"Papercut" single cover

The shift after Meteora

After the release of Meteora in 2003, the band began exploring other genres and experimenting with new sounds. The effort led to the release of their third studio album Minutes to Midnight in 2007. With the release of that record, they had deviated from the signature nu metal sound. More albums followed, with more alternative metal, electronic rock and rap rock, but no more nu metal. Mike still raps, though, like with their 2012 single "Burn It Down" and Chester still has his recognizable vocal.

With rock, particularly alternative rock and nu metal, not getting the sales and airplays they need nowadays, attention is getting scare for Linkin Park, though they still churn out albums and tour around with other bands.

The band doing their stuff

Linkin Park experience through people

First heard Linkin Park way back in 2002, when a classmate recorded "Papercut" and "In The End" instead of the NYSNC songs that I asked for. He even told me "Papercut" is an NSYNC song. After playing the song multiple times on the cassette player, I concluded NSYNC doesn't sound like that and realized my classmate lied to me, but I wasn't angry. I liked what I had heard, and I asked my classmate about the name of the band.

Months later, I bought a bootleg cassette of Hybrid Theory from another classmate and borrowed a VCD of music videos from another. Months later too, my mother sent me Meteora. I then started composing song lyrics and tried rapping too. Years later, I saw Megan Fox in Transformers.

But the nu metal sound is gone. As we should know, nothing is permanent but change. We need to adapt to change. Wherever Linkin Park goes, we go.

What's up with Limp Bizkit?

"Crush On You" by Aaron Carter (1997)

Aaron Carter, a memory of a kid phenom revisited

Before Justin Beiber, there was Aaron Carter. Before Bieber looked like a thug, Aaron looked more like a real popstar than that guy who sang "baby baby baby ohhh" multiple times on YouTube, something which musicians of the yesteryears don't have to get famous or land a record deal. Before Bieber acted arrogant and registered a diva-like attitude, Aaron faded into obscurity and figured into some troubles.

The young Aaron Carter, way back in 1997

Trappings of fame

Fame is such a cruel mistress, and for someone like Aaron who tasted it early on, it always has a dark side. Aaron cheated on his girlfriend in 2003, experienced emotional and spiritual issues (and entered a treatment facility in 2011), was sued in 2006 for allegedly reneging on a record deal, was arrested for overspeeding and marijuana possession in 2008, and filed for bankruptcy in 2013.

Aaron in 2000

Aaron Carter all the way

If I am to choose between Aaron and that dude from Canada, it's no contest. Aaron may run into troubles, but he was never thuggish and never exhibited a diva-like attitude to fame. He was all about music, entertainment and not thuggery and braggadocio. His music videos were far more wholesome, more viewer-friendly, never commanding the thuggish and arrogant vibe that's present in the videos belonging to that dude from Canada. Moreover, his music is more fun than today's so-called hits.

Aaron in 2002

Generation gap? Nah! Who would not hate that dude from Canada who goes around pissing people and creating public scandals? The dude is full of himself.

Aaron Carter may never have fans who will bleed and die for him. I believe his fans also feel sad about his demise, but I'm sure Aaron has never embarrassed his fans throughout his whole career. Anyway, he's back in the music scene, though not experiencing the same level of success he had many years ago.

Aaron in 2012

To the fans of that dude from Canada, forgive me. And if you're not angry, please listen to Aaron Carter. You'll be surprised to find out he's way cooler than your dude. You're not too young to ditch that ex of a former Disney Child star (whose song I will write about in some later time.)