Feeling empty, the singer on “Somewhere I Belong” takes the initiative to find healing and purpose. He regrets being phony in a relationship and apologizes to his partner (“Lying From You”). On “Hit the Floor” he demands honesty and grace from a lady who derides him and makes him “walk on eggshells.” These and other songs want to improve rocky romances. Even tracks like “Numb,” which complains about being restricted, controlled and smothered, seems committed to fixing the problem. On “Breaking the Habit,” a guy recognizes his personal shortcomings and commits to change (“I don’t know how I got this way/I know it’s not all right/So I’m breaking the habit tonight”).
There’s a fine line between venting about isolation and surrendering to it. A few cuts straddle that line, but “Figure.09” steps over it. On “Nobody’s Listening,” the singer is irate over being ignored (“I got a heart full of pain, head full of stress … everything’s a waste of time/I hate my rhymes, but I hate everyone else’s more”). Several mild profanities appear on the bonus DVD.
If confession is good for the soul, Linkin Park should be the most tranquil band in America. The guys get a lot off their chests on Meteora. While they don’t provide hard answers to life’s problems, they avoid profane rants and perniciousness. And they usually seek to rise above trials. Not perfect, but better than most rap/rock options.
