On this day a decade and a half ago, Linkin Park released its much anticipated second album: Meteora.
- It is considered to be one of the most successful commercial albums in the history of the Alternative Songs chart — with five number one hit singles. (Somewhere I Belong, Faint, Numb, Breaking The Habit, & Lying From You)
- To date, it has sold over 27 million copies worldwide.
- Billboard ranked it at 36 on the Top 200 Albums of the Decade.
- Riding the wave of success continued by this release, Jay Z collaborated with the group on the mashup album, Collision Course — of which the “Numb/Encore” single was born.
- The album even saw some critical cred, with the song “Session” nominated for the 2004 Grammy Awards for Best Rock Instrumental Performance (the song lost out to Jeff Beck).
Here’s what others are saying:
Loudwire — 15 Years Ago: Linkin Park Release Their ‘Meteora’ Album
First Post — Linkin Park’s ‘Meteora’ Turns 15
Rock Sound — Why ‘Meteora’ Is Linkin Park’s Best Album
A lot of people will point out that this album is not much of a departure from their debut, “Hybrid Theory.” And yes, this is based in a truth. But a more critical ear will find that what Linkin Park did was take that defining sound — and focused it as sharp as it ever has been. Those pictures painted by the band still flash in the heads of fans with clarity — and that’s all a band can ever hope for with their music. Right? —- [eric]
