Linkin Park Reanimation CD

This is not just another remix album. All the songs of Hybrid Theory have been reinterpreted, plus 'High Voltage' and 'My December.' Just a few of the remixers/featured artists (since the list is so long) include Jay Gordon (Orgy), Evidence (Dilated Peoples), Aaron Lewis (Staind), Chali 2Na (Jurassic 5) & Black Thought (the Roots). Digipak. 2002.

REANIMATION is an album of remixes of songs from HYBRID THEORY.
Linkin Park: Mike Shinoda (vocals, programming, samples); Chester Bennington (vocals); Brad Delson (guitar, bass, background vocals); Phoenix (bass); Rob Bourdon (drums, background vocals); Joseph Hahn (turntables, programming).
This is an Enhanced CD, which contains both regular audio tracks and multimedia computer files.
This is an Enhanced CD, which contains both regular audio tracks and multimedia computer files.
The remix album -- the time-honored tradition of buying time between records. Often, these are inconsequential affairs (Limp Bizkit's New Old Songs leaps to mind, for some reason), but if a band is smart, they can use this time-buying ploy to their advantage, redefining their sound somewhat, or at least reaching out for that elusive street credibility. The latter option is especially true for bands that have a big, big chart hit on their hands but little critical respect or reputation as a hip band. Which brings us to Linkin Park's Reanimation, a generous 20-track remix record of their debut Hybrid Theory that the band has vaguely alluded to as their art project. That means the group has left the hamfisted alt-metal of their debut behind, turning this record over to rappers, remixers, DJs, and assorted producers to give it a darkly hip, electronic edge. This may not be particularly pleasing to those who loved the angst-ridden rock theatrics of the debut, but it's a damn sight more interesting than that debut, helping Linkin Park distinguish themselves from the adolescently tortured rap-rock pack. The paradox is, of course, that the band sounds more original when filtered through the likes of Kutmasta Kurt, Alchemist, Pharoahe Monch, Aceyalone, and Jonathan Davis, among others, but any change is welcome, really (well, apart from the apparent decision to leave grammar and spelling behind; every song title is an "arty" interpretation of the original title -- "Paper Cut" is "Ppr:Kut," "Cure for the Itch" is "Kyur4 th Ich," etc. -- resulting in a silly mish-mash of letters and numerals). Some of this works quite well, some of it is kind of juvenile (really, does Motion Man need to repeat "Linkin Park -- remix" over and over again on his rap?), much of it is only slightly recognizable from the original, it's too long, and compared to contemporary arty rock (Radiohead, Flaming Lips, Clinic, Trail of Dead, System of a Down, Interpol, etc.), it really isn't that arty. But, compared to what they've done before, and compared to their peers, Reanimation is arty and a welcome step in the right direction. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine
The runaway success of Linkin Park's debut album HYBRID THEORY was a phenomenon the rock world had seldom seen since Guns 'N Roses turned the rock world on it's ear with APPETITE FOR DESTRUCTION. With the band preparing a follow-up, an eclectic assembly of both underground and mainstream contributors de- and re-construct the music of Linkin Park on REANIMATION, under the direction of bandmember Mike Shinoda.
While the requisite remixes are present, REANIMATION is not your typical remix album. Black Thought (of the Roots) chops up Linkin Park samples for his own rap spotlight on "X-Ecutioner Style," an approach also taken up on "H! Vltg3" by Pharoahe Monch and Dilated Peoples members Evidence and DJ Babu. "Enth E End" gets reinvented by veteran producer Kurtmaster Kurt, with verses laid down by the up-and-coming MC Motion Man. Korn's Jonathan Davis embellishes "1Stp Klosr" with his slow-boiling intensity, while Staind's Aaron Lewis adds emotive harmony vocals to "Krwling." TRolling Stone (8/8/02, pp.75-6) - 3 stars out of 5 - "...Reworks their music from the inside out...REANIMATION is basically the Pro Tools era's answer to GN'R LIES...a labor of love...the boyish energy of the album has its own appeal..."
NME (Magazine) (7/27/02, p.32) - 6 out of 10 - "...the album puts hybrid theory into practice, and goes straight for the hip-hop heads....When it works, the results are astounding..."