Linkin Park & Meteora

The guiding vision for the 18-month recording process was evoked by the album's title, Meteora. During a European tour in 2002, the band stumbled upon a travel magazine featuring destinations in Greece. On the cover, the word "Meteora " and the accompanying photo caught their eye, and subsequently fired their imaginations.

Meteora is a group of six monasteries perched atop rock pinnacles rising 1500 feet above the plains of central Greece. As Bennington puts it, "they don't seem of this planet." And it's true. (To see for yourself, rent the Bond flick For Your Eyes Only, in which Roger Moore kicks ass at one of the mountain fortresses.) The Greek word literally translates as "hovering in the air." It's a fitting term for the otherworldly region, as well as for the album Linkin Park created with the image in mind. "We wanted to write songs that lived up to the energy that name exudes," says Bennington.

"It's really epic and beautiful. It totally embodies the sense of timelessness and expansiveness we wanted the album to have," says Shinoda. "We've since met people who've visited Meteora," adds Hahn. "People go there for solitude now--to find themselves. And that's what the album is about--finding yourself. Each song is about looking within and letting out emotions."

By contrast, Meteora reflects the accelerated lives the band members have led since recording their debut. "We toured the world for two years. That alone makes you step back and take a look at the bigger picture," says Shinoda. "We've always been interested in universal feelings, and that's what we focused on with this album. But Meteora is different in the sense that we're dealing with more facets of the human condition." "It's still a very dark album, but there's definitely more optimism," says Bennington. "We're still the same people, but now there's a light at the end of the tunnel."
[ taken from:www.linkinpark.com ]

Chester: Everybody thinks we're a boy band!
Metal-is: Yeah, where does this come from? I never mistook you for a boy band
Chester: We're sooo boy bandish, aren't we?
Mike: Here's the thing: we didn't really hear about that until we left the US. In the US, I think I heard a rumour through my brother that somebody started back East, but for the most part, nobody has even heard that before. Maybe it's the fact we've never been out here before and the lack of communication between fans and ourselves made that happen, but almost every interviewer has asked something about this boy band thing, and it's freaking ridiculous, it's so silly!
Chester: I think it's because of my strikingly good looks.
Mike: I think it's because of your strikingly bad looks.

PS: for some of you who's wondering what's the meaning of the above post... allow me to enlighten you then ^_^
I love Linkin Park; the music, the songs, the lyrics, the band. They're just amazing. Very real. And As cheessy as it sounds, they got me through a period of time where i realized that my tears are worth it, and so am i. I love thses guys and their type of music. I LOVE LINKIN PARK. If you read the post, then you'll know what and where is METEORA. As an Orthodox Christian, it's been a dream of mine for like 5 years now, to go to Greece. Not because of its breath taking beaches or view, not because of the wild party and Ouzo (mix it with orange juice and some ice..it's a delicous drink *_^.. ) but because I wanna know, I wanna feel, what it's like to be in one of those ancient monastery. And to have that place inspired one of my favourite band... its just.. well, it makes me very happy.
I've listen to the new album now for like ten times already and I'm loving it. It'sbrilliant. Ok, I stop blabbing now. I hope you like em too. ^_^