I just got the new Fort Minor cd "The Rising Tied" and I must say it's one of the years most slept-on albums. But I guess it's not surprising considering Linken Park never gets any respect.

I think it's obvious that Mike Shinoda is probably Linken Park's secret weapon. A former art school student with a background in classical piano, Shinoda seems to have more musical ideas then almost anyone out today. Dr. Dre and Timberland may get accolades for producing skills, but it should come with a disclaimer, heavy reliance on other people's work. Shinoda don't swing that way. Everything is an original musical idea. He has an ear for backbeat and melody that makes Eminem sound downright non-musical.

That's the secret of Linken Park. Sure their might not be an iota of a sense of humor with this band but that's beside the point at this stage in their career. They write tight, under three minute, full-o-hooks songs. I rememeber Matt Penningfield relate that as long as LP keep doing what they're doing in terms of their reliable songwriting there's no reason they shouldn't be around for years.

Then comes Shinoda with "The Rising Tied", a rap album with more musical ideas then one person should be allowed to have. And to top it all off, in the middle of the album he drops a dark, groovy, futuristic jam called "Cigarettes" that should be a classic in a just world.

I won't be foolish enough to try and sell LP to anyone, there just seems to be way too much unnecessary baggage, but if you want to hear a very good rap album, one in which Jay-Z tagged a straight up underground hip-hop album, you owe it to yourself to give Fort Minor a listen.