I re-listened to the album. I think Crawling is just kind of low key compared to the other songs that are more dynamic, by which I mean there are quiet, slow parts, contrasted by fast, more powerful ones. Crawling is basically the same tempo throughout.
I don't like the chorus lyrics, but I think this is the best song on the album:
I like that both the rapper and Chester sound pissed off. The guitar riff is catchy, too.
that's the thing though - I'm not a fan of this band, but - Crawling and Waiting for the End I feel are amongst my favorite songs in the pop rock genre, I would have loved to have written songs like this.
I feel that they are songs that are perfect for what they pretend to be. well crafted, catchy, concise and heartfelt.
I favor melody and Beatles-type songmanship above anything else and those two songs I wouldn't have any trouble having in a mixtape consisting of songs by Fountains of Wayne, Weezer (first 2 albums), George Harrison and The Rolling Stones.
it boils down to taste though - I know it's subjective.
I was very much into bands that where mixing it up back in the 90s. I mean whoever heard Epic as a kid was bound to eat it all up when it all reached it's zenith.
RATM put the bar way up high and with Korn's first 2 albums and Deftone's first 4 - I for one was a pig in muck.
when so many other of these bands started coming up as well (Linkin Park, Crazy Town, Papa Roach, Spineshank etc. etc. etc.) and the whole Family Values thing - it lost it's charm a great deal for me. then the whole post grunge thing that was promoted by the likes of Fred Durst (Puddle of Mud, Three Doors Down, Godsmack (seriously? naming your band after an Alice in Chains song?), Staind), just fucking shit. what a lame time to listen to mainstream rock music.
the only bands I would exclude from this crap would be Cold, only in terms of their first album, for the same reason as I love the 2 songs I mentioned by Linkin Park - I love the songs in terms of what they offer as traditional rock songs.
also Mudvayne, but bands like this and Slipknot where not quite Nu Metal
sorry about the long drwn out post. bottom line - Linkin Park to me represent a genre that started off extremely interesting and creative - becoming formulaic and shallow, which is why I really like the songs that don't sound as much like Linkin Park as the rest
edit: just reread this post and yep, it's horribly written