I just listened to the new album...it's...OK. Maybe it'll have to grow on me but for now, as others have said, it's definitely no Hybrid Theory or Meteora. I can appreciate a change in musical direction, but I do miss the old sound. Honestly it's not as bad as what I was expecting after reading the comments, though. Sometimes it's good to have low expectations.
For those of you that were disappointed with Minutes to Midnight and are yearning for something along the lines of LP's older stuff, definitely check out Red - End of Silence. It's available through the "usual channels," but please buy it if you like it.