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| "Steal This Album" 2002 |
* * * "Steal This
Album!" 2002
"Steal This Album!" is innovative in 2 ways: first, some songs are a little different
than your average SOAD album, and second, the CD artwork or lack thereof. From what I've gathered, there are about 5
different artwork samples floating around. One is the standard white copy, while the other four are drawings done by
each band member. I think there is a blue one, a red one, a weird triangle-type one, and the black cross-like one which
I have. Don't worry, they all have the same songs. Fortunately, most of them kick ass. The second track,
"Innervision", has been heard by a lot of people, but if for some reason you haven't, rejoin society and download
it. Another song that has garnered some attention is "Boom!", a powerful anti-war rally as Serj bellows lyrics
like "manufacuring consent is the name of the game - the bottom line is money, nobody gives a f**k - four thousand
hungry children leave us per hour from starvation - while billions are spent on bombs creating deathshowers." Can you
name the last time you heard a band be so up front about the real world? If you want another sweet guitar solo from
Daron Malakian, then download "Nuguns". After blowing out your ears, your are met with an awesome little Europian guitar
solo reminiscent of the one in "Deer Dance". My personal favorite song on this CD, however, is "The Highway Song".
It's a lot more controlled than usual SOAD songs, but Serj's voice, Daron's guitar, and John Dolmayan's drums all flow together
like the mighty Mississippi. If you aren't a huge SOAD fan, I still bet you'd love this song, so do yourself a favor
and download it. One more intense song to be rebellious to is entitled "F**K The System". The lightning quick
vocals, raging guitar, and cheetah quick drums will get anybody going and going pretty fast. There are 2 slower, acoustic
songs on this album you might want to check out, called "Ego Brain", and "Roulette". I mean it, they are actual acoustic
songs, and they showcase what hopefully you already know: SOAD isn't a joke, they are amazing musicians. I give
"Steal This Album!" 3 stars, because some songs just seem a little pointless or repetitive, unlike any of the songs on their
first 2 albums. It's not terrible, but not quite in the same league as the first two. Nevertheless, download the
songs I mentioned and decide whether you should buy it or not.
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| "Toxicity" 2001 |
* * * * *
"Toxicity" 2001
Just about everybody on the planet has heard their song entitled "Toxicity" before.
And I can't think of anybody on the planet who has said they didn't like it. With this album, SOAD not only expanded
their general audience worldwide, but they did it without changing their unqiue sound (Sadly, I wish Our Lady Peace could
do the same thing). How good is this CD? Here's proof: One day I let my Mom use my car to do some grocery
shopping. She turned on the CD player which had one of my CD mixes in it, and it just so happened that "Bounce" and
"Aerials" were playing. She came back an hour later, found me with a crazed look in her eye, and said "John, I need
you to burn me a copy of whoever plays these songs." So I did, and my mom has a new sweet band to listen to. Now
if THAT'S not saying something about the power of this CD, I dont know what else to say. Now back to the review.
I don't need to tell you how innovative and powerful their hit single "Chop Suey!" is (it's innovative and powerful).
But I can tell you about some other worthy songs, like "Pyscho" and "Needles". But here's two other ones you MUST download:
"Deer Dance", an anti-war song that blows your head off, only to smack you with a beautiful mellow acoustic guitar solo right
in the middle that sounds like it belongs in Venice while you are riding those little boats in the canals. The other,
"Science" is about how science is failing mankind with false hopes and non-existent panaceas. Perhaps some of the best
lyrics of any SOAD song, thanks in particular to Serj Tankian's brilliance. This song also stands out for, once again,
an amazing guitar/flute ensemble by Serj and Daron Malakian in the midpoint of the track. PLEASE download these 2 songs
and try them out! To make a long story short, you can't find a bad song on the entire CD, and is completely worth the
5 star rating I gave it. If you are looking for a raw CD that isn't too far from your other musical tastes, buy it for
whatever it's selling at.
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| "System of a Down" 1998 |
* * * * "System
of a Down" 1998
Since I jumped on the bandwagon a little late (I bought "Toxicity" about a year after
it came out), I took my time before deciding whether of not to get their self-titled debut. Eventually, I found it for
about 10 bucks, bought it this summer, and the rest is history. If you are a hardcore System of a Down fan, then this
just might be your favorite album. This is by far their hardest, most raw CD they've made. As usual, the opening
track (in this case, "Sweet Pea") rocks your socks off. I can only imagine what people first thought after hearing this
first song back in 1998: What are we listening to? I've never heard anything like this! The next
song, "Know", is one of my all-time favorites. With a rapid-fire staccato of guitar riffs and perfectly timed drums,
this song is guaranteed to get you pumped up for any occasion. While the lyrics are a bit over-the-top (' Do you ever
try to fly, do you ever try to fly?--------Have you ever wanted to die, you ever wanted to die?), I implore you to download
this song, because moments like that one in "Know" are what make SOAD great. Another amazing song is "Soil", about
how goverments use excuses for "gobal domination". The lyrics get you pumped, and so does Serj's screaming voice.
The major reason for you to download this song is for Daron Malakian, who turns into God because of his amazing guitar skills
with a heart-stopping solo that now finds its way once or twice onto every System album. Other noteworthy songs are
"Sugar", "Spiders", "Suggestions", and "P.L.U.C.K.". Overall, this CD is extremely hardcore and it pains me to give
it only 4 stars for that reason. However, if you already like SOAD and for some reason haven't bought this album, DO
SO NOW!!!!
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