My Opinions
SOAD is a very unique band, as I have stated in my other thread, System of a Down-Self Titled. I find that most of this album, Steal this Album is a continuation of the insanely unique songs of the self-titled album. Toxicity was a little bit of a change for SOAD in my opinion. It seems that in Steal This album, the sounds related to that of the first album.
With Rage Against the Machine disbanded, System of a Down ascend to the political aggro-rock throne, and with Steal This Album, the Los Angeles-based quartet prove themselves worthy to wear the crown. A play on the late activist Abbie Hoffman's Steal This Book, the album consists of 16 System songs from the mid-1990s through 2001. The band stresses the songs are not "B-sides or outtakes"; in fact, they clearly show System at their apex. These smart, varied songs feature Serj's frenetic, staccato, Jello Biafra-like phrasing atop the band's edgy, commanding, metal-meets-punk base. From the funny, frantic "Chic 'N' Stu," to "F**k the System," "A.D.D. (American Dream Disorder)," and "Boom!" System keep listeners guessing with discomfiting time changes that match up with Serj's incendiary lyrics. In keeping with their creative, fan-oriented approach, System are releasing four limited runs of the CD, each version featuring artwork from a different band member. This is not escapist rock. It's an intense and eye-opening aural history lesson you can mosh to. --Katherine Turman
The Reviews
Chic-N-stu- This is a very strange song about... pizza toppings?? I don't know if this was a joke or not but knowing SOAD, they probably created major metaphors in this song. This song is pretty cool, and it gives you a nice laugh when hearing it the first few times. 8/10
Innervision- This was the first single off of the album. It used to be my favorite song on the album, before it got over-played on the radio. But I will not let that get in the way of the review. This song is full of harmony's by Tankian and Malakian. Not too hard guitar riffs, but the song is still creative. 9/10
Bubbles- I seem to skip this song a lot, but it is still a good song. This is a very middle-eastern influenced song. SOAD got creative when making most of the songs off of this album. "Left with no arms, in the powerstruggle!" is the main part of the chorus that Malakian and Tankian sing. This isn't one of my favorite songs though. 7/10
Boom!-This song is most definately the most political song of the album. Ever seen the music video? The song starts out with Serj just talking, then shortly after screaming, "Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom! Every time you drop the bomb you kill the god your child has born!" This is quite possibly in my top 2 favorites songs for the album. 10/10
Nuguns- I love the intro and the verse in this song. The intro is loud and fast, then it just transitions into a softer and smooth verse. Once again, great harmonies between Tankian and Malakian. 8/10
A.D.D.- This has always been one of my favorite songs. Starts off with a very simplistic intro, but then transitions into head-banging. The verse is what amazes me in this song. Once again, simple guitar, simple bass, and simple drums. But I have never heard anything like this before. The chorus is amazing. "We don't give a dam about your world, with all your global profits and all your jeweled pearls. We don't give a damn about your world, right now! right now!" Great song. 10/10
Mr. Jack- This is one of SOAD's longer songs. The song starts out slow and smooth. This is another one of my favorite songs because the whole idea of the song just gets stronger and stronger. The song gets heavier and heavier. I'm not too sure what the song is about. I'm been trying to figure it out. But I still love the song. 9/10
I-E-A-I-A-I-O- This is a very strange song. It has some head-banging at the beginning, which quickly transitions to Serj Tankian singing extremely fast. you can't even understand the lyrics unless you look them up. This song is awesome. The chorus is like nothing I've ever heard. It is more of a chant. Great, yet weird song. 9.5/10
.36- I never liked this song. For one thing, it is only forty some seconds long. I have no idea what Tankian is singing about. Not one of SOAD's greater songs. 2.5/10
Pictures- Probably my favorite song right now. It has been for quite a while. I like the drumming in this song. Tankians voice is amazing, and in towards the end of the verse, Dolmayan does this weird marching band type thing on the snare drum and bass, while Tankian yells "Bum-Bum-Bum-Bum!!!" It is hilarious. 10/10
Highway Song- I used to listen to this song a lot, but it has kind of gotten boring. In the verse, the guitar is extremely simple, while Dolmayan does this weird beat with 16th notes on the hi-hat. The harmonies are cool in this song, but this song just doesn't stand out on this album. 6/10
Fuck the System- This is probably my 2nd favorite song on the album. The song starts out with these cool pinch harmonics, which are awesome, then we get more head-banging action. The lyrics are the strangest on the album in my opinion. I absolutely love this song though. In the chorus, Tankian yells "War, Fuck the system!" But for having very odd lyrics, I give this a: 9.5/10
Ego-brain- This is another one of those songs that I used to listen to a lot, but stopped. I don't know why on this song, because it is amazing. Tankian and Malakian do another great job on the harmonies, especially in the chorus, in which the vocals are outstounding. This is a great song that I over-played in my CD player. Don't make the same mistake. 10/10
Thetawaves- This song has an awesome intro. But the rest of the song, I just can't get into. I've tried and tried, but it just doesn't sound that great to me. The chorus doesn't appeal too much to me either. But for the intro, I'll give it a 5/10
Roulette- Many SOAD fans claim that this is the best song on the album. I never listened to it much, but it is a great song altogether. It is just Malakian playing the accoustic, with both him and Serj Tankian singing. There is also a cello in the background. This is very different than anything SOAD has tried, and I respect them for that. 10/10
Streamline- This song was on the Scorpion King Soundtrack. This is another great track that I sort of overplayed. The guitar is beautiful in the verse of this song, along with Tankian's voice. If I am not mistaken, I think this song also has an orchestra behind it. This song has a solo towards the end that is not very complicated, but it amazes me. The solo fits perfectly. This is another great song. 10/10
Overall
I love this album. I think that it is too bad that some music fans look over SOAD, since they are of the Nu-metal category. I deeply feel that they are missing out on a great band that makes awesome albums. Final Result- 8.5/10
Thanks for reading, and be sure to check out System of a Down, along with Serj Tankian's other side project, which he and a middle-eastern master percussionist create wonderful music together. DO NOT GET THE WRONG IDEA. This sounds nothing like System of a Down. The music not rock at all. It is awesome though. I'd do a review, but I don't have the album.
But again, thanks for reading. :thumb:
