Acarian's Full Review: Steal This Album! [PA] by System of a Down
System of a Down is on the way with releasing "Do not Steal this Album" for another S.O.A.D filled day. They came upon the title when they discovered much of their music was being circulated on the internet before the official released of their sophomoric album. In comparison with their first album named "Toxicity" this album is different, but still alike in a lot of ways. For instance, SOAD for the most part keeps their roots. On the same time they expand into more meaningful lyrics, and softer songs to mellow down the overall tone. So in a sense this album is taking the tone down, but still holding up the loud guitar riffs fans would expect them to uphold.
System of a Down as we know has always had a special way of getting a message out which is usually embedded in their lyrics. They love to criticize the government, school systems, atomic bombs, and police forces. Was there anything they left out of this album? If I could pinpoint anything it would have to be that some of the songs are notably too short. One of the songs amounts to be about forty-five seconds and the whole album stacks in at under an hour.
Let us look at the track listings:
01: Chic N' Stu (2:24)
02: Innervision (2:34)
03: Bubbles (1:57)
04: Boom! (2:15)
05: Nuguns (2:30)
06: A.D.D. (American Dream Denial) (3:18)
07: Mr. Jack (4:10)
08: I-E-A-I-A-I-O (3:10)
09: 36 (0:48)
10: Pictures (2:07)
11: Highway Song (3:14)
12: F*ck The System (2:13)
13: Ego Brain (3:22)
14: Thetawaves (2:36)
15: Roulette (3:22)
16: Streamline (3:39)
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On this album Serj tends to show a more softer side in some songs, and a variety of different guitar riffs and lyrical styles are displayed very strongly.
One song I particularly liked was Chic N' Stu. This song bashes on the advertising business. When you listen to this song try to approach it with a sense of humor because it will make you laugh.
What a splendid pie
Pizza-pizza pie!
Every minute, every second buy, buy, buy, buy buy.
Maybe we like pizza just a little too much for our own good?
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The song Innervision I really liked because it has a series of beautiful guitar riffs in it. The lyrics are also quite impressive; not one of their best, but it definitely ranks maybe my 5'th favorite on the album overall. One down fall is the song does not last long enough. Serj starts off with soft vocals in this song proceeding to "innervision--heightened voices".
I have a home, longing to roam
I have to find you, I have to meet you
Sanctum your face, slowing your pace
I need your guidance, I need to seek my
Innervision, innervision
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The next track called Bubbles I am not that much impressed by this song. It is an okay track I guess nothing to go brag and tell your friends about. The beat of this song is quirky and really weird and the lyrics add to the word to make it a little more weird.
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Boom! is a song that I find a pretty good listen. This song talks about how expensive bombs are these day people are willing to but them. Also it discusses how many starving people there are in this world, whilst all the money goes toward to building of bombs.
Modern globalization
Coupled with condemnations
Unnecessary death
Matador corporations
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Nuguns is the next track on this album; I really liked this one! It has a nice guitar beat, and it also quite fast if I might add. Serj starts off soft, and then once again proceeds to get faster and louder in his tone of voice. The song goes against guns I suppose, or it might be something else. The lyrics do not really send out that big of an outpour, but if you do get a chance to listen to this track listen to the guitar work, which is excellent.
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A.D.D. (American Dream Denial) the next track on the album is also a good one. It talks about what basically the title states. America has been about a dream, and SOAD goes on explaining people these days will do anything to live in it, or else pollute the world so they can come closer to the american dream
We fought your wars with all our hearts
you sent us back in body parts
you took our wills with the truth you stole
we offer prayers for your long lost soul
your remainder is an unjustifiable egotistical power struggle
at the expense of the american dream
of the american dream
of the american..
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Mr Jack is the next track. It has a bunch of cool guitar riffs and also bashes the police and how they choose to arrest people when they get pulled over for the random drive by shooting, or speeding ticket for instance.
Your prospect of living gone,
You ran the light at dawn,
Protectors on your back,
Lights are on their track.
You must now face authority,
You're nothing like me.
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I-E-A-I-A-I-O is the next track on this album. Some of the lyrics to this song are very inappropriate, but it does have good background vocals. This song reminds me of some freaky jungle song played on the fourth of July. Serj talks really fast in this song also.
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36 is the next song on the album and I am not even going to go into this song. The song is not even a whole minute and am not really sure why they added this song to their album in the first place?
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Pictures is the next song on the album. It’s an okay song, not too much you will like in this track. The beat is the only thing that keeps me listening on this select track.
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Highway Song is the next song on the album. I really like this song you should definitely check this one out.
The road keeps moving clouds,
The clouds become unreal,
I guess I'll always be at home,
Do you want me to try,
Directing your night.
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F*ck the system is the next song, which talks about well I am not sure listen to the lyrics and piece it out? But the song has a nice beat anyhow.
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The next song on the album is called Ego Brain I really like this song; it has a very unique beat and good guitar also. It is a lot more mellow than most of SOAD's tracks on the album. And yes someone could actually go to sleep listening to this track, which is not necessarily a bad thing. Ego brain is a very beautiful track, and has an eerie but hypnotizing harmony to it. Maybe for once you might not even realize SOAD sings this song.
Life is but a dream,
Drifting on a stream, a stream,
Consciously it seems,
All of what remains,
Ego Brain,
And they shame,
Shame, love after it rains.
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Thetawaves is the next song on the album. I like this song it has another unique drum beat and fast guitar also.
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Roulette is the next song on this album; I love this song for more than one reason. It is a love song beautifully song by Serj, also with good back up vocals. This has got to be one of my favorite songs off the album. SOAD indeed does have a sensitive side...
Gotta be careful how you play this game.
One false move could leave your heart in pain.
I'm no stranger to this fate, you know it's true.
And baby, I really wanna be with you.
Falling in love can be dangerous.
Make you anxious, playing love roulette.
Falling in love can be dangerous.
Make you crazy, playing love roulette.
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Streamline is the last track on the album, and it is another track worthy of praise. Wonderful guitar is expressed in this song along with intricate lyrics. It sounds like another love song to me.
I wasn't there for you
I wasn't there for you
I know weather's gonna be fine
But I can't see you 'cross the streamline
My love waits for me in daytime
But I can't see you through the snowblind
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Well this is SOAD's sophomoric album as we know it. I must say I feel SYSTEM very much on this album and I can connect through their lyrics and bob my head to the beat. Who are we to judge that this album is not as good as the others? The fact of the matter this album does match up to what I expected, just that some songs are way different from most of SOAD's lyrical and musical style. Leading away from the negativity and cold thrown out lyrics I think SOAD has discovered a softer side in maybe just a few songs this time. It goes to prove this band has done some musical growth right before our eyes.
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