"A very powerful band...pure brilliance!" (Steal This Album - System Of A Down)

Member Name: ps2update

Product:	Steal This Album - System Of A Down
Date:	30/01/03 (511 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: see text

Disadvantages: see text

01. Chic 'N' Stu - 8/10
Typical System, a great comical start to the album, although there's no political message one can't help but laugh at the Pizza advertising song.

02. Innervision - 7/10
Very reminiscent of System tracks heard on Toxicity; not very original but still effective in pleasing the listener.

03. Bubbles - 7/10
Definitely a song for the moshers as System mix melodic verses with a heavy chorus as they convey a serious message about the power struggle.

04. Boom! - 9/10
A serious song sending a message to the political powers of the world, all they do is waste money on creating bombs that kill people unnecessarily. They could care less about starvation and are more interested in dropping bombs and their own profit. A very meaningful song that has clearly had a lot of thought put into it.

05. Nuguns - 7/10
Another track that sounds a little too similar to the tracks heard on Toxicity. The song isn't a bad song but seems to lack anything new and is bringing more of the same to the listener, but then again when it is System that can never be a bad thing now, can it?

06. A.D.D - 9/10
A song that will undoubtedly be a hit in the future with the potential to have as much impact on fans as Chop Suey did when that was first released. A.D.D is another powerful song that speaks about the American Dream and how in fact nobody really cares about you. People would rather fulfil things for their own good and their own benefit. Similar to Boom in terms of impact but musically very different.

07. Mr. Jack - 6/10
Not one of System's finest efforts following debatably their best song on the album. Although it does attempt to build up into a heavier riff at the start the whole song lacks the general emotion that they usually put into their songs.

08. I-E-A-I-A-I-O - 8/10
A fun song like Chic N Stu; no real meaning behind it but it is something enjoy
able to rock to. Nobody can refuse a song that has random noises and screeches in!

09. 36 - 8/10
It's so short and serves as an interlude rather than an entire song. It is a fun song but still carries an important message thus being to live at your own pace!

10. Pictures - 6/10
The word random seems to describe this song, the lyrics are rather bizarre as are the noises we hear. It isn't exactly a classic and although System tried to create a fun song it just doesn't seem to have anything special in it that stands out.

11. Highway Song - 7/10
Has some nice melodic bits and rock but doesn't quite have the perfect balance of rock and melody, not a bad song though.

12. F**k The System - 8/10
Fun and yet serious. System speak of overthrowing the System but at the same time the vocal range makes this song humorous.

13. Ego Brain - 8/10
Some beautiful singing and a louder chorus provides a nice balance of rock and melody.

14. Thetawaves - 5/10
Although it is a serious song it just doesn't have the "wow" factor, a poor effort from System.

15. Roulette - 9/10
Although one could question it for lacking a rocky edge it is in fact a genuinely well put together song that proves a refreshing break from the loud rock - great singing, great tune, great song.

16. Streamline - 6/10
Finished in typical System fashion with another moshing track but a track that like Thetawaves is a little disappointing for it doesn't possess as much quality as other System songs.

After two albums System provide fans with "Steal This Album," an album that mocks the whole concept of copying albums with an amateur cover and no leaves inside. Thankfully the whole album isn't a piss take so fans can enjoy a mix of tracks from political messages to pizza advertising.
It seems that all three System albums provide a great combination of tracks
and although Steal This Album generally comprises of songs that didn't make the cut on Toxicity it still has the same quality that one would expect from System Of A Down. Of course if you don't like metal then this album is not for you for it will provide many a head banging tune.
Bands such as System Of A Down, and One Minute Silence are bands that use music as a weapon to get their message across and it is much more enjoyable to hear ones point of view or insight on things then to listen to a meaningless amount of jargon talking about nothing life related, take for example the pop acts of today such as the Sugababes and the atrocious round, round song, a song that has no place in the music world for it is meaningless. Music is about meaning and System has meaning in political songs such as Boom and A.D.D.
Despite being a very powerful band System is also light hearted and are not afraid to have fun producing comical songs such as I-E-A-I-A-I-O and Chic 'N' Stu. System is the future of metal and when bands like this come along one must question why the charts are filled with commercialised, put together pop acts. System Of A Down is all about relaying a message, and about having the guts to speak out; they are not afraid to voice their opinions - pure brilliance.

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