Steal This Album (Clean) [CLEAN]

System of a Down

Product Details

• Audio CD (November 26, 2002)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Format: Clean
• Label: Sony
• ASIN: B00007E8JP
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars See all reviews (8 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #162,998 in Music (See Bestsellers in Music)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com
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

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

10 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars System does it again, December 19, 2002

By	MysticGohanXL "Rab" (Illinois, USA) - See all my reviews

When I first became a SOAD fan, I bought Toxicity first. It was a great album so then I tried their 1998 debut release, and I was exposed to their deep inner self. Then I got this new album and I must say that System has again enthralled me. Each song may start out similar but, once things get going, they are all genuine in themselves.

Chic 'N' Stu - Weird song with a catchy chorus. What a splendid pie!! Pizza pizza pie!! I don't know what Serj is blathering about but I like it heh

Innervision - My sister was the first to tell me about this and I downloaded it. It seemed amazing when it was the only song I'd heard but, when I bought the whole CD, it was left in the dust as the melodic tunes of every other track began to catch my interest more

Bubbles - Short and sweet. This one didn't seem to get much hype but it was awesome though. It's not deep or dark. It's just fun and energetic

Boom! - Serj really managed to prevail in this song with his monotonous tone of voice in the beginning as the wild music is playing in the background. The chorus is nothing too special though

Nuguns - This is probably the song I've given the least amount of listens to even though it is quite good

A.D.D. - The three letters stand for American Dream Denial. I love the chorus to this one. It's one of my favorites

Mr. Jack - I just caught on to this song today. It's the longest track and yet it's only over four minutes

I-E-A-I-A-I-O - System seems to do good at choruses. And this one is enchanting. And we light up the skyyy...

36 - The song is called 36 but it's 46 seconds long. Cool music but the message seems to oppress television

Pictures - The music in this one rocks. And I love it when Daron jumps in at the end and repeats Serj's every phrase in a scream. Away (away!) gold dust (gold dust!)

Highway Song - I didn't pay much attention to this at first. But it's really melodic so I caught on fast

**** the System - It's alright. Nothing to put too much attention to

Ego Brain - System unleashes their soft side. The opening music sounds like the song Toxicity but everything quickly changes. The music, the flow, the message, it's all done perfectly in this track

Thetawaves - It starts out mediocre but as soon as you hear the chorus (Time feels like a midnight ride, finality waits outside, weeping in perplexity's arms, caressing our smiles inside) then you will be hooked

Roulette - Very calm, very soothing. This is not like normal System and that's what I like about it. They're trying to bring out different kinds of music

Streamline - This one was released as an extra by itself and debuted on the movie Scorpion King. I remember downloading it last summer and it's still good

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Even Better Than System's Other 2 CDs., December 9, 2002

By A Customer

As most people know, this cd consists of songs that were cut from System of a Down's previous two releases, their self-titled debut and the fairly new "Toxicity." Quite honestly, I think that this cd is better than either of their other two releases, which I also liked a lot. This song has some VERY stand-out tracks, such as "Inner Vision," "Highway Songs," and "Ego Brain." It also has their Ozzfest 2002 opener, "I-E-A-I-A-I-O." If you liked either of System's previous cds, get this cd now. It's a perfect mix of their heavy roots and their current, more melodic style.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars S.O.A.D. is the BEST, December 5, 2002

By A Customer

As with any S.O.A.D. album, these songs are absolutely wonderful. This CD may not be as *perfect* as Toxicity was, but how they took these songs off the cutting-room floor and re-did them as beautifully as they did is amazing. System has changed their sound in some of the songs ("Ego Brains", "Roulette") but it shows how their music is changing and growing for the better.