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June 14 2005
System of a Down - Mezmerize
Posted by El Bicho on June 14, 2005 02:03 AM (See all posts by El
Bicho)
Filed under: Music - Scroll down to read comments on this story
and/or add one of your own.
Mezmerize
System of a Down
Music from Sony
Release date: 17 May, 2005
System of a Down returns with a new album Mezmerize, or maybe that
should read "part of a new album" since this is the first disc in a
two-disc set that will be completed when the Hypnotize disc comes out
this fall.
The sound of Mezmerize is slightly different from previous albums. It
is still immediately recognizable as SOAD, but guitarist/songwriter
Daron Malakian takes a more prominent role with the vocals, including
lead on a few tracks. The disc packs quite a wallop into 36 minutes
with its thought-provoking lyrics and its angry, relentless assault
on the injustices of the world.
Mezmerize opens with the slow, acoustic "Soldier Side - Intro" a play
on the suffix "cide." Then the album descends into the sonic madness
that is their first single "B.Y.O.B." This anti-war song is chaotic
and schizophrenic, constantly changing tempos and styles, going from
speed metal to funky, dance floor groove to a punk rock mosh pit.
Daron shrieks at the beginning "Why do they always send the poor?"
and this question is repeated maniacally throughout so the war isn't
forgotten when "Everybody's going to the party".
Other strong songs include "This Cocaine Makes Me Feel Like I'm On
This Song", which captures the rush and agitation brought on by the
drug, and "Radio/Video", which brings to the forefront the Armenian
roots of the band. It begins hard, fast and loud like most of their
others, but after the first chorus, Middle Eastern rhythms play under
the second chorus. The first and second choruses along with their
musical styles are repeated; then the bridge increases the tempo of
the Middle Eastern rhythms. It would be perfect for whirling
dervishes.
The quality of the music even makes up for the times when I don't
comprehend the story behind the lyrics. In my defense, a lot of the
songs' lyrics are long, repeated choruses with no verses that could
provide extra information. If you don't know what the song is about,
it might be tough to decipher the story unless you read an interview
where Daron and Serj explain themselves.
For example, "Violent Pornography" rails against "the kinda of shit
you get on your TV", but the only example of the "shit" is "choking
chicks and sodomy", which is more prevalent on the Internet. The
remedy they offer is "Turn off your TV", but if television is the
problem, there other ills they could point to as well.
I don't need my hand held when it comes to lyrics, but some clues to
point me in the right direction are always helpful. It's not a knock
against the band because there's plenty of rock 'n' roll with
indecipherable lyrics that I have sung along to because of how good
the music was. I only bring up the point because some of their songs
have very intriguing lyrics, like the well-written line, "Eloquence
belongs to the conqueror" from "Sad Statue," which make me want to
understand a song's story.
The only major misfire is "Old School Hollywood." It opens with
keyboards, a vocoder and Daron singing about playing in a celebrity
baseball game at Dodger Stadium. All I could think about, other than
it's too bad Dr. Demento radio show isn't around anymore, is who the
hell cares? This album is filled with serious political tracks that
provide food for thought, making this mocking look at a show business
event that Daron took part in completely incongruous. Some old guys
didn't know who he was. Boo freakin' hoo! You're a rock star. I don't
know how I'm supposed to connect with this. Besides, the song is not
even controversial. Daron calls out Tony Danza who "cuts in line" in
front of him by calling him "washed-up." *****h, that'll show 'em.
The album closes with an acoustic ballad "Lost in Hollywood," a song
that covers some very familiar subject matter about how tough
Hollywood is because a lot of people who come out to realize their
dreams get used up and spit out. The music has a nice melody and
shows a potential musical direction for the band even though the
lyrics are cliched.
Even though the album ends weakly after starting so strong, Mezmerize
has me curious to hear what Hypnotize has to offer this fall, but it
better be over 44 minutes or fans might wonder why the need two
albums. They might get turned off and see it as being similar to the
marketing scam of that split the horrendous Kill Bill into Volumes 1
and 2.
June 14 2005
System of a Down - Mezmerize
Posted by El Bicho on June 14, 2005 02:03 AM (See all posts by El
Bicho)
Filed under: Music - Scroll down to read comments on this story
and/or add one of your own.
Mezmerize
System of a Down
Music from Sony
Release date: 17 May, 2005
System of a Down returns with a new album Mezmerize, or maybe that
should read "part of a new album" since this is the first disc in a
two-disc set that will be completed when the Hypnotize disc comes out
this fall.
The sound of Mezmerize is slightly different from previous albums. It
is still immediately recognizable as SOAD, but guitarist/songwriter
Daron Malakian takes a more prominent role with the vocals, including
lead on a few tracks. The disc packs quite a wallop into 36 minutes
with its thought-provoking lyrics and its angry, relentless assault
on the injustices of the world.
Mezmerize opens with the slow, acoustic "Soldier Side - Intro" a play
on the suffix "cide." Then the album descends into the sonic madness
that is their first single "B.Y.O.B." This anti-war song is chaotic
and schizophrenic, constantly changing tempos and styles, going from
speed metal to funky, dance floor groove to a punk rock mosh pit.
Daron shrieks at the beginning "Why do they always send the poor?"
and this question is repeated maniacally throughout so the war isn't
forgotten when "Everybody's going to the party".
Other strong songs include "This Cocaine Makes Me Feel Like I'm On
This Song", which captures the rush and agitation brought on by the
drug, and "Radio/Video", which brings to the forefront the Armenian
roots of the band. It begins hard, fast and loud like most of their
others, but after the first chorus, Middle Eastern rhythms play under
the second chorus. The first and second choruses along with their
musical styles are repeated; then the bridge increases the tempo of
the Middle Eastern rhythms. It would be perfect for whirling
dervishes.
The quality of the music even makes up for the times when I don't
comprehend the story behind the lyrics. In my defense, a lot of the
songs' lyrics are long, repeated choruses with no verses that could
provide extra information. If you don't know what the song is about,
it might be tough to decipher the story unless you read an interview
where Daron and Serj explain themselves.
For example, "Violent Pornography" rails against "the kinda of shit
you get on your TV", but the only example of the "shit" is "choking
chicks and sodomy", which is more prevalent on the Internet. The
remedy they offer is "Turn off your TV", but if television is the
problem, there other ills they could point to as well.
I don't need my hand held when it comes to lyrics, but some clues to
point me in the right direction are always helpful. It's not a knock
against the band because there's plenty of rock 'n' roll with
indecipherable lyrics that I have sung along to because of how good
the music was. I only bring up the point because some of their songs
have very intriguing lyrics, like the well-written line, "Eloquence
belongs to the conqueror" from "Sad Statue," which make me want to
understand a song's story.
The only major misfire is "Old School Hollywood." It opens with
keyboards, a vocoder and Daron singing about playing in a celebrity
baseball game at Dodger Stadium. All I could think about, other than
it's too bad Dr. Demento radio show isn't around anymore, is who the
hell cares? This album is filled with serious political tracks that
provide food for thought, making this mocking look at a show business
event that Daron took part in completely incongruous. Some old guys
didn't know who he was. Boo freakin' hoo! You're a rock star. I don't
know how I'm supposed to connect with this. Besides, the song is not
even controversial. Daron calls out Tony Danza who "cuts in line" in
front of him by calling him "washed-up." *****h, that'll show 'em.
The album closes with an acoustic ballad "Lost in Hollywood," a song
that covers some very familiar subject matter about how tough
Hollywood is because a lot of people who come out to realize their
dreams get used up and spit out. The music has a nice melody and
shows a potential musical direction for the band even though the
lyrics are cliched.
Even though the album ends weakly after starting so strong, Mezmerize
has me curious to hear what Hypnotize has to offer this fall, but it
better be over 44 minutes or fans might wonder why the need two
albums. They might get turned off and see it as being similar to the
marketing scam of that split the horrendous Kill Bill into Volumes 1
and 2.