Audio CD review:
System of a Down - Steal This Album (Clean)

System of a Down - Steal This Album (Clean)

Band: System of a Down Title: Steal This Album (Clean) Rating: Release Date: 26 November, 2002 Media: Audio CD Tracks: 1: Chic 'N' Stu 2: Inner Version 3: Bubbles 4: Boom! 5: Nuguns 6: A.D.D. 7: Mr. Jack 8: I-E-A-I-A-I-O 9: 36 10: Pictures 11: Highway Song 12: **** The System 13: Ego Brain 14: Thetawaves 15: Roulette 16: Streamline

Editoral Review 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. 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. 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 .. You can see a complete list of all System of a Down discography, or go back to the System of a Down tabs