System of a Down Album: “Mezmerize [Clean]”

It's been almost three years since SOAD released an album and they are making up for it with what will be two completely excellent cds, Mezmerize and the forthcoming companion piece Hypnotize.

Spastic, frenetic, insane, rapidly changing tempos, all of these words can describe SOAD at their best. I can't think of another band out there right now doing the same things. Nor can I think of a band that can go from a screaming rock directly to a polka. SOAD does this and pulls it off, creating original music that is enjoyable to listen to. Where most music is static, songs like the single BYOB and basically every song on this cd are constantly changing. They go from screaming fits, gutteral cries, to catchy refrains and yes even polka. But before you get comfortable with whatever sound they are giving you, they switch it up. This is music to listen to, dynamic, changing, exciting.

Whether they are critiquing the current war ("Why don't presidents fight their wars/why do they always send the poor?") to Hollywood in the songs Old School Hollywood and Lost in Hollywood where they sing about Hollywood eating people up and spitting them back out, they are unapologetically brazen. Unlike some bands that have a political eye but use it only as a theme and don't directly discuss it, SOAD is brave enough to paint the picture of whatever problems they see. Also, unlike some music, their songs never feel bogged down by their political persuasion.

On some of their previous albums, there have been songs that seemed to not be as focused as I would like. That is no longer the case on Mezmerize. Each song is more driven and remind me of the excellence found on their previous cds, like Aerials, Toxicity, Chop Suey, Sugar etc. Truth be told, I think Toxicity has some better songs like the aforementioned Chop Suey, Aerials etc than Mezmerize. BUT overall I enjoyed Mezmerize better. As a whole album, I think it's better. Individually, I enjoyed some of the earlier songs more.

In a move that is bitter sweet, the cd is only about 35 minutes long. What that means is that there really aren't any filler songs. Each song is a standout and unique in their own way. It's a cd you should listen front to back and not skip songs. For the entire 35 minutes your senses will be assaulted by some of the best songs I have heard in a long time. The downside to it being only 35 minutes is of course it leaves you wanting more. More of the originality, more of the crazy lyrics that really do make sense if you just think about them, more of the spastic and frenetic speeds and constantly changing time signatures. It is excellent.

Like I said earlier, overall it's their best so far. And if you, like me, want more, Hypnotize is just around the corner ready for release in the fall. I agree with my fellow reviewers that Hypnotize might end up being a much bigger album. You get the feeling, listening to this album that it will be a tasty appetizer to what will probably be the best album of 05. Who knows. Either way, thanks, System of a Down, for bringing originality and freshness back to music.

Short `n Sweet

Mesmerize may be the shortest album to come out so far this year, but it's one of the freshest, wildest rides of the upcoming summer. Clocking in at a mere 35 minutes (what?!!!) you may feel shortchanged - until you listen to it. In those 35 minutes SOAD packs in enough wallop to get your blood pumping and clear out the cobwebs from your mind - and your speakers. In addition to being (for the most part) fast and furious, the lyrics run the gamut from criticism of America's current policital regime and its destruction of our youth to a hilarious adolescent rant on penis size and all that that encumbers.

As usual with this band the vocals are challenging and complicated featuring plenty of freshly weird harmonies and an almost operatic furiousness that bar-for-bar matches the hard edged, guitar driven melodies.

Now if only they'd include a few more U.S. cities on this tour! Damn, this is one rockin' good disc . . . Get it . . . NOW!!!!

I have no clue how people don't like this if they ever considered themselves a SOAD fan. The band is always looking for ways to push themselves forward and progress. To me that's what makes them so damn original.

As for people not liking Darons voice is another mind boggling thing. While I don't think it's as good as Serj's voice I do think it's perfectly suited and compliments him perfectly.

The lyrics don't make sense? Haven't all of their lyrics always had a healthy dose of sarcasm to them? Haven't they always been outspoken on some sort of political issue? If you really think they're just talking about Hollywood in a literal sense you probably need a little help.

Reading comments like this "Finally, I always thought that Toxicity's songs were all over the place, but man, this cd took it to a whole nother level. On some of these songs, I'm thinking, is this really the same song? Some songs, the actual song itself, sounds like 4 different songs in one. It's really bizarre to tell you the truth. They are going to have a hard time finding another single from this one." hurt my head. Damn them for being original, damn them for using weird rhythms, tempos, and time signatures. I highly doubt they care if they have another radio hit.

Overall I love this album start to finish and love that they keep progressing with each release. Definitely looking forward to the next release a little bit down the road. Very possible they could have the top 2 albums of the year on their hands.

What an amazing album this is. On this CD System of a Down somehow manages to be even more creative, diverse, powerful, poignant, and of course, crazy. I wouldn't call all of the songs catchy, but you can pick up on them within a few listens. B.Y.O.B. is a fine representation of the entire album with the heavy guitar, eastern influence, and the hook. It's very impressive how S.O.A.D. manages to combine so many styles, many of which contradict each other, and make an album as fine as this, perhaps that is why amazon.com compared S.O.A.D. to someone as obscure as Gilbert and Sullivan, because no one else makes music like these guys.

Although this creativity is why I listen to music, it apparently turns a lot of people off. If you look at all the 1 star reviews you will find one or two line reviews containing such brilliant and original descriptions such as, "it sucks," "don't buy it," and "stop doing politics" which should tell you how great this album really is if all the idiots hate it. But seriously, there are a couple of legit drawbacks to this album. One, it is only 36min. long, but that is only because it is only half of the album, the other half comes out in November. Two, is the increased vocals of the guitar player who probably sings lead on close to half the album. Daron did write all of the music, most of the lyrics, co produced the album, and actually has a good voice, but Serj's weird voice is the trademark of System and the more Daron sings, the less Serj does. At least two lead singers make the album even more diverse, as if it needed it.

If B.Y.O.B. isn't enough to make you buy the album than I would give Radio/Video, Lost in Hollywood, Question! and Violent Pornography a try.

Keeping it short and sweet is a format that other bands should look into. Nearly four years after the release of toxicity, these guys drop this record that cashes in at 36 minutes and has eleven tracks. If you're looking for radio hit type songs like "toxicity" and "aerials", fortunately, they are nowhere to be found. These guys just said screw it, and wrote the most hardcore, honest record they have ever done. Daron Malakian (guitar) wrote just about everything on this album, with the exception of a few lyrical collaborations with Serj. And John Dolmayan continues to be one of the most innovative drummers on the scene. I bought this four days ago and it hasn't left my cd player yet. I would name the good songs on the record, but it would be shorter to list the songs that weren't good. I have regained full faith in these guys and I can't wait for the follow up "Hypnotize."