by System of a Down List Price:$18.00 Our Price:$13.00 Availability: Usually ships in 24 hours
Product Details
Media: Audio CD
Release Date: Tuesday, May 17, 2005
Label: Sony
Average Customer Review: 4 Based on 415 reviews.
Sales Rank: 55
Tracks
1.
Violent Pornography
2.
Soldier Side - Intro
3.
Sad Statue
4.
Revenga
5.
Radio/Video
6.
Question!
7.
Old School Hollywood
8.
Lost in Hollywood
9.
Cigaro
10.
B.Y.O.B.
Editorial Review
Four CD's and nearly ten years into their career, System of a Down continue to be the Gilbert and Sullivan of this generation, delivering razor-sharp political commentary via beautiful, quirky melodies and discordant harmonies.
The group has mastered the ability to be both successful and subversive--with 2001's Toxicity selling over six million copies and debuting at number one on the Billboard charts, their success in indisputable. As far are their subversive-ness, the lyrical content on Mezmerize is a solid stream of anti-war, anti-corporate and anti-celebrity sentiment. The disc's first single proves as beautifully schizophrenic as anything the band has released. "B.Y.O.B." opens with guitarist Daron Malakian's rapid-fire riff, then frontman Serj Tankian's anti-war screams of "Why do they always send the poor?"; less than a minute later, a nearly-surreal jump to a facetiously perky, beach party chorus that could easily be found on a Britney or Justin record: "Everybody's going to the party/have a real good time." Guitarist/co-songwriter Malakian takes increased vocal time on the disc, including the hilarious, size-obsessed "Cigaro" and celeb-slapping "Radio/Video". Witticism aside, musical and lyrical intensity peaks with the operatic "Question!" and the emotional piledriver that is "Sad Statue", the group¹s unflinching statement on war and Lady Liberty.
The only shortcoming of Mezmerize is, quite simply, that it is short. Clocking in at a mere 38 minutes, the reason given is that this release is one-half of a two CD set--with part 2, Hypnotize, expected in late fall 2005. --Denise Sheppard
Top Customer Reviews
Rating:
2 Sorry SOAD fans, but this just doesn't do anything for me!
System of a Down's signature mash-up of heavy metal and strong political overtones continues with their latest effort, "Mesmerize." Whether or not this is a good thing depends on whether or not you enjoyed this band's previous efforts.The sound of "Mesmerize" is very, very heavy, complimented by furiously delivered lyrics. The songs are seeped in politics; "Sad Statue" is about a nation disillusioned by today's government, and "B.Y.O.B." is a brash anti-war song.If you're expecting to be enlightened on aforementioned political and American topics, don't expect to have any epiphanies with "Mesmerize." The vocals are so rough and delivered so harshly, the message is lost. Green Day did this much better with last year's excellent "American Idiot," where you actually could enjoy the anti-Bush ballads you were listening to.Other aspects of "Mesmerize's" sound are just as uneven. The instrumentals blend into each other and are hard to differentiate, even between different songs. The vocals are oft-annoying and abrasive, especially considering scrappy guitar-player Daron Malakian now takes up as much time on the vocal track as lead singer Serj Tankian does. In moments of clarity the two singers harmonize and provide a cathartic release, but these moments are few and far between. The overall tone of this album feels very amatuer, like a group of college buddies got together and decided to rant about important world issues. They don't miss out on opportunities to use profanities and vulgar language, though sometimes that's kind of the point (such as on "Violent Pornagraphy"). But why was this verse necessary, in the song "Cigaro?" "My **** is much bigger than yours / My **** can walk right through the door / With a feeling so pure / It's got you screaming back for more!"System of a Down don't take many opportunities to be musically creative, and instead stick to an angry metal-head formula throughout most of the songs. Many of you may enjoy this formula, as album sales may suggest.The brightest moment on the album is "Question!", which ditches the angry metal rock act for a few moments of Eastern-influenced instrumental bliss.If you're already a System of a Down fan, you'll thoroughly enjoy "Mesmerize" and its upcoming counterpart, "Hypnotize," which is due out later this year.
Rating:
4 " another great album by S.O.A.D."
The've done it again. S.O.A.D. has once again brought out a great album that rivals "Toxicity" as being their best album. One of the best things about this album, is that no two songs sound anything alike. This album truly shows that all their hard work paid off. Once again, i am hearing system of a down song on the radio again, which is awesome and a lot better than stations playing bands like simple plan or papa roach. B.Y.O.B., Cigaro, and Sad Statue have already been released out as singles on the radio, which are good songs for people who have never heard S.O.A.D. to listen to. I think this marks a new high point in their career. I just hope their next album coming out later this year will not be a failure like "Steal This Album" was.
Rating:
5 Best System album ever... so far
Leaving behind the heavy crazy maddness S>O>A>D is known for, they pt in great melodies and extremely good lyrics. and instead of listening to BYOB, there are different songs for you to enjoy. Revenga may be one of the greatest songs of all time, and Lost in Hollywood has some of the greatest lyrics in hard rock history. (All you maggot smoking fags on Hoolywood Blvd. is my facorite line). Though this is a great album, what I can't wait for is Hypnotise, their new album that is coming out this fall! So bckle up because S>O>A>D is taking you on aride you will never forget...
