System of a Down :: Mezmerize 8/10

[TheQuietPlace]

I got Mezmerize today. With the overplayed BYOB, which I like, don't get me wrong. Anyways. So I got it, and I just finished it, and am starting to listen to it again. I'm going to break it down.

Vocals: In BYOB there's an almost boy band sounding guy. But it actually sounds good, and fits. Anyways, you can tell its Serj. He still has the same awesome style. From moderatly slow to somewhat fast, it all sounds great, and it has the SOAD sound.

Guitars: The crazy intense guitars are back, and sounding great. They fit really well with the singing. Kind of repetitive.

Bass: I'll update this part, because its late, and I can't turn my radio up more. But what I can hear sounds great.

Drums: Off the hizzle. Crazy, off the walls, balls out. I love them.

All around it has the SOAD sound, and isn't sold out.

Interesting lyrics, and great songs, one must indulge in purchasing this CD.

8/10

14$ @ Best Buy.

[Kidthorazine]

I love SOAD im gpnna buy this album as soon as I get a job.

[killerkat]

i like that new song....

i've always liked their "crazyness" like where he'll just start saying random,non-words and stuff,and i like political music........

[TheQuietPlace]

political music is great. I like the song "Violent Pornohgraphy" its effin' awesome.

[Hypnotic Vampire]

Being a qualified hypnotherapist (and massive SOAD fan to boot! ), I have to wonder about their use of the word 'Mezmerize' for the title of their album.

I realise that in America, you often replace the 's' with a 'z', as in 'Hypnotize' (whereas we Brits say 'Hypnotise'), but the fact is that the word 'Mesmerise' is derived from the name of one Frans Anton Mesmer, the father of Mesmerism. Hence, whilst I could stomach one 'z' at the end of the word in the 'ism/izm', I'm puzzled as to the replacing of the 's' in 'Mesmer'...if that's the correct US spelling of the word, then it's kind of sad really.

Is it just some sly globalisation joke on behalf of the band in a Chomksy-esque style: 'We don't care how he spelt his name! This is the American spelling of it and is therefore gospel!', or am I crediting SOAD with too much intelligence and have they unwittingly and unsuspectingly fallen victim to one of the very things they rail so noisily against?

I might have to fire them off an email and find out....

[Hypnotic Vampire]

Oh, and PS...don't anyone on here recommend me 's/z' by Roland Barthes either. I had enough of that guy doing my MA....

[Kidthorazine]

oh and does anyone know when Hypnotize is coming out I thought they where going to come out at the same time il have to check on that.

BTW i fell really ripped off when bands release a double LP as two seperate CDs instead of a double CD set i guess the record labels do it to make more money or something but it really pisses me off.

[TheQuietPlace]

If I'm not mistaken it should be coming out late summer, early fall.

[Morning Glory]

how can you say that they aren't sellouts? when your videos play on networks owned by ted turner then you really don't have the right to say you're not a sellout, let alone "underground" or radically "political".

[Kidthorazine]

how can you say that they aren't sellouts? when your videos play on networks owned by ted turner then you really don't have the right to say you're not a sellout, let alone "underground" or radically "political".

the bamd doesnt a choice in where thier videos get played thats all the record label I dont think system of a down have sold out because they arent rapping and doing that nu-metal shit but they still get radio play and they are doing something different selling out to me means changing your music to be more mainstream and i dont think theyve done that.

[Morning Glory]

I don't think so. it does mean that, but when you 'sell' your band to corporate intrests for advertsing purposes then thats also selling out to me. I mean SOAD are millionaires so if they really cared about thier own art direction then they could start thier own record label and have complete control over thier property... or they can say fuck corporate america while having thier videos shown on mtv and clear channel.

[Morning Glory]

the question doesn't go back to the debate of whether or not artists should be getting money, but about honesty. if they want to be rock stars like motely crew or something and say that they are just about booze, women and money and that's why they play, then I won't buy thier cd's, but i'll at leats have respect for them for doing what they want to do and having no reservations about it. If a band wants to be politcal and talk about revolution and the problems in the government, when they are sponsored by Pepsi and contribute to the economic stucture that puts rich people in power and wages war for oil then they are just fucking assholes, and they are much worse then any pop star that is honest in thier shallowness.

[Kidthorazine]

I don't think so. it does mean that, but when you 'sell' your band to corporate intrests for advertsing purposes then thats also selling out to me. I mean SOAD are millionaires so if they really cared about thier own art direction then they could start thier own record label and have complete control over thier property... or they can say fuck corporate america while having thier videos shown on mtv and clear channel.

Do you know how expensive it is to mass market a record by yourself? SOAD cant afford that.

[NINA SINN]

I Met Serj In April Of Last Year At A Magazine Stand Of All Places.. Ive Always Been A Huge Fan Of Theirs Soof Course It Was Nice Meeting Him.. We Hung Out A Few Times, Had Coffee, Talked And Laughed.. He Is Truly A Genuine Guy And Is Very Passionate About What He Does.... I Just Love Him To Death, I Couldnt Ask For A Better Friend......

Bloodykisses....
Nina Sinn 666

[Tequila Zaire]

He Is Truly A Genuine Guy And Is Very Passionate About What He Does....

That's always nice to hear...too often we mistake misguided views of credibility for genuine personality and emotion.

[Sceptic_Messiah]

ooo i cant wait for this im seeing them at the download festival next month which is the second time and i cant wait! hope they still have that "here have a baseball bat and go fucking mental" attitude on stage

[pagan]

just picked up the cd last night. First time actually spending money on a cd in years instead of downloading. I like it alot but it is sooo short. Like 37 minutes or something. I wish there was more on it.

[Kidthorazine]

just picked up the cd last night. First time actually spending money on a cd in years instead of downloading. I like it alot but it is sooo short. Like 37 minutes or something. I wish there was more on it.

well it is one half of a double LP the other half will be released this summer i guess

[TheQuietPlace]

I was incorrect, Hypnotize will be out next month.

[Hypnotic Vampire]

Is it true that Daron drives a Humvee? I keep hearing this allegation bandied about, but no proof.

Of course, with the wonderful miles-per-gallon ratio of such an economic and eco-conscious vehicle, it could just turn out that a member of SOAD is one of George W. Bush and his Big Oil buddies biggest supporters. Ironic, no?