12 OF THE BEST FROM SERJ TANKIAN
Ulster Herald, UK
Nov 29 2007
For just over a decade, Serj Tankian has solely been seen as front
man and political mouthpiece of US/Armenian cult metallers System
Of A Down. However with SOAD on an indefinite hiatus, the skilled
lyricist has taken advantage of his newfound spare time to release
his solo effort, Elect The Dead. With a catalogue of 500 unreleased
songs, Serj has only used 12 for his first release but has he chosen
the right dozen to grant a few more solo releases or can he put his
other 488 into storage?
While the last two SOAD albums seemed to come with two massive question
marks over their digipak cases, an aspect of that was believed to
have been due to the added contribution of Daron Malkian as well as a
collective belief of the need for progression among the band. Here,
quite obviously wring a record for himself, Serj offers the most
credible form of System’s sound since the idealistic days of Toxicity
with the album’s first two songs; Empty Walls and The Unthinking
Majority. However the tone is not one of consistency as he fluctuates
to the acoustic mantra of Money albeit with the trademark quirky vocals
erratically proclaiming seven ways to use the tracks title. Feed Us,
the albums second longest track, which deals with political corruption
in the Third World, has an instantly grabbing guitar to open with
neck flexing heavy chugging. However the song does has a well-suited
cultural and ethnic rhythm to parallel the government’s heavy hand
with the poverty stricken sound of the deprived countries.
Sadly though the album somewhat enters a stagnant period half way in.
Saving Us and The Sky Is Over, although a sound Tankian, is likely
much more comfortable with, lacks the virility of the openers but
he seems to go through feelings in the album that is reflected in
every two song block. Baby, tailing the melancholic block of the
previous two songs, starts very similar to Soldier Side but chins
up immediately with an optimistic burst of Tankian’s ‘hope is all we
have’ voice. Honking Antelope is reminiscent of Toxicity’s Jet Pilot
in the whole lyrical concept but musically they are poles apart.
Irrespective of that it does impress with the 40-year-old’s piano
input and profound musical structures giving the song another level of
creativity. The album’s final third is greeted with its third single,
Lie, Lie, Lie, an almost camp cabaret number that wouldn’t be out of
place at a bar mitzvah but it welcomes a familiar happy, comical tone
to Tankian’s music that was once prominent in SOAD and this is followed
up by the equally humorous Praise The Lord and Pass The Ammunition. A
patriotic song written in reaction to the Pearl Harbour attacks and
although quoted countless times in songs, never has it had such a
spin as the Serj treatment. Expect a lot of psychedelics, undeniable
funk and a stupid smile on your face for four and a half minutes.
Beethoven, the albums penultimate track, deals with the end of
civilization. The arms of time are breaking off, Civilization is
on trial, The Clocks eliminating time, Do you believe in Nothing? A
fantastic final number that still keeps you enthralled 40 minutes in.
To close, the album’s self titled track drags its heals to a
melancholic plea from Tankian, only assisted by a piano solo.
Overall it might not be for the SOAD fan but there’s classics sparks
in the album that rekindle a much brighter day when the band was
around and although it may become a slow affair at times, patience
and concentration brings rewards where you least expect them. 7.5/10
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