Contact Music, UK
Jan 11 2008

Serj Tankian – Elect The Dead Album Review

The blueprint for Serj Tankian’s debut solo album is simple. He takes
the System Of A Down sound and dilutes it to the point that it fits
nicely into the mainstream of American rock. Gone is the thrash
sections and super-heavy riffage that peppered SOAD songs, as well as
the annoyingly nasal backing vocals of Darion Malakian. What we have
now are slick, radio-friendly songs, brimming with easy and
unremarkable melodies.

As a long-term admirer of SOAD, I have a huge amount of respect for
Tankian, and regard him as one of the most accomplished and talented
singers in contemporary rock and metal. However, one gets the
distinct feeling that he should have used this record to test himself
a little more – he is on very safe territory here, and there is
nothing that hasn’t been at least suggested in SOAD albums. To be
fair to Serj, this criticism can be flipped on its head; often first
solo albums can be self-indulgent, meandering affairs. This at least
is direct and disciplined – fans fearing ‘Serj’s Armenian Jazz
Odyssey’ can relax.

Matthew Jennings

s/serjtankianx08x01x08

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress