Question:
Just Wondering how others felt about the SOAD cd's

Choices:
Self-Titled
Toxicity
Steal This Album

 

What's that album they did with the angst-filled adolescent lyrics set to radio-friendly guitars covered in a glossy sheen? Nevermind- I'll just ask the sixth grader who lives next door.

Adolescent lyrics??? You must pay closer attention than that. I don't think that issues such as drugs, the war in iraq, and advertising are adolescent.

Umm yeah there's an identical topic on this board already! People: PLEASE LOOK OVER THE BOARDS BEFORE CREATING A NEW DISCUSSION!!

No theres not Eccentro, this one is for Best SOAD cd! Theres another one for SOAD in general but thats it.

Eccentro is right that we would generally prefer not to have to topics so closely related. In this case, I left this one open because of the poll.

Just FYI.

Now Playing: CNN's American Morning

sorry, thought that they were two different categories. Won't do it again.

quote:

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Originally posted by Soadlover:
Adolescent lyrics??? You must pay closer attention than that. I don't think that issues such as drugs, the war in iraq, and advertising are adolescent.

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Sorry, but once the Nue-Metal fad ends I doubt SOD's singer will be remembered in the same company as great political songwriters like Joe Strummer, Mark E. Smith, Phil Ochs or Max Cavalera. His songs may address weighty topics, but childish barking and whining will not get him nominated for a Pulitzer. Since this is the Metacritc forum, let's look at the reviews:

The only real failing of the album lies with the lyrics. It's clear that the band is trying to be subversive, but the frequency of trite phrases such as "Don't ever get stuck in the sky, when you're high;" and their utter dependence upon the word "fuck" as a testament to their anger weaken the attempt.
-Pitchforkmedia

Considering their obsessions include war, power and death, it should be easier to take System Of A Down seriously. Some might argue that's the fault of the cynical listener, embarrassed by the band's uninhibited passion and political commitment. Or maybe it's just because this is a band who, on a song called 'Chic'N'Stu', believe a pizza recipe serves as a searing condemnation of consumerism. "Pepperoni and green peppers/mushrooms, olives, chives!" trills Serj Tankian operatically, before yelping "Therapy! Therapy! Advertising causes me!"
-NME

Toxicity is virtually unlistenable: thrash metal splintered into a million pieces by unnecessary time changes, topped off with excruciatingly theatrical vocals.
-Uncut

Folks who feel moved on a regular basis to barbecue kittens, or who while away dull evenings by collecting their own bodily waste products in kilner jars, or who can't get sufficiently numb these days with just the chemicals, will wallow in in this Rick Rubin-produced gloom. "Have you ever wanted to die?" screams leader Serj Tankian, during Know. Well, yes, but the feeling passed after the last track.
-Q Magazine

You can't use bias opinions by random critics to discredit the band. How many articles of media such as movies, games, and music don't get at least a couple of critics who dislike them? I doubt Q Magazine is qualified to rate Nue-metal at all. I'm sure for almost every thing that you like there are critics who don't like it. Look at some of the better comedies such as various Kevin Smith movies. They generally get bad reviews because the critics are bias. Which is obviously the case when they say "Folks who feel moved on a regular basis to barbecue kittens, or who while away dull evenings by collecting their own bodily waste products in kilner jars, or who can't get sufficiently numb these days with just the chemicals, will wallow in in this Rick Rubin-produced gloom" And as far as fads go punk rock is a fad. People crying about love in every one of there songs and getting famous, that's a fad. Metal has never been a fad, it may have a smaller fan base but those fans are loyal.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: St. Mike,

I don't know where you got your quotes but the first album is not on this site and that is what Q Magazine was talking about. Look at a score that is actually on this site by that very same magazine when talking about the next album "Toxicity". Which Q gave an eighty to.
"Matches Slipknot for manic intensity while employing a freeform approach to songcraft which invites comparison to the lunatic-fringe rock of the late '60s"

This message has been edited. Last edited by: St. Mike,

Not close to my favourite band by a long shot, but I like their first album the most. Toxicity is great, but gets tiresome.

If you wanna hear the best SOAD song (and if you like the sound of b-movie music), get the Strangeland soundtrack. It's got 'marmalade'. That's their catchiest song, much moreso than War or Chop-Suey.

quote:

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Originally posted by Soadlover:
You can't use bias opinions by random critics to discredit the band. How many articles of media such as movies, games, and music don't get at least a couple of critics who dislike them? I doubt Q Magazine is qualified to rate Nue-metal at all. I'm sure for almost every thing that you like there are critics who don't like it. Look at some of the better comedies such as various Kevin Smith movies. They generally get bad reviews because the critics are bias. Which is obviously the case when they say "Folks who feel moved on a regular basis to barbecue kittens, or who while away dull evenings by collecting their own bodily waste products in kilner jars, or who can't get sufficiently numb these days with just the chemicals, will wallow in in this Rick Rubin-produced gloom" And as far as fads go punk rock is a fad. People crying about love in every one of there songs and getting famous, that's a fad. Metal has never been a fad, it may have a smaller fan base but those fans are loyal.

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First of all, I called the corporate-calculated, market-researched, MTV-approved sub-genere of Nu-Metal (not "metal") a fad. I love metal and I wouldn't want to live in a world without "Ace of Spades", "Reign In Blood" or "Whoudini". And I agree wholeheartedly that metal fans are a devoted flock. (FYI: the hilarious independent documentary "Heavy Metal Parking Lot" is a testament to the voracity of metalheads' fandom). So-called Nu-Metal has only been around a few years, and like most popular music fads, it will disappear as soon as MTV and Clear Chanell find another vehicle to shift units and sell ad time. (Personally, I'm hoping for a Jug Band revival.)

Secondly, the genre of "punk rock" was dubbed around 1977 and is still going strong, thus it cannot be considered a fad. Kids will still form punk bands in their garage 20 years from now due to it's immediacy, simplicity and timelessness.

Third, I cited music critics to support my view of System of a Down because this forum is dedicated to music criticism. Why do you think the critics I cited are biased? There's plenty of positive reviews of SOD albums (as you noted), thus you can't say the critic establishment has an axe to grind against SOD. I just chose critics with good taste.

Fourth, I'm troubled that a wimpy Nu-Metal group has chosen the same acronym as the far-superior and much funnier Stormtroopers of Death. I hope Scott Ian's lawyer sends a cease and desist order to ol' Serj post haste.

It's SOAD not SOD so Stormtroopers of Death are not being infringed upon. I used the word Metal because I hate all of these sub-genres that tend to put individuals on one side or another. I agree Slayer's "Reign in Blood" is good. I haven't really seen much SOAD on MTV but then again I haven't watched MTV in a long time. When I said punk rock I mean the new sub-sub-genre termed "emo" that includes bands such as Good Charlotte and Three Days Grace. And if you read my post about Q Magazine then maybe the critics you picked may not have "good taste" as they seemed to like the second album "Toxicity"

Sodalover,

I found a message board you may prefer to this one. You're welcome!

I would prefer that you not pick fights in the first place, Lola, but picking fights and then inviting your adversary to leave when he fights back is just plain bad form.

Now, play nice, or I'm going to ask you to stand in the corner.

Now Playing: Some random trumpet jazz in my local internet cafe...ooohhhh, an internet cafe...I'm so getting with the zeroes.

No offense intended! It's just that this board has gotten awfully stale, and lively debate is always more fun than posting "Menudo rocks!" over and over again. This board is for music criticism, right?

Anyway, I hope Sodalover's feelings aren't hurt too badly. We're all music-lovers, and I wish everyone the best!

Lively debate is good, but "Your band sucks! Why don't you leave?" doesn't qualify as debate.

Well, on the internet it generally does, but that's beside the point.

Thanks for being good sports and good participants, both of you. We're only as good as our members. This is a good bunch, but it's a relatively young forum, so it's going to take some time to liven up. Trust me, a year from now, it will be hard to keep up.

Now Playing: Same internet cafe...much worse music...I should have brought headphones...

Cant wait for their new cd comin out soon!!!

Thanks for the tip Filmore. I just found it on a file-sharing network. I am really excited, for a while there I thought that SOAD decided to go in hibernation.