Oh, These Boys Can Bring It Down

I have to say, I was warned. I mean, I knew System Of A Down definitely wasn't John Mayer or Coldplay, but wow, this is one loud album.

To say if I liked it or not would be way too simple. Well, that and I can't say for sure if I really do like it. I can say for sure, however, that there are a lot of things I could write about this band, but I'll only note a few.

For one, lead singer Serj Tankian has got one kick-ass voice. Not only can he go from singing to screaming in a click, but he's got this awesome accent that I can't place!!! He's Armenian (the whole band is), but it sounds like a mix of New Jersey and Israel, so if you can imagine what that sounds like, you see what I mean.

Also, SOAD's (as they are often called) lead guitarist, Daron Malakian is crazy talented. I don't too often listen to hard rock (and I have low tolerance for screamo) but in the guitar idea of it, this guy has got mad skills. I can especially hear it when I listen to one of the album key tracks, "Toxicity."

I'm not sure what the word on the street is about this band, but I'd like to know. Are they hard rock? Metal? Emo? Screamo? All of the above? I personally say they're a lovely mix of all four. They scream, yes, but they also sing, though the lyrics don't always make sense. Like the song "Bounce". Some of the lyrics are kind of...different. Example- "Unannounced twister games. All players with no names. They lined up double quick. With just one pogo stick. Everyone gets to play."

But, in a way, they're good. Raivynn doesn't care for hard rock too much herself, but I found it growing on me with every listen. This album strangely reminded me of pop music, because it was kind of infectious. I found myself tapping my feet as a song of theirs played in my head over and over again (my mind is a never endless jukebox, at all times there is a song in my head).

With that being said, it's time for favorites! Raivynn was really digging "Forest" track eight on the album. I think she was really drawn to the lyrics and the melody of the song. I could not choose between two songs- "Jet Pilot" the fourth song, and "Toxicity" the twelfth song. "Toxicity" just pulled me in, and I didn't actually start liking it until listening to the album for the third time. "Jet Pilot" has these crazy amusing lyrics and the guy's accent (I know, I can't get over this) was so prominent, I loved it. I'm smiling while I type this, that's how much I love his voice!

I think for a person who hasn't heard a lot of hard rock, this was a good introduction. Who knows, maybe you'll see me in the middle of a mosh pit one day.

-Whitni

Oh, and heads up. Raivynn and I may not be blogging for a little while. We'll be out of town a few weeks, but we'll try to get one or two in here or there.