Somewhere Between the Sacred Silence and Sleep

Message Bookmarked

Bookmark Removed

RFD: System Of a Down - Toxicity (the album)

What do people think of this? At first I was a little bit disappointed that "Toxicity" and "Chop Suey" seemed like the two best songs. (Really, if all their stuff was like "Toxicity" they'd be contenders for instant-classic status.) But I've come to find this quite solid. Nearly every song has at least one very memorable hook. The vocals are really noteworthy as are some of the beats and anime-action-packed stop-start riffing. I really like "Forest", "Needle", and "Science". I even like the much-maligned "Aerials". The chorus has a declaring-truth-on-the-mountaintop-against-the-burning-rays-of-the-sun quality, the way his upper register smacks up against the power chords.

― sundar subramanian, Sunday, 11 August 2002 00:00 (twenty-two years ago)

I hear they're not that great live though.

― sundar subramanian, Tuesday, 13 August 2002 00:00 (twenty-two years ago)

"Toxicity" and "Chop Suey" are, like you sort of said, the easiest songs to get into (except maybe "ATWA", which I could see getting radio play), but that just means that the other songs take a little while to get accustomed to. I do love the album now that I've heard it a few times. I kind of enjoy the letdown that "Aerials" provides, but it's not one of the album's better tracks.

― Vinnie, Tuesday, 13 August 2002 00:00 (twenty-two years ago)

The chorus has a declaring-truth-on-the-mountaintop-against-the-burning-rays-of-t he-sun quality

This type of shit is better left to the likes of Creed. I can't believe how much I hate "Aerials", after how much I've liked everything else I've heard from them. Haven't heard much of the album though.

― Kris, Tuesday, 13 August 2002 00:00 (twenty-two years ago)

one year passes...

I really love this album. I always skip "Aerials" though. How was the last one?

― sundar subramanian (sundar), Sunday, 31 August 2003 21:37 (twenty-one years ago)

I love it too! first time I heard "Chop Suey" I was convinced this was the WORST band I had heard in a long, long time. memorably, horrifically bad. Then I realized, anything that strikes me as being that incredibly terrible is at least interesting.. then I heard the album and said, yeah, they are brilliant.

― daria g (daria g), Monday, 1 September 2003 07:11 (twenty-one years ago)

Yeah, nobody really comments on this album (what is that, four comments up there?) but I love it and can't wait for their next full-length. There are other bands that do similar things to what SOAD do but nobody but them has managed any mainstream success.

I have to say that I wasn't too thrilled by Steal This Album! as a whole, but certain individual tracks are great. In any case, I don't think it's really an indication of where the next album is going.

― Vinnie (vprabhu), Monday, 1 September 2003 16:39 (twenty-one years ago)

I liked Aerials a lot, though the last time I heard the title track it sounded a bit wack. Exactly like "Chop Suey" except with less drama (and I've recently realized I'm all about the drama). Do all the songs on this album sound alike or do they get diverse? That dun-da-dun-da-dun-HEY! thing gets a little annoying.

― Anthony Miccio (Anthony Miccio), Monday, 1 September 2003 16:50 (twenty-one years ago)

I've only heard "Chop Suey" done once at karoake (some random duo did it) and it was awesome. Ears totally perked up in surprise when the riff was heard.

― Anthony Miccio (Anthony Miccio), Monday, 1 September 2003 16:51 (twenty-one years ago)

Well, nothing else sounds like "Aerials". "Toxicity" and "Chop Suey" are more typical but are more 'pop' and melodic than the rest of the songs for the most part. It is pretty much all stops and starts and manic vocal wailing, though, if that's what you mean. Some of it is a lot faster. If you don't like "Toxicity" it might not be worth it for you though. It's my favourite song on the album, probably my favourite single of the past few years. I don't know, I don't hear it as being "exactly the same as 'Chop Suey'" at all.

― sundar subramanian (sundar), Tuesday, 2 September 2003 17:57 (twenty-one years ago)

I really like:

"Needles", one of the best ridiculous-yet-powerful choruses ever, the double/half-time switching with the rhythms is very invigorating, and the little harmony bit in the bridge is stunning.

"Deer Dance", the pre-chorus-y part in this is so infectious "b'yond the staples center you can see America with it's tired poor avenging disgrace...".

"ATWA", possibly one of the 10 best rock songs to listen to while trying to get over a breakup of the past decade. So sweet in parts and so cathartic in others.

"Science", lyrically it's a little bit "wha?", but this is one of those you-have-no-choice-but-to-drive-a-billion-kilometers-per-hour grooves that digs down into your spine.

My favorite things about this album as a whole are of course the adrenaline-pumping-ness of it coupled with the tender/ethereal moments, as well I like the imagery and how free & unorthodox it is lyrically ("wired through the eyes of a horse on a jet-pilot when he smiled as he flew over the bay"!?!?). It's mixed so nicely with the drums and vocals all right up in each other's faces.

― nickalicious (nickalicious), Tuesday, 2 September 2003 18:17 (twenty-one years ago)

You must be logged in to post. Please either login here, or if you are not registered, you may register here.