Serj Tankian - Elect the Dead

[SODA]

Title: Elect the Dead
Genre: Experimental/Political Rock
Format: CD
Rating: :heya::heya::heya::heya::heya:
Date: October 27, 2007

You can listen to the full album at: http://www.myspace.com/serjtankian


I can't even begin to mention how much the CD has to offer until I point out the fact that this is indeed a "Solo" album. 95% of everything you hear was written, produced and performed by Serj Tankian, lead singer from System of a Down. And as such, it has a very System of a Down feel, there are some obvious non-soad qualities to some of the songs, but they still flow with the album.

I have to say, this is by far the best album I have paid for in a long time, which isn't necessarily saying much >_>, but lets take that as a good thing. If you don't like System of a Down odds are you will not enjoy this album, but the mixture of middle eastern beats and terrific vocals really make this an album any self respecting SOAD fan should own. The best way to describe this CD is to call it a Mellow SOAD CD because defining SOAD is a chore upon itself.

And for any of you that purchase the Special Edition CD, it comes with a bonus disk with a copy of a Newly Recorded Acoustic version of the SOAD demo song "Blue", as well as Acoustic versions of both "Elect the Dead" and "Feed Us", and a song called "Falling Stars".

It is so hard to describe how good this album is without comparing it to SOAD, so I will say this, it is better than the System of a Down self-titled as well as Mesmerize.

[Aesthesis]

I heard it was pretty much like a System of a Down album without the guitarists 'quirks'. Is it more like SOAD's earlier stuff or the last two albums, because I didn't really like Hypnotize or Mesmerize.

[SODA]

Yes it is more like their earlier stuff.

[Allen]

I might pick this up. I like what I've heard, but it hasn't impressed the hell out of me. Hell, I own all of the SOAD albums, so I might as well get this. As long as it's better than Mezmerize/Hypnotize.

[Mirrorman]

I just listened to every single song on the album on myspace and I absolutely loved it. And I don't even really listen SOAD. There was such power in his songs.

[SODA]

I just listened to every single song on the album on myspace and I absolutely loved it. And I don't even really listen SOAD. There was such power in his songs.

I totally agree, my girlfriend doesn't care much for him though, she says all his songs are the same. :/

[Mirrorman]

Unlucky man. They don't sound the same at all. Some of them are fast like empty walls, and then theres those more easy songs like Lie Lie Lie. You should set your gf straight with a good spanking.

[TheHighwaySong]

You think the album is energetic? His live shows are amazing! You can just feel for yourself all the energy and power he was putting into each of his songs at the show. I enjoyed this album, I wasn't one of the hopefuls expecting an SOAD-quality album with Serj's name on it. I'm glad this didn't happen because I love the finished product.

One thing I noticed though, is when listening to the last verse of Honking Antelope (We are the cause, of a world that's gone wrong...) It's almost as if I could hear Daron's vocals in the back, because it just seems like a verse System of a Down as a whole would've written.

The thing I like about this album is that if you heard it, you can almost say it sounds like System of a Down, but Serj put a touch of himself on everything. More acoustics, effects, and the addition of piano makes this Serj's album. But it doesn't totally downgrade. This album can get pretty heavy.

In short, I was pleased, probably because I'm a bigger SOAD fan than anything, but other people will like at least the singles as well.

[SODA]

You think the album is energetic? His live shows are amazing! You can just feel for yourself all the energy and power he was putting into each of his songs at the show. I enjoyed this album, I wasn't expecting an SOAD album with Serj's name on it, and that's what I got.

One thing I noticed though, is when listening to the last verse of Honking Antelope (We are the cause, of a world that's gone wrong...) It's almost as if I could hear Daron's vocals in the back, because it just seems like a verse System of a Down as a whole would've written.

The thing I like about this album is that if you heard it, you can almost say it sounds like System of a Down, but Serj put a touch of himself on everything. More acoustics, effects, and the addition of piano makes this Serj's album. But it doesn't totally downgrade. This album can get pretty heavy.

In short, I was pleased, probably because I'm a bigger SOAD fan than anything, but other people will like at least the singles as well.
I'm pretty sure I heard some female vocals on it.

[TheHighwaySong]

Well I didn't mean literally. You can just imagine Daron singing "That's gone wroooong" with his vibrato vocals (think the bridge after Needles where he yells "Maaaaan!")

It makes total sense in my head :lol:

[The Fetus]

Yes. I am a big SOAD fan. I will try to pick this up.


They don't have it on vinyl. :wail:

[Mr. Owl]

Surprisingly I find his solo album very good, far better than anything SOAD ever put out. I always found them to be kind of dry and repetitive, and I developed a strong hatred of them over the years, but I actually enjoy the solo work, I will probably go out and buy this with my next paycheck.

[TheHighwaySong]

They don't have it on vinyl. :wail:

Perhaps? (http://www.amazon.co.uk/Elect-Dead-LP-Set-CD/dp/B000W99IMK/ref=pd_bbs_sr_3/202-7768794-7681447?ie=UTF8&s=music&qid=1193983542&sr=8-3)

It's just a quick British link I had bookmarked, I'm sure they sell them in America?

[The Fetus]

I may very well have to look into that!

[Madness]

The lyrics have so much depth and the music is really aggressive but yet at the same time calming. It's definitely Grammy worthy.

[TheOtherWhiteMeat]

Serj does something absolutely amazing to my head, heart and soul. All of the songs I have heard (all but the bonus tracks) are just unbelieveably good, and refreshingly deep. I've been a SOAD fan for quite a while (though i like their newer stuff more than the old) and was expecting just another bash on the governtment, or on humanity. In a way, i got what i expected, but Serj delivered it in such a beautiful way.
While all of the songs are just out of this world, I would have to say that Lie Lie Lie and Bhetoven's C*** are my favorites.

[Triple J]

Did anyone hear that there is going to be a musical video for every song on the album? All done by different directors.

I think these have been done so far
Bird of Paradise (Some video with a kid and some man)
Saving Us (Hobo video)
Empty Walls (Kids in play house doing war stuff)
Unthinking Majority (Action figure beauty)
Praise the Lord and Pass the Ammunition (I really do not get the video)
Lie Lie Lie (The video that makes the least sense so far)

Don't get me wrong I get Serj Tankian's lyrics, just some of the videos really don't make sense. I said SOME. Most of the videos are pure genius.

[TheHighwaySong]

Where the hell did you pull Bird of Paradise out of? The way you describe it, you're probably thinking of Feed Us. :indiff:

The videos have been long done, just not all of them have been released to the public, unless you're a member of Serj Tankian's deluxe member's site, where most of them are viewable.

None of the videos are supposed to make sense to the naked eye, this is Serj Tankian after all. He had just sent different directors different songs and said he wanted them to screw around with it and see what they could do. He did not want to see the videos until they were absolutely done. So with the exception of Empty Walls and PTLAPTA, he had nothing to do with the rest of the videos

[Zenox]

i would rather seeing good'ol System of a down as a band again..eating seeds is a past time activity, the toxicity of our city... <3

[Impulse]

I love System of a Down, and although all I have heard is Empty Walls, I am loving Serj so far.

Too bad he can't really play any of this live, without other people, heh.

[TheHighwaySong]

The live band he has chosen to tour with him are excellent at what they play. Come on, Larry Lalonde from Primus? Awesome!

[Impulse]

Oh, I didn't know he had a live band. I thought it was just a solo experiment that wouldn't really be played live. Awesome.