System Of A Down Steal This Album CD

STEAL THIS ALBUM contains outtakes and previously unreleased tracks.
STEAL THIS ALBUM contains outtakes and previously unreleased tracks.
Audio Mixer: Andy Wallace.
In most cases, bands put out these odds and sods collections for die-hard fans, to fulfill a record deal, or to stall while they're taking seven years to record a follow-up. Steal This Album!, on the other hand, definitely doesnot fit any of those ideals. First, it's almost impossible to think of this as an "outtakes" record. System of a Down has managed to make tracks from a seven-year period sound cohesive without having to embellish or sacrifice. Some might argue that maybe they're just treading water. Not true. If System proved anything with 2001's Toxicity, it's that they're one of the few breaths of fresh air out there in mainstream metal land. This collection is no different, and with its amazing pacing, it's hard to not be moved by what this band can do. Secondly, Steal This Album! has everything that a "normal" album release would have; it's heavy without being a burden, political without being condescending, and in some cases, downright beautiful. It's been mentioned that this is the link to what they've done and what they're moving towards. If that turns out to be true, the next one should be a monster. ~ Chris True
Even considering the enormous popularity of nu-metal in the late '90s and early '00s, the initial mass commercial acceptance of System Of A Down was pretty surprising. On STEAL THIS ALBUM! the wildly eclectic group continues to push the envelope by even more aggressively fusing brutal, razor-sharp thrash metal with a distinctly Eastern European folk-inspired melodic sense and bizarrely humorous/politically incisive lyrics worthy of Frank Zappa or Jello Biafra. To top it all off, the songs rarely have traditional verse/chorus structures or much in the way of identifiable refrains.
Amazingly, however, most of the music manages to be both intensely catchy and far more memorable than virtually anything by Korn, Slipknot, Mudvayne, or any of System Of A Down's other genre-mates. In fact, System Of A Down has less in common with these groups than with '80s everything-but-the-kitchen-sink types like Fishbone and Faith No More. STEAL THIS ALBUM is a powerfully creative statement by a group determined to expand the boundaries of nu-metal.
Even considering the enormous popularity of nu-metal in the late '90s and early '00s, the initial mass commercial acceptance of System Of A Down was pretty surprising. On STEAL THIS ALBUM! the wildly eclectic group continues to push the envelope by even more aggressively fusing brutal, razor-sharp thrash metal with a distinctly Eastern European folk-inspired melodic sense and bizarrely humorous/politically incisive lyrics worthy of Frank Zappa or Jello Biafra. To top it all off, the songs rarely have traditional verse/chorus structures or much in the way of identifiable refrains.
Amazingly, however, most of the music manages to be both intensely catchy and far more memorable than virtually anything by Korn, Slipknot, Mudvayne, or any of System Of A Down's other genre-mates. In fact, System Of A Down has less in common with these groups than with '80s everything-but-the-kitchen-sink types like Fishbone and Faith No More. STEAL THIS ALBUM is a powerfully creative statement by a group determined to expand the boundaries of nu-metal.Rolling Stone (12/12/02, p.93) - "...An absurdist blast of political rage, silly theater and shattered math metal..."
Spin (2/03, p.96) - 8 out of 10 - "...The way these simple songs blur together works in the album's favor: Just when you think you've got a foothold, the ground disappears under your feet..."
Entertainment Weekly (11/29/02, p.105) - "...STEAL THIS ALBUM stands head-and-tattooed shoulders above its competition in the hard-rock genre..."
CMJ (12/16/02, p.23) - "...Both arty aggro and perverted political punk..."