The Phoenix Network:
The Phoenix
Boston
|
Portland
|
Providence
Stuff@Night
WFNX
Live Radio
|
On Demand
Adult
About
|
Advertise
Moonsigns
|
Band Guide
|
Blogs
|
In Pictures
Music
CD Reviews
|
Classical
|
Download
|
Live Reviews
|
Music Features
|
New England Music News
--> -->
See all in CD Reviews
The Color Fred
CD Reviews
Serj Tankian
Elect the Dead | Warner Bros.
By
KEN MICALLEF
|
October 8, 2007
SERJ TANKIAN, ELECT THE DEAD
" alt="photo of 'SERJ TANKIAN, ELECT THE DEAD'">
2.5
Stars
In a promotional video for his solo debut, System of a Down frontman Serj Tankian parodies practically everyone in the music industry, from Blackberry-addicted producers, bullshitting A&R reps, and double-talking label bosses to geek journalists and the artists themselves. Playing all the roles in this nine-minute mini-film, Tankian responds to interview “questions” with the practiced clichés of an artist who has nothing to say. Like the video,
Elect the Dead
is all Tankian, all the time. Playing almost all the instruments and freed from the Goliath prog-metal of SOAD, he gives full release to his inner clown parade. The first track (and first single), “Empty Walls,” sets the tone with its nutty metal-meets-polka beats and stacked, rapid-fire word spray. The Gypsy-inspired music shenanigans continue
through the blasting barrage of “The Unthinking Majority,” the epic prog-rock tracks “Money” and “Lie Lie Lie,” and the free-funk send-up “Praise the Lord and Pass the Ammunition.” In SOAD, Tankian’s vocal gymnastics and penchant for subversive lyrics are kept somewhat in check by the mix of muscle and subtlety guitarist Daron Malakian brings to the table. Here, there’s nothing to hold him back.
Serj Tankian + Tom Morello | Paradise Rock Club, 967 Comm Ave, Boston | October 15 | 617.931.2000
Related
:
On the racks: October 31, 2006
The Who, Deftones, Meatloaf
Older, wiser, faster, louder
Foo Fighters at the DCU Center, February 18, 2008
Guest lists 2007
Phoenix and WFNX staffers submit their ten best albums of the year
More
On the racks: October 31, 2006
The Who, Deftones, Meatloaf
Older, wiser, faster, louder
Foo Fighters at the DCU Center, February 18, 2008
Guest lists 2007
Phoenix and WFNX staffers submit their ten best albums of the year
Double dosed
Red Hot Chili Peppers’ two-disc epic
Forward into the past!
Oldies and more in the season’s CD releases
Locked and loaded
The fall promises a double-barreled blast of gaming greatness
The Coup at ZuZu
Boots Riley speaks to power
Big business
The majors gear up for a promising spring
Mining the past
The classic sounds of the Mars Volta and Louis XIV
A Kind of homecoming
Dave Gibbs returns to Boston with Low Stars
Less
Topics
:
CD Reviews
,
Serj Tankian
,
Serj Tankian
,
System of a Down
,
More
,
Serj Tankian
,
Serj Tankian
,
System of a Down
,
Tom Morello
,
Less
Share
:
Rss
Email
Print
Comments
Add a Comment
Today's Event Picks
[WORDS]
GAMES WITHOUT FRONTIERS: STEVE FAINARU
Plus 0 more >>
ARTICLES BY KEN MICALLEF
SIA
| January 28, 2008
Some People Have REAL Problems | Hear Music
NATALIE WALKER
| January 14, 2008
Urban Angel | Quango
DAN WILSON
| November 19, 2007
Free Life | American/Sony
SERJ TANKIAN
| October 08, 2007
Elect the Dead | Warner Bros.
SWEDE STUFF
| June 04, 2007
Dungen deliver another potent dose of psych-rock
See all articles by:
KEN MICALLEF
MOST POPULAR
Most Viewed
Most Emailed
VANISHING BOSTON
A field guide to Boston's 'lasting' treasures — to be enjoyed before they're razed in favor of chain stores
HOORAY FOR SPACE!
Big Fat Whale
MEDICINE MEN
Two Boston poets use their art for the good of the tribe
SCOTT WEILAND | “HAPPY” IN GALOSHES
Softdrive/New West (2008)
SLIDESHOW: VANISHING BOSTON
Classic locations threatened
MEDICINE MEN
Two Boston poets use their art for the good of the tribe
PRIMORDIAL STAGES
Boston's open mics: Launch pads or crash sites?
GONGS WITH ROBOT
Gamelan Galak Tika does crossover
WINSOR DIM SUM CAFÉ
Dim sum all day and night
VANISHING BOSTON
A field guide to Boston's 'lasting' treasures — to be enjoyed before they're razed in favor of chain stores
HOT TOPICS
Boston Symphony Orchestra
,
Kim Deal
,
Radiohead
,
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
,
Harvard University
,
Kurt Weill
,
James Levine
,
James Robinson
,
John Harbison
,
Brian Eno
More Topics
. . .
LATEST SLIDESHOWS
Photos: Peter Simon's new book
Slideshow: Vanishing Boston
All Slideshows
Explore your Fantasies
Featured Articles in Museum And Gallery
:
Help wanted
The great Boston art shakeout
Exposures
Photos: Exposures
Political Andy?
Tuesday, December 02, 2008
|
Sign In
|
Register
thePhoenix.com:
Home
Listings
Editor's Picks
News
Music
Film + TV
Food + Drink
Life
Arts
Rec Room
Video
Phoenix Media/Communications Group:
Boston Phoenix
Portland Phoenix
Providence Phoenix
StuffAtNight
People2People
MassWeb Printing
G8Wave
About Us
Contact Us
Advertise With Us
Work For Us
Sitemap
RSS
Mobile
TODAY'S FEATURED ADVERTISERS
Copyright © 2008 The Phoenix Media/Communications Group