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| Elect the Dead | 
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| Artist: Serj Tankian
Label: Warner Bros / Wea
Category: Music
List Price: $18.98
Buy New: $8.94
You Save: $10.04 (53%)
New (50) Used (22) Collectible (2) from $5.64
Avg. Customer Rating:  64 reviews
Sales Rank: 1527
Format: Soundtrack
Media: Audio CD
Discs: 1
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.2
Dimensions (in): 5.5 x 4.7 x 0.3
MPN: 286076
UPC: 093624992851
EAN: 0093624992851
ASIN: B000TX7B5U
Release Date: October 23, 2007
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
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| Customer Reviews:
System Of A Serj October 27, 2007
7 out of 8 found this review helpful
"The debut solo album from the voice of System Of A Down"
So the sticker on the cover states. Perhaps a subtle jab at System Of A Down guitarist Daron Malakian, who took over the majority of vocal duties on the band's last album(s), pushing the eccentric, colorful Serj Tankian to the background and leaving a bad taste in the mouths of many.
Certainly more accessible than his last side-project, Serart, and sounding more like System Of A Down than 2005's "Mezmerize" and "Hypnotize" did, Serj's solo album will come as a welcome refreshment to many a System Of A Down fans. While the last two albums were good efforts (yours truly still rates them rather high), they were missing a certain element that originally gave System Of A Down their appeal. On "Elect The Dead," Serj Tankian tries to capture that spirit. In all honesty, it's a pretty simple album. If you love his band and his voice, you're going to love this album. It holds up just fine next to the best System Of A Down material, with the haunting melodies and random outbursts, calling out corrupt politicians and a complacent public. Aside from the typical System-fare on rocking tracks like "Empty Walls" and "The Unthinking Majority," Serj busts out the acoustic guitar for "Sky Is Over" and "Baby" and the piano for "Saving Us," "Honking Antelope" and the album's epic closing track, "Elect The Dead." Almost all the instruments are played by Serj himself, and he plays fluidly and seamlessly, almost like a real band. He gets some help on drums from Brain (of Primus/Guns N' Roses fame) and System Of A Down's John Dolmayan, but for the most part, it's just Serj producing the sounds. Not to sound redundant, as it can't be said enough, but "Elect The Dead" is definitely an album worth picking up if you love System Of A Down. It's not too far removed from that sound, and Serj manages to add a few little flourishes here and there to perk up the ears. It's good enough to be considered System-canon. Really, you can't go wrong here.
 (D)emise starts with (D)aron October 28, 2007
7 out of 7 found this review helpful
I'm so relieved to be listening to "Elect the Dead" after almost losing all hope with SOAD's latest albums Hypnotize/Mesmerize. Upon reading the liner notes in the above stated LP's, it became obvious where the control in the band had ended up. Don't get me wrong I think Daron is a talented musician who works well in a back-up vocal role to Serj. but let's face it. Serj is SOAD and I think most others will agree that an element has been missing in System since Malakian has taken over the primary writing and lead vocal parts of SOAD. I personally tire fast of the silly, meaningless, unintelligent side of more recent SOAD. I don't know the true story on how it happened, but somehow either by choice or by force the voice of System of a Down was tracked to nothing more than a background voice. Too me, the album "Steal this Album" showcased Daron's writing style, and for a B-sides album, it was truelly amazing! But let's call it like it is. It (Steal this Album) was still a B-sides album. Both Hypnotize and Mesmerize had thier highlights, sighting "Holy Mountains" as one of the more memorable gems on an album set hindered by piles of Fools Gold. Okay, enough on the history of one of the greatest bands in existence. Let us give credit where credit is due. This album is nothing short of pure brilliance. The structure, balance, emotion reminds me of everything that I love about Toxicity, and SOAD's self-titled release. I'm entranced by this album. After the second listen you'll be hooked and catching little intricate parts that you might've missed the first time through. If you are someone into radio singles, this isn't going to be for you. If you appreciate good music in the vein of Tool, RATM, Dredg. and Porcupine Tree. Pick this album up! This is the spirit of System of A Down and what it was meant to be. There is something to be said about passion!
 Find something else to sing about February 28, 2008
4 out of 7 found this review helpful
Unlike most of the reviews, I am not disappointed that this album isn't as hard as SOAD or that the talent is not there. On the contrary, I think Serj definitely has talent, which wasn't used enough on the last SOAD record. This album has an artistic side to it that makes it so different that you really can't compare this solo effort the former records.
My issue with this album is I feel like every song is the same thing, just with a different melody. I realize that most songwriters write down what's on their mind, but I feel like enough is enough. After listening to half of the record, I basically learned that if you believe in God of the war in Iraq, you're a bad person. After listening to the second half, I got more of the same.
I guess what I'm trying to say that the album is fun to listen to. The melodies are catchy and enjoyable. Just don't try to read into the lyrics too much. You'll just be disappointed. Two and a half stars.
 H-O-R-R-I-B-L-E March 10, 2008
4 out of 15 found this review helpful
Serj "sings and sings and sings"? No - Serj doesn't sing; he talks, howls, grunts, and whines like he's trying to channel some inexplicable hybrid of Alanis Morisette and Boris Karloff... Obviously, this is a question of taste, 'cause the average review here is stellar. If you're into SOAD, I suppose you'll love anything Serj does, but when a friend tried to get me into this album, it made me wonder about my friend. And, when Serj opened for Foo Fighters the other night in LA, I thought it was the absolute worst opening act I'd ever seen in my life. Again, I guess I'm wrong, 'cause he was pretty well received by the Foo Faithful, but as his act wore on and on and on, I wasn't the only one growing restless for him to take off his ridiculous top hat and get off the stage. I find his stuff devoid of melody, and his lyrics remind me of the kind of thing you might find written in a cynical, self-absorbed, pseudo-intellectual high schooler's journal.
SOAD fans beware! October 24, 2007
3 out of 30 found this review helpful
Serj is a hard-working, creative guy. I just wish that the music on the record was as interesting as the album art. The singles are about the only memorable tracks from the record. It's a self-indulgent SOLO record , which at times reminds one of some SOAD stuff that is stop-go-stop type writing. I hate to say it, but it's VERY disappointing. Sorry.
Let's hear that Scars on Broadway and see if that's ANy good.
About time for a SOAD left-overs record.
TOOL RULES!
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