| Steal This Album! | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Studio album by System of a Down | ||||
| Released | November 26, 2002 | |||
| Recorded | 2002 | |||
| Genre | Alternative metal, hard rock | |||
| Length | 43:31 | |||
| Label | American/Columbia | |||
| Producer | Rick Rubin, Daron Malakian | |||
| System of a Down chronology | ||||
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| Singles from Steal This Album! | ||||
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Steal This Album! is the third studio album by American heavy metal band System of a Down, released on November 26, 2002, on American Recordings. Produced by Rick Rubin and Daron Malakian, and reached #15 in the Billboard Top 200.[1]
Contents |
This album was released shortly after a collection of medium-quality MP3s found its way onto the Internet under the unofficial name Toxicity II, a year after the release of the group's multi-platinum record, Toxicity. The band issued a statement expressing their disappointment that their fans were hearing unfinished material, and released the finished versions of the leaked material. Most, but not all tracks from the original leak (e.g. "Cherry") made it onto Steal This Album!, and three new tracks such as "Roulette" were also added. Many song titles, lyrics, and melodies were changed, making the new album significantly different from the unfinished product.
Though often reported in the media as being a collection of B-sides and outtakes, the band insists that the Steal This Album! material is of the same quality as the tracks which made it onto Toxicity. Vocalist Serj Tankian has said that the songs were left out of Toxicity "because they didn't fit the overall continuity of the album". An alternate version of "Streamline" was used in The Scorpion King soundtrack, which was released in early 2002, and as a B-side on some copies of the "Aerials" single.
The album title is a reference to Abbie Hoffman's book Steal This Book, which is regarded as a classic example of counterculture literature. A similar title (Steal This Movie!) was used for a movie about Hoffman's life. A year prior to this album however, The Suicide Machines had already released an album titled Steal This Record. The Coup had also released a Steal This Album in 1998.
The packaging for this album is quite unusual. The album comes in a normal CD jewel case with only a disc and no booklet. On the CD and the back of the case, the text is styled as if written by a black permanent marker, in faux-bootleg appearance. This is an obvious response by the band to the people who leaked the original Toxicity II CD.
Most songs on the album have received limited play to a live audience. However, songs "Mr. Jack" and "Roulette" were played extensively to live audiences. Multi-instrumentalist Arto Tunçboyacıyan sings on the song "Bubbles", making his third appearance with System of a Down (having appeared on two songs on Toxicity).
In May 2009, drummer John Dolmayan revealed that the album is his favorite System of a Down release.[2]
| Professional ratings | |
|---|---|
| Aggregate scores | |
| Source | Rating |
| Metacritic | (77%)[3] |
| Review scores | |
| Source | Rating |
| Allmusic | [4] |
| Blender | [5] |
| Entertainment Weekly | (B+)[6] |
| Rolling Stone | [7] |
| Spin | (8/10)[8] |
| Sputnikmusic | [9] |
In the United Kingdom and United States releases of Steal This Album!, for a limited time four alternative versions of the disc artwork were available. Each were designed by a member of the band. One featured an entirely blue background with text swirling into the center. One was a drawing of crude stylized flames, accompanied by text. The third was black and gray, depicting a skull with writing in the mouth. The fourth, and perhaps most controversial featured two 'V' shapes, crossing over in the center to create a diamond. One 'V' was entirely blue, and the other red and white striped. If looked at close enough, it becomes apparent that the "V shapes" are actually legs, meaning a woman (in the red and white) is laying on her back with her legs in the air, while a man (in blue) is standing over her, symbolizing the fact of how the American society is so connected with sexual acts. These versions are considered very rare. Additionally, the vinyl edition of the album was released as a double picture disc with each design featuring as a side of the album.
In Europe a one sided front insert has also been seen. It is all white with the album title in black, similar to the original CD cover.
| No. | Title | Lyrics | Music | Length |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Chic 'n' Stu" | Tankian | Malakian | 2:23 |
| 2. | "Innervision" | Tankian | Malakian, Tankian | 2:33 |
| 3. | "Bubbles" (feat. Arto Tunçboyaciyan) | Tankian | Malakian | 1:56 |
| 4. | "Boom!" | Tankian | Malakian, Odadjian | 2:14 |
| 5. | "Nüguns" | Tankian, Malakian | Malakian | 2:30 |
| 6. | "A.D.D. (American Dream Denial)" | Tankian | Malakian | 3:17 |
| 7. | "Mr. Jack" | Tankian, Malakian | Malakian | 4:09 |
| 8. | "I-E-A-I-A-I-O" | Tankian | Tankian, Malakian, Odadjian, Dolmayan | 3:08 |
| 9. | "36" | Tankian | Tankian | 0:46 |
| 10. | "Pictures" | Tankian, Malakian | Malakian | 2:06 |
| 11. | "Highway Song" | Tankian, Malakian | Malakian | 3:13 |
| 12. | "Fuck the System" | Tankian | Malakian, Tankian | 2:12 |
| 13. | "Ego Brain" | Tankian, Malakian | Malakian, Tankian | 3:21 |
| 14. | "Thetawaves" | Tankian, Malakian | Malakian | 2:36 |
| 15. | "Roulette" | Tankian | Malakian, Tankian | 3:21 |
| 16. | "Streamline" | Tankian | Malakian | 3:37 |
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Total length:
|
43:31 | |||
| Year | Single | Chart | Position |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2003 | "Innervision" | Mainstream Rock Tracks | 14 |
| Modern Rock Tracks | 12 |
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