Steal This Album!
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Steal This Album! is the third studio album by the American heavy metal band System of a Down, released on November 26, 2002, by American Recordings and Columbia Records. Produced by Rick Rubin and Daron Malakian, it peaked at number 15 on the US Billboard 200.<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref>
Background
[edit]In early 2002, medium-quality MP3s of the album were released on the internet under the name Toxicity II. The band issued a statement expressing disappointment that fans were hearing material that was unfinished, and they worked to release a completed, higher-quality version of the album, which became Steal This Album!.<ref name="CMJ">Template:Cite book</ref>
Though often reported in the media as a collection of B-sides and outtakes, the band insisted that the Steal This Album! material is of the same quality as the tracks that made it onto Toxicity. Vocalist Serj Tankian has said that the songs were left out of Toxicity "because they did not fit the overall continuity of the album". In May 2009, drummer John Dolmayan revealed that the album is his favorite System of a Down release.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Similarly, Tankian also called the album his favorite System of a Down album in a 2012 AMA on reddit.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
A first version of "Streamline" was used in The Scorpion King soundtrack, which was released in early 2002, and as a B-side on the CD2 edition of "Aerials".
Multi-instrumentalist Arto Tunçboyacıyan sings on the song "Bubbles", marking his third appearance with System of a Down (having appeared on two songs on Toxicity).
Commenting on the track "I-E-A-I-A-I-O", drummer John Dolmayan said it was inspired by an encounter he had with actor David Hasselhoff in a liquor store in Los Angeles when he was around 12:<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref>
Critical reception
[edit]The album received generally favorable reviews from music critics, scoring 77 out of 100 on the aggregate website Metacritic.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Giving the album 4 stars out of 5 in his review for AllMusic, Chris True noted, "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."<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> "Steal This Album stands head-and-tattooed shoulders above its competition in the hard-rock genre," said Entertainment Weekly in a similarly glowing review, awarding the album a B+ rating.<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref>
Rolling Stone called Steal This Album "an absurdist blast of political rage, silly theater and shattered math metal."<ref name="Cross"/> Jeremy Gladstone of Kludge gave the album a score of 7 out of 10 in his review and both praised and criticized the album, writing, "Love them or hate them, System is here to stay. The writing is consistent and the music is as tight as we have been accustomed to, perhaps a degree more so at times on the album. Steal This Album is guaranteed to satisfy every System of a Down fan listening. However, from song eight to twelve on the album, the material is a little too similar to really stand out compared to the more intense tracks. Unreleased material can sometimes be good, and sometimes it still doesn't work out."<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Victoria Segal, writing for NME, gave Steal This Album! 3.5 stars out of 5 in a less flattering review, stating, "System of a Down's concerns may be no laughing matter, but unfortunately, their music often is. Guitarist Daron Malakian describes this record as 'a bridge between Toxicity and our next record,' which only indicates troubled waters ahead." She did, however, end her review with, "Yes, System of a Down are insane, ridiculous, a brain-pan pizza with extra mushrooms. But how can something this righteous ever be wrong?"<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Track listing
[edit]All lyrics written by Serj Tankian, except where noted. All music written by Daron Malakian, except where noted. Template:Track listing
Personnel
[edit]System of a Down
- Serj Tankian – vocals, keyboards, guitar on "Mr. Jack", (Intro, Verse, Chorus)
- Daron Malakian – guitars, vocals
- Shavo Odadjian – bass
- John Dolmayan – drums
Additional musicians
- Arto Tunçboyaciyan – vocals and percussions on "Bubbles"
- Greg Collins – theremin on "Ego Brain"
Production
- Rick Rubin and Daron Malakian – producers
- David Schiffman and Thom Russo – recording
- Andy Wallace – mixing
- Rick Rubin, Thom Russo, and David Schiffman – mixing ("Roulette")
- Vlado Meller – mastering
Charts
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Weekly charts
[edit]| Chart (2002–2003) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| Canadian Albums (Billboard)<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> | 13 |
| Italian Albums (Musica e Dischi)<ref>Template:Cite web Set "Tipo" on "Album". Then, in the "Titolo" field, search "Steal this album!".</ref> | 50 |
Year-end charts
[edit]| Chart (2002) | Position |
|---|---|
| Canadian Albums (Nielsen SoundScan)<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> | 143 |
| Canadian Alternative Albums (Nielsen SoundScan)<ref name = "CANALTYE02">Template:Cite web</ref> | 46 |
| Canadian Metal Albums (Nielsen SoundScan)<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> | 23 |
| Chart (2003) | Position |
|---|---|
| US Billboard 200<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref> | 74 |
Singles
[edit]| Year | Single | Chart | Position |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2002 | "Innervision" | Mainstream Rock Tracks | 14 |
| Modern Rock Tracks | 12 |
Certifications
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