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Scars on Broadway delivers ‘rude’ sound |
Posted by ZAk on Sunday, October 05, 2008 - 04:04 PM
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 In
45 minutes, you could call a friend, you could up date your Facebook, or you
could actually study (insert gasp).
Or, you could spend those 45 minutes listening to the self-titled debut album
from Scars on Broadway, a new project featuring former System of a Down
guitarist Daron Malakian and drummer John Dolmayan.
Are these fifteen tracks worth your precious three fourths of an hour?
Starting with the positive, the majority of these songs feature catchy and
creative guitar hooks, appropriately paired with an impressive drum beat. That
aspect of the album is solid.
Vocally, however, Scars is all over the board. Daron Malakian’s vocals are
rather inconsistent. For instance, the opening track, “Serious,” displays both a
beautiful melodic chorus and some splintering vocals on the verses. In fact, the
entire album is made up of a just a few vocal melodies that stand out; the rest
simply grate the ears. A few of the songs do show somewhat consistent vocal
strength, most notably in “World Long Gone” and “Enemy.”
The lyrics in Scars on Broadway are another weakness. For the most part, the
lyrics try so hard to be unbelievably poetic and profound that they end up
simply being unbelievable. “Cute Machines” is easily the worst track on the
album. At over three minutes long, the song is nothing more than three lines
repeatedly sung over and over again. Though not as extreme, close to every track
features the same brand of lyrical repetitiveness. Even the mood of the songs
seem to repeat one another; the beginning of “3005” sounds like nothing more but
an extension of the previous song, “Universe”.
There are a few songs that do manage to rise above the general lack of lyrical
wonderment, how ever. “Whoring Streets” is surprisingly poignant, heart-felt,
and well sung.
This entire album has a melancholy and bitter feel to it, and is bursting with
un-bridled energy. In fact, there is so much energy packed into these 45 minutes
that I was honestly exhausted after listening to the CD.
So, is this album worth the time?
Despite a few bright spots, Scars on Broadway wallows in vocal inconsistency
and angry, repetitive lyrics.
Malakian summarizes his effort the best, however, on the quirky track “Stoner
Hate,” when he proudly acknowledges, “I’m rude, obnoxious/with an intent to
kill.”
Those three phrases sum up the album quite adequately.
by Keirstin Westfallen
Staff Writer -
eccobserver
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Comments
farmer555
05.10.08, 18:12
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This is pretty old news, the album came out a few months ago and I got it In August(with the bonus dvd) and overall I just don't like it, I think that it is a waste of time, but I like They Say, Funny and Enemy but otherwise the album isn't to good.
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partisan_3
05.10.08, 18:15
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wow a very harsh review, although i would agree that lyrically Scars is pretty weak it's still pretty good
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Voodoo_Blues
05.10.08, 19:14
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Not to sound rude, but I'm kinda wondering why this is even news worthy. There are a bunch of reviews on the album, why is this one special enough for news?
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Dreaming_
05.10.08, 19:42
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personally I just love the album. I agree with "Scars on Broadway delivers ‘rude’ sound" line, because to me album IS rude, and it completes everything perfectly. One of the reasons why I love it. and about Whoring Streets. I completelly agree with it. all other things that are in this review are bullshit. but I can't really say anything, it's just what I think.
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SystemofaDownisHot
05.10.08, 20:08
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We need to kill the reviewer...
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Jizzlobber
05.10.08, 20:16
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I agree with the reviewer ALMOST 100%. I don't agree that Cute Machines is the worst song on the album.
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Siefl
05.10.08, 21:06
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^^ Kill the reviewer. i love the album! I dont care if the lyrics are ....what ever the word was! and i <3 cutemachines! Great song to start a mosh pit in my place! whorin streets is great! And yes the album IS worth it! why do ya think over 10k people waited to buy it?! >.>
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Voodoo_Blues
05.10.08, 21:14
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I think people are overly concerned with lyrics. The songs, to me, invoke emotion. I can feel it, so it's good music to me. Some people are just looking for different things in music I guess. =/
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Bounce!
05.10.08, 22:28
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I wouldn't say KILL him. He is right at some points! I mean, Cute Machines really is a poor song. I'm surprised he didn't say anything about Chemicals. And, Daron's voice isn't exactly amazing. Overall I agree, but unlike him, I still enjoyed the album.
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SubNoiZe
06.10.08, 00:44
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i think that some people were biased, wanting another soad album (the same thing happened with serj's album), and got something different. i am completely happy with the album, and listen to it daily.
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CDoris
06.10.08, 02:14
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This is pretty harsh. I like the album as a whole, though individually some songs aren't so good. Why is this posted as news?
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mom45
06.10.08, 04:16
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Kinda makes you wonder about the "qualifications" for being a music critic, you know? Like my husband says, opinions are like assholes. Everybody's got one. And this guy is as entitled to his as any of the rest of us, you know? But has he got some special kinda education/experience that makes his opinions worthy of print? Maybe, maybe not. And there's definitely a place for deep lyrics, but some songs are simply about the way that they make you feel. Listening to "Cute Machines" exhilirates me as well as any thrill ride ever did in my younger days. Weeeee!!!!
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B-FLETCH
06.10.08, 04:29
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the album fucking rocks. whoever wrote this artical is a CHUMP! like... times a million. NO! to the POWER of a million. now that's alot of CHUMP!
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uhhsplat
06.10.08, 04:38
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I love scars i thought it was an excellent album Cute machines only says they go go go because that is what machines do Scars rules they are understated complex lyrics that are amazing this person is an idiot
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beedlej00z
06.10.08, 05:11
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Ill admit the lyrics aren't complex, but they are exactly what songs should be catchy and to the point. This album is great, and the singing is just fine, this reviewer is a mook.
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GenerationX
06.10.08, 07:35
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I had a feeling it wouldn't be all that great.
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bessconst
06.10.08, 12:32
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The worst lyrics for me it's "Chemicals", it's really rude and obnoxious: "FUCK YOU MOM! Piss on your face while you suck on my cock. Come eat some chemicals with me". But another songs are awsome. Music and lyrics are cool. "Babylon", "They Say", "Whoring Streets" - the best songs. And who knows what means "Whoring"?
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AG
06.10.08, 14:25
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i must admit, this critic has the almost exact same opinion on the album as i do...
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