Mezmerize (System of a Down album)

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"Lost in Hollywood" redirects here. For the Rainbow song of the same name, see Down to Earth (Rainbow album).
Mezmerize
Studio album by System of a Down
Released May 16, 2005 (Europe)
May 17, 2005 (United States)
May 18, 2005 (Japan)
Recorded The Mansion and Akademie Mathematique of Philosophical Sound Research, Los Angeles, California
Genre Alternative metal, art rock, hard rock, progressive rock
Length 36:15
Label Columbia (United Kingdom)
American/Columbia (United States)
Sony Japan (Japan)
Producer Rick Rubin, Daron Malakian
Professional reviews
System of a Down chronology
Steal This Album!
(2002)		 Mezmerize
(2005)		 Hypnotize
(2005)
Singles from Mezmerize
  1. "B.Y.O.B."
    Released: August 23, 2005
  2. "Question!"
    Released: August 2005

Mezmerize is the fourth studio album by American alternative metal band System of a Down, and the first half of the Mezmerize/Hypnotize double album. It was released on May 17, 2005, six months before Hypnotize.

Contents

[edit] Album information

Despite the time difference between releases, the album actually takes its name from the lyrics in the song Hypnotize; Mezmerize and Hypnotize were recorded within the same time frame. The album features guitarist Daron Malakian sharing most of the vocal work with vocalist Serj Tankian, splitting the vocals at least halfway on most of the tracks.

The album debuted at number one in at least twelve countries[7], including the US Billboard 200, and has since been certified Platinum by the RIAA. It was chosen as one of Amazon.com's Top 100 Editor's Picks of 2005. The album has sold over 6 million copies worldwide since its release. The hit single B.Y.O.B. won a Grammy Award in 2006 for Best Hard Rock Performance.

The vinyl pressing contains a slightly different mix of 'Soldier Side (Intro)' without strings, while the leaked mp3 version of Cigaro contains a 4-stick hit intro not present in the retail version.

[edit] Reception

  • Rolling Stone (No. 975, pp.67-70) - 3.5 stars out of 5 - "Everything on Mezmerize hits and splits with viciously honed purpose."
  • Spin (p.101) - "Moods are muddled even more artfully on Mezmerize." - Grade: B+
  • Robert Christgau - "Firm in their convictions and (relatively) simple in their art-rock" Grade: 1-star honorable mention

[edit] Track listing

# Title Lyrics Music Length
1. "Soldier Side - Intro"   Daron Malakian, Serj Tankian Malakian 1:03
2. "B.Y.O.B."   Tankian, Malakian Malakian 4:15
3. "Revenga"   Malakian, Tankian Malakian 3:48
4. "Cigaro"   Malakian, Tankian Malakian 2:11
5. "Radio/Video"   Malakian, Tankian Malakian 4:09
6. "This Cocaine Makes Me Feel Like I'm on This Song"   Tankian Malakian 2:08
7. "Violent Pornography"   Malakian, Tankian Malakian 3:31
8. "Question!"   Tankian Tankian 3:20
9. "Sad Statue"   Tankian, Malakian Malakian 3:25
10. "Old School Hollywood"   Malakian Malakian 2:56
11. "Lost in Hollywood"   Malakian, Tankian Malakian 5:20
  • In Russian and Ukrainian versions most of songs credited incorrectly (Tracks 6-11).

[edit] Personnel

System of a Down
Main production personnel
Additional production personnel
  • Phillip Broussard – engineering assistance
  • John O'Mahony – Pro Tools engineering
  • Steve Sisco – mixing assistance
  • Joe Peluso – mixing assistance
Additional personnel
  • Mark Mann – string arrangements
  • Vartan Malakian – artwork
  • Brandy Flower – graphic design

[edit] Charts

Year Chart Position
2005 Billboard 200 1
UK Albums Chart 2
Australian ARIA Top 50 1
Canadian Album Chart 1
New Zealand Top Album Chart 1

[edit] References

  1. ^ Loftus, Johnny. "Mezmerize: System of a Down". Allmusic. http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=10:6p9yxddb5old~T1. Retrieved 2009-11-30. 
  2. ^ Sinclair, Tom. "Mezmerize (2005): System of a Down". Entertainment Weekly. http://www.ew.com/ew/article/0,,1060789,00.html. Retrieved 2009-11-30. 
  3. ^ Byrom, Cory D.. "System of a Down: Mezmerize/Hypnotize". Pitchfork Media. http://pitchforkmedia.com/article/record_review/22229/System_of_a_Down_Mezmerize_Hypnotize. Retrieved 2009-11-30. 
  4. ^ Begrand, Adrien. "System Of A Down: Mezmerize". PopMatters. http://www.popmatters.com/music/reviews/s/systemofadown-mesmerize.shtml. Retrieved 2009-11-30. 
  5. ^ Fricke, David. "System of a Down: Mezmerize". Rolling Stone. http://www.rollingstone.com/artists/systemofadown/albums/album/7309436/review/7313411/mezmerize. Retrieved 2009-11-30. 
  6. ^ Pemberton, Rollie. "System Of A Down: Mezmerize". Stylus Magazine. http://www.stylusmagazine.com/reviews/system-of-a-down/mezmerize.htm. Retrieved 2009-11-30. 
  7. ^ System Of A Down Mezmerizes Music Fans Worldwide
  8. ^ a b Epstein, Dan (July 2008). Guitar World Interview with Daron Malakian: "A Scar Is Born". Guitar World. http://soadfans.com/Article600.htm. 
Preceded by
Stand Up by Dave Matthews Band		 Billboard 200 number-one album
May 29, 2005 - June 4, 2005		 Succeeded by
Out of Exile by Audioslave
Preceded by
Il Divo by Il Divo		 Australian ARIA Albums Chart number-one album
May 30 - June 5, 2005		 Succeeded by
Monkey Business by Black Eyed Peas
v • d • e
System of a Down
Serj Tankian • Shavo Odadjian • Daron Malakian • John Dolmayan
Ontronik "Andy" Khachaturian
Studio albums
Singles
"Sugar" • "Chop Suey!" • "Toxicity" • "Aerials" • "Innervision" • "B.Y.O.B." • "Question!" • "Hypnotize" • "Lonely Day"  • "Kill Rock 'n Roll"
Other songs
"Boom!" • "Spiders" • "Chic 'n' Stu" • "I-E-A-I-A-I-O" • "P.L.U.C.K." • "Prison Song" • "War?"
Related artists
Related articles
Categories
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