#30: Serj Tankian - Imperfect Harmonies

Disowned, Inc.
Borders Are...
Deserving?
Beatus
Reconstructive Demonstrations
Electron
Gate 21
Yes, It's Genocide
Peace Be Revenged
Left Of Center
Wings Of Summer

All tracks written, performed, produced, engineered and orchestrated by Serj Tankian

Mario Pugliarulo - bass
Troy Zeigler - live drums
Vincent Pedulla - additional orchestrations
Dan Monti - additional guitars on 'Borders Are...', 'Electron', and 'Wings Of Summer'
Brain - live drums on 'Left Of Center'
Shana Halligan - additional vocals on 'Beatus' and 'Wings Of Summer'
Ani Maldjian - operatic vocals
David Alpay - solo violin on 'Wings Of Summer'

Label: Reprise/Serjical Strike

Inspired by a live collaboration with the Auckland Symphony Orchestra, Serj Tankian's follow-up to the brilliant 'Elect The Dead' features full orchestration on all tracks. Rather than being a classical album or what has become known as "symphonic metal", this still sounds like a Serj Tankian record.

System Of A Down are a great band, but Serj sounds far more comfortable singing his own songs than Daron Malakian's, and the result is a usually superior end product to his band. 'Imperfect Harmonies' never reaches the same heights musically as 'Elect The Dead' or SOAD's debut album, but it's always very good to listen to. Even if there is a bit of a failed experiment with electronics on 'Deserving?' which can be best described as "disco rock" and them promptly forgotten.

Lyrically nothing has changed. Serj is still singing about the same subjects he always had. So we have yet another song about the Armenian genocide, etc. It's not a huge problem, but I do wish he'd find something else to write about sometime.

'Imperfect Harmonies' isn't an easy listen, and sometimes it can be quite frustrating, but if you're in the right mood for it, it's oddly effective, and surprisingly mellow-sounding compared to his other output.

Listen Here: Serj Tankian – Imperfect Harmonies