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http://www.rollingstone.com/assets/images/album_review/f4b9c537be345180b5d848a8422afaadbca44b7d.jpg Elect the Dead Symphony

Serj Tankian

Elect the Dead Symphony

Reprise
Rolling Stone: star rating
Community: star rating
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March 9, 2010

System of a Down frontman Serj Tankian's 2007 solo debut, Elect the Dead, was a harmless brain-dump, but the idea of recording it live with an orchestra is another story. The Auckland Philharmonia Orchestra gamely chase Tankian into a maze of art-song, but where SoD might turn lyrics like "prophets all destroying the Tao" into an apocalyptic blitz, surging symphonics expose it as the doofy pomp it is. And asking classical musicians to play a song called "Beethoven's Cunt"? That's just mean.

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