Everything is swirled together at such a dizzying pace, however, that it makes each element hard to distinguish individually. Even when the tempo slows, the seams don't show. It's off-balance yet cohesive. We just use Steven Shaw, the greatest sound guy ever. Although their debut LP has been out for a year and a half, System of a Down didn't secure anything approaching a radio hit until a month ago.
Serge delivers has a common denominator, even if they sound totally off the wall.
And I want the listener to figure it out. I won't say what it is. When the band played a KROQ calendar promotions show in the parking lot of Pasadena's Best Buy a couple weeks ago, security hadn't counted on 4,000 kids showing up, with wayward shoppers perched on top of their cars to see the show. Many of the band's family members attended the performance, which was especially satisfying to Odadjian, as his family hasn't always been supportive of his career choice. That's changed, however.