Serj Tankian - Serart
Review by Dan Grote

Serj Tankian - Serart
Label: Serjical Strike/Columbia Records
Rating:

Serart is the story of one nu metal band's frontman's embrace of world music, proving once again that, apparently, System of a Down's Serj Tankian is the new Joe Strummer. Combining what feels like a mess of styles ranging from African tribal beats to the music of the Far, Near, and Middle East to some easier-to-recognize drum and bass loops, Tankian teams with fellow Armenian musician Arto Tuncboyaciyan (No, I will not pronounce that for you) on this anything-but-mainstream vanity project.

Serart, billed as a team effort, is largely Tuncboyaciyan's (It's even hard to spell) show. Tankian puts his two spoken-word cents in every now and again, but it's more a study in international instrumental jams. For System fans, it is important to note that Tuncboyaciyan (No, really, it's frustrating how slow I have to type this) provided the woodwind solo that succeeded "Aerials" at the end of 2001's Toxicity.

As for contemporary sounds, every once in a while a scratched turntable or sampling does appear, but not so as to interfere with the string of ethereal bongo and woodwind solos that sometimes spill over into multiple tracks, especially in the beginning.

And of course, there is the political bent. "Love Is the Peace" opens up with the sounds of wartime gunfire, followed by some delightful Armenian chanting. "Leave Melody Counting Fear" gives Tankian the chance to sing his politics instead of scream them over Tuncboyaciyan's (grrr�) Spanish guitar, while "Claustrophobia" is Tankian's spoken word plea for peace/philosophy lesson.

VERDICT: When most people say "Oh, I like all kinds of music," they tend to only mean top 40, rock, hip-hop, and 80's music, and if they're feeling crazy, maybe country. If Serart does nothing, it certainly broadens the listener's musical horizons with its Eastern-centric music. The Western beats make it more palatable, but not to the point where the album's intent feels diluted. This is a good album to borrow from or give to your new age-y alt-rock friend.

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