Music Review: Scars on Broadway: Scars On Broadway (Universal Music)

CLAIMING to have lots of material lying around, guitarist Daron Malakian took a break from alt-metal outfit System of a Down to get an album out and Scars On Broadway is the result.

The 15-track album features Malakian on vocals, guitars, bass, keyboards, organ and melotron, with help from fellow System drummer John Dolmayan on skins.

While his backup singing and yelping received progressively longer airtime with every System album release, here as lead singer Malakian is less irritating, providing decent vocals at best.

It doesn’t help that the lyrical department is not too solid either.

Check out the scorching rocker Stoner Hate with its ultra catchy sing along chorus and absolutely naff lyrics.

But all shortcomings are perhaps compensated by Malakian’s musicianship and ability to craft sticky pop hooks to accompany rocking riffs.

Enemy, with its groovy drums and slippery wah-guitar refrains, brings to mind images of a cowboy showdown happening in a disco, the high noon sun replaced by a mirror ball.

Midway through Malakian appropriately states: “We’re all on drugs.”

Most of the songs fall in the three-minute range with an underlying theme of a world breaking down and coming to an end, hopeless and cynical, as he sings on the album closer They Say: “They say it’s all about to end, thank god it’s all about to end.”

Similarities with System inevitably abound, most notably Malakian’s sub-machine gun guitar riffs.

This is an accessible album that would most likely satisfy both System fans as well as newcomers. - By AREF OMAR

Various Artistes: If (Universal Music)

IF you need a hand to relax this weekend; if you need the right background music to your day; or if you wish to take a stroll down memory lane; this album is for you.

If by Universal is a compilation of some of the greatest songs, ever. Melodies that haunt, make you smile and certainly cheer you up.

The two-CD album starts with If written by David Gates in 1971 and sung by his group Bread. You’ll find the likes of Lobo’s How Can I Tell Her and The Commodores singing Easy. Then there’s Charlene’s I’ve Never Been To Me that was an unexpected success in the 80s and was featured in both Priscilla: Queen Of The Desert in 1994 and Shrek 3 last year.

Sure to put a big smile on your face is Mama Cass’ Dream A Little Dream Of Me and Cat Stevens’ Wild World.

The second CD has an interesting combination of songs sung Diana Ross to Amy Winehouse. I’m sure nobody could’ve ever imagined such different styles of entertainers on the same album. Two powerful women with gorgeous vocals — Ross sings her famous Do You Know Where You’re Going To and Winehouse does Love Is A Losing Game.

Check out Sting singing Fragile, Peaches & Herb doing Reunited and Beautiful South performing the delightful Song For Whoever, which anyone will love even if your name is not “Jennifer, Alison, Phillipa, Sue, Deborah, Annabel”.

It’s time you got your hands on this very entertaining, varied and memorable album. — By PRISCILLA RAJAN