Steal This Album! cover art

  Studio Album · No. 3

Steal This Album! Songwriting Credits by System of a Down

2002 American Recordings 16 tracks 43 min

Produced by Rick Rubin, Daron Malakian  ·  Engineered by David Schiffman, Thom Russo, Andy Wallace, Vlado Meller

American Recordings Alternative MetalNu Metal
100%
Authorship
Complete Artist

Holds writing credit on 16 of 16 tracks

Authorship Breakdown 16 / 16 documented

Who wrote the songs?

Scored across the 16 tracks with documented writers, by whether System of a Down carries a lyricist or composer credit.

100%
16 trackswritten by System of a Down 0 tracksoutside writers
System of a Down's roles on this album

Share of the 16 tracks where a band member is credited, by role.

Lyricist100%
Composer100%
Producer100%
Performer100%

By the Numbers

16
Tracks
3
Lyricists
2
Producers
2002
Released
Data Insight

Steal This Album! collects completed versions of Toxicity-era tracks that had leaked online in early 2002 as a bootleg dubbed 'Toxicity II,' so its material is largely outtakes rather than freshly written songs. The authorship split holds as elsewhere: Daron Malakian composed the music and Serj Tankian wrote the lyrics, with Rubin and Malakian producing. 'Boom!' had circulated earlier on the leak as a Tankian-only track before being reworked. Despite its outtake origins, band members have named it among their favorite releases.

Track Listing & Credits 16 tracks

Written by the artist Written by outside writers
#TitleLyricist(s)Composer(s)Producer(s)Performers
1
Chic 'n' Stu
Serj Tankian Daron Malakian Rick RubinDaron Malakian Serj Tankian (Lead Vocals)Daron Malakian (Vocals)
2
Innervision #14
Serj Tankian Daron Malakian Rick RubinDaron Malakian Serj Tankian (Lead Vocals)Daron Malakian (Vocals)
3
Bubbles
Serj Tankian Daron Malakian Rick RubinDaron Malakian Serj Tankian (Lead Vocals)Daron Malakian (Vocals)
4
Boom!
Daron Malakian Shavo Odadjian Rick RubinDaron Malakian Serj Tankian (Lead Vocals)Daron Malakian (Vocals)
5
Nüguns
Serj Tankian Serj Tankian Rick RubinDaron Malakian Serj Tankian (Lead Vocals)Daron Malakian (Vocals)
6
A.D.D. (American Dream Denial)
Daron Malakian Daron Malakian Rick RubinDaron Malakian Serj Tankian (Lead Vocals)Daron Malakian (Vocals)
7
Mr. Jack
Daron Malakian Serj Tankian Rick RubinDaron Malakian Serj Tankian (Lead Vocals)Daron Malakian (Vocals)
8
I-E-A-I-A-I-O
John Dolmayan Shavo Odadjian Rick RubinDaron Malakian Serj Tankian (Lead Vocals)Daron Malakian (Vocals)
9
36
Serj Tankian Daron Malakian Rick RubinDaron Malakian Serj Tankian (Lead Vocals)Daron Malakian (Vocals)
10
Pictures
Serj Tankian Daron Malakian Rick RubinDaron Malakian Serj Tankian (Lead Vocals)Daron Malakian (Vocals)
11
Highway Song
Serj Tankian Daron Malakian Rick RubinDaron Malakian Serj Tankian (Lead Vocals)Daron Malakian (Vocals)
12
Fuck the System
Daron Malakian Daron Malakian Rick RubinDaron Malakian Serj Tankian (Lead Vocals)Daron Malakian (Vocals)
13
Ego Brain
Serj Tankian Serj Tankian Rick RubinDaron Malakian Serj Tankian (Lead Vocals)Daron Malakian (Vocals)
14
Thetawaves
Serj Tankian Serj Tankian Rick RubinDaron Malakian Serj Tankian (Lead Vocals)Daron Malakian (Vocals)
15
Roulette
Daron Malakian Daron Malakian Rick RubinDaron Malakian Serj Tankian (Lead Vocals)Daron Malakian (Vocals)
16
Streamline
Serj Tankian Serj Tankian Rick RubinDaron Malakian Serj Tankian (Lead Vocals)Daron Malakian (Vocals)

Songwriter & Credit Spotlight 5 contributors

DM
Daron Malakian
Writer · Producer · Vocals
On this album11 written
ST
Serj Tankian
Writer · Vocals
On this album11 written
SO
Shavo Odadjian
Writer
On this album2 written
JD
John Dolmayan
Writer
On this album1 written
RR
Rick Rubin
Producer
On this album16 produced

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Frequently Asked Questions Steal This Album!

Is Steal This Album! a compilation or a studio album?
Steal This Album! consists of previously unreleased and leaked tracks from the Toxicity recording sessions rather than newly written material. In early 2002 medium-quality versions leaked online as a bootleg called 'Toxicity II,' and the band released finished versions later that year. Wikipedia describes it as the band's third studio album while noting its outtake origins.
Where did the songs on Steal This Album! come from?
Most of the songs are completed outtakes from the Toxicity sessions, plus a B-side. After a low-quality collection leaked online under the bootleg name 'Toxicity II,' the band finished the tracks properly and issued them officially as Steal This Album!
Who produced Steal This Album!?
Rick Rubin and Daron Malakian produced the album, the same team behind Toxicity. David Schiffman and Thom Russo handled recording, Andy Wallace mixed most of the record, and Vlado Meller mastered it.
What is Boom! by System of a Down about?
'Boom!' is an explicit anti-war song. It addresses the horror of war and how governments spend heavily on the military while overlooking other issues. Daron Malakian called potential war with Iraq a personal issue because he has family living there.
Who directed the Boom! music video?
Michael Moore directed the 'Boom!' video, using footage from the February 15, 2003 global anti-war protests along with animated depictions of world leaders. MTV Europe later banned the video after viewer complaints.
Who wrote the songs on Steal This Album!?
As on the band's other records, Daron Malakian composed the music and Serj Tankian wrote the lyrics, with additional contributors noted on some tracks. The singles 'Innervision' and 'Boom!' credit both Tankian and Malakian as songwriters.
Did Steal This Album! produce any charting singles?
'Innervision' was the main single, reaching number 14 on Mainstream Rock and number 12 on Alternative Airplay, peaking at number 7 on the Bubbling Under Hot 100 without entering the main chart. 'Boom!' was released as a promotional single but did not chart.

Sources

Wikipedia: Steal This Album! Wikipedia: Innervision Wikipedia: Boom! (System of a Down song) MusicBrainz release group Cover Art Archive front cover Cover Art Archive: Steal This Album! by System of a Down