Imperfect Harmonies
Encyclopedia
Imperfect Harmonies is the second studio album by Armenian-American singer Serj Tankian
. The album was released on September 21, 2010 through Reprise Records
and Serjical Strike Records
.
and needed more time to obtain more of the material. Tankian is environmentally conscious and researched this type of paper on his own. Other releases by Tankian that use tree-free paper include his first solo effort Elect the Dead
, and Hypnotize
and Mezmerize, the last two releases by his band System of a Down
.
The first song released off of Imperfect Harmonies was "Borders Are...". The song was released in June 2010 as a free download and also as an online lyric video. Serj Tankian had no involvement with the video. It was created by George Tonikian as a promotional tool while Tankian was on tour. This was followed by the album's first official single "Left of Center." The song was released as a single in July 2010 and was later released as a music video in August 2010. These first two songs released from Imperfect Harmonies were described by Tankian as being "the most blatantly political songs on the record. Everything is a bit more philosophical and... more abstract.". Later he released "Disowned inc." on his web page, and also created a game to discover pieces of the song.
The album opened at #35 on the Billboard 200
with 10,200 copies.
's Auckland Philharmonia Orchestra
to perform a symphonic version of Elect the Dead. This pairing resulted in the live album Elect the Dead Symphony
released in 2010. The experimentation of mixing orchestra music with rock music inspired Tankian to explore this blend further. In addition to orchestral music, Imperfect Harmonies takes influences from jazz
and electronica
.
.
Serj Tankian
Serj Tankian is a Lebanese-born Armenian-American singer–songwriter, composer, multi-instrumentalist, playwright, record producer, poet, and political activist...
. The album was released on September 21, 2010 through Reprise Records
Reprise Records
Reprise Records is an American record label, founded in 1960 by Frank Sinatra. It is owned by Warner Music Group, and operated through Warner Bros. Records.-Beginnings:...
and Serjical Strike Records
Serjical Strike Records
Serjical Strike Records is an American record label, owned by Universal Music Group, and operates under Universal Republic Records.-Background:...
.
Release and promotion
Imperfect Harmonies was originally scheduled to be released on September 7, 2010, but was later pushed back two weeks to September 21. The paper manufacturing plant that Tankian selected to print the album's booklet ran out of tree-free paperTree-free paper
Tree-free paper or tree-free newsprint describes an alternative to wood-pulp paper by its raw material composition. It is claimed to be more eco-friendly considering the product's entire life cycle.Sources of fibre for tree-free paper include:...
and needed more time to obtain more of the material. Tankian is environmentally conscious and researched this type of paper on his own. Other releases by Tankian that use tree-free paper include his first solo effort Elect the Dead
Elect the Dead
-Personnel:* All Songs Written & Performed by Serj Tankian - Stunning Suppository Sounds '...
, and Hypnotize
Hypnotize (album)
The album was initially going to start with a Middle Eastern style instrumental track entitled "Hezze", which Malakian stated was one of his favorite songs on the record prior its release. It was dropped at the last minute because the group wanted to open the album with a heavy song and because the...
and Mezmerize, the last two releases by his band System of a Down
System of a Down
System of a Down, also known by the acronym SOAD and often shortened to System, is a rock band from Southern California. The band was formed in 1994. It consists of Serj Tankian , Daron Malakian , Shavo Odadjian and John Dolmayan...
.
The first song released off of Imperfect Harmonies was "Borders Are...". The song was released in June 2010 as a free download and also as an online lyric video. Serj Tankian had no involvement with the video. It was created by George Tonikian as a promotional tool while Tankian was on tour. This was followed by the album's first official single "Left of Center." The song was released as a single in July 2010 and was later released as a music video in August 2010. These first two songs released from Imperfect Harmonies were described by Tankian as being "the most blatantly political songs on the record. Everything is a bit more philosophical and... more abstract.". Later he released "Disowned inc." on his web page, and also created a game to discover pieces of the song.
The album opened at #35 on the Billboard 200
Billboard 200
The Billboard 200 is a ranking of the 200 highest-selling music albums and EPs in the United States, published weekly by Billboard magazine. It is frequently used to convey the popularity of an artist or groups of artists...
with 10,200 copies.
Musical direction
In 2009, Tankian collaborated with New ZealandNew Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
's Auckland Philharmonia Orchestra
Auckland Philharmonia Orchestra
The Auckland Philharmonia Orchestra was established in the early 1980s and has become one of New Zealand's major performing organisations. The instigation of its Composer-in-Residence programme in 1990 has made the orchestra an important force in the promotion of New Zealand composed...
to perform a symphonic version of Elect the Dead. This pairing resulted in the live album Elect the Dead Symphony
Elect the Dead Symphony
-Chart positions:-External links:*...
released in 2010. The experimentation of mixing orchestra music with rock music inspired Tankian to explore this blend further. In addition to orchestral music, Imperfect Harmonies takes influences from jazz
Jazz
Jazz is a musical style that originated at the beginning of the 20th century in African American communities in the Southern United States. It was born out of a mix of African and European music traditions. From its early development until the present, jazz has incorporated music from 19th and 20th...
and electronica
Electronica
Electronica includes a wide range of contemporary electronic music designed for a wide range of uses, including foreground listening, some forms of dancing, and background music for other activities; however, unlike electronic dance music, it is not specifically made for dancing...
.
Track listing
Personnel
All songs written, performed, produced, engineered and orchestrated by Serj TankianSerj Tankian
Serj Tankian is a Lebanese-born Armenian-American singer–songwriter, composer, multi-instrumentalist, playwright, record producer, poet, and political activist...
.
- Vincent Pedulla – additional orchestrations
- Dan MontiDan MontiDan Monti, also known by his stage name Del Rey Brewer, is a musician, composer, producer and engineer who has worked with such bands as Metallica, Slayer and Guns 'n' Roses...
– additional guitars on tracks 2, 6 & 11 and drum and bass engineering on tracks 1-6, 9 & 11 - Troy Zeigler – live drumming on tracks 1-6, 9 & 11
- BrainBryan MantiaBryan "Brain" Mantia is a contemporary rock drummer. He has played with bands like Primus, Guns N' Roses, Praxis and Godflesh, and with other popular performers such as Tom Waits, Bill Laswell, Bootsy Collins and Buckethead...
– live drumming on track 10 - Mario Pugliarulo – live bass on tracks 1-6, 9 & 11
- Shana Halligan – additional vocals on tracks 4 & 11
- Ani Maldjian – additional operatic vocals on various songs
- David Alpay – solo violin on track 11
Chart positions
| Year | Chart | Peak |
|---|---|---|
| 2010 | The Billboard 200 | |
| German Albums Chart Media Control Charts The official music charts in Germany are gathered and published by the company Media Control GfK International on behalf of Bundesverband Musikindustrie... |
|
|
| UK Albums Chart | |
|
| European Top 100 Albums European Top 100 Albums The European Top 100 Albums chart is the European adaptation of the Billboard 200 albums chart. It was created in March 1984.The European Top 100 Albums, commonly referred to as Eurochart Top 100 Albums shows the sales of an act in 19 European countries based on IFPI data.The European Top 100... |
35 | |
| Finland Albums Top 40 | |
|
| Italian Albums Top 100 | |
|
| French Albums Top 200 | |
|
| Czech Republican Top 50 | |
|
| Russian Albums Chart | |
|
| Top Canadian Albums | |