"Steal This Album!" is the third studio album by American nu-metal band System of a Down, released on November 26, 2002, through American Recordings and Columbia Records. Produced by Rick Rubin and band member Daron Malakian, the album peaked at number 15 on the US Billboard 200.
In early 2002, low-quality MP3s of the album, which were titled Toxicity II, were leaked on the internet. The band issued a statement expressing their disappointment over fans hearing unfinished material, and they worked to release a completed, higher-quality version of the album, which ultimately became Steal This Album!.
While the album was often described in the media as a collection of B-sides and outtakes, the band insisted that the material on Steal This Album! was of equal quality to the tracks that appeared on their previous album, Toxicity. Vocalist Serj Tankian explained that the songs were omitted from Toxicity not due to their quality, but because they didn't fit the overall continuity of the album. Drummer John Dolmayan later revealed in 2009 that Steal This Album! was his favorite System of a Down release, a sentiment that Tankian echoed in a 2012 Reddit AMA, calling it his own favorite album from the band.
The track "Streamline" originally appeared on The Scorpion King soundtrack in early 2002 and was also featured as a B-side on the "Aerials" single. Additionally, multi-instrumentalist Arto Tunçboyacıyan, who had previously contributed to Toxicity, sings on the song "Bubbles," marking his third appearance with the band.
One of the most curious tracks on Steal This Album! is "I-E-A-I-A-I-O," which has an interesting backstory. Drummer John Dolmayan revealed that the song was inspired by a bizarre encounter he had with actor David Hasselhoff in a Los Angeles liquor store when Dolmayan was around 12 years old. Dolmayan recalled how he was starstruck and greeted Hasselhoff, who was buying a soda, with the words "Knight Rider!" In the song, the lyrics "Meeting John at Dale's Jr. / Winked an eye and point a finger" refer to this encounter, with "Dale's Jr." being the name of the liquor store where the incident occurred.
Steal This Album! is notable for its eclectic mix of experimental nu-metal, social commentary, and humor, continuing System of a Down’s trademark sound while offering a glimpse into the band's creative process following the immense success of Toxicity.
