Say Anything - Say Anything
Rating
RIYL
Two TonguesSaves the Day
Bayside
Release Date
11/03/2009
Label
RCATracklist
1. "Fed to Death" 1:362. "Hate Everyone" 3:10
3. "Do Better" 3:51
4. "Less Cute" 3:05
5. "Eloise" 3:48
6. "Mara and Me" 3:52
7. "Crush'd" 4:25
8. "She Won't Follow You" 2:43
9. "Cemetary" 3:56
10. "Property" 4:11
11. "Death for My Birthday" 4:10
12. "Young, Dumb, and Stung" 3:25
13. "Ahhh... Men"
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Max Bemis and his brainchild Say Anything might be the musical epitome of our time. In line with the complete deconstruction of genres (for better or worse) by bands like Brokencyde, Thrice and A Day to Remember, Say Anything’s newest self-titled effort has an acute case of musical ADD and a penchant for seemingly random changes in dynamic and tone. Although Bemis didn’t invent this style (or lack thereof) he gloriously, superfluously, and undoubtedly becomes the king of kitchen-sink pop-rock with this album, defeating all comers with a sense of swagger and urgency on this anything-and-everything goes piece of art.
Say Anything’s biggest and most obvious weakness is that they obviously cannot sit still. While this has been true on all of their work, it shines through most brightly on their latest album. Not only do we get an odd mishmash of every musical genre you can think of, such as the melancholy pop rock of “Eloise”, the Clash-esque “Hate Everyone” or the uber-cheesy electro-pop of “Crush’d” but we often get multiple genres in one song. While this isn’t a new development in music, Bemis often makes little effort in blending genres together and leads listeners through three or four distinct genres in a single song. “Mars and Me” is the ultimate example of this and shows Say Anything at their most audibly schizophrenic. At times filled with heavy guitar squeals and shouts not completely unlike The Fall of Troy, and at others inhabited by a tuba-led waltz, Bemis leads the listener on a journey, at one point declaring, “I can’t write the same damn song all over again,” in a solo spoken word portion. Then there is the stalker anthem “Property” which moves from doo-wop to standard pop punk to schmaltz before ending in more random guitar squeals. These songs are so all over the place that the album is often tiring to listen to.
Luckily, despite Say Anything's apparent need for Ritalin, Max Bemis is still one heck of a writer and performer. He may be loath to repeat anything, but there are some parts on this album that rival in quality anything he has ever written. The band’s gift for layering seemingly unrelated parts over each other to create beauty has grown from their previous work, like in “Do Better” which builds from quasi hip-hop string sections into a great, big rock song. The closer “Ahh…men” layers soft acoustics and choir vocals with his crazed and frenzied ramblings to create an interesting effect. The guitars throughout the album have flexed a new muscle, throwing in squeals and harmonics in solos (and at other random times). While this is sometimes to the band’s detriment, they are welcome in other areas, adding a new crease to the band’s vast bag of tricks. As is to be expected, Bemis’ lyrics are as full of hilariously self-deprecating venom as ever, and he rants on everything from Jesus and Will and Grace (“Fed to Death”) to people that he has proven wrong (“Young, Dumb and Stung”).
While Bemis is most well known for his unstructured genre-hoppers, it is on his most standardly structured songs where Say Anything shines the most. The first single “Hate Everyone” might as well be a re-lyric-ed version of “I Fought the Law," but it ends up being one of the most enjoyable songs on the album with Bemis’ vocals reaching an honest peak and the band reveling in the opportunity to take a simple idea and fuse it with as many variations as possible. The deceptively simple “Eloise” might be the best pop rock song to come out this year. Its beginning arpegios fuse the song with a delicacy that turns into strength by the close of the track, and its musically soaring chorus is brought to new heights for the band by an understated and restrained yet catchy melody.
Say Anything’s new album is definitely going to generate conflict and controversy. At times it is ridiculously hard to listen to, and at other times it might be the best thing you’ve ever heard. When listening to it, it is easy to see why so many young people love Say Anything. Their exhaustive gift for constant change and frenzied charisma is perfectly suited for a short attention span generation who communicate in 140 characters or less. While they could very easily go the way of some bands who make their living off of shocking and titillating 14 year olds with as many different sounds and colors that can be mustered, Say Anything is somehow able to fuse their hyperactive style with enough substance that the band is at first impossible to ignore, and once listened to, impossible to get out of your head.
--Stephen Harris
Comments
After their last record and then hearing the single off of this, I really lost all interest in this band. I don't know if I have the endurance to give this record a full go.
http://www.myspace.com/paulson
http://www.twitter.com/GetFreshUSA
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Lehigh Valley, PA
I have yet to listen to teh whole thing, but I have heard is not half bad. Sayin'.
West Haven, CT
Your reviews are top notch.
The Cityscape Burns Brighter By The Hour.
Atascadero, CA
i agree with this statement. always a solid explanation to each opinion and a solid visualization of what the music sounds like. i dig this album quite a bit.
Decoymusic.com (CEO/Founder)
Blue Reef Design Studios (Web Development)
http://aarontroy.tumblr.com
Waterloo, Ontario
for some reason, the fact that max is constantly singing about jesus is turning me off to this band.
Top Ten of 2009 http://www.decoymusic.com/users/3747/top_tens/2009
West Haven, CT
When Brand New did it I was a little turned away myself and mewithoutYOU only sing about Christ but I find myself coming back even though I hate religion.
The Cityscape Burns Brighter By The Hour.
Waterloo, Ontario
it's not the fact that i mind religion in music - i'm a huge brand new fan and i like everything mewithoutYou has done (besides their TERRIBLE last attempt at a cd) - but it seems like say anything uses jesus and religion to get attention. i still like say anything, i just think they could do without the controversial lyrics sometimes.
Top Ten of 2009 http://www.decoymusic.com/users/3747/top_tens/2009
Washington, DC
Thanks for the compliments - it really means a lot to hear someone say that. Want to pay me to write reviews full time?
"Standing still is where we've gone wrong" - The dingees
www.twitter.com/stephenharris09
http://www.last.fm/user/tunemyheart
Atascadero, CA
if the economy ruled again and labels advertised definitely.. until then though we're hurtin like everyone else, just trying to stay afloat, but we have seen better days and things will turn around so we can hopefully get back to doing that again.
Decoymusic.com (CEO/Founder)
Blue Reef Design Studios (Web Development)
http://aarontroy.tumblr.com
Washington, DC
I was just kidding. I love this website and the oppurtunities it gives.
"Standing still is where we've gone wrong" - The dingees
www.twitter.com/stephenharris09
http://www.last.fm/user/tunemyheart
Boston, MA
Nice review. Although schizophrenic, it is much more focused (and better) than In Defense of the Genre. I really hated that album especially after how good ...Is A Real Boy was. This album is so catchy and cheesy; definitely a big guilty pleasure. I already know half the words.
Stereo Typing
Tweet at me, bro
New Jersey
Catchy and straightforward- I like it.
when i see it in your eyes
i just want to go blind