It's been two years since the release of Say Anything's last super album In Defense of the Genre. What was most special about that album was that it was the Austin Powers of albums, what with its twenty or so guest vocalists. On this self titled album it's a tad different. The only guest vocalist is lead singer Bemis' new wife Sherri Dupree of the band Eisley (hear "Cemetery"). What we get in this album is thirteen long tracks of pop culture goodness. A Chuck Klosterman novel put to music, songs comment on everything from Deborah Messing to Kings of Leon. Another major thing to note is that the band plays around with a number of fresh sounds. Keyboardist Parker Case plays an even greater role in this album than ever before. With synth, piano, strings, and horns, Say Anything again brings an album to the table very different from their previous, projecting totally new sounds in their best form. Opening with the quick track "Fed To Death" a muse of religious undertones describe a man from Nazarath. "They say one day he'll spring to life/ To smile and clear your name/ So nail yourself upon the cross/ And hang your head in shame." Catchy and quirky lyrics are ever-present. This song closes with a round of beautiful piano. The song "Do Better" is brimming with more lively lyrics (i.e. here we get "Life is not a spark in space/ An episode of Will & Grace/ Controversial yet mundane/ Deborah's messing with your brain.") The themes of becoming a better man (or band) are placed lightly over poppy string-like beats and Alex Kent's low-toned bass. "Less Cute" is another upbeat track that sounds like something from the Macy's Day Parade. You can just see the Rockettes kicking behind the band (they would be adorned in Christmas sweater vests). "He's like a Wal-Mart version of you." Best insult of the decade."Mara And Me" feels like five songs in one. It starts with a couple seconds of metal guitar and abruptly switches to merry-go-round melodies playing with Max's disgruntled vocals until the last minute of the song. Then gang vocals from the rest of the guys kick in for the last thirty seconds of more hair-rock-fire chords. The final track takes us back to months before. A Youtube video posted of the first new song from the new album. "Ahhh…Men." Max on acoustic guitar bled his vocals through the building emotions of the song. Living up to the expectations of its past album counterparts, the full-band song stands ever-fitting for a closing track. Backing harmonies and pulsing drums get stronger as the song finishes with an explosion of sound and a mouthful of aggressive vocals. Overall, the album is an ecstatic kick in the teeth. Say Anything is another band who knows how to change their style without pissing off their fans. It's an art. Max stated in a heart-to-heart kind of blog recently: "I promise we’ll continue to work our asses off to earn the respect and love you guys give to us by making better and better records, challenging ourselves, and creating REAL ART." Well then, congratulations on a job well done Mr. Bemis. |
