Say Anything, an indie rock band known best for the hit “Wow, I Can Get Sexual Too,” is back with its new album “In Defense of the Genre.” If fans were shocked with the racy lyrics and unexampled song structure of the band’s previous album, “Is a Real Boy,” they are in for it with this release, which is surprisingly far more quirky.
“Genre” has infinite potential; listeners who are unaware of Say Anything’s unique, offbeat style might not rate it too high. However, this is what the band is known for – random harmonic changes and awkward structural compilation. There is no question that Say Anything’s songs are all over the place, and that lead vocalist Max Bemis beats to his own drum, but that is exactly what sets it apart as a band.
Coming off of the major label, J Records, listeners might expect a high-quality, seamless flow of songs into one another, but this is not the case. Most transitions between songs are completely unexpected. Consistant with Anything’s style, all of the songs appear to be randomly thrown together.
Nothing really pulls you in or demands attention until the fourth track; from then on, the album progresses strongly.
This album could be considered quite controversial because of the repetitive religious undertones in various songs such as “Died a Jew” and “The Church Channel.” The allusions they make are not derogatory, but they do have potential to raise questions of the band’s intentions and what the significance is in incorporating such lines.
These religious references however, are not the only questionable aspect of the album. Several other songs contain eyebrow-raising lyrics as well. For example, “I blame my parents for molesting me with self-fulfilling prophecies,” from “Surgically Removing the Tracking Device.”
These tracks will undoubtedly stir things up, but that might be exactly what the band is going for. When listening to these lyrics, fans and non-fans alike should be aware that Bemis suffered a nervous breakdown while recording the album “Is a Real Boy,” and was institutionalized, where he was diagnosed with bipolar disorder.
Say Anything newbies are bound to recognize one, or even many, of the guest vocalists out of the 21 who accompany the band on “Genre.” The list includes mic-swinging Adam Lazzara of Taking Back Sunday, Chris Carrabba, and Gerard Way of My Chemical Romance.
With catchy bass lines, impressive guitar riffs and penetrating lyrics, Say Anything will certainly maintain its current fans as well as grab several new ones.
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