Album Review: Say Anything - Self Titled
(Rating: 5/5)
Say Anything – Self Titled shows us the transformation of singer/mastermind Max Bemis as he gets over his last relationship and mental apocalypse (described in songs on In Defense of the Genre), and the creation of the new Max – one that’s at peace with himself and in total love with his wife (Sherri Dupree of Eisley). The record touches on the important topics: love, letting go, spirituality, and the Kings of Leon. Now don’t think that our riotous and fiery Bemis has gone soft. There are plenty of hard driving anti-establishment, rebellion songs like She Wont Follow You, Mara and Me, and Young, Dumb, and Stung. The unnervingly fun way Hate Everyone (the first single) transpires out of your speakers, will have you rocking out in your car, flipping the bird to old ladies, without a care in the world. For fans of Say Anything’s softer side, Crush’d is the love song every band wants to write but is afraid to. A song, almost so personal that you feel like you’re intruding just hearing it.
I didn’t give this record a perfect rating for nothing. I haven’t heard a perfect record in years, but this one… this is one that has lasting power. It grabs you at the beginning with the powerful Fed to Death and doesn’t let you go until the last soulful sounds of Ahh… Men. What can I say? They are the most honest band of our generation. That's nothing new to Max (as heard in the previous records ...Is A Real Boy, and In Defense of the Genre), they have been playing the music they want to play, untouched by any outside sources, except for the ones that influence Max’s songs. In a music industry of co-written lyrics and hooks, and over produced songs, this is very refreshing. The only way to experience this great record is to listen to it. I’d let you borrow mine, but I don’t think its coming out of my CD player any time soon.
-AJN
Please buy this record. Heres the link! http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B002UUE3HY/sr=8-1/qid=1257461058/ref=sr_digr_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1257461058&sr=8-1
