Artist: Say Anything
Album: Say Anything is a Real Boy
Label: Doghouse
Purchase: Smart Punk
Release Date: August 3, 2004
Overall: 8.1
Music: 9.0
Lyrics: 7.0
Production: 8.3
Say Anything’s new album, “Say Anything is a Real Boy”, kicks off with a vocal introduction, “The record begins with a song of rebellion” then jumps directly into hard emo punk rock with gripping lyrics. After taking the listener by storm in “Belt” the band progresses to an entirely different sound in “Woe”. It reminded me of a mixture between Phantom Planet and Blink 182, with that sort of 70s musical feeling that was made popular by bands like the Strokes. Say Anything uses the musical tone but keeps the pop-punk melody in the vocals. In “The Writhing South” they change direction once again, with slow guitar for the opening verse and immediately pick up the pace in a rocking chorus that will get stuck in your head. In the track “Yellow Cat(Slash. Red Cat)” singer Max Bemis sings of his everday existance, “these are my friends, this is how they have been for always. These are my days, this how they stay”. His slow mellencholy vocals for this song help drive home the overall story in his lyrics. Say Anything’s next track entitled, “The Futile” is a very catchy song. I admit I heard this song a few weeks ago before the cd was released and loved it. With lines such as, “I’m eating rat poison for dinner pull the chord from the phone, I am dining alone” I couldn’t help singing along with them. They change stylistically again midway through the album turning out the fast paced hard rock track, “An Orgy of Critics”. They follow this song with a comical song for the heartbroken, “Every man has a Molly”. The band changes direction again with their acoustic ballad, “I Want to Know Your Plans”, showing their range in musical abilities. The album finishes with the track, “Admit It” where they call out people who they deem frauds. In a talking/singing matter they state who they are and what they stand for and they don’t care what anyone thinks. Overall this album takes you on a musical rollercoaster from start to finish. Say Anything does not hold anything back and through the diversity of the music and vocals, “Say Anything Is A Real Boy” has something for every listener. I highly suggest you pick up this CD, and if your out on the West Coast they’re touring with Rufio which should be a show worth checking out.
Track Listing
1. Belt
2. Woe
3. The Writhing South
4. Alive with the Glory of Love
5. Yellow Cat(Slash. Red Cat)
6. The Futile
7. Spidersong
8. An Orgy of Critics
9. Every Man has a Molly
10. Slowly Through the Vector
11. Chia Like I Shall Grow
12. I Want to Know Your Plans
13. Admit It!
Stand out Tracks:
“Woe”, “The Futile”, and “Every Man has a Molly”
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