Say Anything

Allright, after having ...was a realy boy in heavy rotation shortly before this came out, it was a no brainer. I had it for a couple of months before I gave it all that much attention. I have listened to this album A LOT. To be honest, I don't see what all the bitchin is about. It seems to be a lot like the last album which is fine with me, I love them both. At a glance, it seems to be different, more electronic sounding, but when you get down to it, it's fantastic and really pretty similar to the last. So, if you loved Was/is a real boy, i think you'll probably love this too.

...Is A Real Boy is a classic. It's one of my favorite complete albums. Ever.

In Defense of the Genre didn't need to be two albums. It could have stood on it's own as one (long!) album by cutting out some of the... er, b.s. tracks.

Regardless, Say Anything still rocks the f-ing house so this is totally worth owning.

Max rocks.

I don't understand all the religion in this album, but, then again, it is considered a "concept album." Perhaps thats why it HAD to be two discs.

Say Anything is amazing. I liked "Is a Real Boy" better, but this album is more experimental and unique, so it's definately worth listening to.

I liked some of these, but I liked the ones I saw on U Tube where they were performing electrically or acoustically at a club, better than the album versions.

Just shortly after ...Was a boy was released, Bemis and his crew have returned for another Say Anything CD. with In Defense of the Genre, Max has given us 27 new tracks. now before i even bought the CD i realized that there was going to be a lot of filler, which there is. its very hard to put out a pop-punk CD with zero filler these days, especially a double disc effort. that being said, there are some highlights. Skinny Mean Man, In Defense of the Genre, People Like You, and I Used to Have a Heart are all classic Say Anything songs. for those of you who like the more acoustic side theres An Insult to the Dead and Goodbye Young Tutor. where this album loses its credibility with me are the more poppy sounding songs. About Falling belongs on an old Blink 182 album and so does Girlfriend.

overall, this is a decent album. people will argue that its not Baseball or Menorah/Majora but those days are over. this is the new Say Anything sound and its whats going to continue. this CD is worth the purchase, just be ready to skip over a few tracks

After hearing one of their songs, I bought this CD duo - and after the first listen only one other song had caught my attention, but after a day or two in and out of the car.... I love this whole CD! Max's voice and lyrics combined are truly amazing and captivating.

Tracks I can't not mention:
Disc 1
1. Belt
4. Alive with the Glory of Love
5. Yellow Cat/Red Cat
7. Spidersong
9. Every Man Has a Molly
10. Slowly, through a vector
Also, on Disc 2 #1 Wow, I Can Get Sexual Too

If indie meets emo with a little edge and great lyrics is your kind of music... you won't regret getting into Say Anything!

if you are new to this band and wondering where to start, look no further. this double disc effort was a breath of fresh air in a genre that has been getting worse and worse. call it emo or punk or pop but this is good music. the only song i didnt care for was the most beautiful plague. other than that every song is different and really well done. highlights include: wow, i can get sexual too, belt, total revenge, and woe. this is the best say anything cd by far.

Is a Real Boy is a great CD and a great start for a very interesting band. The lead singer, Max Bemis, faces a lifelong battle with bipolar disorder. He spent most of his high school and college career doing drugs to combat his lows from bipolar disorder. Before this CD was completed he committed himself to theraputic help after spending an amount of time in a paranoid depression. This took place shortly before the release of this CD. Throughout this CD, (as the booklet describes) Max tells it all exactly as he sees it and his thoughts and feelings all went into these songs and lyrics and sure enough, this is an excellent CD lyrically, providing great insight into a person who was going through a very hard time as he recorded this. It also helps that he delivers his lyrics with such conviction and such emotion and wit that he's easily one of the best and most interesting singers/songwriters in rock music today.

The songs on here go from songs about love to songs about how hypocritical society is, and even child abuse and songs dealing with drugs and lonliness. Really interesting stuff, and it's these concepts and ideas, as well as the melodic moments and an overall indie punk rock sound, that make this such an enjoyable CD. It was definitely not created with the mass market in mind; some of these songs are unapproachable unless you know what to expect, and some songs don't really become "Good" until you hear the whole thing. Songs like Woe start out being a little weird but by the end, enter a melodic and meaningful zone and finish on a great note. Other songs like Belt may seem a bit weird at first due to the subject matter but they turn out to be fast, almost punk sounding songs that are just fun to listen to. It's a CD where you're never sure what's going to happen next, and it's one that I'll keep listening to for a long time.

The CD isn't perfect. Sometimes the themes in these songs and lyrics (some of which obviously written under the influence of drugs) are so tangled and hard to decode for possibly anyone but Max himself. Others are a little on the slow side or come off as being a bit whiny, (The Futile, Every Man has a Molly, and Slowly Through a Vector).

Some flaws aside, it's a great and dark CD. While it's not as good as the band's sophmore effort and masterpiece, In Defense of the Genre, it's a great CD for new fans to the band to check out before diving into that 2-disc monster.

Is a Real Boy also comes with a second CD, recorded after Max began treatment and sobered up, (called "Was a Real Boy," ) which features additional tracks. The feel to this CD's vastly different, some songs verge on acoustic, and the themes here are less dark than on the CD. Not to say they're devoid of darkness (Little Girls, for example) but others here, like Total Revenge, get rid of the "edge" entirely and are actually kind of gentle and sweet. Admittedly, this second disc isn't particularly great on its own, (several songs on here seem fairly aimless,) but it does provide an interesting listen and sense of closure to the "life story" told on disc 1. It's a solid "add-on" to the CD.

Overall, it was a very promising start for this band and I hope they get bigger and find more fame down the road because this is a very talented band and they're unlike any rock music I've ever heard.

I dont have much to say except that I think this band is truly under rated. I think the songwriting is amazing and the lyrics are just incredible. Pick this one up and you will be glad you did.

when i first heard say anything, it was the video for the song "alive with the glory of love", which i liked. as i went on to listen to more songs, i just wasn't feeling it at all...not one bit

but somewhere throughout not feeling it, i began to feel it=), it just took awhile, i am sure we've all had albums like that, where at first you hate it then you end up loving it almost as much as yr mother.

well, i am not going to try and write an award winning review here, other than saying you need to get this record, being a musician myself, this album has inspired me on so many levels. i feel max bemis is onto something, and i can't stop listening to this stuff...find all of their ep's and misc recordings if you can too...appreciate say anything as a whole, from beginning to present...it's worth it...

at the moment, my fav track is "yellow cat/red cat"...i really feel that song is brilliant, and it makes me wish i would have written it...

thanks for reading my uninteresting but hopefully convincing review=)

this should have been trimmed to one CD with 14 tracks and released a b-side cd with the rest. but, overall it's lived up to the impossible hype it was given.

I can't speak for the previous review, but I bought this album from Target (of all places) for $7.98, and it is one of the best albums of the year. I was wary of the hype, to be honest, after it was selected as one of the Best Albums of the Year by both Alternative Press and Spin, but I was curious and it was cheap. Needless to say, I was amazed! It is a double album full of bitchin' (yeah, I'm bringing it back) songs and I doubt you can get more bang for your buck than this album even at full price. I've been hearing that their first single is tanking on radio (in Denver at least), but they aren't a very radio-friendly band. They have at least 10 songs on the album that are better than their current single. Give them a chance and I promise that you won't be disappointed. The album is worth it for the song "About Falling" alone.

This cd had a parental alert sticker on the pictured cover, however when my neice opened it, it was the cleaned up version. It was noted in the details that it was a cleaned version. I will look at the details from now on instead of looking at just the photo.

After hearing one of their songs, I bought this CD duo - and after the first listen only one other song had caught my attention, but after a day or two in and out of the car.... I love this whole CD! Max's voice and lyrics combined are truly amazing and captivating.

Tracks I can't not mention:
Disc 1
1. Belt
4. Alive with the Glory of Love
5. Yellow Cat/Red Cat
7. Spidersong
9. Every Man Has a Molly
10. Slowly, through a vector
Also, on Disc 2 #1 Wow, I Can Get Sexual Too

If indie meets emo with a little edge and great lyrics is your kind of music... you won't regret getting into Say Anything!

if you are new to this band and wondering where to start, look no further. this double disc effort was a breath of fresh air in a genre that has been getting worse and worse. call it emo or punk or pop but this is good music. the only song i didnt care for was the most beautiful plague. other than that every song is different and really well done. highlights include: wow, i can get sexual too, belt, total revenge, and woe. this is the best say anything cd by far.

Is a Real Boy is a great CD and a great start for a very interesting band. The lead singer, Max Bemis, faces a lifelong battle with bipolar disorder. He spent most of his high school and college career doing drugs to combat his lows from bipolar disorder. Before this CD was completed he committed himself to theraputic help after spending an amount of time in a paranoid depression. This took place shortly before the release of this CD. Throughout this CD, (as the booklet describes) Max tells it all exactly as he sees it and his thoughts and feelings all went into these songs and lyrics and sure enough, this is an excellent CD lyrically, providing great insight into a person who was going through a very hard time as he recorded this. It also helps that he delivers his lyrics with such conviction and such emotion and wit that he's easily one of the best and most interesting singers/songwriters in rock music today.

The songs on here go from songs about love to songs about how hypocritical society is, and even child abuse and songs dealing with drugs and lonliness. Really interesting stuff, and it's these concepts and ideas, as well as the melodic moments and an overall indie punk rock sound, that make this such an enjoyable CD. It was definitely not created with the mass market in mind; some of these songs are unapproachable unless you know what to expect, and some songs don't really become "Good" until you hear the whole thing. Songs like Woe start out being a little weird but by the end, enter a melodic and meaningful zone and finish on a great note. Other songs like Belt may seem a bit weird at first due to the subject matter but they turn out to be fast, almost punk sounding songs that are just fun to listen to. It's a CD where you're never sure what's going to happen next, and it's one that I'll keep listening to for a long time.

The CD isn't perfect. Sometimes the themes in these songs and lyrics (some of which obviously written under the influence of drugs) are so tangled and hard to decode for possibly anyone but Max himself. Others are a little on the slow side or come off as being a bit whiny, (The Futile, Every Man has a Molly, and Slowly Through a Vector).

Some flaws aside, it's a great and dark CD. While it's not as good as the band's sophmore effort and masterpiece, In Defense of the Genre, it's a great CD for new fans to the band to check out before diving into that 2-disc monster.

Is a Real Boy also comes with a second CD, recorded after Max began treatment and sobered up, (called "Was a Real Boy," ) which features additional tracks. The feel to this CD's vastly different, some songs verge on acoustic, and the themes here are less dark than on the CD. Not to say they're devoid of darkness (Little Girls, for example) but others here, like Total Revenge, get rid of the "edge" entirely and are actually kind of gentle and sweet. Admittedly, this second disc isn't particularly great on its own, (several songs on here seem fairly aimless,) but it does provide an interesting listen and sense of closure to the "life story" told on disc 1. It's a solid "add-on" to the CD.

Overall, it was a very promising start for this band and I hope they get bigger and find more fame down the road because this is a very talented band and they're unlike any rock music I've ever heard.

I dont have much to say except that I think this band is truly under rated. I think the songwriting is amazing and the lyrics are just incredible. Pick this one up and you will be glad you did.

when i first heard say anything, it was the video for the song "alive with the glory of love", which i liked. as i went on to listen to more songs, i just wasn't feeling it at all...not one bit

but somewhere throughout not feeling it, i began to feel it=), it just took awhile, i am sure we've all had albums like that, where at first you hate it then you end up loving it almost as much as yr mother.

well, i am not going to try and write an award winning review here, other than saying you need to get this record, being a musician myself, this album has inspired me on so many levels. i feel max bemis is onto something, and i can't stop listening to this stuff...find all of their ep's and misc recordings if you can too...appreciate say anything as a whole, from beginning to present...it's worth it...

at the moment, my fav track is "yellow cat/red cat"...i really feel that song is brilliant, and it makes me wish i would have written it...

thanks for reading my uninteresting but hopefully convincing review=)

All you people who rate this like " ZOMG best album ever" need to get your head out of your a** and find real music.

An album hasn't engaged or electrified me this much since Radiohead's "OK Computer". What makes this album so irresistable in my mind is the adoring beats mixed with incredibly cathcy lyrics that you just can't help but sing along to. What's weird is that the lead singer doesn't have, let's say... exactly the best vocals. But they go along so well with this type of music and beat that one doesn't even notice, in fact, it grows quite attractive very quickly. Every single second on this album is like riding on a roller coaster, but on this ride it only goes up, because each song on this album is only there to prepare you for the next great one. Though its tough to discriminate between these songs, my personal favorites would have to be "The Writhing South", "Spider song", "Admit it!!!", and off of the bonus disc, "Most Beautiful Plague". Every year I discover new bands that simply amaze me, last year it was Menomena and the year before that it was Laguardia, but this is the first band I have ever found who has established an album that can hold a light to "OK Computer". This record will be obsessively embedded in my mind forever... GET THIS ALBUM!!!

1. belt- 10/10 Great rockin intro and funky pre-chorus with a great pseudo answer/call ending
2. woe- 10/10 Cheeky with an excellent rhythm/backbeat breakdown. Climaxes with a soaring, stratospheric bridge that finally, gently leads you to the song's conclusion.
3. the writhing south- 10/10 Fantastic lyrical imagery and a fun sing-along chorus. High energy bridge is like sticking your finger into a electrical outlet.
4. alive with the glory of love- 10/10 Best known song on the album and the reason you've found this review. Not much to say that you don't already know.
5. yellow cat/red cat- 10/10 I love the bass guitar in this song. The drags on the drums add to the "laziness" that the lyrics convey. Also, the girl in the chorus sounds pretty cute.
6. the futile- 10/10 Some of my favorite grab-your-attention lyrics on the album. Great melody. More hooks than the Bass Pro Shop.
7. spidersong- 8/10 Not my favorite on the album, but Max's sigh at the end makes the song.
8. an orgy of critics- 10/10 So high energy, it's like sticking your fingers in BOTH outlets.
9. every man has a molly- 10/10 Great intro lyrics and melody. Almost like a great drinking song.
10. slowly, through a vector- 9/10 A little meandering at the beginning, but I love the last minute or so if it.
11. chia like, i shall grow- 10/10 Chia like, this song will grow on you.
12. i want to know your plans- 10/10 The concertina reminds me of some poor sailor thinking of that one special girl. Sappy, but it works.
13. admit it!- 10/10 A sledgehammer of lyrics straight to the face of all things fashionable and pretentious. It makes you want to get off your duff and just enjoy your life. This track is the best possible way to close the album.

There has been only one other album that I've liked this much on a first listen, and that was weezer's blue album back in 94. You won't regret giving Say Anything a chance. Amazing, amazing, amazing.

I'm not going to start this review by saying "i have a huge collection" and "I've listened to everything and this is it". Granted, anyone whose writing audio reviews probably has a very healthy collection, and i'd like to think i do to. I listen to pretty much everything except country music. I dont think thats bad... but i dont groove with it very well.

Now that you know my background, onto the review. There is something about this band that i can't put my finger on. I think i can say with full certainty that this is my favorite band. I love every song on the cd... and i can't pick a favorite. The melodies, drumming, guitaring... its all superb. Whats more, the singer has some quality that, oddly enuff, stirs my soul. I feel as though there is some sincerity, something that alot of other singers dont have. So, in essence, this music appears to be more "real" than others.

It might sound like i'm ranting, but thats how i REALLY feel about this album. Each song gets me into daydream mode and lets my mind wander. Of course, if your not a fan to this genre of alternative-rock, then this band isn't going to change your notions. But if you are, then definately give this band a tryout.

There is a time in everyone's life when you find something you just can't get enough of. Have it be a person, food, or item. I learned of Say Anything's music a while before the album was realeased, and enjoyed it automatically. On the day of it's release, i devoured the contents it had to offer, and wanted more. ...Is a Real Boy is so full of energetic powerful songs that are absolutely breathtaking. The songwriting is perfect, and Max Bemis's humor is side-splitting. This is the album that ended the era of pop-punk [...] that is sold to mallrats. Not only does Say Anything's music make fun of the "genre" it was put into, it kills all the critics who dismiss their music as pop-punk for the tween set. Take my word for it, this stuff is not talking about wanting to slit wrists and hook up with a girl who you know you have no chance with. this music is REAL. "Admit It!" dismisses the critics and scene kids who change their style like they change their underwear. By using humor, Say Anything's music has reached thousands of fans who have been waiting for a band to open thier eyes to the real world. I am proud to say that i am blessed to have a band like Say Anything in my life. This album and band are by far one of my favorites, and it will be for years to come.

All you people who rate this like " ZOMG best album ever" need to get your head out of your a** and find real music.

An album hasn't engaged or electrified me this much since Radiohead's "OK Computer". What makes this album so irresistable in my mind is the adoring beats mixed with incredibly cathcy lyrics that you just can't help but sing along to. What's weird is that the lead singer doesn't have, let's say... exactly the best vocals. But they go along so well with this type of music and beat that one doesn't even notice, in fact, it grows quite attractive very quickly. Every single second on this album is like riding on a roller coaster, but on this ride it only goes up, because each song on this album is only there to prepare you for the next great one. Though its tough to discriminate between these songs, my personal favorites would have to be "The Writhing South", "Spider song", "Admit it!!!", and off of the bonus disc, "Most Beautiful Plague". Every year I discover new bands that simply amaze me, last year it was Menomena and the year before that it was Laguardia, but this is the first band I have ever found who has established an album that can hold a light to "OK Computer". This record will be obsessively embedded in my mind forever... GET THIS ALBUM!!!

1. belt- 10/10 Great rockin intro and funky pre-chorus with a great pseudo answer/call ending
2. woe- 10/10 Cheeky with an excellent rhythm/backbeat breakdown. Climaxes with a soaring, stratospheric bridge that finally, gently leads you to the song's conclusion.
3. the writhing south- 10/10 Fantastic lyrical imagery and a fun sing-along chorus. High energy bridge is like sticking your finger into a electrical outlet.
4. alive with the glory of love- 10/10 Best known song on the album and the reason you've found this review. Not much to say that you don't already know.
5. yellow cat/red cat- 10/10 I love the bass guitar in this song. The drags on the drums add to the "laziness" that the lyrics convey. Also, the girl in the chorus sounds pretty cute.
6. the futile- 10/10 Some of my favorite grab-your-attention lyrics on the album. Great melody. More hooks than the Bass Pro Shop.
7. spidersong- 8/10 Not my favorite on the album, but Max's sigh at the end makes the song.
8. an orgy of critics- 10/10 So high energy, it's like sticking your fingers in BOTH outlets.
9. every man has a molly- 10/10 Great intro lyrics and melody. Almost like a great drinking song.
10. slowly, through a vector- 9/10 A little meandering at the beginning, but I love the last minute or so if it.
11. chia like, i shall grow- 10/10 Chia like, this song will grow on you.
12. i want to know your plans- 10/10 The concertina reminds me of some poor sailor thinking of that one special girl. Sappy, but it works.
13. admit it!- 10/10 A sledgehammer of lyrics straight to the face of all things fashionable and pretentious. It makes you want to get off your duff and just enjoy your life. This track is the best possible way to close the album.

There has been only one other album that I've liked this much on a first listen, and that was weezer's blue album back in 94. You won't regret giving Say Anything a chance. Amazing, amazing, amazing.

I'm not going to start this review by saying "i have a huge collection" and "I've listened to everything and this is it". Granted, anyone whose writing audio reviews probably has a very healthy collection, and i'd like to think i do to. I listen to pretty much everything except country music. I dont think thats bad... but i dont groove with it very well.

Now that you know my background, onto the review. There is something about this band that i can't put my finger on. I think i can say with full certainty that this is my favorite band. I love every song on the cd... and i can't pick a favorite. The melodies, drumming, guitaring... its all superb. Whats more, the singer has some quality that, oddly enuff, stirs my soul. I feel as though there is some sincerity, something that alot of other singers dont have. So, in essence, this music appears to be more "real" than others.

It might sound like i'm ranting, but thats how i REALLY feel about this album. Each song gets me into daydream mode and lets my mind wander. Of course, if your not a fan to this genre of alternative-rock, then this band isn't going to change your notions. But if you are, then definately give this band a tryout.

There is a time in everyone's life when you find something you just can't get enough of. Have it be a person, food, or item. I learned of Say Anything's music a while before the album was realeased, and enjoyed it automatically. On the day of it's release, i devoured the contents it had to offer, and wanted more. ...Is a Real Boy is so full of energetic powerful songs that are absolutely breathtaking. The songwriting is perfect, and Max Bemis's humor is side-splitting. This is the album that ended the era of pop-punk [...] that is sold to mallrats. Not only does Say Anything's music make fun of the "genre" it was put into, it kills all the critics who dismiss their music as pop-punk for the tween set. Take my word for it, this stuff is not talking about wanting to slit wrists and hook up with a girl who you know you have no chance with. this music is REAL. "Admit It!" dismisses the critics and scene kids who change their style like they change their underwear. By using humor, Say Anything's music has reached thousands of fans who have been waiting for a band to open thier eyes to the real world. I am proud to say that i am blessed to have a band like Say Anything in my life. This album and band are by far one of my favorites, and it will be for years to come.