Say Anything
Starting as Sayanything in '01, Max Bemis (vocals) and Coby Linder (drums) formed the nucleus of the group's original line-up that consisted of L.A. high school friends. Members came and went before Jake Turner (guitar), Jeff Turner (guitar) and Alex Kent (bass/guitar) arrived.
Say Anything's recording career began with a couple self-released EPs ("Junior Varsity" and "Baseball"). Their full-length debut, "... Is A Real Boy," a stab at Rock opera, with a storyline and assorted characters, was produced by Tim O'Heir (whose credits included All American Rejects, Dinosaur Jr., Sebadoh, Hot Rod Circuit and The Starting Line). Say Anything and O'Heir's paths had crossed and continued to do so. Bemis sang on The Starting Line's "Ready" (from "Based On A True Story") and Hot Rod Circuit's "Inhabit" (on "Reality's Coming Through"). He also did a vocal turn on New Found Glory's "Crazy For You" (yep, the Madonna cover on "From The Screen To Your Stereo Pt.II") and was an extra in the film Face/Off. Meanwhile, the Turner's were part of Safety In Numbers, a side project of Hot Rod Circuit's Andy Jackson. Keeping busy, Case was a member of the duo Jamison Parker, with Jamison Covington.
"... Is A Real Boy" was originally released on the Doghouse imprint (O'Heir also had connections with the label) in '04. Say Anything's next project was another EP, "Vs AIDS Demos." The EP consisted of songs allegedly recorded for an abandoned AIDS benefit.
Picked up by BMG's J Records "... Is A Real Boy" was scheduled for re-release in late October, '05, as Say Anything was about to launch a supporting tour. But Bemis suffered a nervous breakdown - his second. That forced the cancellation of the tour and delayed the album's re-issue for a few months. Bemis was diagnosed bi-polar.
When the album did land it featured a bonus disc "Was A Real Boy" that was seven of the eight "Vs AIDS Demos" tracks. The TV show Scrubs used "Alive With The Glory Of Love." The show seemed to have a knack for finding 'just under the radar' tracks. So that was probably some sort of validation.
'07's "In Defense Of The Genre," produced by Brad Wood (Smashing Pumpkins, Foo Fighters), featured the single, "Baby Girl, I'm A Blur."
Say Anything's "… Is A Real Boy" is a sprawling epic loaded with good songs and a few great ones. The standard Emo issue 'heart-on-the-sleeve' is cut with some quirks and humor. "Belt," a vigorous track dealing with family history, opens the set. "Woe," which despite the title is a loping, friendly track while "Alive With The Glory Of Love" gets things back on an energetic plane.
"Spidersong," "Admit It," with the 'whoa' backing vocals, and "I Will Never Write An Obligatory Song About Being On The Road And Missing Someone" are melodic blasts where the emotions don't get in the way. The occasional acoustic songs vary. "I Want To Know Your Plans," a song about empty dreams and false hopes, drags, while "Total Revenge" is captivating.
"In Defense Of The Genre" is more of the same and then some. Lead single "Baby Girl, "I'm
A Blur," throws a catchy dance rhythm under the vocals and guitars. "This Is F***ing Ecstasy," "People Like You Are The Reason People Like Me Exist" and "Shiksa (Girlfriend)" (Bemis is Jewish) have a real kick. Less tuneful but more insistent are the angry title track and "Sorry, Dudes. My Bad." They sound dangerously close to coming unhinged but that's the appeal. The campy "That Is Why," the dreamy, almost psychedelic, "Retarded In Love" and the accordion laced "Hangover Song" extend the group's reach.