Say Anything gets creative in new release

By Meg Walsh

Published Feb. 17, 2006

When many people think of the words "say anything," the image of John Cusack holding a blasting boom box comes to mind. But Los Angeles rockers Max Bemis, Coby Linder and Alex Kent are out to change this. These future idols of pop-punk preteens comprise Say Anything. On Feb. 28, Say Anything will re-release its debut album, ...Is a Real Boy.

The second disc of the re-release contains seven additional bonus tracks, not featured on the debut. Along with this re-release, the band has switched labels from Doghouse Records to J Records.

The label switch was a gutsy move. The band left a label with indie rock greats such as The Honorary Title and Koufax and joined a label with stars including Barry Manilow, Kenny G and Carrie Underwood.

The original album, with its phallic album cover featuring a large wooden shaft, begins with the sounds of a tape recorder and vocalist Bemis explaining the first song. Bemis said the track is "a song of rebellion." The song, entitled "Belt," highlights his vocals but typical teenage angst is involved. Drummer Linder and bassist Kent join in a sudden burst of noise after the quiet spoken word intro.

The band compares its sound to that of Bright Eyes, The Clash and Weezer, however a better comparison would include Fall Out Boy's, Dashboard Confessional's and blink-182's sound. Although the band has musical talent, Say Anything's common neo-punk sound might pin it on the list of bands that are famous for being more aesthetically pleasing than musically talented.

The bonus disc starts with a ringing telephone and a bouncy track entitled "Wow, I Can Get Sexual Too." Say Anything gets bonus points for the use of the word "intarweb" and the lines "I called her on the phone and she touched herself," and "when she described her underwear/ I forgot all the rules my Rabbi taught me in the old school." The second disc is much better than the first. If you're an old school Say Anything fan and already own ...Is a Real Boy, buying the re-release for the bonus disc is totally worth it. The second bonus track, "Little Girls," is a typical angry emo song about women, but the song has an extra scary factor. Bemis's voice sounds angry, violent and almost sadistic when he sings of "killing the little girls." This might be an embodiment of Bemis's past issues with sanity when he believed everyone around him was a cannibal sent to kill him.

Say Anything is an above-average pop-punk band but not enough to prove itself as an innovator. Bemis has a great amount of musical and lyrical writing skill and in a few years and after few more promos, the band could be as big as Green Day and blink-182.