Say Anything has been a band on an arduous journey since the beginning, fraught with mental breakdowns, lineup changes, and major label shenanigans. They’re a band that went from putting out double albums, almost concept record masterpieces, to being confined on their major label debut. To say that the music hasn’t suffered is a gross injustice, but their major label debut, Say Anything was claustrophobic, showcasing slightly different instrumentation and lyrics that name dropped more people than I can count on two hands. It’s been nearly three years since the band has put out new material, and their time on RCA has definitely affected the band. The title to their new album, Anarchy, My Dear, tries to bring forth a promise of chaos, but fails to do so on many levels.

I’ve always considered Max Bemis to be the love child of Kurt Cobain and Jim Morrision. His lyrics are poetic, emotional, and just downright strange at times, but he has a pure heart, and it comes out in the lyrics. While the lyrics present forth the promise, as Bemis has put it, “of a true ‘punk’ record, thematically,” they often bellow higher than the music here. Bemis almost calls his own band out on “Admit It Again”, bellowing: “you were listening to my band in 2004/though you claim you were reared on the Stooges/your entire facade is a line that you feed to anorexic actresses.”

Lyrically, this album is full of anarchy; the words to the song “Say Anything” are some of the most offensive lyrics I’ve heard in some time, but they serve a purpose. “Admit It Again” calls out pretensions bands, all the way down to their clothes. The vocal delivery of “Burn Miracle” sounds like Bemis is screaming “Burn America;” so lyrically speaking, this is Say Anything’s most ambitious record, but at times they border on being more hilarious than anything.

Consider the lyrics to the end of the song “The Stephen Hawking:” “You’ll bleed to feed the demon in me/you won’t curry flavor with that favor, curry tastefully.” Those lyrics had me on the floor laughing, I couldn’t take them seriously and If I was supposed to, my bad.

The biggest problem with the album is the instrumentation, it doesn’t fit the lyrics or even Bemis’ singing at times. For instance, as Bemis sings “Anarchy, My Dear” it sounds uninspired, and just monotonous, more like a pop song on top 40 radio. The music is layered beyond measure, and there were moments that definitely had me scratching. At the beginning of “Burn a Miracle” it almost sounds like they stole the finger snapping intro to John Fogerty’s “Centerfield” and after listening to this album, I think I would have rather preferred that.

If you explore anarchy, in the sense that musically, the band decided to change everything about themselves: mission accomplished. But if you’re trying to show the true nature of anarchy and rebellion, the track “Belt” from the bands first album …Is a Real Boy accomplished that more than this full album did.

The real question at hand that must be considered is: is this album for the fans or the amusement of Max Bemis? To me, as a Say Anything fan, this is an album more for Bemis’ amusement, alienating himself and the fans at the same time. Perhaps the band should change their name to Do Something instead; you’ve certainly got the Say Anything part down.

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Album Rating: Borrow It from a Friend

Listening Co-efficient: Background Music