Live Review - Anarchy My Dear
I am reviewing Say Anything’s 4th studio album, Anarchy My Dear as I listen to it the first time.
Burn a Miracle - Doesn’t feel good. Mix sounds like a demo even.
Say Anything - Lyrics aren’t what they used to be. Seems they’ve really embraced the acoustic strumming on this album. It has its place and this isn’t it. Feels like love song filler. Doesn’t have that sonic edge I want from SA. The band sounds so small.
Nights Song - The writing feels a bit showy - much like In Defense. I like this one a bit better. Why is the high hat so far up in the mix? Overall poor drum sound on the album so far. Song ends really good and airy like the good old days.
Admit It Again - The filter in the beginning feels gimmicky. I like the idea of a sequel to an older song, but it seems like Max thought of the idea then worked lyrics to fit it rather than the original angsty rant I have come to love. The textures used on this album aren’t really fitting for this band. I really want to like this album. This is easily one of my favorite bands of all time but it isn’t doing it for me. Wait - the last leg of this song felt great! Keep that shit up.
So Good - I can tell this is gonna be about Sheri 2 seconds in. Not bad 1 minute in. Feels like the last album, which is one of their best, IMHO. Of course, Sheri’s IN the song. Haha Max, you predictable bastard. Good song, but it didn’t have that explosive end Eloise did.
Sheep - Don’t name an electro-pop song Sheep. It’s so hypocritical. That aside, when the guitar line comes in behind the verse, it sounds pretty good. I’m warming up to the album a bit more now, but it’s still likely going to be my least favorite SA album. So the song changed in the middle of the track. They’ve pulled this off before, but this was too abrupt. Now we’re back, and the detuned synth does not do it for me. I don’t like the chorus on this one.
Peace Out - Who the fuck decided to put these songs in this order? 30 songs you could’ve written in your sleep, Max? Sounds like this album. Chorus is good though! I’m hearing reused melodies. What instrument was that? Are you entertaining the high court? Writing a song about never writing a song about someone or something ever again is a little trite in my book. End of the song: we get it, Bon Iver just won a GRAMMY, but this little ambient interlude is not for this band.
Overbiter - The first chord hit and I hate this song. Did you hire The Click Five to write that piano part? I just don’t know how this would captivate me live. Good use of Sheri in the chorus though! That is an awesome melody for her to echo with. I like the bass-driven chorus/bridge, but it just isn’t what needs to come from this band.
Of Steel - Filler. Plain old filler. There’s that incessant strumming again. 2nd verse feels better. That song felt like foreve.
Anarchy My Dear - interesting power ballad. I like the electric piano. It put me to sleep in a very interesting way.
The Stephen Hawking - The lyrics are good here. So I definitely just fell asleep for an hour after this song.
