What do you think of when you think of Say Anything? Dark lyrics and sickly sweet melodies come to mind. Whatever it is, we’re sure it’s out of the ordinary and this new album ‘I Don’t Think It Is’ follows trend. Briefly released without warning in February, it’s back for its official release and it’s certainly made an entrance.
A raucous racket of screaming verses contrasted with a melodic, group vocal chorus, lead singer Max Bemis cries out, “We don’t give a damn what they say” throughout opener ‘Give a Damn’. It’s hardly a surprising sentiment based on their back catalogue and is spat with such a piercing venom they clearly mean business.
From the frantic energy of ’17 Coked up Speeding’ to the rebellious ‘Rum’ – a trippy, electronic song where the vocals tread a line between emphatic speech and rap – nothing’s as you’d expect. One minute we’re torn through the 92 second assault on the senses of ‘So Numb’ and the next ‘Goshua’ combines messy guitars and irregular drums, as dark and unnerving as its lyrics.
‘The Bret Easton Ellis School of Witchcraft and Wizardry’ is a nod to the author of American Psycho; a clever reference but a disturbing one nonetheless. Bemis’ bipolarity is often referenced when discussing his lyricism, but the bleak, desolate tone, and brutal comments on society are hard to ignore. ‘#blessed’ leans a little towards a poppier sound but, interspersed with multiple guest vocalists and unexpected sound effects and heading straight in to ‘Wire Mom’, there’s no time to get your head around it.
Musically, you can’t pigeonhole the songs as they switch between punk, pop and just a hell of a noise quicker than you can say, erm, anything. It wasn’t meant to sound pretty, but it certainly packs a punch. Say Anything have come along to tear up the rule book and if you don’t like it? Well, we’re not sure they’ll care. ‘I Don’t Think It Is’ isn’t for the faint hearted but throw yourself in head first and you’ll find yourself on a ride you don’t want to get off.
KATHRYN BLACK