Say Anything....

Pre-Ex-Girlfriend · 09-28-2008, 11:48 PM

When it comes to that album, the only song I find myself singing in my head (and liking it) is "Shiksa." But I haven't actually listened to it in a while. Maybe Daniel and I can have a date where we just listen to and discuss In Defense of the Genre. Sounds like a winner to me!

Jeffrey · 09-29-2008, 03:54 PM

a furious wail ep

1. Skinny, Mean Man
2. Shiksa (Girlfriend)
3. The Truth Is, You Should Lie with Me
4. I Used to Have a Heart
5. People Like You Are Why People Like Me Exist

RB+Gravity · 09-29-2008, 05:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by thelitguy

Let's make a single disc version of In Defense of the Genre!

Everyone list what songs you would compile from the 2 CDs to make 1 really great one. My list will be here shortly.

Probably just Shiksa and People Like You Are Why People Like Me Exist for me. And maybe Sorry, Dudes. My bad.

**Skeeter** · 10-02-2008, 06:09 PM

Rachael and I listened to both discs while playing Settlers of Cataan last night. We are so cool. Here's what we came up with:

Songs to Keep Around:
Skinny, Mean Man
Shiksa (Girlfriend)
People Like You Are Why People Like Me Exist
Sorry, Dudes. My Bad.
The Word You Wield
I Used To Have a Heart

Maybe...
The Church Channel
Retarded In Love
Died A Jew
About Falling
Have At Thee!

Not That Great, But Not Utterly Awful
That Is Why

Danny · 10-02-2008, 07:05 PM

You know, I listened to this album again on a road trip to Tampa the other day, and I have to say I actually thoroughly enjoyed the whole thing. I think it's because I was listening to it with fresh ears...I hadn't listened to Say Anything in a long time, so I wasn't listening to it expecting ...Is a Real Boy vol. 2. I think I actually have to change my opinion of the album, I really like it a lot now. I'll grant that it's way too long and starts to get old by the end, but I'm not sure what I'd exclude to turn it into a single-disc.

**Sean** · 10-21-2008, 12:14 AM

Is the fact it took me nearly a month to make this post evidence that I'm over-thinking my posts?

I went ahead and put all of tracks into categories. The B-side category tend to be songs which have parts which really jump out at me, but they also have elements which I find kind of kill the songs. The "Might Keeps" are mostly songs which I find cohesive and enjoyable, but nothing about them really jumps out at me.

Songs to Keep

"No Soul"
"Shiksa (Girlfriend)"
"I Used to Have a Heart"
"Plea"
"People Like You Are Why People Like Me Exist"
"About Falling"
"An Insult to the Dead"

Songs I Might Keep

"Skinny, Mean Man"
"Hangover Song" - I like the music in the track, but as is its an incomplete novelty song
"Surgically Removing the Tracking Device"
"Sorry, Dudes. My Bad."
"Vexed"
"You're the Wanker, If Anyone Is"
"Have at Thee!"
"Baby Girl, I'm a Blur"

Songs Which I Might Enjoy as a B-Side or I Really like Parts

"The Church Channel"
"Retarded in Love"
"The Truth Is, You Should Lie with Me"
"That Is Why"
"Died a Jew"
"Spores"
"We Killed It"

Songs I'm Almost Certain to Skip

"This Is ****ing Ecstasy"
"Spay Me"
"In Defense of the Genre"
"The Word You Wield"
"Goodbye Young Tutor, You've Now Outgrown Me"

RB+Gravity · 10-29-2008, 08:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RB+Gravity

Probably just Shiksa and People Like You Are Why People Like Me Exist for me. And maybe Sorry, Dudes. My bad.

I'm going to redo my list.

Shiksa
People Like You Are Why People Like Me Exist
Sorry, Dudes. My Bad.
Baby Girl, I'm A Blur
Retarded In Love
The Church Channel
The Truth Is, You Should Lie With Me
Skinny, Mean Man
I Used To Have A Heart
About Falling
That Is Why
Died A Jew
We Killed It

Pre-Ex-Girlfriend · 10-31-2008, 04:46 PM

Daniel and I compiled some lists based on what has been posted so far. I plan to make a mix based on them and then report on my liking of it.

Consensus
Skinny, Mean Man
Shiksa
I Used to Have a Heart
People Like You Are Why People Like Me Exist

Partial Consensus
The Truth is, You Should Lie With Me
Sorry Dudes, My Bad
About Falling

Maybe Consensus?
Have at Thee!
Baby Girl, I'm a Blur
Retarded in Love
The Church Channel
Died a Jew

**Sean** · 11-08-2008, 03:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Emo_Rachael

Daniel and I compiled some lists based on what has been posted so far. I plan to make a mix based on them and then report on my liking of it.

Consensus
Skinny, Mean Man
Shiksa
I Used to Have a Heart
People Like You Are Why People Like Me Exist

Partial Consensus
The Truth is, You Should Lie With Me
Sorry Dudes, My Bad
About Falling

Maybe Consensus?
Have at Thee!
Baby Girl, I'm a Blur
Retarded in Love
The Church Channel
Died a Jew

I find it interesting that for an album with over 25 songs there isn't much consensus on which songs people love and which songs people hate.

thelitguy · 11-23-2008, 10:11 PM

The more I listen to this, the more it really does grow on me. Danny was correct in saying it was judged a bit harshly by some. It is certainly not a repeat of ...Is a Real Boy, and is much much more boring. It does have it's redeeming qualities. I still, however, believe, that it should be cut down to 1 album.

But after months of thinking about this, I have no idea what songs should be on that.

**Skeeter** · 11-24-2008, 02:48 AM

It's still the most disappointed I have ever been in an album. When I was listening to it again to pick out songs for this thread, it completely disappeared into the background and I had to force myself to listen more closely. It still doesn't grab my attention at all.

**Sean** · 12-10-2008, 02:21 PM

Two Tonuges, the Max Bemis and Chris Conley side project, has a couple of songs up on their MySpace.

http://www.myspace.com/twotonguesrock

**Sean** · 07-07-2009, 10:49 AM

The new album is finished being recorded and should be released in the next few months. Here was Bemis' take on it in a blog. Say Anything // In The Studio

"I’m so, so proud of what we’ve done and where we’re going and although I’m very happy with our first two records, I think you guys will agree that this album sounds more like Say Anything then anything the band has ever recorded, as well as moving the band in a direction that is true to what you guys, our fans, really love about us." - Bemis

There are three or four songs from In Defense of the Genre I still listen to, but that's a really bad ratio on an album with like 30 songs. My excitement over this album isn't nearly what it was for the last.

**Skeeter** · 07-07-2009, 11:17 AM

That's essentially the same way I feel. When only 1/6th of the songs on an album stick, there's something wrong. And I have a really tough time listening to some of the other songs...

**bread man** · 07-07-2009, 07:01 PM

I think the new one will be a lot better. When I saw Say Anything live early this year, about 80% of the songs were from ...Is a Real Boy. My friend said he thought that Max wasn't really into In Defense of the Genre, hence the set list. That sounded good to me.