In Defense of the Genre

Infobox Album
Name = In Defense of the Genre
Type = album
Artist = Say Anything

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Released = October 23, 2007
Recorded = March 2006 – September 2007 at Electric Lady Studios in New York City and Seagrass Studios in California
Genre = Indie rock Emo
Length = 89:21
Label = J Records
Producer = Brad Wood
Reviews =
* AbsolutePunk.net (96%) [http://www.absolutepunk.net/showthread.php?p=7858753 link]
* Allmusic Rating|3.5|5 [http://wc02.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=10:a9fixzrhld0e link]
* Alternative Press Rating|4.5|5
* "The A.V. Club" (B+) [http://www.avclub.com/content/music/say_anything link]
* "Blender" Rating|4|5 [http://www.blender.com/guide/reviews.aspx?id=4855 link]
* "Entertainment Weekly" (A-) [http://www.ew.com/ew/article/0,,20153077,00.html link]
* "Kerrang!" Rating|4|5
*Rocklouder Rating|3|5 [http://www.rocklouder.co.uk/articles/5444/Say-Anything---In-Defense-Of-The-Genre.html link]
* Rockmidgets.com Rating|5|5 [http://www.rockmidgets.com/releases.php?p=5&page=3&id=2490 link]
* "Spin" Rating|4|5 [http://www.jrecords.com/sayanything/images/sa_spin.jpglink]
* Sputnikmusic Rating|4.5|5 [http://www.sputnikmusic.com/review_13908 link]
* "Rolling Stone" Rating|3|5 [http://www.rollingstone.com/reviews/album/16878455/review/16928231/in_defense_of_the_genre?source=album_reviews_rssfeed link]
Last album = "…Is a Real Boy" (2004)
This album = "In Defense of the Genre" (2007)
Next album =
Misc = Singles
Name = In Defense of the Genre
Type = studio
single 1 = Baby Girl, I'm a Blur
single 1 date = October 2, 2007
single 2 = Shiksa (Girlfriend)
single 2 date = 2008
single 3 = Skinny, Mean Man
single 3 date = 2008

"In Defense of the Genre" is the third full-length studio album by American rock band Say Anything, released on October 23, 2007 through J Records as a double disc album. [cite web|url=http://www.absolutepunk.net/showthread.php?t=266562|title=Say Anything to Release Full-Length this October|publisher=AbsolutePunk.net] It debuted at number 27 on the U.S. Billboard 200 chart, selling 25,000 copies in its first week. [cite web|url=http://www.billboard.com/bbcom/news/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1003665671|title=Underwood Leads Three Country Debuts Onto Chart|publisher=Katie Hasty] The first single, "Baby Girl, I'm a Blur", was released October 2, 2007 on iTunes. [cite web|url=http://www.billboard.com/bbcom/news/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1003632694|title=Say Anything, Hellogoodbye Set For MySpace Tour|publisher=Billboard] The artwork was illustrated by Jeff Smith, who's primarily known for his work on the Bone comic series.

On September 19, 2007, fans could pre-order an autographed copy of the album with an optional Say Anything t-shirt. [cite web|url=http://www.sayanythingmusic.com/news/pre-order-in-defense-of-the-genre|title=Pre Order In Defense of The Genre!|publisher=Say Anything] An extra booklet was packaged with the CDs, autographed by Max Bemis, Alex Kent, and Jeff Turner.

Background

Writing and plans for "In Defense of the Genre" began in March 2006 during Say Anything's extensive touring and promotion for the reissue of their previous effort, "…Is a Real Boy". The band started rehearsing and piecing together the album through pre-production the next year in January 2007, until the record was finally completed half a year later in September. [cite web|url=http://www.absolutepunk.net/showthread.php?t=263729|title=Say Anything Finish new Album|publisher=AbsolutePunk.net] Max Bemis described in an interview that the record is more focused on "observations of other people", unlike "...Is a Real Boy"'s lyrical content revolving solely on Bemis and his problems. [cite web|url=http://www.billboard.com/bbcom/news/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1002197328|title=Say Anything Eyes Early 2007 For New CD|publisher=Billboard] The record "picks up in my life where ["...Is a Real Boy"] left off because it is very autobiographical, even more so than the last record. Musically, it's different, more mature and somewhat more cohesive and poppy, but darker in a whole different way." [cite web|url=http://www.absolutepunk.net/showthread.php?t=246310|title=Interview: Say Anything (Max Bemis) - 06.19.07|publisher=AbsolutePunk.net]

The album features 23 individual guest vocalists and musicians, notably including Gerard Way of My Chemical Romance, Pete Yorn, Anna Waronker, Adam Lazzara of Taking Back Sunday, Aaron Gillespie of Underoath and Hayley Williams of Paramore. Additional instrumentation was handled by DJ Swamp and Casey Prestwood, whom contributed on turntable and pedal steel guitar, respectively. [cite web|url=http://www.billboard.com/bbcom/news/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1003641436|title=Rock Veterans Guest On New Say Anything Album|publisher=Billboard] The December issue of "Alternative Press" reported that Jesse Lacey of Brand New chose not to collaborate. In December of 2007, Absolutepunk.netdid a 3-part video series showing an indepth look at the recording of "In Defense of the Genre". [cite web|url=http://www.absolutepunk.net/showthread.php?t=281742|title=ABSOLUTExclusive: Say Anything Video Series (Part 1 Of 3)|publisher=AbsolutePunk.net] [cite web|url=http://www.absolutepunk.net/showthread.php?t=283064|title=ABSOLUTExclusive: Say Anything Video Series (Part 2 Of 3)|publisher=AbsolutePunk.net] [cite web|url=http://www.absolutepunk.net/showthread.php?t=284511|title=ABSOLUTExclusive: Say Anything Video Series (Part 3 Of 3)|publisher=AbsolutePunk.net]

Reception

"In Defense of the Genre" was received well by some critics, averaging a 79% on Metacritic. [ [http://www.metacritic.com/music/artists/sayanything/indefenseofthegenre?q=say%20anything Say Anything: In Defense Of The Genre (2007): Reviews ] ] Entertainment Weekly gave the album an "A-", noting that the album's "sonic twists almost always work". Alternative Press gave the album a 4.5/5 and stated that Max Bemis created an album musicians "more than twice his age could only hope to create". Blender, in a 4/5 review, called it a "mess" but an "exhilarating one". [ [http://www.ew.com/ew/article/0,,20153077,00.html Say Anything: In Defense Of The Genre (2007): Reviews ] ] [ [Dec 2007 p. 189 Say Anything: In Defense Of The Genre (2007): Reviews ] ] [ [http://www.blender.com/guide/reviews.aspx?id=4855 Say Anything: In Defense Of The Genre (2007): Reviews ] ]

In more mixed reviews, PopMatters noted that the wide variety of styles was a "gift and curse at the same time". Rolling Stone called the songs "...tuneful and invigorating.". Allmusic, giving it a 3.5/5, noted that a downside was the length of the album. [ [http://www.popmatters.com/pm/music/reviews/50266/say-anything-in-defense-of-the-genre/ Say Anything: In Defense Of The Genre (2007): Reviews ] ] [ [http://www.rollingstone.com/reviews/album/16878455/review/16928231/in_defense_of_the_genre Say Anything: In Defense Of The Genre (2007): Reviews ] ] [ [http://wc02.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=10:a9fixzrhld0e~T1 Say Anything: In Defense Of The Genre (2007): Reviews ] ]

The album sold 25,000 copies in its first week. [ [ http://www.sayanythingmusic.com/news/a-jewish-kind-of-pop-song] ]

Track listing

All music was written by Max Bemis, Coby Linder and Alex Kent; lyrics by Max Bemis.

Disc one

# "Skinny, Mean Man" – 3:33
# "No Soul" – 3:36
# "That Is Why" – 4:13
# "Surgically Removing the Tracking Device" – 2:30
# "This Is Fucking Ecstasy" – 2:39
# "The Church Channel" – 3:04
# "Shiksa (Girlfriend)" – 3:38
# "Baby Girl, I'm a Blur" – 4:19
# "Retarded in Love" – 3:06
# "People Like You Are Why People Like Me Exist" – 3:28
# "Died a Jew" – 2:29
# "An Insult to the Dead" – 4:09
# "Sorry, Dudes. My Bad." – 2:43

Disc two

# "Spay Me" – 3:13
# "In Defense of the Genre" – 4:02
# "The Truth Is, You Should Lie with Me" – 2:31
# "The Word You Wield" – 3:50
# "Vexed" – 2:39
# "About Falling" – 4:13
# "You're the Wanker, If Anyone Is" – 3:22
# "Spores" – 2:49
# "We Killed It" – 1:53
# "Have at Thee!" – 3:03
# "Hangover Song" – 0:58
# "Goodbye Young Tutor, You've Now Outgrown Me" – 4:20
# "I Used to Have a Heart" – 4:17
# "Plea" – 4:31

Notes

* "No Soul" contains a portion of the composition "Juicy Fruit", originally written by James Mtume
* Additional arrangement on "An Insult to the Dead" by Joshua Sultan
* "Plea" contains a portion of the composition "Rocks Tonic Juice Magic", originally written by Chris Conley

Personnel

Album personnel

* Max Bemis – vocals, guitar, keyboards, mandolin
* Coby Linder – drums, percussion, backing vocals
* Alex Kent – bass
* Brad Wood – producer, engineer, mixer
* Emily Lazar – mastering engineer

Tour personnel

* Jake Turner – backing vocals, guitar
* Jeff Turner – backing vocals, guitar
* Parker Case – guitar, keyboards, backing vocals

Guest appearances

* Pete Yorn – backing vocals on "Skinny, Mean Man"
* Anna Waronker (that dog.) – backing vocals on "No Soul"
* DJ Swamp – turntable on "No Soul"
* Adam Lazzara (Taking Back Sunday) – backing vocals on "Surgically Removing the Tracking Device"
* Fred Mascherino (The Color Fred, formerly of Taking Back Sunday) – backing vocals on "Surgically Removing the Tracking Device"
* Anthony Raneri (Bayside) – backing vocals on "This Is Fucking Ecstasy"
* Hayley Williams (Paramore) – backing vocals on "The Church Channel" and "Plea"
* Caithlin De Marrais (Rainer Maria) – backing vocals on "Shiksa (Girlfriend)"
* Chris Carrabba (Dashboard Confessional) – backing vocals on "Retarded in Love"
* Michael Auerbach – backing vocals on "Retarded in Love"
* Casey Prestwood (Hot Rod Circuit) – pedal steel guitar on "Retarded in Love"
* Trever Keith (Face to Face) – backing vocals on "People Like You Are Why People Like Me Exist"
* Chris Conley (Saves the Day) – backing vocals on "Sorry, Dudes. My Bad."
* Gerard Way (My Chemical Romance) – backing vocals on "In Defense of the Genre"
* Joshua Sultan – backing vocals on "The Truth Is, You Should Lie With Me"
* Matt Skiba (Alkaline Trio) – backing vocals on "About Falling"
* Laura Kirsch – backing vocals on "About Falling"
* Jordan Pundik (New Found Glory) – backing vocals on "You’re the Wanker, If Anyone Is"
* Chad Gilbert (New Found Glory) – backing vocals on "You’re the Wanker, If Anyone Is"
* Aaron Gillespie (Underoath & The Almost) – backing vocals on "You’re the Wanker, If Anyone Is"
* Andy Jackson (Hot Rod Circuit) – backing vocals on "We Killed It"
* Anthony Green (Circa Survive, formerly of Saosin) – backing vocals on "Hangover Song"
* Kenny Vasoli (The Starting Line) – backing vocals on "Plea" and "An Insult To The Dead"

References

External links

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