In Defense of the Genre
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| In Defense of the Genre | |||||
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| Studio album by Say Anything | |||||
| 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, Alternative Rock | ||||
| Length | 89:21 | ||||
| Label | J Records | ||||
| Producer | Brad Wood | ||||
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| Say Anything chronology | |||||
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| Singles from In Defense of the Genre | |||||
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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.[1] It debuted at number 27 on the U.S. Billboard 200 chart, selling 25,000 copies in its first week.[2] The first single, "Baby Girl, I'm a Blur", was released October 2, 2007 on iTunes.[3] 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.[4] An extra booklet was packaged with the CDs, autographed by Max Bemis, Alex Kent, and Jeff Turner.
Contents |
[edit] 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.[5] 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.[6] 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."[7]
| “ | It's the story of being alone and losing my mind and then overcoming that event by learning to trust and let go of that anger and fall in love for the first time. It's also about losing that love and the confusion that entails after, and the nature of first love; discovering what you really want whether it be to give yourself totally to someone or explore the endless abyss and risk losing your mind again and that love. | ” |
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—Max Bemis describes the concept of In Defense of the Genre |
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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, and Hayley Williams of Paramore. Additional instrumentation was handled by DJ Swamp and Casey Prestwood, whom contributed on turntable and pedal steel guitar, respectively.[8] The December issue of Alternative Press reported that Jesse Lacey of Brand New didn't end up making it on the record for disclosed reasons. In December of 2007, Absolutepunk.net did a 3-part video series showing an indepth look at the recording of In Defense of the Genre.[9][10][11]
[edit] Reception
In Defense of the Genre was received very well, averaging a 79% at critic compiler Metacritic. [12] The album sold 25,000 copies in its first week.[13]
[edit] Track listing
All music was written by Max Bemis, Coby Linder and Alex Kent; lyrics by Max Bemis.
[edit] 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
[edit] 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
[edit] 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
[edit] Personnel
[edit] 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
[edit] Tour personnel
- Jake Turner – backing vocals, guitar
- Jeff Turner – backing vocals, guitar
- Parker Case – guitar, keyboards, backing vocals
[edit] 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"
[edit] References
- ^ Say Anything to Release Full-Length this October. AbsolutePunk.net.
- ^ Underwood Leads Three Country Debuts Onto Chart. Katie Hasty.
- ^ Say Anything, Hellogoodbye Set For MySpace Tour. Billboard.
- ^ Pre Order In Defense of The Genre!. Say Anything.
- ^ Say Anything Finish new Album. AbsolutePunk.net.
- ^ Say Anything Eyes Early 2007 For New CD. Billboard.
- ^ Interview: Say Anything (Max Bemis) - 06.19.07. AbsolutePunk.net.
- ^ Rock Veterans Guest On New Say Anything Album. Billboard.
- ^ ABSOLUTExclusive: Say Anything Video Series (Part 1 Of 3). AbsolutePunk.net.
- ^ ABSOLUTExclusive: Say Anything Video Series (Part 2 Of 3). AbsolutePunk.net.
- ^ ABSOLUTExclusive: Say Anything Video Series (Part 3 Of 3). AbsolutePunk.net.
- ^ Say Anything: In Defense Of The Genre (2007): Reviews
- ^ [ http://www.sayanythingmusic.com/news/a-jewish-kind-of-pop-song]
[edit] External links
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