Say Anything Band • Page 21

I stan for Max hard and pretty easily forgive his worst musical habits, and even I cringe at some of the lyrics on IDTII, even though I like it as a whole. I think probably the point was to make it uncomfortable at spots, but it went a little too far.

 

yeah i think the idea with like IDOTG and IDTII is to make us feel uncomfortable and put us in Maxs shoes as far as what he was thinking at the time. its almost like Max plays a caricature of himself

 

I've honestly never thought much of it on IDOTG. I think that I just didn't really notice when I first listened in high school, and then I just became familiar enough with it that I never thought that much about what he was saying, if that makes sense? Now I kind of want to go back and listen to that record more analytically. Either way, I think he pulled it off better on IDOTG if that's what was going on. IDTII feels like it's just going after the shock value at times.

 

oh yeah for sure. theres some lines on IDOTG that are definitely meant to shock but i think IDTII is like pure shock value.

 

I always wonder how if I would feel about Hebrews/IDTII if they had come out while I was in high school. If I would be able to ignore the cringey stuff like I'm able to on the earlier albums.

 

Also, on the topic of Attaboy, I really really love the end of that song (and I don't mind the beginning). I love the "think it's a crying shame you're not at the show... don't jam it in prviate so all you're co-workers won't know" part of the song. I appreciate the sort of self-deprecation that a lot of people see SA as a band they liked in high school or from their emo phase or whatever. I've gotten a fair amount of shit from my friends about a lot of the music I listen to, so I don't know that part just kind of hits me.

 

yeah i wonder this too. like lets all be honest with ourselves: Max is a brilliant lyricist, yet simultaneously hes also a kinda bad lyricist. at time at least. but i have a good feeling had AMD/Hebrews/IDTII been released when i was a teenager id probably love them instead of just liking them

 

I think if I started with Anarchy or IDTII I wouldn't be a fan of this band, haha. I love Hebrews even now.

 

I think Max is primarily a good songwriter who just gets carried away sometimes. I always find his music interesting at the very least, never boring for what it's worth

 

One things for sure: I will take Max pursuing (holy hell I'm having trouble spelling today, couldn't get pursuing and I couldn't spell apparent earlier) what he really wants to do (Hebrews, IDTII) over catering to his idea of what people want from him (A,MD). I really don't have a problem with A,MD but it's easily their most boring release, and he did himself no favors promising it to be "the closest thing to IARB" or whatever he was saying at the time. Bottom line for me though: Max's music will always be worth listening to for me, and so far has always had something to offer. I'll take the cringey moments if it means I also get moments of what I consider pure brilliance.

 

Could not agree more with this post. Max is one of my favorite songwriters. His music is almost always interesting, blemishes and all.

 

Has there been any news about the IDOTG anniversary shows that Max teased earlier this year?

 

absolutely, despite my feelings on IDTII I'm still glad he made the album he wanted to make.

 

Sidenote, have people who don't like AMD come around on "The Stephen Hawking" yet? Because it's up there for sure

 

i like AMD a good bit and yeah "The Stephen Hawking" is like, among the all time great SA songs. i dont remember where exactly I read this but i swear i remember Max saying that when he uses a song to reference a past song its his way of saying he thinks those are among the best songs hes ever written, hence "The Stephen Hawking" reference in "Push".

 

I remember it being very long....that is all I remember about it

 

Try it again, it's seven minutes but it switches styles several times. Definitely their best closer after "Plea" imo

 

I don't dislike AMD, so I've always liked it haha

 

"Ahhh... Men" would like a word.

 

Yea the Stephen Hawking is great. (Currently resisting the urge to rank the closers.)

 

The end of "Plea" tho

 

Ahh Men didn't age too well for me, but Plea is amazing

 

The Stephen Hawking is their best closer imo



incredible song

 

unfortunately I tried very very hard to like that record and most songs on it haha, just never worked for me besides Night's Song

 

idc Admit It will always be my favorite

Plea, Ahhh Men, and TSH are great songs as well. Lost My Touch shouldve been the closer on Hebrews. Varicose Visage was a better admit it again than....well, Admit It Again but its not among my favorites.