Hello fellow fans. I'm Will, and I've been a longtime fan of Say Anything. I posted from time to time on the old board as relik, though apparently that's out of commission at this point.

Since Say Anything is among my one of my favorite bands (and Jim Morrison is dead), I could think of no better band to feature for the grand opening of my brand new entertainment site at http://freshzive.com.

I've tried to find a press contact for Say Anything in order to pass this article along to fans, but no luck on this new site (and certainly no luck on J Records' site either). The feature article is available at http://freshzive.com/index2.php?sid=get_content&id=16, and reads as follows:

"Max Bemis is “filled with fire and drinking gasoline,” as he puts it in the first song of Say Anything’s latest endeavor. With the release of In Defense of the Genre last fall, the members of Say Anything are finally beginning to get the attention they deserve, and the band is on top of its game. And frankly, I’m a bit jealous.

For the past few years, since before the release of …Is a Real Boy, Say Anything has been MY band. I was the first person in my circle of friends to discover them, and I quickly became obsessed with Max’s unique, often-harsh vocal style and ingenious vocals. I’ve introduced Say Anything to countless friends. I’ve seen then live. I have two shirts, both from pre-ordering Say Anything albums. …Is a Real Boy was basically my Bible for a period of time.

Since the release of In Defense of the Genre, I’ve had mixed feelings about Say Anything’s sudden rise in popularity. It’s weird to me when people I never thought would listen to Say Anything are listening to IDOTG in their cars or at parties. Seeing really young kids at their shows is also weird to me. Don’t get me wrong – I’m totally psyched to see one of my favorite bands blowing up. I just hope their new fans explore further back than IDOTG, because each of Say Anything’s albums is powerful and intriguing.

From the early demos and Baseball to the recent In Defense of the Genre, Say Anything have managed to retain their aggressive, in-your-face style, and they have improved their method with each release. On In Defense of the Genre, the members of Say Anything continue logically where they left off with …Is a Real Boy – contentious yet brilliant.

Say Anything is leading a revolution, and Max Bemis may very well be the voice of our generation. His brash, tell-it-like-it is approach exemplifies both the strife and elation experienced by every young adult at some point. And Say Anything’s infectious guitar melodies and rhythmically creative drumbeats reinforce every line.

Say Anything have somewhat refined their sound a bit on the new album, staying true to their roots while at the same time maturing as a band. And IDOTG can hold its own as a double-disc like few modern albums manage to do. My sole complaint about the album is the ridiculous number of guest vocalists. In total, 23 other artists make guest appearances. From Pete Yorn’s vocal addition to “Skinny Mean Man” to Hayley Williams’ (Paramore) backing vocals on “The Church Channel” and “Plea,” each guest adds his or her unique spin to the track in question. None of them bother me on an individual basis, but I’d personally prefer to hear Max when I pop in a Say Anything record.

I recently had the opportunity to see Say Anything at Robert Morris University in Pennsylvania, and the band delivered a raucus, energetic show. Say Anything make pleasing an audience look easy. They put on a tight performance that effectively captured the raw energy contained in their songs and really pumped up the crowd. I was impressed at their ability to substitute for the guest vocalists on IDOTG without a hitch.

Ultimately, I’m thrilled to see Say Anything in the spotlight. While it can be unnerving to see a band you’ve been with since the beginning hit the mainstream, it’s satisfying and relieving to see that the mainstream must have some sense of musical taste, too. Say Anything deserve all of the publicity and recognition they get; they’re a compelling band that’s just getting started."