Say Anything, Max Bemis’s Pop Punk/Alternative Rock little baby recently recorded & released their latest album titled “Hebrews” on Equal Vision Records. Here’s the thing, they did so without the use of ANY guitars on the whole album…..and everyone’s like, “huh”??

Slow down scumbag, it’s not that bad.

The album is amazing. I was blown away. They did away with ol’ faithful (the guitar, duh),  and instead opted for the use of heavier keyboards, violins, and other string arrangements. You need to hear this album. All the energy is there, it still has that upbeat, high energy, angsty feel  and the way Bemis’s screaming scratching vocals sound over top of these arrangements is nothing short of spectacular. Take a taste of the album below.

The lyrical undertones of this album touch heavily on insecurity, frustration, and uncertainty. However the way the string arrangements support these undertones gives it a sense of calmness and acceptance. Almost like there’s a sense of clarity in the ambiguity. And that’s probably the deepest shit you’ll ever read on this website, your welcome :).

If this picture is any indication of how messed up the recording process is…no wonder the album is so weird. In a good way.

They took a chance on this album, in more ways than one. We’ve already mentioned the absence of our friend six string so now let me point you in the direction of the number of guest features on this album. Along with Say Anything, you’re going to hear the vocalists from:

• Chris Conley
• Matt Pryor
• Sherri DuPree-Bemis
• Andy Hull
• John Simmons
• Los Campesinos!
• Eisley
• Keith Buckley
• The Front Bottoms
• mewithoutYou
• Bob Nanna
• Touché Amoré
• Tom Delonge

You’ll find Tom Delonge on the closing track “Nibble Nibble”. This one will freak you out at first. Within the first verse you start to think this song is about touching little boys. Yup, you read that. The opening lyrics are, “the man who touched me”. Once you get through more of the song, it’s actual a cleverly written  and powerful song about the youth being warped. Or at least that’s how I interpret it. (I couldn’t find a copy of the song online to show you :(, but hey…Guess you’ll have to buy it now 🙂 )

Lets get back to my opening statement, what the fuck would you classify this album as? I think I’ve figured it out. Good music.

I also want to point out that for a band who has a lot of respect within the punk community, for them to put out an album that has zero guitars, they have probably done one of the most punk rock things I have heard of in a while.

 Get the album. Then go one step futher and check them out in Toronto next month.

Daly goes to Say Anything shows to Say Nothing. Follow him on twitter @DalyRy