There aren’t many bands who are able to write a concept album, let alone write it well. The results of most efforts either fall flat and boring or are simply unrecognizable as a concept album at all. Such is not the case with Say Anything’s …Is a Real Boy. Though the Los Angeles based band has been quietly making a name for itself for years, it was with their 2004 release that they really hit it big. They self-released three prior albums, all of which have the appearance and quality of major label releases. AbsolutePunk.net calls one of the band´s self-released EP´s "epic". And they deserves all the recognition they receive.
…Is a Real Boy tells the story of a boy in a band (also known as Say Anything) who feels like he doesn’t fit into the music industry. One day a magical being forces him to reveal his innermost thoughts through song, which, instead of alienating him, gains him respect and admiration. The opening track "Belt" is the introduction to the story, where our hero realizes his frustration with the industry to which he refuses to sell out. And the story progresses from there.
Throughout the album, the protagonist of the story spills his guts about relationships ("The Writhing South"), love ("I Want to Know Your Plans") and fake friends ("Yellow Cat (Slash) Red Cat"). In the irony-laden "Every Man Has a Molly", front man Max Bemis, or rather Bemis’ alter ego and the main character in …Is a Real Boy, begs fans to buy merchandise at the shows because he believes they owe him after his girlfriend broke up with him “over the revealing nature of the songs”.
Of course, this ninth track by far not the only ironic song on the album; in fact, Bemis is a genius when it comes to irony, self-effacement and metaphors. The entire album is just one big metaphor for the music industry today. Bemis is a master at wordplay and presenting quite a complicated theme in the form of pure poetry. His voice drips with sarcasm and spite ("Use yourself to use me, using you") yet there is always a bit of humor present ("Love, I shall not love, yet I’ll sing about it. Hope it covers the ocean in slime").
Ultimately, the story ends well, with the finale "Admit It!!!", in which Bemis admits “I’m proud of life and the things that I have done” and that he is not impressed with those who believe they are better simply because they are “less pretentious”, when in fact this thinking makes them even more pretentious. It is a conundrum that Say Anything addresses well and without the slightest trace of condescension.
…Is a Real Boy is a fantastic display of Say Anything’s diversity as a musical group, as well as their humor and ability to present a cohesive and well written group of songs.
