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- Critic score
- Publication
- By date
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Mar 28, 2012Initially, the album seems to lack focus, save a steady burn of fury. But the anarchy's in the lack of cohesion, opening with the hand-clapping force of "Burn a Miracle" and progressing manically toward the melodic woe of "Peace Out".
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Mar 26, 2012The problem is that the rantier Bemis gets about poseurs, the more he forgets to write hooks for his invectives, which strive for Real Boy's Broadway-punk propulsive grace, but strain under the weight of unsingable lines.
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Mar 22, 2012The album creates a nice contrast between the pleasant melodies of the songs and the seething, dissatisfied lyrics that rest on top of them.
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Entertainment WeeklyMar 16, 2012Like a good long-distance run, Anarchy rewards with bursts of sonic endorphins. [16 Mar 2012, p.69]
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Mar 15, 2012The biggest problem with "Admit It Again," and Anarchy, My Dear as a whole, is that its smart-ass barbs aren't aimed with the kind of precision that separates biting wit from regular old meanness.
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Mar 15, 2012Anarchy, My Dear is a record that promises that anything could happen at anytime, and Bemis and company do their very best to shake up what has been expected from them as a band.
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Mar 13, 2012A fantastic record that edits down everything they've done to its essence without dilution.
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Mar 13, 2012While the album may leave some longtime fans pining for their beloved band of yesteryear, those who are willing to listen with open minds (and ears) will soon realize that Say Anything hasn't lost any of its true musical identity, but simply expanded upon it.
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Mar 13, 2012Max Bemis has padded Anarchy with lushness, delicacy, and nuance. The problem is, Bemis' nuance screeches louder than distortion.
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Mar 12, 2012Anarchy, My Dear fails because it tries to recapture things that Bemis just doesn't seem to have right now--true discontentment and anger and venom.
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Mar 12, 2012Unlike on Say Anything, though, DuPree-Bemis' presence this time around feels less shoehorned in, helping contribute to a loose, lively, fun record.
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Mar 12, 2012Parts of Anarchy, My Dear feel so unedited that it gets a little embarrassing for the listener, but when Say Anything collects itself, it has something to say.
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Mar 12, 2012Say Anything have always been a hard pill to swallow for some, and while Anarchy doesn't change that, it shows that they have far more than just the one spanner in the toolbox.
User score distribution:
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Positive: 6 out of 16
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Mixed: 5 out of 16
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Negative: 5 out of 16
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Mar 13, 2012
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Mar 15, 2012
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Sep 16, 2015