In Defense Of The Genre
by Say Anything
Metascore
79

Generally favorable reviews - based on 10 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 8 out of 10
  2. Mixed: 2 out of 10
  3. Negative: 0 out of 10
  1. AllMusic
    70
    Bemis may be seeking to defend the emo genre, but his album instead illustrates the difference between run-of-the-mill emo--which, indeed, comprises most of the genre's output--and the imaginative, skillful tunes that flourish here. The only major downside is the album's length.
  2. Entertainment Weekly
    91
    Unexpected as they are, Defense's sonic twists almost always work, justifying the album's 89-minute run time.
  3. Sputnikmusic
    90
    Defense of the Genre is the best major label release of the year, and the most surprising album to boot.
  5. The A.V. Club
    83
    Bemis has concocted a deliciously confounding album that transcends emo more than defends it.
  6. Alternative Press
    90
    Bemis successfully came out of the other side on In Defense Of The Genre, producing an opus that musicians more than twice his age could only hope to create. [Dec 2007, p.185]
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  7. Blender
    80
    The result is a mess but--thanks to Bemis’s passion, humor and knack for inserting multiple hooks into a single song--an exhilarating one.
  8. Spin
    80
    Yet with its detours into slick synth pop, weepy roots rock, and big Broadway music, the sprawling Genre proves that emo needn't be boxed in by stylistic dogma. [Dec 2007, p.120]
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  9. Lost At Sea
    65
    In Defense of the Genre does defeat the emo stigma and the double CD stigma easily, and does improve slightly on the pretty-good "…Is a Real Boy." But these are minor inventions; any "genius" is pretty much limited to the bites and nuggets reported here.

Awards & Rankings

86
#86 Best Album of 2007

User Reviews

All reviews »
User Score
7.3

Generally favorable reviews- based on 38 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 29 out of 38
  2. Mixed: 1 out of 38
  3. Negative: 8 out of 38
  1. jmarkfin
    Sep 17, 2013
    8
    This album would be easily a 9 and maybe even a 10 if the band had decided to make this a single-disc LP. The number of unnecessary tracksThis album would be easily a 9 and maybe even a 10 if the band had decided to make this a single-disc LP. The number of unnecessary tracks included could create a decent b-sides album.… Full Review »
  2. everlastall
    Mar 19, 2012
    9
    An astounding album of catching tunes and amazing lyrics. Say Anything's follow up to ...Is a real boy is a masterpiece thats a crowningAn astounding album of catching tunes and amazing lyrics. Say Anything's follow up to ...Is a real boy is a masterpiece thats a crowning achievement in music.… Full Review »
  3. HunterG.
    Sep 2, 2008
    10
    Say anything is defiantly one of the greatest bands of its generation. Lead singer, Max bemis, is truly one of the best songwriters of all time.
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