As a person with bipolar who has had similar behavioral patterns to Max during mania and depression, this thread feels a bit shitty right now. I get that his often grandiose social media posts, and on the other side, his slow progress to get some things done, can be off putting. But those things come with bipolar. Even while medicated, I still fluctuate into highs and lows. They aren’t as extreme, but they happen. I assume that’s how it is for others too. Dislike his music, whatever. I personally love every Say Anything record. But I don’t know why you’d want to be a regular contributor to a thread about a band (and a person) you don’t like. The constant negativity about Max as a person is really sad, especially for me since I am also bipolar.
It's not his bipolar disorder we are attacking. I would never attack someone based on their depression, bipolar, anxiety, mental health, etc. Especially as someone who has had diagnosed severe clinical depression for a few decades now. However, I am not going to say that people who have those things, just like anyone else in the world, can't do dumb things in general. It's things like "have our daughters be flower girls at your weddings" and "I did a lot of drugs again so I could be method to write and record Oliver, Appropriate" and he even states in his 9 page summary that it was not a bipolar episode even though it might be linked to his mood disorder. I don't think Max is a terrible human being, especially in the music community when people like Jonny Craig and Dahvie Vanity exist on the other side of the spectrum. I just think he makes a lot of dumb decisions "for the sake of his art" and that's really disheartening to me as a fan. I want to support and like Max. I was so excited he was doing Moon Knight and growing, trying new things and being recognized for his talents, but it's everything on the other side of the coin that makes it so much harder to support him because it feels like a lot of trust/faith has been broken between him and his audience. I hope things get better, but who knows. We'll see what happens from here.
Max just played so fucking perfect in the Where’s The Band stream. I don’t get why he’s been inconsistent lately, but this was amazing. His set was: A Walk Through Hell Daze Woe Third Engine (Saves cover) Tremors Ahh...Men
Actually so so happy about this, it's been driving me crazy. That was by far the most glaring thing missing from Apple Music for me.
I haven't listened to In Defense for a million years, at least. But I remember being so letdown by it, after being obsessed with Is A Real Boy. The only song I remember loving was "No Soul."
In Defense has shorter and punchier songs that are still in the vein of why IARB is great, plus was wayyy ahead of its time in the way that features are used. Can’t imagine not liking it if you like Say Anything.
Yeah, like I said, it's literally been at least 10 years since I've listened to a single track off it. I should revisit it.
The in defense tour was one of the best say anything shows I've been to. Also love the shirt from that tour. The recent tour not the original.
In Defense has a ton of great stuff and ton of not so great stuff imo, but its hit rate is pretty good. tracks 5-9 are some of his best stuff ever
IDoTG certainly can be condensed into one great album, there are enough misses to toss out almost a full album, but i am glad to be able to listen to the good tracks easily again.
Id say 1-8 are all fantastic but Retarded in Love sucks. You could easily make a 16 song album that would be as good as IARB though.
In Defense of the Genre is a really important record to me. When I was in the later years of high school, I began having my first major bipolar episodes. I went undiagnosed until I was around 22. But, whether I was walking outside between 12-4am in a manic haze, or in bed barely able to move or eat due to depression, In Defense always brought me some level of catharsis. Tangent aside, and I am biased as hell from nostalgia, but I wouldn't change anything about In Defense. One of my favorite records.