#233 - Say Anything
Say Anything Jimmy Eat World Armor For Sleep The Starting Line The Rocket Summer Hot Water Music Dashboard Confessional
#233 – February 2010
IN THE RAG >>>
COVER STORY: SAY ANYTHING
For all intents and purposes, Max Bemis was the emo world’s Brian Wilson, a kid with a great talent whose reputation was constantly derailed by a quagmire of mental illness and chemicals. Fortunately, with the release of Say Anything’s much-awaited new disc, In Defense Of The Genre, Bemis is finally at peace with himself (well, most of the time), and is looking toward having a future, instead of just imagining one.
SPECIALS >>>
SOMETHING SMELLS FUNNY… AGAIN: AP’s AMAZINGLY HILARIOUS ANNUAL COMEDY SPECIAL
We like to laugh-like, a lot-and by offering up the comedic styling of DAVID KOECHNER, JIM GAFFIGAN, KURT BRAUNOHLER AND KRISTEN SCHAAL, PAUL F. TOMPKINS and ALISON BECKER, we hope you will, too.
UNION, JACK! AP’s BRIT ROCK SPECIAL
Yeah, yeah, we know everyone in the scene loves Radiohead, while their parents rock Coldplay in their P.T. Cruisers. But the United Kingdom has been fostering new bands that are churning everything from murderous metalcore to techno-punk mutations to twisted angular throwdowns. AP’s British correspondent Ben Myers gets us caught up with BIFFY CLYRO, ENTER SHIKARI and BRING ME THE HORIZON, as well as tipping us off to the next wave of Brit-rock contenders.
THE ORAL HISTORY OF JIMMY EAT WORLD
Look at your music collection (or your hard drive): There’s a good chance most of the bands who have provided the soundtrack to your life wouldn’t be there without Mesa, Arizona’s favorite sons. Trevor Kelley rounds up the men of JEW and a few of their known associates in celebration of 14 years of service and their new self-produced, Butch Vig-consulted disc, Chase This Light.
FEATURES >>>
THE ROCKET SUMMER
In his relatively short career, Bryce Avary has succeeded in providing good vibes to people in need and psychic ammunition to hardened cynics. Don’t hate-contemplate!
THE BLACK DAHLIA MURDER
If you’re comin’ to these Michigan metalheads’ party, for God’s sake, bring all the beer and splatter movies you can carry, and leave your tight jeans and guyliner at home.
ARMOR FOR SLEEP
Like his heroes before him, Ben Jorgensen wants to usher a whole new movement in modern rock. With the help of a dedicated fanbase, a sympathetic major label and an ambitious new album, who knows what the future will bring?
DASHBOARD CONFESSIONAL
Chris Carrabba snuck out two new records before the end of the year and is working on another as you read this sentence. Fortunately for us, he took time from hanging out in auditoriums and studios to chat with Leslie Simon about everything from living a private life to boys in bubbles.
THE WEAKERTHANS
Ten years ago, John K. Samson left Propagandhi’s world of shouty politi-bollocks to craft songs that were more introspective, but no less driven. These days, he’s trying to survive the waves of both the music industry and download culture, while keeping true to his musical vision.
THE STARTING LINE
Admit it: You thought the Starting Line were as done as Lindsay Lohan’s career. But with a remarkable new album, an ass-kicking run on this summer’s Warped and a bold sense of purpose, the Linemen are owning every last ADD-addled one of you. Frankly, we’re kind of shocked, too….
SECTIONS >>>
INCOMING: LOVE LETTERS, HATE MAIL & SOUND ADVICE
OPINION
The Banner mouthpiece Joey Southside advocates pit bull rescue in Op-Ed; and everyone from Scary Kids Scaring Kids to Comeback Kid (and you, of course) tell us if the drinking age in the U.S. should be lowered in the AP Poll.
NEW RELEASES/IN THE STUDIO
We preview albums from LCD Soundsystem, Copeland and more; and In The Studio checks up on Death Cab For Cutie, Simple Plan and the Loved Ones.
WIRETAPPING
Until you’ve got a fleet of eager industry-types planning and monitoring your every movement, you’re gonna need to D.I.Y. Thankfully, our AP: DIY section is here to guide you (It has to. It’s in the name.) This month we’ve got tips, tricks and traps to avoid from members of Cute Is What We Aim For, A Wilhelm Scream, Spitalfield, the Bled and From Autumn To Ashes along with the techs and other experts who keep ’em running smoothly. AP&R has eight more unsigned bands you need to know now; Chalkboard Confessional talks about (so this is) growing up with Tom DeLonge of Angels & Airwaves; Doghouse Records gets the Label Profile treatment; and Fuse VJ Steven goes underground in his AP-exclusive Untitled Rock Column.
AP RECOMMENDS
If you’re not already listening to Drop Dead, Gorgeous, Crime In Stereo and Farewell, we won’t tell. But, while no one’s looking, you better load ’em up on your iPod, stat!
AP STYLE
Yes, kiddies, the day after Thanksgiving marks everyone’s favorite time of year: It’s present-giving time, bitches! But before someone in your family accidentally buys you a pair of those gawd-awful Crocs, why don’t you rip out our Holiday Gift Guide and school ’em on the hottest gear and accessories. Plus, we realize that looking good isn’t just about your duds; it’s also about your ’do… Your makeup… Your nails… You get the picture.
SCREENING
Please turn off all cell phones. Keep talking to a minimum, as not to disturb your fellow readers. Also, be sure to throw away all garbage in the receptacles provided. Now, sit back and enjoy our feature presentation, which includes some quality face time with Thursday's Steve Pedulla, Flora Cross and the rest of what’s new and hot in theaters and DVD players this month.
REVIEWS
It’s time for a Thanksgiving feast-of rock. The AP Record Store has a cornucopia of new releases to check out, including discs from the Dillinger Escape Plan, Streetlight Manifesto, Avenged Sevenfold, Angels & Airwaves, Zookeeper, Prefuse 73, Coliseum, Babyshambles, Paul Baribeau, the New Amsterdams and more; if you’re still hungry, our In-Store Sessions with Saves The Day, the Color Fred and Intramural should fill you up; make sure to save room for dessert, in the form of our classic-rock and classic-punk columns on Ted Nugent and the Vibrators; and if you need an after-dinner mint, scope out Collector’s Corner, End Cap, Playlist and Listening Station.
10 ESSENTIAL ALBUMS BY BANDS WHO BROKE UP THIS YEAR
As Chaucer once wrote, all good things must come to an end-but that doesn’t mean you won’t be remembered for your accomplishments. Scott Heisel takes a look at 10 bands who threw in the towel in ’07 and the albums that’ll leave lasting impressions.
