In Defense of the Genre

Writing and plans for In Defense of the Genre began in March 2006 during Say Anything's extensive touring and promotion for the reissue of their previous effort, …Is a Real Boy. The band started rehearsing and piecing together the album through pre-production the next year in January 2007, until the record was finally completed half a year later in September.[1] Recording was held at Electric Lady Studios in New York City, and at Seagrass Studios in Valley Village, California, with producer and engineer Brad Wood. Wood was assisted by Noah Goldstein at Electric Lady; additional recordings were made by Andy Jackson and Ross Petersen. Wood mixed the recordings, before the album was mastered by Emily Lazar at The Lodge in New York City, with assistance from Joe LaPorta.[2]

Max Bemis described in an interview that the record is more focused on "observations of other people", unlike ...Is a Real Boy's lyrical content revolving solely on Bemis and his problems.[3] The record "picks up in my life where [...Is a Real Boy] left off because it is very autobiographical, even more so than the last record. Musically, it's different, more mature and somewhat more cohesive and poppy, but darker in a whole different way."[4]

It's the story of being alone and losing my mind and then overcoming that event by learning to trust and let go of that anger and fall in love for the first time. It's also about losing that love and the confusion that entails after, and the nature of first love; discovering what you really want whether it be to give yourself totally to someone or explore the endless abyss and risk losing your mind again and that love.

— Bemis, on the concept of In Defense of the Genre

The album features 23 individual guest vocalists and musicians, including Gerard Way of My Chemical Romance, Pete Yorn, Anna Waronker, Adam Lazzara of Taking Back Sunday, Aaron Gillespie of Underoath and The Almost, Matt Skiba of Alkaline Trio, and Hayley Williams of Paramore. Additional instrumentation was handled by DJ Swamp and Casey Prestwood, who contributed on turntable and pedal steel guitar, respectively.[5] The December issue of Alternative Press reported that Jesse Lacey of Brand New chose not to collaborate. In December 2007, Absolutepunk.net made a three-part video series showing an in-depth look at the recording of In Defense of the Genre.[6][7][8]

On September 19, 2007, fans could pre-order an autographed copy of the album with an optional Say Anything T-shirt.[9] An extra booklet was packaged with the CDs, autographed by Bemis, Alex Kent, and Jeff Turner.

On the same day, "Shiksa" was posted on the group's Myspace page.[10] On October 8, "People Like You Are Why People Like Me Exist" was posted on the group's PureVolume profile.[11] Two days later, "Spores" was posted on the band's Myspace page.[12]

In Defense of the Genre was released on October 23 through J Records as a double disc album.[13]

In October and November, the group co-headlined the Myspace Music Tour with Hellogoodbye. They were supported by Polysics[14] and Young Love.[15]

"Baby Girl, I'm a Blur" was released to radio on November 6.[16]

In March and April 2008, the band went on a headlining tour of the US with Manchester Orchestra, Biffy Clyro and Weatherbox as supports.[17]

On April 9, a music video was released for "Shiksa (Girlfriend)".[18] Between June and August, the band performed on the 2008 edition of Warped Tour.[19]

In February and March 2009, the band toured Australia as part of the Soundwave festival.[20]

Professional ratings

Aggregate scores
Source	Rating
Metacritic	79%
Review scores
Source	Rating
AbsolutePunk.net	(96%) link
Allmusic	link
Alternative Press	link
The A.V. Club	(B+) link
Blender	link
Entertainment Weekly	(A-) link
Kerrang!
Spin	link
Sputnikmusic	link
Rolling Stone	link

In Defense of the Genre was well received by most critics, averaging a 79% on Metacritic.[21] Entertainment Weekly gave the album an A-, noting that the album's "sonic twists almost always work". Alternative Press gave the album a 4.5/5 and stated that Max Bemis created an album musicians "more than twice his age could only hope to create." Blender, in a 4/5 review, called it a "mess" but an "exhilarating one."[22][23][24]

In more mixed reviews, PopMatters noted that the wide variety of styles was a "gift and curse at the same time". Rolling Stone said "When Bemis is on... his songs are tuneful and invigorating."[25][26][27]

It debuted at number 27 on the U.S. Billboard 200 chart, selling 25,000 copies in its first week.[28]

All music by Max Bemis, Jacob Linder and Alexander Kent. All lyrics by Bemis.[2]

Personnel per booklet.[2]

• In Defense of the Genre at MusicBrainz (list of releases)