Anarchy, My Dear
{{Use mdy dates|date=May 2025}}
{{Infobox album
| name = Anarchy, My Dear
| type = Studio
| artist = Say Anything
| cover = SayAnything-AnarchyMyDear.jpeg
| alt =
| released = March 13, 2012
| recorded =
| venue =
| studio =
| length = 48:27
| label = Equal Vision
| producer = Tim O'Heir
| prev_title = Say Anything
| prev_year = 2009
| next_title = All My Friends Are Enemies: Early Rarities
| next_year = 2013
| misc = {{Singles
| name = Anarchy, My Dear
| type = studio
| single1 = Burn A Miracle
| single1date = December 20, 2011
| single2 = Say Anything
| single2date = January 31, 2012
| single3 = Overbiter
| single3date = September 11, 2012
}}
}}
Anarchy, My Dear is the fifth studio album by American alternative rock band Say Anything. It was released on March 13, 2012 through Equal Vision Records.{{cite web|url=http://www.absolutepunk.net/showthread.php?t=2578472 |title=New Say Anything Album Info - News Article |publisher=AbsolutePunk.net |date= |accessdate=2012-02-08}} It is their last album with drummer Coby Linder, who left the band in December 2012.
Background
On July 13, 2011, vocalist Max Bemis announced that Say Anything had been signed to independent label Equal Vision Records.{{cite web|url=https://www.altpress.com/news/say_anything_sign_with_equal_vision_records_new_album_out_in_early-ish_2012/|title=Say Anything sign with Equal Vision Records; new album out in "early-ish 2012|work=Alternative Press|author=Heisel, Scott|date=July 13, 2011|accessdate=September 27, 2019}} They recorded Anarchy, My Dear from August 2011 to the end of September 2011 with ...Is a Real Boy producer, Tim O'Heir. Explaining the album's theme, Bemis said, {{blockquote|Anarchy, My Dear is our first attempt to write a true ‘punk’ record; thematically speaking, it’s a collection of songs about subverting society and destroying the boundaries humankind has placed upon ourselves both physically and in our minds. Coincidentally, it also happens to be the first record we’ve made in years where we had total freedom to explore our ‘edgier’ side and present a raw picture of what the band is truly about onstage.{{cite web|url=http://www.drivenfaroff.com/2012/01/12/say-anything-reveal-tracklisting-for-new-album/ |title=Say Anything Reveal Tracklisting For New Album |publisher=Driven Far Off |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20160303232417/http://www.drivenfaroff.com/2012/01/12/say-anything-reveal-tracklisting-for-new-album/|archivedate=3 March 2016|url-status=dead|accessdate=25 March 2016}}}}
Artwork
"We thought we could best represent what the album means by using the symbolism of a burning flag stitched onto an actual flag. The image represents a championing of the ’cause’ of struggling against the rules and regulations that dictate our thinking.”{{cite web|url=http://www.punknews.org/article/45766 |title=Say Anything detail 'Anarchy, My Dear' |publisher=Punknews.org |date= |accessdate=2012-02-08}}
Release
On December 19, 2011 Say Anything streamed their first single from the album called "Burn a Miracle."{{cite web|url=https://www.spin.com/2011/12/first-spin-say-anythings-furious-burn-miracle/ |title=First Spin: Say Anything's Furious 'Burn a Miracle' |publisher=SPIN.com |date=2011-12-19 |accessdate=2012-02-08}} The track was officially released the following day to digital music retailers.{{cite web|url=http://www.equalvision.com/releases/show/214 |title=Burn A Miracle - Single - Say Anything : Equal Vision Records |publisher=Equalvision.com |date=2011-12-20 |accessdate=2012-02-08 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20120205112408/http://www.equalvision.com/releases/show/214 |archivedate=2012-02-05 }} On January 10, 2012 the album's track listing was revealed.
On February 4, 2012 the band released the second single from the album entitled "Say Anything".{{cite tweet|number=166008033820938240|user=maxbemis|title=Yo! The single from Anarchy, My Dear, "Say Anything", is available now on itunes! git it! |date=5 February 2012}} The song impacted radio on February 28, 2012.{{cite web|url=http://www.allaccess.com/mail/archive/eweekly/alternative/2012-2-21.html|title=AllAccess.com Alternative eWeekly|work=AllAccess|date=February 28, 2012|accessdate=July 3, 2016}} "Overbiter" impacted radio on September 11, 2012.{{cite web|url=http://www.allaccess.com/mail/archive/eweekly/alternative/2012-9-4.html|title=AllAccess.com Alternative eWeekly|work=AllAccess|date=September 4, 2012|accessdate=July 3, 2016}}
Reception
{{Music ratings
| rev1 = AbsolutePunk
| rev2 = AllMusic
| rev2score = {{rating|3.5|5}}{{cite web|url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/anarchy-my-dear-mw0002304315|title=Anarchy, My Dear - Say Anything {{!}} Songs, Reviews, Credits|publisher=AllMusic|author=Heaney, Gregory|accessdate=September 27, 2019}}
| rev3 = Alternative Press
| rev4 = American Songwriter
| rev4Score = {{Rating|3.5|5}}{{cite web|url=https://americansongwriter.com/2012/03/say-anything-anarchy-my-dear/|title=Say Anything: Anarchy, My Dear|work=American Songwriter|author=Allen, Eric|date=March 13, 2012|accessdate=September 27, 2019}}
| rev5 = The A.V. Club
| rev6 = Consequence of Sound
| rev7 = Rock Sound
| rev8 = Slant Magazine
| rev8Score = {{rating|2.5|5}}{{cite web|url=https://www.slantmagazine.com/music/say-anything-anarchy-my-dear/|title=Review: Say Anything, Anarchy, My Dear|work=Slant Magazine|author=Cole, Matthew|date=March 15, 2012|accessdate=September 27, 2019}}
| rev9 = Spin
| rev10 = Sputnikmusic
}}
Anarchy, My Dear polarized critics, but received a 66 out of 100 on Metacritic, indicating generally favorable reviews. AbsolutePunk gave the album an 85%, writing that the record promises "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." Entertainment Weekly was positive, noting that "Like a good long-distance run, Anarchy rewards with bursts of sonic endorphins." Alternative Press complimented Sherri Dupree-Bemis' presence on the album, highlighting her contributions to a "loose, lively, fun record" and awarding the album 3.5 out of 5 stars. In a mixed review, The A.V. Club wrote that Bemis "padded Anarchy with lushness, delicacy, and nuance. The problem is, Bemis' nuance screeches louder than distortion."
Track listing
{{track listing
| extra_column =
| total_length = 48:28
| title1 = Burn a Miracle
| length1 = 3:54
| title2 = Say Anything
| length2 = 3:02
| title3 = Night's Song
| length3 = 3:44
| title4 = Admit It Again
| length4 = 4:13
| title5 = So Good
| length5 = 4:29
| title6 = Sheep
| length6 = 2:55
| title7 = Peace Out
| length7 = 5:17
| title8 = Overbiter
| length8 = 3:27
| title9 = Of Steel
| length9 = 4:10
| title10 = Anarchy, My Dear
| length10 = 5:43
| title11 = The Stephen Hawking
| length11 = 7:39
| title12 = Here's to You, Blue Eyes
| note12 = bonus track
| length12 = 3:51
}}
{{track listing
| headline = iTunes bonus tracks
| title12 = Their Notions
| length12 = 4:04
| title13 = So Good (Demo)
| length13 =3:41
| title14 = The Making of Anarchy, My Dear (Video)
|length14 = 7:38
}}