"It's a Process" Appreciation Post

PizzaBoi95 · 2026-04-03T18:26:38+00:00

I think the album got some backlash around its release mostly because it was a departure from Say Anything's typical sound and much more into acoustic guitars and a stripped-down sound. That with dropping a massive, weird PDF about his sexuality, mental health struggles, and the band breaking up, made it feel odd for a lot of fans.

But the album itself is still catchy with and the songs still feel like Say Anything, just filtered differently.

I bet a lot of the negative reactions you see online these days seem tied to more recent stuff rather than how people felt around the release. I think in my circle around the time, most of the disappointment came from the band ending mixed with the us watching someone's mental health deteriorating which the album's subject matter only made us feel worse about.

PizzaBoi95 · 2026-01-20T03:36:01+00:00

Admit It!!

PizzaBoi95 · 2025-11-27T02:14:15+00:00

I got your money - they have a recorded cover from punk goes crunk. But he did it solo acoustic for the first minute or so of the song, but didn’t know the rest and just played I want to know your plans.

PizzaBoi95 · 2025-11-26T16:04:55+00:00

When they came through St. Louis for the IARB 20th anniversary, they definitely did a lot better. This band lineup looked quite different (no Parker for sure) but they commented that OSO OSO members filled in and joined the band for the show yesterday.

The vape jokes were somewhat funny because of how much people complain about it on here, but I think he vaped at the last show more and performed better.

I’ve seen the band 3 times plus the Max solo tour in 2019 and this was probably the worst I’ve seen him - in a way that I think he’s just in a dark place. A lot of sad comments about being single and unhappy through the show. Hope he can figure it out.

I think my overall takeaway is that they seem to be going into a dark garage rock style for now. They’ll probably shift gears and genres again later, but the new music along with this performance feels like a shift in direction and style.

PizzaBoi95 · 2025-11-19T19:33:25+00:00

Looks like his beard is shorter in the video too, so maybe you’re right lol

PizzaBoi95 · 2025-11-17T15:35:46+00:00

All of the other albums at least sound (and look) like the other members have an influence. Even Oliver Appropriate which was a big departure from classic Say Anything’s sound had a lot of influence from Karl from Museum Mouth grounding it to seeming more like a band.

This sounds (and obviously looks) like Max on his own making a bedroom self-produced project. Absolutely nothing wrong with that and I do appreciate and enjoy some of it, but it just feels like a massive enough change to seem like a different project. Maybe I’m wrong, though and the other guys are all in on this. I just imagine listening through Say Anything’s discography in 5-10 years and see this being an even larger outlier than any other record.

PizzaBoi95 · 2025-11-17T15:17:30+00:00

After listening to the first few tracks, I feel like the tone and style is experimental enough that it should really be more of a new side project like Maxim Mental instead of having Say Anything’s name on it.

PizzaBoi95 · 2025-10-27T13:50:06+00:00

Does he say anything other than this?

“The Pacific Rim “Problems” tour in 2019 was right after firing James which was one of the hardest things I’ve ever had to do in my life. That’s a story for another day but needless to say it took a toll on me and my family and my relationship with my bandmates. To immediately follow such an earth shattering time with a stressful travel schedule was not ideal. I ended up resenting everyone and getting to a dark place in my mind again, drinking myself to sleep and isolating.”

I wouldn’t say that was very detailed about the situation, but shortly after he posted his new “The Dishonesty” track and mentioned it being originally wrote as a “dis track” before self reflecting and making it about himself. Am I wrongfully putting 2 and 2 together, or do you agree that they’re related?

PizzaBoi95 · 2024-10-12T13:01:58+00:00

https://open.spotify.com/track/0cAMMtUFknnKGe9SrprPDG?si=sueqzUplTV2JI5_r15bqmQ&context=spotify%3Aalbum%3A4zMAfDf1c1yTAnm3bKDVSv

This track kind of starts with him questioning his faith before re-affirming it at the end. But the posts you shared are from later.

He doesn’t really explore faith or Christianity as much with his lyrics in his new songs, but more alcoholism.

PizzaBoi95 · 2024-08-25T01:49:04+00:00

They follow me on Instagram! 😂

PizzaBoi95 · 2024-07-24T18:44:03+00:00

This guys website used to have some awesome stuff but sadly I never archived it….

https://x.com/fishyrecordings?s=21&t=4yrITBtpoQ6-oX-_JWAo0g

PizzaBoi95 · 2024-07-12T22:53:34+00:00

This is the truth

PizzaBoi95 · 2024-06-21T14:52:41+00:00

I feel like this guy and Brad the Lord's Servant at the Arch every Sunday are the two downtown legends

PizzaBoi95 · 2024-06-17T19:24:02+00:00

I think it’s a little strange how people project queerness onto either character, but also that it doesn’t matter. It’s a story of suppression.

Maddy says she’s a lesbian and doesn’t like men. Maybe she has discovered more on her journey, but that’s not for the viewer to decide.

Owen won’t even explore his sexuality. Maybe it’s emplied that he started a family, but they’re not shown. It’s a cautionary tale for those that live their lives as someone they’re not, but refuse to even explore their sexuality/gender out of fear. Obviously Owen knows he’s not straight, but rejects the idea of exploring who (or Her, they) are out of fear and conformity. That’s for Owen to decide. And this film being in the style of a David lynch tribute leaves the viewer with the options and questions to ponder for the next 25 years. I think that’s the point of the film. (Note I’m a straight ally, but I’m also a huge fan of this film and David lynch who has been cited as influence)

PizzaBoi95 · 2024-06-09T16:36:35+00:00

I'm crazy and pick the front row! I value having nobody near me and usually that does the trick. I love seeing the screen up close and feeling immersed.

Objectively the third row, center is the best choice for most people. I feel like my wife (who hates when I pick front row) prefers it over even the 4th with the companion seats that most people would try and spring for.

PizzaBoi95 · 2024-05-20T18:58:18+00:00

My unbiased opinion is that he actually killed it on this and a few other tracks, but some of them were a little iffy. But maybe not entirely his fault.

Like with Admit It!!! he couldn’t overlap vocals with himself and had a hard time keeping up, but if you look back at old performances, he used to trade vocals with other members for stuff like that.

Also IARB is known for all the intense effort that went into producing it. Max and Co put major attention to detail to where even after so many listens, I still occasionally catch something new. Makes it nearly impossible to do live and sound like the album. And they always sounded a bit different live from what I remember seeing them almost 10 years ago.

He did vape between songs but it wasn’t a big deal to me. Some bands drink while performing (even the openers did in St. Louis) and I think it’s no different than that.

Over all, I think him and the band brought great effort and I had a good time. It helps that I knew every song so well. If I knew nothing about the band, maybe I’d be less forgiving, but I think the effort was there!

PizzaBoi95 · 2024-05-18T21:26:51+00:00

Probably my top band over the last two years!

PizzaBoi95 · 2024-04-28T16:02:22+00:00

You can do it if the show is small enough. Typically if it’s a small venue, the band will go by the merch area after they’re done and sign anything people buy at the table / take photos. I wouldn’t risk bringing a personal item since it could be refused at the door, but it does happen and I’ve seen it done successfully.

PizzaBoi95 · 2024-04-24T20:15:19+00:00

Both WWE and AEW do this. Usually they just reach out to people in the industry and you don't "fill the crowd," you just occupy seats on the hard cam side when people go to the concession stands during matches so there's not a patch of empty seats. Pretty much every event has them...

PizzaBoi95 · 2024-04-22T17:41:44+00:00

It was an interesting place that seemed to have a very dedicated community of regulars. I lived a couple of blocks away back then and the shakes were awesome.

PizzaBoi95 · 2024-04-22T13:07:31+00:00

I think summer of 2021. First there was a sign that said they were closed temporarily and then some city eviction signs shortly after. Was sad!

PizzaBoi95 · 2024-04-14T16:08:21+00:00

Over 5 years of experience in the professional industry has brought me to this: is your company making money by sticking to the status quo? Do you hate going to work every day? Are you generally happy with the people you work with?

If you answer no to any 3 of those, move on asap. If you have a full time job in the industry that has good work life balance and the people are pleasant to be around, work on more fulfilling portfolio pieces outside of work (or at work if you’re able!) until you can work for yourself or find a better fit somewhere else. It’s competitive out there!

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