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All of the music on ''Your Majesty'' is credited to the Anniversary; all of the lyrics are credited to Berwanger and [[White Flight (band)|Justin Roelofs]].<ref name=YMbooklet/> The sound of ''Your Majesty'' has been described as [[garage rock]], [[neo-psychedelia]],<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.altpress.com:80/features/entry/taste_of_tuesday_getting_the_royal_treatment_with_the_anniversary|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160627041942/http://www.altpress.com/features/entry/taste_of_tuesday_getting_the_royal_treatment_with_the_anniversary|title=Taste Of Tuesday: Getting the royal treatment with the Anniversary|work=[[Alternative Press (magazine)|Alternative Press]]|author=Simon, Leslie|date=June 7, 2016|archive-date=June 27, 2016|access-date=August 10, 2020|url-status=live}}</ref> [[pop rock]]<ref name=PFreview/> and [[space rock]];<ref name=PMreview/> it also includes influences from [[progressive rock]].<ref name=CMJreview/> While the album has been classified as [[emo]],<ref name=PFreview/><ref name=AMreview/> several reviewers noted the band had moved away from that style.<ref name=PMreview/><ref name=CAreview/><ref name=Inlanderreview/><ref>Keiper 2002, p. 22</ref><ref name=BV2002/> ''Your Majesty'' is slower than ''Designing a Nervous Breakdown'', with a straightforward [[Rock music|rock]] sound, [[wiktionary:off-kilter|off-kilter]] vocal performances, and guitar solos.<ref name=PMreview/><ref name=PSFemo/> Parts of it drew comparisons to the works of a full-band iteration of [[Elliott Smith]] and [[Rufus Wainwright]], [[the New Pornographers]], and English acts [[the Kinks]] and [[Mott the Hoople]].<ref name=CAreview/><ref name=MagnetLost>{{cite web|url=http://magnetmagazine.com/2009/02/11/lost-classics-the-anniversary-your-majesty/|title=Lost Classics: The Anniversary 'Your Majesty'|work=[[Magnet (magazine)|Magnet]]|date=February 11, 2009|access-date=August 3, 2020|archive-date=January 30, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200130221235/http://magnetmagazine.com/2009/02/11/lost-classics-the-anniversary-your-majesty/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name=CMJsecondreview/> For the album, Pope switched from playing her [[Moog synthesizer]] to a grand piano and an organ.<ref name=Pitchcrown>{{cite web|url=https://www.thepitchkc.com/crown-affair/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200810105744/https://www.thepitchkc.com/crown-affair/|title=Crown Affair|work=The Pitch|author=Miller, Andrew|date=May 23, 2002|archive-date=August 10, 2020|access-date=August 10, 2020|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name=PSFemo>{{cite web|url=https://www.furious.com/perfect/emo2.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200715215143/http://furious.com/perfect/emo2.html|title=Emo {{Not a typo|Revisted}}: The White Boy Blues|work=[[Perfect Sound Forever (magazine)|Perfect Sound Forever]]|author=Hirshfeld, Josh|date=June 2008|archive-date=July 15, 2020|access-date=August 2, 2020}}</ref>
All of the music on ''Your Majesty'' is credited to the Anniversary; all of the lyrics are credited to Berwanger and [[White Flight (band)|Justin Roelofs]].<ref name=YMbooklet/> The sound of ''Your Majesty'' has been described as [[garage rock]], [[neo-psychedelia]],<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.altpress.com:80/features/entry/taste_of_tuesday_getting_the_royal_treatment_with_the_anniversary|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160627041942/http://www.altpress.com/features/entry/taste_of_tuesday_getting_the_royal_treatment_with_the_anniversary|title=Taste Of Tuesday: Getting the royal treatment with the Anniversary|work=[[Alternative Press (magazine)|Alternative Press]]|author=Simon, Leslie|date=June 7, 2016|archive-date=June 27, 2016|access-date=August 10, 2020|url-status=live}}</ref> [[pop rock]]<ref name=PFreview/> and [[space rock]];<ref name=PMreview/> it also includes influences from [[progressive rock]].<ref name=CMJreview/> While the album has been classified as [[emo]],<ref name=PFreview/><ref name=AMreview/> several reviewers noted the band had moved away from that style.<ref name=PMreview/><ref name=CAreview/><ref name=Inlanderreview/><ref>Keiper 2002, p. 22</ref><ref name=BV2002/> ''Your Majesty'' is slower than ''Designing a Nervous Breakdown'', with a straightforward [[Rock music|rock]] sound, [[wiktionary:off-kilter|off-kilter]] vocal performances, and guitar solos.<ref name=PMreview/><ref name=PSFemo/> Parts of it drew comparisons to the works of a full-band iteration of [[Elliott Smith]] and [[Rufus Wainwright]], [[the New Pornographers]], and English acts [[the Kinks]] and [[Mott the Hoople]].<ref name=CAreview/><ref name=MagnetLost>{{cite web|url=http://magnetmagazine.com/2009/02/11/lost-classics-the-anniversary-your-majesty/|title=Lost Classics: The Anniversary 'Your Majesty'|work=[[Magnet (magazine)|Magnet]]|date=February 11, 2009|access-date=August 3, 2020|archive-date=January 30, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200130221235/http://magnetmagazine.com/2009/02/11/lost-classics-the-anniversary-your-majesty/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name=CMJsecondreview/> For the album, Pope switched from playing her [[Moog synthesizer]] to a grand piano and an organ.<ref name=Pitchcrown>{{cite web|url=https://www.thepitchkc.com/crown-affair/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200810105744/https://www.thepitchkc.com/crown-affair/|title=Crown Affair|work=The Pitch|author=Miller, Andrew|date=May 23, 2002|archive-date=August 10, 2020|access-date=August 10, 2020|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name=PSFemo>{{cite web|url=https://www.furious.com/perfect/emo2.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200715215143/http://furious.com/perfect/emo2.html|title=Emo {{Not a typo|Revisted}}: The White Boy Blues|work=[[Perfect Sound Forever (magazine)|Perfect Sound Forever]]|author=Hirshfeld, Josh|date=June 2008|archive-date=July 15, 2020|access-date=August 2, 2020}}</ref>


''Your Majesty'' begins with the rock tracks "Sweet Marie" and "Crooked Crown"; the intro of the latter is similar to the works of [[Weezer]]. "Peace, Pain & Regret" retains the [[upbeat]] energy of ''Designing a Nervous Breakdown''.<ref name=PMreview/> "Husam Husam" was compared to the music of [[Pink Floyd]] with its introduction, spacious keyboard parts and throaty backing vocals.<ref name=AMreview/> The [[indie rock]] track "The Sirens Sings" includes guitar riffs that are similar to those of [[Neil Young]].<ref name=CMJreview/><ref name=Inlanderreview/> "Never Die Young" is an [[up-tempo]] [[Pop music|pop]] song that most resembles the sound of ''Designing a Nervous Breakdown''. "Tu-Whitt Tu-Whoo" is a [[love song]] that is followed by the [[Folk music|folk]]-esque "The Ghost of the River".<ref name=PMreview/><ref name=AMreview/> "The Death of the King" is a near-six-minute song with an instrumental ending that segues into "Follow the Sun", which consists of two lines.<ref name=PMreview/><ref name=Inlanderreview/> "The Death of the King" was written in a hotel bathroom at 1 A.M., with Berwanger and Roleofs playing guitars for the track in the dark.<ref name=Pitchcrown/> Both tracks are progressive rock-indebted numbers; "The Death of the King" evokes the sound of Pink Floyd.<ref name=PMreview/><ref name=AMreview/>
''Your Majesty'' begins with the rock tracks "Sweet Marie" and "Crooked Crown"; the intro of the latter is similar to the works of [[Weezer]]. "Peace, Pain & Regret" retains the [[Wikt:upbeat|upbeat]] energy of ''Designing a Nervous Breakdown''.<ref name=PMreview/> "Husam Husam" was compared to the music of [[Pink Floyd]] with its introduction, spacious keyboard parts and throaty backing vocals.<ref name=AMreview/> The [[indie rock]] track "The Sirens Sings" includes guitar riffs that are similar to those of [[Neil Young]].<ref name=CMJreview/><ref name=Inlanderreview/> "Never Die Young" is an [[up-tempo]] [[Pop music|pop]] song that most resembles the sound of ''Designing a Nervous Breakdown''. "Tu-Whitt Tu-Whoo" is a [[love song]] that is followed by the [[Folk music|folk]]-esque "The Ghost of the River".<ref name=PMreview/><ref name=AMreview/> "The Death of the King" is a near-six-minute song with an instrumental ending that segues into "Follow the Sun", which consists of two lines.<ref name=PMreview/><ref name=Inlanderreview/> "The Death of the King" was written in a hotel bathroom at 1 A.M., with Berwanger and Roleofs playing guitars for the track in the dark.<ref name=Pitchcrown/> Both tracks are progressive rock-indebted numbers; "The Death of the King" evokes the sound of Pink Floyd.<ref name=PMreview/><ref name=AMreview/>


==Release and promotion==
==Release and promotion==
In July 2001, the Anniversary appeared on the Vagrant Across America tour.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.anniversaryrock.com:80/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20010619174513/http://www.anniversaryrock.com/|title=across america.. or parts of it.|publisher=The Anniversary|archive-date=June 19, 2001|access-date=August 9, 2020|url-status=dead}}</ref> On September 3 of that year, the track listing for ''Your Majesty'' was announced.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.punknews.org/article/1910/the-anniversarys-new-cds-track-list-released-tour-announced|title=The Anniversary's New CD's Track list released, tour announced|publisher=Punknews.org|author=Heisel, Scott|date=September 3, 2001|access-date=August 9, 2020|archive-date=December 22, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191222115315/https://www.punknews.org/article/1910/the-anniversarys-new-cds-track-list-released-tour-announced|url-status=live}}</ref> Later that month, it was announced Vagrant had postponed the album's release from October 2001 to January 2002 at the band's insistence.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.punknews.org/article/2005/vagrant-pushes-back-the-anniversarys-new-release|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200810104651/https://www.punknews.org/article/2005/vagrant-pushes-back-the-anniversarys-new-release|title=Vagrant Pushes back The Anniversary's new release|publisher=Punknews.org|author=Heisel, Scott|date=September 24, 2001|archive-date=August 10, 2020|access-date=August 9, 2020}}</ref> In October and November 2001, the Anniversary went on a US tour with [[Superdrag]] and [[the Mars Volta]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.anniversaryrock.com:80/noflash.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20020129233129/http://anniversaryrock.com/noflash.html|title=Anniversary Fall U.S. Tour|publisher=The Anniversary|archive-date=January 29, 2002|access-date=August 9, 2020 |url-status=dead}}</ref> ''Your Majesty'' was delayed several times; with each delay, tension within the band mounted.<ref name=LJWsecond2/> ''Your Majesty'' was eventually released on January 22, 2002; its artwork resembles that of [[The Beatles]]' ''[[Revolver (Beatles album)|Revolver]]'' (1966).<ref name=AMreview/><ref name=CMJsecondreview>Kundrath 2002, p. 49</ref> The Anniversary played three shows with [[Guided by Voices]] in the following month, before supporting [[Dashboard Confessional]] on an eight-week tour in March and April 2002.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.punknews.org/article/2621/tours-wouldnt-it-be-funny-if-your-anniversary-was-one-of-these-dates-cmon|title=Wouldn't it be funny if *your* anniversary was one of these dates? C'mon!|publisher=Punknews.org|author=Heisel, Scott|date=January 19, 2002|access-date=August 9, 2020|archive-date=May 13, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200513203157/https://www.punknews.org/article/2621/tours-wouldnt-it-be-funny-if-your-anniversary-was-one-of-these-dates-cmon|url-status=live}}</ref> In October and November of that year, the band went on a headlining tour with [[Burning Brides]] and [[the Gadjits]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.punknews.org/article/4435/the-anniversary-burning-brides-gadjits-to-tour|title=The Anniversary, Burning Brides, Gadjits to tour|publisher=Punknews.org|author=Heisel, Scott|date=October 11, 2002|access-date=August 9, 2020|archive-date=January 21, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150121074611/http://www.punknews.org/article/4435/the-anniversary-burning-brides-gadjits-to-tour|url-status=live}}</ref> On November 19, 2002, Vagrant released a video compilation entitled ''Another Year on the Screen'', which includes the [[music video]] for "Sweet Marie".<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.punknews.org/article/4536/another-year-on-the-screen|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200810104656/https://www.punknews.org/article/4536/another-year-on-the-screen|title=Another Year On The Screen|publisher=Punknews.org|author=White, Adam|date=October 25, 2002|archive-date=August 10, 2020|access-date=August 9, 2020}}</ref>
In July 2001, the Anniversary appeared on the Vagrant Across America tour.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.anniversaryrock.com:80/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20010619174513/http://www.anniversaryrock.com/|title=across america.. or parts of it.|publisher=The Anniversary|archive-date=June 19, 2001|access-date=August 9, 2020|url-status=dead}}</ref> On September 3 of that year, the track listing for ''Your Majesty'' was announced.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.punknews.org/article/1910/the-anniversarys-new-cds-track-list-released-tour-announced|title=The Anniversary's New CD's Track list released, tour announced|publisher=Punknews.org|author=Heisel, Scott|date=September 3, 2001|access-date=August 9, 2020|archive-date=December 22, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191222115315/https://www.punknews.org/article/1910/the-anniversarys-new-cds-track-list-released-tour-announced|url-status=live}}</ref> Later that month, it was announced Vagrant had postponed the album's release from October 2001 to January 2002 at the band's insistence.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.punknews.org/article/2005/vagrant-pushes-back-the-anniversarys-new-release|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200810104651/https://www.punknews.org/article/2005/vagrant-pushes-back-the-anniversarys-new-release|title=Vagrant Pushes back The Anniversary's new release|publisher=Punknews.org|author=Heisel, Scott|date=September 24, 2001|archive-date=August 10, 2020|access-date=August 9, 2020}}</ref> In October and November 2001, the Anniversary went on a US tour with [[Superdrag]] and [[the Mars Volta]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.anniversaryrock.com:80/noflash.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20020129233129/http://anniversaryrock.com/noflash.html|title=Anniversary Fall U.S. Tour|publisher=The Anniversary|archive-date=January 29, 2002|access-date=August 9, 2020 |url-status=dead}}</ref> ''Your Majesty'' was intended to come out to coincide with this tour, but was delayed several times; with each delay, tension within the band mounted.<ref name=LJWsecond2/><ref>Mullen 2012, event occurs at 22:39–51</ref> Berwanger said the tour was "hell" for the band as they wanted to perform new material, but the audiences were not receptive to this idea.<ref>Mullen 2012, event occurs at 23:02–12</ref> ''Your Majesty'' was eventually released on January 22, 2002; its artwork resembles that of [[the Beatles]]' ''[[Revolver (Beatles album)|Revolver]]'' (1966).<ref name=AMreview/><ref name=CMJsecondreview>Kundrath 2002, p. 49</ref> The Anniversary played three shows with [[Guided by Voices]] in the following month, before supporting [[Dashboard Confessional]] on an eight-week tour in March and April 2002.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.punknews.org/article/2621/tours-wouldnt-it-be-funny-if-your-anniversary-was-one-of-these-dates-cmon|title=Wouldn't it be funny if *your* anniversary was one of these dates? C'mon!|publisher=Punknews.org|author=Heisel, Scott|date=January 19, 2002|access-date=August 9, 2020|archive-date=May 13, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200513203157/https://www.punknews.org/article/2621/tours-wouldnt-it-be-funny-if-your-anniversary-was-one-of-these-dates-cmon|url-status=live}}</ref> In October and November of that year, the band went on a headlining tour with [[Burning Brides]] and [[the Gadjits]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.punknews.org/article/4435/the-anniversary-burning-brides-gadjits-to-tour|title=The Anniversary, Burning Brides, Gadjits to tour|publisher=Punknews.org|author=Heisel, Scott|date=October 11, 2002|access-date=August 9, 2020|archive-date=January 21, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150121074611/http://www.punknews.org/article/4435/the-anniversary-burning-brides-gadjits-to-tour|url-status=live}}</ref> On November 19, 2002, Vagrant released a video compilation entitled ''Another Year on the Screen'', which includes the [[music video]] for "Sweet Marie".<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.punknews.org/article/4536/another-year-on-the-screen|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200810104656/https://www.punknews.org/article/4536/another-year-on-the-screen|title=Another Year On The Screen|publisher=Punknews.org|author=White, Adam|date=October 25, 2002|archive-date=August 10, 2020|access-date=August 9, 2020}}</ref>


On March 7, 2003, the Anniversary said they had left Vagrant Records.<ref name=PNCheap>{{cite web|url=https://www.punknews.org/article/5492/the-anniversary-tour-with-cheap-trick|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200810104715/https://www.punknews.org/article/5492/the-anniversary-tour-with-cheap-trick|title=The Anniversary Tour With Cheap Trick|publisher=Punknews.org|author=White, Adam|date=March 7, 2003|archive-date=August 10, 2020|access-date=August 9, 2020}}</ref> In response, Vagrant's co-owner Rich Egan made a negative post on the record label's [[Internet forum|message board]] that was subsequently deleted. Egan followed the deletion up, saying the "relationship [with the band] had run its course". Berwanger said Vagrant and the Anniversary had "complete opposite ideas of what music should be", and that the record label admittedly had "no idea" how to market ''Your Majesty'', to which Egan replied Vagrant should have had no difficulty promoting the album and that it out-sold ''Designing a Nervous Breakdown''.<ref name=PitchFoul>{{cite web|url=https://www.thepitchkc.com/vagrant-foul/|title=Vagrant Foul|work=The Pitch|author=Harkness, Geoff|date=April 10, 2003|access-date=August 3, 2020|archive-date=January 18, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200118210943/https://www.thepitchkc.com/vagrant-foul/|url-status=live}}</ref> In March and April 2003, the band supported [[Cheap Trick]] on their US headlining tour.<ref name=PNCheap/> In October and November of that year, they went on tour; [[The Natural History (band)|the Natural History]] and the Vexers supported the first half, while the second was supported by Carrier and [[Apollo Sunshine]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.punknews.org/article/7365/tours-the-anniversary-back-on-the-road|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200810104736/https://www.punknews.org/article/7365/tours-the-anniversary-back-on-the-road|title=The Anniversary back on the road|publisher=Punknews.org|author=Heisel, Scott|date=October 18, 2003|archive-date=August 10, 2020|access-date=August 9, 2020}}</ref> In late November 2003, towards the end of the tour, the Anniversary broke up.<ref name=Pitchreunited>{{cite web|url=https://www.thepitchkc.com/the-reunited-anniversary-heads-back-to-the-bottleneck/|title=The reunited Anniversary heads back to the Bottleneck|work=The Pitch|author=Spacek, Nick|date=September 13, 2016|access-date=August 3, 2020|archive-date=August 18, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190818174718/https://www.thepitchkc.com/the-reunited-anniversary-heads-back-to-the-bottleneck/|url-status=live}}</ref>
On March 7, 2003, the Anniversary said they had left Vagrant Records.<ref name=PNCheap>{{cite web|url=https://www.punknews.org/article/5492/the-anniversary-tour-with-cheap-trick|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200810104715/https://www.punknews.org/article/5492/the-anniversary-tour-with-cheap-trick|title=The Anniversary Tour With Cheap Trick|publisher=Punknews.org|author=White, Adam|date=March 7, 2003|archive-date=August 10, 2020|access-date=August 9, 2020}}</ref> In response, Vagrant's co-owner Rich Egan made a negative post on the record label's [[Internet forum|message board]] that was subsequently deleted. Egan followed the deletion up, saying the "relationship [with the band] had run its course". Berwanger said Vagrant and the Anniversary had "complete opposite ideas of what music should be", and that the record label admittedly had "no idea" how to market ''Your Majesty'', to which Egan replied Vagrant should have had no difficulty promoting the album and that it out-sold ''Designing a Nervous Breakdown''.<ref name=PitchFoul>{{cite web|url=https://www.thepitchkc.com/vagrant-foul/|title=Vagrant Foul|work=The Pitch|author=Harkness, Geoff|date=April 10, 2003|access-date=August 3, 2020|archive-date=January 18, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200118210943/https://www.thepitchkc.com/vagrant-foul/|url-status=live}}</ref> In March and April 2003, the band supported [[Cheap Trick]] on their US headlining tour.<ref name=PNCheap/> In October and November of that year, they went on tour; [[The Natural History (band)|the Natural History]] and the Vexers supported the first half, while the second was supported by Carrier and [[Apollo Sunshine]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.punknews.org/article/7365/tours-the-anniversary-back-on-the-road|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200810104736/https://www.punknews.org/article/7365/tours-the-anniversary-back-on-the-road|title=The Anniversary back on the road|publisher=Punknews.org|author=Heisel, Scott|date=October 18, 2003|archive-date=August 10, 2020|access-date=August 9, 2020}}</ref> In late November 2003, towards the end of the tour, the Anniversary broke up.<ref name=Pitchreunited>{{cite web|url=https://www.thepitchkc.com/the-reunited-anniversary-heads-back-to-the-bottleneck/|title=The reunited Anniversary heads back to the Bottleneck|work=The Pitch|author=Spacek, Nick|date=September 13, 2016|access-date=August 3, 2020|archive-date=August 18, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190818174718/https://www.thepitchkc.com/the-reunited-anniversary-heads-back-to-the-bottleneck/|url-status=live}}</ref>
Line 56: Line 56:
| rev8score = 2/10<ref name=PFreview>{{cite web|url=http://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/198-your-majesty|title=The Anniversary: Your Majesty Album Review|work=[[Pitchfork (website)|Pitchfork]]|author=Haywood, Brad|date=September 12, 2002|access-date=August 2, 2002|archive-date=March 19, 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090319032938/http://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/198-your-majesty/|url-status=live}}</ref>
| rev8score = 2/10<ref name=PFreview>{{cite web|url=http://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/198-your-majesty|title=The Anniversary: Your Majesty Album Review|work=[[Pitchfork (website)|Pitchfork]]|author=Haywood, Brad|date=September 12, 2002|access-date=August 2, 2002|archive-date=March 19, 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090319032938/http://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/198-your-majesty/|url-status=live}}</ref>
| rev10 = ''[[Rolling Stone]]''
| rev10 = ''[[Rolling Stone]]''
| rev10score = {{Rating|3|5}}<ref name=RSreview>{{cite web|url=http://www.rollingstone.com/reviews/cd/review.asp?aid=2043480&cf=|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20030920224728/http://www.rollingstone.com/reviews/cd/review.asp?aid=2043480&cf=|title=Recordings: The Anniversary, Your Majesty, 3 Stars|work=[[Rolling Stone]]|author=Eliscu, Jenny|date=March 28, 2002|archive-date=September 20, 2003|url-status=dead|access-date=August 3, 2020}}</ref>
| rev10score = {{Rating|3|5}}<ref name=RSreview>{{cite magazine|url=http://www.rollingstone.com/reviews/cd/review.asp?aid=2043480&cf=|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20030920224728/http://www.rollingstone.com/reviews/cd/review.asp?aid=2043480&cf=|title=Recordings: The Anniversary, Your Majesty, 3 Stars|magazine=[[Rolling Stone]]|author=Eliscu, Jenny|date=March 28, 2002|archive-date=September 20, 2003|url-status=dead|access-date=August 3, 2020}}</ref>
}}
}}
''Your Majesty'' was met with generally positive reviews from [[Music journalism|music critics]]. At [[Metacritic]], the album received an [[Weighted arithmetic mean|average]] score of 73, based on 9 reviews.<ref name=MC/>
''Your Majesty'' was met with generally positive reviews from [[Music journalism|music critics]]. At [[Metacritic]], the album received an [[Weighted arithmetic mean|average]] score of 73, based on 9 reviews.<ref name=MC/>


''[[Chart Attack]]'' writer Steve Servos said: "[g]one are the emo labels and in their place the band show off an appreciation for the classic pop-influences-rock sound". He was not surprised to hear "the full band version" of Elliott Smith because the Anniversary were working with Schnapf, "with a little Rufus Wainwright thrown in for good measure".<ref name=CAreview>{{cite web|url=http://www.chartattack.com:80/DAMN/2002/02/1201.cfm|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20051206174756/http://www.chartattack.com/DAMN/2002/02/1201.cfm|title=CD Reviews: The Anniversary, Megadeth, Misstress Barbara and many more|work=[[Chart Attack]]|author=Servos, Steve|date=February 12, 2002|archive-date=December 6, 2005|access-date=August 3, 2020|url-status=live}}</ref> ''[[CMJ|CMJ New Music Report]]''{{'s}} Amy Sciarretto called the album an "ambitious, left-of-center" release with keyboard melodies that were used "in a different way" to the ones on ''Designing a Nervous Breakdown''. She complimented Berwanger's and Pope's "absolutely lush vocal harmonies".<ref name=CMJreview>Sciarretto 2002, p. 4</ref> The staff of ''[[E! Online]]'' said ''Your Majesty'' moves from the "tight, catchy end of the pop spectrum to airy, dreamy tunes", opining that Berwanger's and Pope's vocals keep the album from sounding "too same-y", and that in spite of the influences, the band "retain[s] its own personality, with a laid-back style and pizzazz that keeps this party a pleasant one".<ref name=EOnlinereview/>
''[[Chart Attack]]'' writer Steve Servos said: "[g]one are the emo labels and in their place the band show off an appreciation for the classic pop-influences-rock sound". He was not surprised to hear "the full band version" of Elliott Smith because the Anniversary were working with Schnapf, "with a little Rufus Wainwright thrown in for good measure".<ref name=CAreview>{{cite web|url=http://www.chartattack.com:80/DAMN/2002/02/1201.cfm|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20051206174756/http://www.chartattack.com/DAMN/2002/02/1201.cfm|title=CD Reviews: The Anniversary, Megadeth, Misstress Barbara and many more|work=[[Chart Attack]]|author=Servos, Steve|date=February 12, 2002|archive-date=December 6, 2005|access-date=August 3, 2020|url-status=usurped}}</ref> ''[[CMJ|CMJ New Music Report]]''{{'s}} Amy Sciarretto called the album an "ambitious, left-of-center" release with keyboard melodies that were used "in a different way" to the ones on ''Designing a Nervous Breakdown''. She complimented Berwanger's and Pope's "absolutely lush vocal harmonies".<ref name=CMJreview>Sciarretto 2002, p. 4</ref> The staff of ''[[E! Online]]'' said ''Your Majesty'' moves from the "tight, catchy end of the pop spectrum to airy, dreamy tunes", opining that Berwanger's and Pope's vocals keep the album from sounding "too same-y", and that in spite of the influences, the band "retain[s] its own personality, with a laid-back style and pizzazz that keeps this party a pleasant one".<ref name=EOnlinereview/>


[[AllMusic]] reviewer Heather Phares said the Anniversary expanded on "some of their artier tendencies and keeping the playful, hooky songwriting that made their debut so refreshing". Phares praised Schapf's "aptly lush" production work and said the band's "inherent, slightly awkward earnestness shines through at every turn".<ref name=AMreview/> Stephen Rauch of ''[[PopMatters]]'' said that while ''Your Majesty'' retains the male–female vocals and keyboard from ''Designing a Nervous Breakdown'', it is "a very different album" and the tracks are "more straight-forward". According to Rauch, despite the loss of up-tempo material in favor of "slower, more deliberate songs", it is "still a very good album".<ref name=PMreview>{{cite web|url=https://www.popmatters.com/anniversary-your-2495831168.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200810104649/https://www.popmatters.com/anniversary-your-2495831168.html|title=The Anniversary: Your Majesty|work=[[PopMatters]]|author=Rauch, Stephen|date=January 21, 2002|archive-date=August 10, 2020|access-date=August 3, 2020}}</ref> ''[[Rolling Stone]]'' writer [[Jenny Eliscu]] said Schnapf's and Boehm's work with Elliott Smith is apparent on ''Your Majesty'', on which "a twinge of sadness turns even sunny tunes such as 'Never Die Young' slightly sour". Eliscu said the band "occasionally piles on a few too many layers of sounds" to some songs and that the lyrics often "sound like some drunken hippie-shaman shit".<ref name=RSreview/>
[[AllMusic]] reviewer Heather Phares said the Anniversary expanded on "some of their artier tendencies and keeping the playful, hooky songwriting that made their debut so refreshing". Phares praised Schapf's "aptly lush" production work and said the band's "inherent, slightly awkward earnestness shines through at every turn".<ref name=AMreview/> Stephen Rauch of ''[[PopMatters]]'' said that while ''Your Majesty'' retains the male–female vocals and keyboard from ''Designing a Nervous Breakdown'', it is "a very different album" and the tracks are "more straight-forward". According to Rauch, despite the loss of up-tempo material in favor of "slower, more deliberate songs", it is "still a very good album".<ref name=PMreview>{{cite web|url=https://www.popmatters.com/anniversary-your-2495831168.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200810104649/https://www.popmatters.com/anniversary-your-2495831168.html|title=The Anniversary: Your Majesty|work=[[PopMatters]]|author=Rauch, Stephen|date=January 21, 2002|archive-date=August 10, 2020|access-date=August 3, 2020}}</ref> ''[[Rolling Stone]]'' writer [[Jenny Eliscu]] said Schnapf's and Boehm's work with Elliott Smith is apparent on ''Your Majesty'', on which "a twinge of sadness turns even sunny tunes such as 'Never Die Young' slightly sour". Eliscu said the band "occasionally piles on a few too many layers of sounds" to some songs and that the lyrics often "sound like some drunken hippie-shaman shit".<ref name=RSreview/>
Line 66: Line 66:
Andrew Sacher of ''[[BrooklynVegan]]'' wrote that the "hooks are just as sticky as the ones on their debut LP, the harmonies are gorgeous, and sometimes the band sounds even more comfortable making this kind of music" than they did with their past work.<ref name=BV2002>{{cite web|url=https://www.brooklynvegan.com/35-best-emo-post-hardcore-albums-of-2002/|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20220810135900/https://www.brooklynvegan.com/35-best-emo-post-hardcore-albums-of-2002/|title=35 Best Emo & Post-Hardcore Albums of 2002|work=[[BrooklynVegan]]|author=Sacher, Andrew|date=August 10, 2022|archivedate=August 10, 2022|accessdate=August 10, 2022}}</ref> ''[[Inlander (newspaper)|Inlander]]''{{'s}} Mike Corrigan said Pope's "earnest, airy vocals are a nice compliment to the more affected delivery" of Berwanger and Roelofs on the album. He found the Anniversary to be lacking in "genuine passion and emotional depth", and said the album is "full of half-hearted performances, secondhand sentiments, mediocre writing and little, if any real soul".<ref name=Inlanderreview>{{cite web|url=https://www.inlander.com/spokane/cd-review-the-anniversary/Content?oid=2126559|title=CD Review - The Anniversary|work=[[Inlander (newspaper)|Inlander]]|author=Corrigan, Mike|date=April 25, 2002|access-date=August 3, 2020|archive-date=September 23, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150923174746/http://www.inlander.com/spokane/cd-review-the-anniversary/Content?oid=2126559|url-status=live}}</ref> Joachim Hiller of ''[[Ox-Fanzine]]'' said Schnapf's production brought out the best in other musicians but had failed to do so with the Anniversary. He mentioned [[the Promise Ring]]'s ''[[Wood/Water]]'' (2002), calling ''Your Majesty'' "only third rate" by comparison, saying it is "not a really bad record, just a pretty boring one".<ref name=Oxreview>{{cite web|url=https://www.ox-fanzine.de/review/anniversary-the-your-majesty-cd-29222|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200810104806/https://www.ox-fanzine.de/review/anniversary-the-your-majesty-cd-29222|title=Reviews: Anniversary, The / Your Majesty CD|work=[[Ox-Fanzine]]|author=Hiller, Joachim|date=March–May 2002|archive-date=August 10, 2020|access-date=May 27, 2019|language=DE}}</ref> ''[[Pitchfork (website)|Pitchfork]]'' writer Brad Haywood said the music, "while pretending to be candy-coated pop-rock, shares all of emo's key indicators, including melodramatic vocal delivery, seamless production, and shameless overambition".<ref name=PFreview/>
Andrew Sacher of ''[[BrooklynVegan]]'' wrote that the "hooks are just as sticky as the ones on their debut LP, the harmonies are gorgeous, and sometimes the band sounds even more comfortable making this kind of music" than they did with their past work.<ref name=BV2002>{{cite web|url=https://www.brooklynvegan.com/35-best-emo-post-hardcore-albums-of-2002/|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20220810135900/https://www.brooklynvegan.com/35-best-emo-post-hardcore-albums-of-2002/|title=35 Best Emo & Post-Hardcore Albums of 2002|work=[[BrooklynVegan]]|author=Sacher, Andrew|date=August 10, 2022|archivedate=August 10, 2022|accessdate=August 10, 2022}}</ref> ''[[Inlander (newspaper)|Inlander]]''{{'s}} Mike Corrigan said Pope's "earnest, airy vocals are a nice compliment to the more affected delivery" of Berwanger and Roelofs on the album. He found the Anniversary to be lacking in "genuine passion and emotional depth", and said the album is "full of half-hearted performances, secondhand sentiments, mediocre writing and little, if any real soul".<ref name=Inlanderreview>{{cite web|url=https://www.inlander.com/spokane/cd-review-the-anniversary/Content?oid=2126559|title=CD Review - The Anniversary|work=[[Inlander (newspaper)|Inlander]]|author=Corrigan, Mike|date=April 25, 2002|access-date=August 3, 2020|archive-date=September 23, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150923174746/http://www.inlander.com/spokane/cd-review-the-anniversary/Content?oid=2126559|url-status=live}}</ref> Joachim Hiller of ''[[Ox-Fanzine]]'' said Schnapf's production brought out the best in other musicians but had failed to do so with the Anniversary. He mentioned [[the Promise Ring]]'s ''[[Wood/Water]]'' (2002), calling ''Your Majesty'' "only third rate" by comparison, saying it is "not a really bad record, just a pretty boring one".<ref name=Oxreview>{{cite web|url=https://www.ox-fanzine.de/review/anniversary-the-your-majesty-cd-29222|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200810104806/https://www.ox-fanzine.de/review/anniversary-the-your-majesty-cd-29222|title=Reviews: Anniversary, The / Your Majesty CD|work=[[Ox-Fanzine]]|author=Hiller, Joachim|date=March–May 2002|archive-date=August 10, 2020|access-date=May 27, 2019|language=DE}}</ref> ''[[Pitchfork (website)|Pitchfork]]'' writer Brad Haywood said the music, "while pretending to be candy-coated pop-rock, shares all of emo's key indicators, including melodramatic vocal delivery, seamless production, and shameless overambition".<ref name=PFreview/>


Commercially, ''Your Majesty'' reached number 15 on the US ''[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]]'' [[Independent Albums]] chart,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.billboard.com/charts/independent-albums/2002-02-09|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170402093208/http://www.billboard.com/charts/independent-albums/2002-02-09|title=Independent Albums|work=[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]]|archive-date=April 2, 2017|access-date=August 12, 2020}}</ref> and number 17 on the [[Heatseekers Albums]] chart.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.billboard.com/charts/independent-albums/2002-02-09|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180328072128/https://www.billboard.com/charts/heatseekers-albums/2002-02-09|title=Heatseekers Albums|work=Billboard|archive-date=March 28, 2018|access-date=August 12, 2020}}</ref>
Commercially, ''Your Majesty'' reached number 15 on the US ''[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]]'' [[Independent Albums]] chart,<ref>{{cite magazine|url=http://www.billboard.com/charts/independent-albums/2002-02-09|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170402093208/http://www.billboard.com/charts/independent-albums/2002-02-09|title=Independent Albums|magazine=[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]]|archive-date=April 2, 2017|access-date=August 12, 2020}}</ref> and number 17 on the [[Heatseekers Albums]] chart.<ref>{{cite magazine|url=http://www.billboard.com/charts/independent-albums/2002-02-09|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180328072128/https://www.billboard.com/charts/heatseekers-albums/2002-02-09|title=Heatseekers Albums|magazine=Billboard|archive-date=March 28, 2018|access-date=August 12, 2020}}</ref>


==Track listing==
==Track listing==
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* {{cite magazine|last=Keiper|first=Nicole|title=Golden Anniversary|magazine=[[CMJ New Music Monthly]]|date=March 2002|issue=100|publisher=CMJ Network, Inc.|issn=1074-6978|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=8SkEAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA22}}
* {{cite magazine|last=Keiper|first=Nicole|title=Golden Anniversary|magazine=[[CMJ New Music Monthly]]|date=March 2002|issue=100|publisher=CMJ Network, Inc.|issn=1074-6978|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=8SkEAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA22}}
* {{cite magazine|last1=Kundrath|first1=Jason|title=Best New Music|journal=CMJ New Music Monthly|date=February 2002|issue=99|issn=1074-6978|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=-SkEAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA49}}
* {{cite magazine|last1=Kundrath|first1=Jason|title=Best New Music|journal=CMJ New Music Monthly|date=February 2002|issue=99|issn=1074-6978|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=-SkEAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA49}}
* {{cite podcast|host=Mullen, Tom|title=#10 - Josh Berwanger (The Anniversary)|work=Washed Up Emo|publisher=Jabberjaw Media|date=April 2, 2012|via=Podcast Addict|url=https://podcastaddict.com/episode/https%3A%2F%2Fchrt.fm%2Ftrack%2FE9E79A%2Fcdn.simplecast.com%2Faudio%2F0cfc06b1-bda9-4698-966b-e05a057b92bf%2Fepisodes%2F1decc076-c4ef-40ef-b30d-53a1adcaff71%2Faudio%2F4017343e-05eb-4825-a6a6-5d4c1c68596d%2Fdefault_tc.mp3%3Faid%3Drss_feed%26feed%3DC90rSfzd&podcastId=3639653}}<!-- https://washedup.substack.com/p/10-josh-berwanger-the-anniversary-e1e -->
* {{cite magazine|last1=Niccum|first1=Jon|title=Second Anniversary|journal=[[Lawrence Journal-World]]|date=February 1, 2002|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=9qcyAAAAIBAJ&pg=PA15}}
* {{cite magazine|last1=Niccum|first1=Jon|title=Second Anniversary|journal=[[Lawrence Journal-World]]|date=February 1, 2002|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=9qcyAAAAIBAJ&pg=PA15}}
* {{cite magazine|last1=Sciarretto|first1=Amy|title=Essential|journal=CMJ New Music Report|date=January 28, 2002|volume=70|issue=4|issn=0890-0795|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=7kIclasPNB4C&pg=PA4}}
* {{cite magazine|last1=Sciarretto|first1=Amy|title=Essential|journal=CMJ New Music Report|date=January 28, 2002|volume=70|issue=4|issn=0890-0795|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=7kIclasPNB4C&pg=PA4}}
{{refend}}
{{refend}}

==External links==
<!-- This is a licensed stream for the album, which is allowed under Wikipedia polices -->
*[https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=OLAK5uy_mtf8k9RNiXAU8EJI8_dKvnJpYMJPcaKS4 ''Your Majesty''] at [[YouTube]] (streamed copy where licensed)


{{Authority control}}
{{Authority control}}
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[[Category:2002 albums]]
[[Category:2002 albums]]
[[Category:The Anniversary albums]]
[[Category:The Anniversary albums]]
[[Category:Vagrant Records albums]]
[[Category:Albums produced by Rob Schnapf]]

Latest revision as of 04:33, 22 January 2024

For Your Majesty... We Are Here by Earl Brutus, see Earl Brutus.

Your Majesty
A hand-drawn flower with black-and-white photos of the band members spread around the edges
Studio album by
The Anniversary
ReleasedJanuary 22, 2002
RecordedJune 2001
StudioSonora
Genre
Length46:46
LabelVagrant
ProducerRob Schnapf
The Anniversary chronology
Designing a Nervous Breakdown
(2000) 		Your Majesty
(2002) 		Devil on Our Side: B-Sides & Rarities
(2008)

Your Majesty is the second studio album by American rock band the Anniversary. It was released on January 22, 2002, through Vagrant Records. Following the release of their debut studio album, Designing a Nervous Breakdown in early 2000, the band started writing new material by that August. They later recorded the album in June 2001 at Sonora Recorders in Los Feliz, California, with producer Rob Schnapf.

Your Majesty is a garage rock, neo-psychedelia, pop rock and space rock record that includes slow tempos, guitar solos and a grand piano; comparisons were made to the works of the full-band iteration of Elliott Smith, the New Pornographers, and the Kinks, among others. Leading up to the release of it, the Anniversary completed two US tours. The album was promoted with supporting slots for Guided by Voices, Dashboard Confessional and Cheap Trick, and two headlining tours by the band.

Your Majesty received generally positive reviews from music critics, some of whom commented on the male–female vocals and Schnapf's production. In the US, the album charted on two Billboard component charts. It peaked at number 15 and 17 on the Independent Albums and Heatseekers Albums charts, respectively.

Background and production

[edit]

The Anniversary released their debut studio album Designing a Nervous Breakdown in January 2000, through Heroes & Villains, an imprint of independent record label Vagrant Records that was owned by the Get Up Kids.[1][2] By August of that year, the Anniversary were working on new material, which vocalist and guitarist Josh Berwanger said was acoustic-based and included electric piano from vocalist and keyboardist Adrianne Pope.[3] The band went on the Heroes & Villains Fall Tour in September and October 2000, then took a two-week break before touring again until Christmas.[3][4] They spent the period after Christmas writing further material for their next album.[5] The Anniversary supported Hey Mercedes on their headlining US tour in February and March 2001.[6][7] A week prior to recording the album, the band worked on pre-production with Rob Schnapf at a practice space; they played him every track and after each performance, the Anniversary went over parts and song structures.[8]

Your Majesty was recorded in two and a half weeks at Sonora Recorders in Los Feliz, California, in June 2001.[8][9] The band members shared a two-bed hotel room near the studio, which led to claustrophobia and frequent brainstorming.[10] The band refrained from recording in their hometown of Lawrence, Kansas, because they felt the presence of their families and friends would be distracting for them.[11] Schnapf acted as producer for the album and recording was handled by Doug Boehm; the recording was assisted by Andrew Boston.[9] The Anniversary spent some downtime at Malibu Beach, where they wrote additional parts and a portion of lyrics.[11] Schnapf and Boehm mixed the recordings with assistance from Pete Magdaleno at King Sound Studios in Los Angeles, California. Don C. Tyler then mastered the recordings at Precision Mastering.[9]

Composition and lyrics

[edit]

All of the music on Your Majesty is credited to the Anniversary; all of the lyrics are credited to Berwanger and Justin Roelofs.[9] The sound of Your Majesty has been described as garage rock, neo-psychedelia,[12] pop rock[13] and space rock;[14] it also includes influences from progressive rock.[15] While the album has been classified as emo,[13][16] several reviewers noted the band had moved away from that style.[14][17][18][19][20] Your Majesty is slower than Designing a Nervous Breakdown, with a straightforward rock sound, off-kilter vocal performances, and guitar solos.[14][21] Parts of it drew comparisons to the works of a full-band iteration of Elliott Smith and Rufus Wainwright, the New Pornographers, and English acts the Kinks and Mott the Hoople.[17][22][23] For the album, Pope switched from playing her Moog synthesizer to a grand piano and an organ.[10][21]

Your Majesty begins with the rock tracks "Sweet Marie" and "Crooked Crown"; the intro of the latter is similar to the works of Weezer. "Peace, Pain & Regret" retains the upbeat energy of Designing a Nervous Breakdown.[14] "Husam Husam" was compared to the music of Pink Floyd with its introduction, spacious keyboard parts and throaty backing vocals.[16] The indie rock track "The Sirens Sings" includes guitar riffs that are similar to those of Neil Young.[15][18] "Never Die Young" is an up-tempo pop song that most resembles the sound of Designing a Nervous Breakdown. "Tu-Whitt Tu-Whoo" is a love song that is followed by the folk-esque "The Ghost of the River".[14][16] "The Death of the King" is a near-six-minute song with an instrumental ending that segues into "Follow the Sun", which consists of two lines.[14][18] "The Death of the King" was written in a hotel bathroom at 1 A.M., with Berwanger and Roleofs playing guitars for the track in the dark.[10] Both tracks are progressive rock-indebted numbers; "The Death of the King" evokes the sound of Pink Floyd.[14][16]

Release and promotion

[edit]

In July 2001, the Anniversary appeared on the Vagrant Across America tour.[24] On September 3 of that year, the track listing for Your Majesty was announced.[25] Later that month, it was announced Vagrant had postponed the album's release from October 2001 to January 2002 at the band's insistence.[26] In October and November 2001, the Anniversary went on a US tour with Superdrag and the Mars Volta.[27] Your Majesty was intended to come out to coincide with this tour, but was delayed several times; with each delay, tension within the band mounted.[8][28] Berwanger said the tour was "hell" for the band as they wanted to perform new material, but the audiences were not receptive to this idea.[29] Your Majesty was eventually released on January 22, 2002; its artwork resembles that of the Beatles' Revolver (1966).[16][23] The Anniversary played three shows with Guided by Voices in the following month, before supporting Dashboard Confessional on an eight-week tour in March and April 2002.[30] In October and November of that year, the band went on a headlining tour with Burning Brides and the Gadjits.[31] On November 19, 2002, Vagrant released a video compilation entitled Another Year on the Screen, which includes the music video for "Sweet Marie".[32]

On March 7, 2003, the Anniversary said they had left Vagrant Records.[33] In response, Vagrant's co-owner Rich Egan made a negative post on the record label's message board that was subsequently deleted. Egan followed the deletion up, saying the "relationship [with the band] had run its course". Berwanger said Vagrant and the Anniversary had "complete opposite ideas of what music should be", and that the record label admittedly had "no idea" how to market Your Majesty, to which Egan replied Vagrant should have had no difficulty promoting the album and that it out-sold Designing a Nervous Breakdown.[34] In March and April 2003, the band supported Cheap Trick on their US headlining tour.[33] In October and November of that year, they went on tour; the Natural History and the Vexers supported the first half, while the second was supported by Carrier and Apollo Sunshine.[35] In late November 2003, towards the end of the tour, the Anniversary broke up.[36]

Reception

[edit]
Professional ratings
Aggregate scores
SourceRating
Metacritic73/100[37]
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[16]
E! OnlineB[38]
No Ripcord4/10[39]
Pitchfork2/10[13]
Rolling Stone[40]

Your Majesty was met with generally positive reviews from music critics. At Metacritic, the album received an average score of 73, based on 9 reviews.[37]

Chart Attack writer Steve Servos said: "[g]one are the emo labels and in their place the band show off an appreciation for the classic pop-influences-rock sound". He was not surprised to hear "the full band version" of Elliott Smith because the Anniversary were working with Schnapf, "with a little Rufus Wainwright thrown in for good measure".[17] CMJ New Music Report's Amy Sciarretto called the album an "ambitious, left-of-center" release with keyboard melodies that were used "in a different way" to the ones on Designing a Nervous Breakdown. She complimented Berwanger's and Pope's "absolutely lush vocal harmonies".[15] The staff of E! Online said Your Majesty moves from the "tight, catchy end of the pop spectrum to airy, dreamy tunes", opining that Berwanger's and Pope's vocals keep the album from sounding "too same-y", and that in spite of the influences, the band "retain[s] its own personality, with a laid-back style and pizzazz that keeps this party a pleasant one".[38]

AllMusic reviewer Heather Phares said the Anniversary expanded on "some of their artier tendencies and keeping the playful, hooky songwriting that made their debut so refreshing". Phares praised Schapf's "aptly lush" production work and said the band's "inherent, slightly awkward earnestness shines through at every turn".[16] Stephen Rauch of PopMatters said that while Your Majesty retains the male–female vocals and keyboard from Designing a Nervous Breakdown, it is "a very different album" and the tracks are "more straight-forward". According to Rauch, despite the loss of up-tempo material in favor of "slower, more deliberate songs", it is "still a very good album".[14] Rolling Stone writer Jenny Eliscu said Schnapf's and Boehm's work with Elliott Smith is apparent on Your Majesty, on which "a twinge of sadness turns even sunny tunes such as 'Never Die Young' slightly sour". Eliscu said the band "occasionally piles on a few too many layers of sounds" to some songs and that the lyrics often "sound like some drunken hippie-shaman shit".[40]

Andrew Sacher of BrooklynVegan wrote that the "hooks are just as sticky as the ones on their debut LP, the harmonies are gorgeous, and sometimes the band sounds even more comfortable making this kind of music" than they did with their past work.[20] Inlander's Mike Corrigan said Pope's "earnest, airy vocals are a nice compliment to the more affected delivery" of Berwanger and Roelofs on the album. He found the Anniversary to be lacking in "genuine passion and emotional depth", and said the album is "full of half-hearted performances, secondhand sentiments, mediocre writing and little, if any real soul".[18] Joachim Hiller of Ox-Fanzine said Schnapf's production brought out the best in other musicians but had failed to do so with the Anniversary. He mentioned the Promise Ring's Wood/Water (2002), calling Your Majesty "only third rate" by comparison, saying it is "not a really bad record, just a pretty boring one".[41] Pitchfork writer Brad Haywood said the music, "while pretending to be candy-coated pop-rock, shares all of emo's key indicators, including melodramatic vocal delivery, seamless production, and shameless overambition".[13]

Commercially, Your Majesty reached number 15 on the US Billboard Independent Albums chart,[42] and number 17 on the Heatseekers Albums chart.[43]

Track listing

[edit]

All music by the Anniversary, all lyrics written by Justin Roelofs and Josh Berwanger. All songs produced by Rob Schnapf.[9]

Your Majesty track listing
No.TitleLength
1."Sweet Marie"3:35
2."Crooked Crown"3:48
3."Peace, Pain & Regret"3:34
4."Husam Husam"6:45
5."The Siren Sings"4:36
6."Never Die Young"4:01
7."Tu-Whitt Tu-Whoo"2:29
8."The Ghost of the River"6:28
9."Devil on My Side"3:19
10."The Death of the King"5:56
11."Follow the Sun"2:28
Total length:46:56

Personnel

[edit]

Personnel per sleeve.[9]

Charts

[edit]
Chart performance for Your Majesty
Chart (2002) Peak
position
US Heatseekers Albums (Billboard)[44] 17
US Independent Albums (Billboard)[45] 15

References

[edit]

Citations

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  6. ^ "Hey Mercedes News". Hey Mercedes. Archived from the original on March 31, 2001. Retrieved August 2, 2020.
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  8. ^ a b c Niccum 2002, p. 2D
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  17. ^ a b c Servos, Steve (February 12, 2002). "CD Reviews: The Anniversary, Megadeth, Misstress Barbara and many more". Chart Attack. Archived from the original on December 6, 2005. Retrieved August 3, 2020.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
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  19. ^ Keiper 2002, p. 22
  20. ^ a b Sacher, Andrew (August 10, 2022). "35 Best Emo & Post-Hardcore Albums of 2002". BrooklynVegan. Archived from the original on August 10, 2022. Retrieved August 10, 2022.
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  28. ^ Mullen 2012, event occurs at 22:39–51
  29. ^ Mullen 2012, event occurs at 23:02–12
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Sources

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