Say Anything: On Tour and On the Record

Photo by Noah Kalina (from The Village Voice's article, "Say Anything Calm Down")

On the verge of releasing its third full-length album, emo-pop punk band Say Anything has been in the spotlight lately. Its self-titled record -- set to drop this coming Tuesday, Nov. 3 -- is receiving critical attention due to public knowledge of changes in the mental health and spiritual life of frontman Max Bemis.

Bemis pulls from his experiences, failed relationships, and struggle with bipolar disorder to create the band's material. Critics and fans alike have worried that his current happiness and recent marriage to Eisley's Sherri Dupree, the visionary would lack his signature style and edge, putting Say Anything in danger of being placed on the alternative chopping block.

However, the majority rules that's not the case.

Max Bemis sings to a sold out crowd at Vic Theatre in Chicago Oct. 23.

Time Out New York featured a story on Bemis as a preview for Say Anything's album release and live shows in New York City. The article is noticeably short, but sweet, and includes a playlist of some of the band's most-played and most-recognizable songs at the bottom of the page.

Start with the lead, a quote from Bemis:

“If you looked at my life on paper during the last couple of records, you’d be like, ‘This guy is messed up—he needs to get his stuff together,’?” says Max Bemis, leader of the uncommonly innovative emo-punk outfit Say Anything.

It's an unmistakably great quote that should be in the story.

But is there a reason for starting with a quote? And a grammar error (note the random question mark)?

Quotes are not set-apart in the story either, and the paragraphs are long making it visually hard for a reader to notice a change in thought.

Also accompanying the article is a link to a "related article" titled, "Five Emo Bands That Don't Suck." One would think after reading the story that Say Anything might be included... It's not. It is beyond explanation why a link would be provided to a story that implies almost all emo music sucks when the article itself is about a "beloved emo outfit" that is not included in the list.

The Village Voice did a similar article detailing Bemis' journey. Right away, this story takes a different tone; A tone that is more likely to appeal to Say Anything fans.

Village Voice reporter Mikael Wood uses slang and Bemis' own lyrics to describe the change in him.

The last time we heard from Max Bemis of Say Anything, on the Los Angeles emo band's 2007 double-album doozy In Defense of the Genre, dude was giving all his Hot Topic homies a master class in emotional blackmail. "Cater to me, or I'll punch myself until my face is blue," Bemis demanded on "Spay Me," some kind of fucked-up mash note from "an arrogant prick shitting out heart attacks" to "the queen of the damned--feelingless, devoid of tact."

Sure, it includes expletives and some bold statements ("Hot Topic homies"), but the lead is more attractive than Time Out's, although it could certainly be shortened.

Not only that, but the story uses much more visual detail and humor... and a source other than Bemis. It is clear that Wood has spent some time with Bemis and Dupree and did work to add another side to the story by interviewing Coby Linder, Say Anything's drummer.

Neither one of these stories, however, thought to quote Dupree. As Bemis' wife and a figure significant enough to mention--however briefly--in both stories, she must have something to say about the changes in him.