The Saint Reporter
Max Bemis of Say Anything Releases New Album “I Don’t Think It Is”
Max Bemis, the frontman of the popular rock band Say Anything, has recently released his latest album titled “I Don’t Think It Is.” Known for his outspoken nature, Bemis has never been one to shy away from expressing his thoughts and feelings. In a press release, he admitted his desire to be like pop queen Beyonce Knowles-Carter, stating, “I want to be like Bey. Not-really-kidding aside, I’ve become a bit weary of doing the same song and dance leading up to the actual end-game, people actually listening to something.”
Following in the footsteps of Beyonce, Say Anything surprise-released their new album. On Wednesday, February 3, “I Don’t Think It Is” made its way to YouTube, allowing fans to stream the entire album. Just two days later, on Friday the 5th, the album became available for official download.
A Departure from Pop
While Beyonce’s surprise album releases have often been pop-oriented, “I Don’t Think It Is” couldn’t be further from that genre. Bemis has taken a different approach, bringing in a diverse range of musicians to collaborate with him on this album. One notable collaborator is his brother-in-law, Darren King, the drummer for the alternative rock band Mutemath. However, the most surprising collaboration is with rapper Kanye West. In an interview with Noisey, Bemis revealed that West met with him to discuss the record and was incredibly supportive of Say Anything, appreciating their music and understanding their vision.
The result of these collaborations is a dissonant yet captivating album. Bemis wastes no time making a statement with the opening track, “Give A Damn.” This boisterous anthem showcases Bemis waving his middle finger to his haters, unapologetically expressing his thoughts and feelings. The following track, “17 Coked Up and Speeding,” quickly transitions into a minimalist rock anthem, with Bemis passionately screaming, “Hey kid: You’re not a kid anymore!”
A Journey Through Youth and Adulthood
Now a father of two young daughters, Bemis allows the contrast between youthful innocence and jaded adulthood to dominate the content of “I Don’t Think It Is.” In the song “Jiminy,” Bemis takes a deeply introspective approach, reflecting on his own journey. He passionately screams, “You might just find a socialist feeding off the fumes of an aging pop-punk vocalist, so destroy our first LP if you know what’s good for me.”
This self-deprecating shot refers to a line on Say Anything’s previous album, where Bemis expressed his aspirations to be the next Billie Joe. Additionally, Bemis addresses the scathing critiques that their first album, “Baseball,” received. Throughout the album, Bemis tackles various themes and personal experiences, including his criticism of Disney in the song “Princess.” He questions whether Disney would disrespect his eldest daughter, Lucy, for wanting to be a princess despite the company’s controversial practices.
Addressing Haters and Finding Catharsis
One of the album’s highlights is the track “Attaboy,” where Bemis expresses his frustration with complaints from pop-punk haters. He sings, “A career built on octave chords butchered to jilted time, but it’s the frightfully mundane that keeps us alive.” In a powerful moment, Sherri Dupree-Bemis, Bemis’s wife and member of the band Eisley, joins him toward the end of the song, encouraging him to “Keep on keeping on.”
Throughout the album, Bemis has aimed to create a collection of songs that listeners can yell along with. From start to finish, “I Don’t Think It Is” is a riotous experience, perfectly capturing the tumultuous political season and addressing various ironic and not-so-ironic trends. Bemis hopes that this album will provide listeners with the catharsis they need to continue pushing forward in their own lives.
If you’re looking for a raw and unfiltered musical journey, be sure to check out “I Don’t Think It Is” by Say Anything. Max Bemis has once again delivered an album that pushes boundaries and challenges conventions, providing an authentic and captivating experience for fans old and new.