Andy Park introduced me to lots of music I never knew. Some of it I liked (Clap your hands Say Yeah, Riverboat Gamblers, Atmosphere, Cage, Belle and Sebastian) some of it not as much (Mars Volta, sorry Andy I tried although I enjoyed the night we watched that video of them in concert and he was just walking around all crazy). In turn I made Andy listen to Sleater-Kinney, Tracy Bonham and all things involving Amanda Palmer. We spent lots of time talking about music, and I’ll never forget the time he accidentally downloaded the longest version of the song Birthday Sex to his phone. And said nooooo!!! But that makes up for all the times the music from his music appreciation cd hid all over my computer! Merry: Track 60? What on earth is this….? NOOOOO! I thought I deleted you!
In these musical moments, we bonded the most over Say Anything. I liked it the most of any of the Andy music.
When I had my old CD player it only would play the burned Say Anything CD that he made me. My CD player had good taste. While Andy was gone he told me that Max Bemis had married Sherri DuPree from Eislely. I was like ooh neat a new band! So I downloaded it and I disappointed and I like girl bands. I felt like it was wishy washy and boring. I felt like she didn’t have very much to say and her music was dull. But it makes sense that they got married because both people can’t be Max Bemis or the couple would explode. Andy and I wondered which one of us got to be Max Bemis….turns out both of us. I haven’t lost hope that there can be two Max Bemises because I won’t settle for a Sherri DuPree.
So I’ve decided this is a good question to get rid of the weeds on my path. Who do you like better Max Bemis or Sherri DuPree? It doesn’t matter what you do, what you wear, where you are from but that is a question that must be answered.
So the first person I must ask this question is a fellow who sent me a message on Facebook. We will call him Fred. First of all, I don’t know Fred and I’m not sure who he knows that I know. His favorite quote is “Achoo.” His political views are “I vote for myself but I haven’t won yet–hardy har har.” (Yes it says Hardy Har Har) He also says “I love to write, even though reading is difficult for me, and dream of one day being a famous poet AND screenwriter AND horror novel writer person thingy. (Ya know, like that guy…um…King or Queen or Prince or whatever he is….) MERRY SAYS “SAY WHAT?”
So he wrote me this note:
I thought wouldn’t write, but then I thought; it’d be easier otherwise for her to write back, so am now, writing. Well, that’s not true, either. I’m typing. Or something. I dunno. Anyway. So I see you went to RRHS? I graduated class of 1994, meself. Do you remember Mrs. Hilsabeck? She actually retired. The world is indeed ending. Be aware. Go buy a 1960′s schooldesk as I am preparing to do. And in the meantime, remember: Um. Lemme think of it first. And then when I do, then remember it.
I think he has a long way before he will be a horror novel writer person thingy. I’m sorry sir for mocking you if you read this. God knows I’m fallen over, stuttered and fallen completely silent when I like someone. But this was a weird way to open a conversation.
If I write him back I will just ask “Max Bemis or Sherri DuPree?”
{ 10 comments… read them below or add one }
Is there possibly a third path? Nothing against Say Anything and Max Bemis I have enjoyed the little I’ve heard of them, but I’ve never liked a two party system. If I have to pick though I would kill not to have to be Sherri DuPree and Eisley… I would actually kill to get the last couple of songs I listened to wiped from my brain forever.
I tried twice to like her. Especially because I thought if Max Bemis loves her….but I think she is boring. A third party is possible…rock stars do get married and divorced all the time…who knows who could get added into the mix
You know I can deal with lame music if the lyrics are interesting, and I can deal with lame lyrics if the music moves the body, but I can’t deal with lame music and lyrics. Eisley is lame on both fronts.
I generally prefer not to know when musicians or actors are married to each other, it just begs comparisons that are not fair or practical sometimes. Funny that we don’t do that for other professions, I mean if I know a post modernist historian is married to an economic historian I don’t expect them to write the same way or do the same things.
I don’t think a post-modernist historian could stay married to an economic historian! Has this combination ever actually happened? I have a mental picture of the economic historian putting arsenic in the post-modernist’s coffee.
Hahaha, it was a hypothetical pairing. Maybe I can only speak for myself here, but I don’t take my work or my eclectic approach seriously enough for it to interfere with a possible relationship. I mean I probably couldn’t date a Nihilist for very long, but that has less to do with personal convictions and more to do with the fear that she’d be a complete downer.
dude….i’ve listened to both bands for years. i like both it’s kinda hard for me to pick between them. somedays i like to chill out and i’m in a mellow mood with eisley and others i feel like singing LOUDLY along with say anything. but i am a music major and i have very weird taste in music haha….i like just about everything.
I actually like just about anything too. I love female artists and I think I was expecting too much from eisley. It’s cool to have another reader! Reminder that I need to stop neglecting my
Blog!
eisley is the greatest band known to man. i discovered say anything through them, and love them too. maxs lyrics is love.
you guys who dont appreciate it dont really get it, maybe youve just heard the wrong songs, ill admit, some of the music in combinations isnt their best but all their eps+ room noises are amazing.
-peace.
I think it’s incredibly popmous when people say if you don’t like it you don’t understand it. I don’t like mayonaise. Does that mean I don’t understand it? If I like Say Anything, does that mean I have to put a ring on it? I really don’t have anything against Eisley, they just aren’t something I want to listen to. I think it’s interesting that this is my entry that is getting the most hits. Say Anything and Eisley should be happy they have such die hard fans.
I can’t believe how many people don’t like Eisley, granted they’re maybe a bit of a niche market but I’ve been head over heels for them since I accidentally stumbled across them at a Taking Back Sunday gig! I also think Sherri is stunning inside and out and an incredibly creative individual. Have tried say anything a couple of times and it never stuck. I liked the Eisley-NFG combination and was sad when it ended but amazed by Sherri’s graciousness about the whole thing.