Max Bemis is a happy man. At least, it seems like he is. You can never be sure with the bitter, yet undeniably witty, singer of the group Say Anything. A marriage to Sherri DuPree of Eisley seems to be the antidote to whatever had obviously poisoned Bemis’ consciousness since his band’s debut album dropped more than five years ago.

Then again, Say Anything’s new self-titled album features the poppy lead single “Hate Everyone,” where Bemis sets his sights on that “slut” Mother Nature, rappers, actors and his relatives, among others. Hardly the prose of a content man, but given Bemis’ new lot in life, the tune appears to be a tongue-in-cheek poke at his former self, a goodbye to his narcissistic days rather than an up-to-date manifesto.

As Bemis has grown, so too has his supporting cast, and on tracks such as the astoundingly good “Do Better,” with strings supporting the hand-clap driven beat, and “Less Cute,” where horns keep the track moving into the thunderous chorus, the band truly shines. The musicianship is focused, and the guitar work on “Less Cute” sounds especially crisp and clean.

But it just wouldn’t be Say Anything if Bemis didn’t showcase his dark side that fans of the band are all too familiar with. Numbers like the piano-based “Eloise” show off Bemis’ penchant for using his gravelly, anger-prone voice to charge a song with dark emotion in a way no one else can.

The self-aware “Mara and Me” is actual proof of the growth of the band and Bemis as he pauses to think out loud, “Wait a second, I can’t write the same damn song over and over again.” Perhaps the best part of the song though comes as Bemis takes a few shots at the criminally overrated Kings of Leon. Thanks Max, someone needed to do it.

Obviously the union between Bemis and DuPree would inspire a few love songs on the album, and the band delivered. There is the mildly disturbing, and stupidly sweet, “Crush’d,” where Bemis expresses his love as only he can over a heavy synthesizer line.

As the album winds down, songs like “Death For My Birthday” and “Young Dumb and Stung” become less focused and more like stock Say Anything tracks — fast paced, angsty and average.

The creativity seems to have worn off at this point but all is redeemed with the album’s last track, “Ahhh … Men.” The soft strum of electric guitars steadily build as Bemis’ voice becomes more and more urgent before erupting into a full band jam session with a chant of “Can I lie with you in your grave?” pacing the grand finale. Assuredly the most mature and heartfelt song of Say Anything’s career, “Ahhh … Men,” will go down as one of the finest songs in the band’s hefty catalog.

By the end of the album, it’s hard to say if Bemis is in fact a happier man, but it is obvious that he and his band are getting better at their craft, and this new album will keep the band’s fans happy and win it some new ones. Surely that is enough to keep Bemis happy for now.

Reach the reporter at jdfourni@asu.edu.