Anxious’s Debut LP Catapults Them Into Rock Powerhouse
4.4 out of 5 stars
Anxious is a 5-piece band from Connecticut that most people, including myself, probably haven’t heard of before.
However, if you listen to their new album Little Green House, I don’t think you are going to easily forget them hereafter.
This is their first full-length album, and as the band’s Bandcamp page suggests, it was the timeaway from touring and tearing through the first few years at a fast pace that caused them to really put in the extra time and effort on this album. It shows.
Every backing harmony, every drum part, every note seems so intentionally perfect that it lands really well on every song.
They would likely be labeled in the post-emo genre or something like that, but I think they actually rise above any emo labels and really just sound like a legit rock band that can make a LOT of noise and still be entirely in harmony with what’s happening.
If you want an excellent example of what I am talking about, then just go check out the song “Growing Up Song” which is about coming to age with one’s self and relationships. The song is constructed in a way that no matter what genre of rock you like, even heavy metal, you might still find elements in this song that you can appreciate it.
Obviously, this is a more pop-rock style than metal or hard rock, but the music and drums and a lot of the lyrics could easily fit into something more heavy.
“More Than a Letter” even has a bit of a harder breakdown with a guitar solo that teeters the line of staying JUST inside the “pop” side where it easily could go right over the edge and become a hard rock style song.
Put that right up against the next song “Wayne” which sounds literally like a Fountains of Wayne song (not sure if that is coincidence or not), but this is a drastic difference from most of the other songs on the album.
And again, on the very next song, “Speechless” you get right back into that much heavier and more aggressive sound that will have you wanting to smash things and mosh around.
The album ends with “You When You’re Gone” which is the longest song at 5:10, and it delves a bit more into spatial sound and creating an atmosphere with the music. The female vocalist, Stella Branstool, really adds a whole new element to the song as well. It almost sounds like a Cranberries song or Portishead almost. A totally unique sounding song on the album.
This is a very versatile band, and I think it is safe to say that I will be keeping an eye on them for every album to come. I highly recommend them because even if you might not like the first song you hear from them, try two or three more, and I would be willing to bet you find one you do like.