![]() ![]() The band’s DIY roots and dedication to craft were equally as essential to their rising profile-early releases were accompanied with band-dubbed cassettes, made-to-order zines, and even self-dyed shirts-each part of Anxious was laid out in meticulous detail from day one. The result is an artistic leap that, had the band’s plans to spend much of 2020 on the road actually been feasible, maybe wouldn’t have happened.įormed in 2016 while members were still in high school, Anxious’ early releases were indebted to the urgent freneticism and heart-on-sleeve lyrics of post-hardcore acts like Texas Is The Reason, Samiam, and Turning Point, allowing Anxious to immediately grab the attention of the hardcore scene. With extensive touring plans halted and regular life on pause, the band-vocalist Grady Allen, guitarists Dante Melucci and Ryan Savitski, bassist Sam Allen, and drummer Jonny Camner-headed into Allen’s mom’s basement and reflected on each part of the material that would turn into their first record over and over again. Anxious might be a bit lost in nostalgia’s nostalgia, but the sheer catchiness of their music will likely ensure them a bright future.While crafting Anxious’ new album, Little Green House, the Connecticut five-piece were afforded a luxury so few bands are when making their debut album: time. At the same time, as long as moments like ‘Growing Up Song’s final chants remind me of the rare sense of joy I felt going to see acts like Modern Baseball live at fifteen, I’ll welcome that with open arms. It’s a bit backhanded, and ultimately the reason why I don’t fully love Anxious’ first album but with Little Green House being as excellently derivative/derivatively excellent as it is, it’s hard not to consistently compare the music to other (and frequently better) acts. Similarly, the aforementioned ‘Afternoon’ boasts a smooth hook that takes me back to the many joyous evenings I spent being sad to the soundtrack of whatever Brand New ripoff band Run For Cover spat out that month. The second half of ‘Growing Up Song’ is nothing but pure singalong bliss, bringing to mind the many amazing concerts I attended way back when (concerts were a thing). Yet, Little Green House is at its very best when it loses itself in near-cathartic moments of nostalgia. The vicious ‘Speechless’ comprises gentle touches of gloomy post hardcore while ‘Wayne’ incorporates heavenly acoustic textures to enhance the record’s atmosphere: ultimately, everything works perfectly fine. This is entirely due to the fact that the band are highly competent songwriters: while nothing they put forth on the record is new or fresh by any means, the concoction of different elements of alternative music adds all the more pleasantly familiar touches to the throwback² sound. The 90’s influences of tracks like ‘More Than a Letter’ and ‘Afternoon’ don’t just remind me of Hum and Failure they remind me of Superheaven and Basement (who, yes, reminded me of Hum and Failure)… call it being late to being late to the party, call it Anxious wearing their influences on their longsleeves: truth is that it still sounds good. ![]() ![]() We grow, we change, we start incorporating annoying cliches into our reviews: and yet, somewhat paradoxically, Anxious reprising the already-nostalgic sound of most early 2010’s Run For Cover signees adds a unique new layer of nostalgia to the mix. And yet, I am in no way the same person I was some ten years ago… shocker. Its pop punk-infused choruses, its crunchy and grungy guitars, its easily digestible angst: this is everything I wanted from music some ten years ago. ![]() If anything, the band seem fully aware of where they stand, opting for familiar comfort rather than risky risks.Īs such, Little Green House feels like it’s tailor-made for me. Consequently, the young band’s debut full length Little Green House manages to feel more outdated than your average 70’s or 80’s throwback outfit, but that’s not necessarily a bad thing. Review Summary: lost in nostalgia's nostalgiaĪnxious, true to their name, tread the type of emo-tinged alternative rock that quietly exited the world of music as Turnover took a turn for the dreamy and Title Fight went to the store to get some milk. ![]()
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