Counting Sheep There are only a handful of albums that I can vividly remember grabbing me from the very first note and never letting up until the dramatic conclusion. Bambi falls firmly in this category. The sophomore effort from the Connecticut-based punk band, Anxious, solidifies the effort that the band has put in on tour and in the studio to make their most fully realized work of art to date. Produced, engineered, and mixed by Brett Romnes (The Movielife, Front Bottoms, Oso Oso) at The Barber Shop Studios, Anxious take big risks and are rewarded for these leaps of faith over and over again. While Little Green House introduced the world to Anxious, Bambi knocks the doors right off the hinges with a great immediacy to their sound that is sure to take the scene by storm. The early favorite for 2025’s Album of the Year has arrived.
The rollout of singles from Bambi began with “Counting Sheep” back in October of 2024 that set the stage for the direction Anxious took on their second LP. The single was immediately adored by fans and critics alike, who praised the band for taking as big of a swing as possible and hitting the ball right out of the park. “Head & Spine” followed with a bit of a different vibe, with spiraling guitar parts, frenetic drumming and back and forth vocals much like Taking Back Sunday’s early work. The song accelerates to the finish line and leaves the competition breathing in the dust that Anxious had kicked up. “Some Girls” is a mid-tempo emo rocker that asks the question, “Do you feel like you’re okay?” The track unfolds majestically as the band covers new ground quickly and with a poise not usually seen with bands this early in their career. The final single to be released prior to Bambi’s street date, the raucous opener of “Never Said” showcases the depth that these five talented musicians put forth here to arrive ahead of schedule in their quest for world domination in the scene.
Bambi is so much more than just a mix of strong singles that hide the faults of the material around it. Quite the opposite. “Bambi’s Theme” begins with a steady stream of power chords before lead vocalist Grady Allen commands the chorus with an astounding presence and vocal prowess. Deep cuts like the ballad of “Audrey Go Again” match the aesthetic of the album artwork while Allen and guitarist/co-vocalist Dante Melucci harmonize beautifully throughout the heartfelt song.
“Tell Me Why” opens with a softer approach to the vocals before quickly building up to a smooth chorus that is reminiscent of established bands like The Wonder Years, The Early November and Saves the Day, while still feeling authentic to the songwriting of Anxious. “Sunder” features some great guitar work throughout, while the swooning vocals of the two vocalists keeps things crisp and tight. “Next Big Star” recounts the starry-eyed vision most of us can only dream of fulfilling to become the “next big thing,” but you have to start to believe at this point that this young band may just be calling their own shot on songs like this that push them to their creative peak.
The closing one-two punch of “Jacy,” with plenty of “doo doo doo’s” much like Third Eye Blind started their career with “Semi-Charmed Life” on their self-titled effort, rocks along with an immediacy to their sound and great production. “I’ll Be Around” stuffs all of the band’s influences on the docket, pushes blend, and sees what beautiful mixture comes out in the end. The sprawling closer leaves just the right taste in the listeners’ mouths as they come to realize they may have just discovered their new favorite band for the foreseeable future. Anxious are just that good on Bambi, and I have a feeling that this is just the tip of the iceberg for this ultra-talented band that has all the makings of stars.