Anxious : "Bambi"

The vocals have a very honest feel to their croon that is emotive, though when things pick up they conform more closely to the pop-punk current running through their sound, in a more like Brand New than say Blink 182. The momentum of this album finds some of the frequencies to these songs taking on a uniform blast of energy. "Bambi's  Theme' finds some similar melodic themes carrying over though there are hints of 90s alternative running through the anthemic feel. Emo would be a fitting sub-genre to file this under as it does share some common ground with bands like Jimmy Eat World and Taking Back Sunday.  "Some Girls' takes this in a lateral direction, holding onto the elements of the genre that work while doing their own thing. You can also hear the haze of shoegaze creeping in to obscure things with its more atmospheric slant. 

"Counting Sheep" flirts with a poppier vibe before shifting to a more dynamic rock sound. The vocals are memorable and hooky showing the kind of commitment to songwriting that more bands should take note of. "Audrey Go Again" sounds like a lost Brit Pop ballad from the 90s. I was wondering when the 90s were going to see a revival and not only this album but a few others I have heard that are approaching the decade from a different angle are seemingly indicating that is where this year is taking us. Their more punk side comes out a little on "Head & Spine". Things go in a more conventional direction with the radio-ready "Tell My Why".  This bracing for the mainstream is done in a manner that is less compromising with "Sunder". 

'Next Big Star' has a more mainstream strum to it, making for an adequate pop ditty that works for what it is. "Jacy" takes things in a more moving energetic direction 'I'll be Around" finds some of the shoe-gazing tone return and is used in a more stirring manner as the pace of the song finds them continuing to carve out their own niche. The last song has a more straightforward Myspace rock feel. I will give this album a 9, it started off really intriguing me and gradually settled into a more mainstream rock place, but the are great songwriters no matter what sounds they are working with. 

pst105