Bambi is the second studio album by American rock band Hippo Campus. It was released on September 28, 2018, through Grand Jury Music and Transgressive Records.
| Bambi | ||||
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| Released | September 28, 2018 | |||
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| Length | 33:24 | |||
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| Singles from Bambi | ||||
Background
editThe first single for Bambi, "Passenger", was released on June 12, 2018.[6] Lead singer Jake Luppen shared that the album was written in the winter of 2017, four months in the middle of the tour of their debut album, Landmark. Luppen said that the track is focused on the challenges of growing alongside the person you love.[7] Stylistically, Luppen said he tried to challenge himself by orchestrating more complex chord progressions. "I started off with a TR-8 groove and the rest followed pretty naturally.”[6] Natalie Harmsen, writing for Atwood describe Luppen's voice as "airy" and "spacey", yet "clear as a bell".[6]
On August 22, the title track, "Bambi", was released as the second single ahead of the album. The track also was accompanied with a music video the same day. According to Luppen, "Bambi" was the last song added to the record, and described the track as "elusive". The song focuses on challenges of being a friend to those around you when your mental health is getting in the way.[5] A week prior to the release of the album, Hippo Campus performed the song live for the first time in Paste Studios.[8]
Track listing
editAll tracks are written by Jake Luppen, Nathan Stocker, Whistler Allen, and Zach Sutton.
| No. | Title | Length |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Mistakes" | 3:10 |
| 2. | "Anxious" | 2:37 |
| 3. | "Doubt" | 3:13 |
| 4. | "Bambi" | 3:14 |
| 5. | "Why Even Try" | 3:38 |
| 6. | "Think It Over" | 3:03 |
| 7. | "Bubbles" | 2:50 |
| 8. | "Honestly" | 2:38 |
| 9. | "Golden" | 3:28 |
| 10. | "Passenger" | 5:33 |
| Total length: | 33:24 | |
Personnel
editHippo Campus
- Jake Luppen – lead vocals, guitar, production, engineering
- Nathan Stocker – lead guitar, vocals, production, engineering
- Whistler Allen – drums, vocals, production, engineering
- Zach Sutton – bass guitar, keyboards, production, engineering
- DeCarlo Jackson – flugelhorn, production, engineering
Additional contributors
- BJ Burton – production, mixing, engineering
- Huntley Miller – mastering
- Brady Moen – engineering
- Marcus Davies – engineering
- Taylor Hayes – engineering
- Benjamin Lester – pedal steel guitar
- Lee Tran – saxophone
- Lazerbeak – additional programming
- Cory Wong – additional guitar
- David Kramer – art direction
Critical reception
edit| Review scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| The Line of Best Fit |   [9] |
| Indie Is Not A Genre |   [10] |
| DIY (magazine) | [11] |
Oliver Kuscher, writing for The Line of Best Fit described the album as serious but important. Kuscher praised the synths in the album as well as the lyricism. Kuscher said in conclusion that "this is music about the important things: finding steady footing in a shaky world, being confused and unsure and not understanding everything, and knowing that that’s alright. It’s about 'searching for a better something'".[9]
References
edit- ^ a b Norris, John (September 27, 2018). "Hippo Campus on the 'Indie-Alt' Divide, the Sexist 'Chick Band' Trope & Their Adventurous Second Album 'Bambi'". Billboard. Retrieved September 29, 2018.
- ^ Weber, Bo (September 28, 2018). "Hippo Campus Release Bon Iver Influenced Album, "Bambi"". Music In Minnesota. Retrieved September 29, 2018.
- ^ "Hippo Campus have announced their second album with a video for the title track Bambi". Transgressive Records. August 23, 2018. Retrieved September 30, 2018.
- ^ "Hippo Campus share new single 'Passenger'". Indie Is Not A Genre. Medium. June 12, 2018. Retrieved September 29, 2018.
- ^ a b Howard, Lindsay (August 23, 2018). "Hippo Campus shares 'Bambi,' the title track of their upcoming album". Variance. Retrieved September 29, 2018.
- ^ a b c Harmsen, Natalie (June 12, 2018). "Hippo Campus Take An Emotional Journey On "Passenger"". Atwood. Retrieved September 29, 2018.
- ^ Priest, Rachel (June 13, 2018). "Hippo Campus releases single "Passenger" and fall tour dates". The Red & Black. Retrieved September 29, 2018.
- ^ Staff article (September 18, 2018). "Hippo Campus - Bambi: Paste Studios". Paste. Retrieved September 29, 2018.
- ^ a b Kuscher, Oliver (September 29, 2018). "Hippo Campus focus on the serious things on their sophomore album". The Line of Best Fit. Retrieved September 30, 2018.
- ^ Brea Cooper, Kendra (26 September 2018). "Review: Hippo Campus – Bambi". Indie Is Not A Genre. Archived from the original on 2020-03-02. Retrieved 2 March 2020.
- ^ Daly, Rhian (28 September 2018). "Album Review HIPPO CAMPUS - BAMBI". DIY. Archived from the original on 2018-10-02. Retrieved 2 March 2020.