The Academy Is… – Almost Here

This article has been imported from chorus.fm for discussion. All of the forum rules still apply.

The record that started it all for The Academy Is, and made an instant star out of vocalist William Beckett, has turned 20 years old. In the flurry of bands signed to the label Fueled By Ramen, The Academy Is seemed to be one of the more immediate success stories. The band had formed in 2003, put out their self-titled EP in 2004 and would craft enough material to release their formal full-length debut, Almost Here, in early 2005. The set was produced by James Paul Wisner and he does a nice job of accentuating the band’s strengths. The Academy Is would be staples on the Warped Tour and would later release two subsequent full-length records before going on hiatus in October 2011. Almost Here spawned three singles in “Checkmarks,” “Slow Down,” and “The Phrase That Pays” and by October 2009 the set had sold over 250,000 units.

There is something immediately charming about The Academy Is on their debut Almost Here. From the call to action of “Attention” that rallies their fans much like a teacher grabbing their class’ focus back to the front of the room, to the steady beat and bounce of “Season,” there was a lot to love early on. “Slow Down” showcased the band’s unique skill in crafting radio-ready emo anthems and Beckett’s gradual build-up to the powerful chorus was definitely star-worthy. The dual-guitar attack of AJ LaTrace and Mike Carden put a greater emphasis on the punch they could pack in their power chords and the guitar style of each band member nicely complemented Beckett’s vocals.

The middle section of the LP begins with “The Phrase That Pays” that starts off with a steady riff before drummer Mike DelPrincipe adds in some kick drums almost like The White Stripes’ “Seven Nation Army.” “Black Mamba” packs plenty of venom behind Beckett’s pointed lyrics while the band rallies around his every word. The slow-burn of the verses found on “Skeptics and True Believers” makes for a nice contrast in the speedy chorus and remains a solid deep cut in the band’s discography.

Even more straight-forward songs like “Classifieds” remain captivating due to Beckett’s impressive vocal range and overall charming performance. “Checkmarks” sounds exactly like what you would want a strong lead single to feel and sound like in an era of bands dominated by great guitar parts and solid hooks. Beckett’s vocals continue to shine in the vivid storytelling of “Down and Out” while the title track is a remarkable closing statement for a band that had only been around since 2003. The Academy Is simply worked, and they deserve their moment of reflection as they celebrate two decades of Almost Here.

more

Not all embedded content is displayed here. You can view the original to see embedded videos and other embedded content.