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The Academy Is...
Fast Times at Barrington High
Release Date: 2008 08 19
Running Time: 0:00
Label: Fueled By Ramen
Rating:

For half a decade, the Academy Is... watched from the sidelines as Fall Out Boy became the Midwestern kings of emo. Fast Times at Barrington High makes a well-deserved grab for the crown, flaunting a combination of rock & roll bombast and pop-schooled songwriting. It's albums like this that challenge the definition of emo, an amorphous genre whose current bands sound little like their 20th century ancestors. There's no whining here, no heart-wrenching lyrics, and few indications that William Beckett's group is anything but an energetic pop/rock outfit. So while Fast Times pushes the Academy Is... into the upper echelon of emo bands, it also challenges the genre's entire composition, making it one of the most interesting emo-related albums since Jack's Mannequin's Everything in Transit.

Of course, it's hard to tell how much credit belongs to Beckett, whose vocals and songwriting skills have nicely progressed since the band's debut, and which accolades go to Sam Hollander and Dave Katz, the production team otherwise known as SAM & Sluggo. Perhaps it's no coincidence that the album's first six songs, all written with the duo's help, are also the most radio-ready pop numbers here. "Summer Hair = Forever Young" is a fist-pumping declaration to youth and warm weather, while "His Girl Friday" -- the undisputed highlight of side A -- boasts the sort of muscled, sugary chorus found on albums by Motion City Soundtrack and Jimmy Eat World. The mood changes slightly during the album's latter half, where Beckett takes over the songwriting reigns and steers his band closer to the rock camp. "Beware! Cougar!" is a particular highlight, while "After the Last Midtown Show" pays tribute to Gabe Saporta's former band with piano flourishes and vocal harmonies. Fast Times at Barrington High doesn't go to the hoop with every song, but it scores more than enough points to make it a career highlight, not to mention one of the best emo albums (whatever that means) of 2008. Andrew Leahey, All Music Guide

Tracks:
TitleComposerTime
1About a GirlHollander, Katz, Beckett, Academy Is...3:30
2Summer Hair=Forever YoungKatz, Beckett, Academy Is..., Hollander3:38
3His Girl FridayKatz, Hollander, Beckett, Academy Is...3:40
4TestHollander, Beckett, Academy Is..., Katz3:29
5Rumored NightsHollander, Beckett, Academy Is..., Katz3:44
6Automatic EyesKatz, Academy Is..., Beckett, Hollander3:25
7Crowded RoomAcademy Is..., Beckett3:07
8CoppertoneBeckett, Academy Is...3:18
9After the Last Midtown ShowAcademy Is..., Beckett5:12
10Beware! Cougar!Beckett, Academy Is...3:37
11Paper ChaseKatz, Hollander, Academy Is..., Beckett3:29
12One More WeekendAcademy Is..., Beckett3:42

Member Comments On This Album.
1 - 1 of 1 1 Comments
Fueled_By_FBR 2874 Tue Oct 21 2008 21:34:48
It's kinda mainstream compared to their other stuff, but I still love it.
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