The Academy Is… – Fast Times at Barrington High

18 August 2008, Joe @ 3:12 pm The Academy Is... Fast Times at Barrington High

One of the hottest bands signed to Fueled By Ramen, The Academy Is… shocked fans last year with the release of Santi. Having adhered to a new style and a more matured sound, they did a really great job of changing things up without ever losing their touch. In just over a year they have already completed a third studio album, Fast Times at Barrington High and there is a lot of hype and pressure surrounding tomorrow’s release. Currently being streamed on their myspace, any fans can listen to the whole album before they decide to buy, but if you’re taste buds are anything like mine, you’ll be the first in line to snag a copy of this cd.

Let me begin by saying, this is definitely a different TAI, and I’m so impressed with the route they decided to go this time around. Although I wasn’t completely wowed as I was after listening to Santi the first time, I still thought this album was amazing. Slowing things down and keeping things mellow, they still have that feel good vibe transferred from Santi. There are highlights of really rugged rock that mesh well with the softer themes throughout the album and it was an incredible listen. The first track, About a Girl has that really laid back rock feel reminiscent of UK bands from the 90s. With groovy guitars and a heart warming chorus, it’s a slow but stunning rock ballad. The vocals are as sharp as ever, and William’s soft sound matches perfectly with the summer oriented album of Fast Times at Barrington High.

Skipping to the third track, listeners will hear influences of The Cure shining through. His Girl Friday, is a song ready to put TAI back on the map (as if they weren’t already), with its overly catchy, but genuine chorus, it is a song that TAI will be remembered for. The verse, again, is just a simple feel good melody, but the chorus makes the song so beautiful and passionate. With clever lines and an admirable high school wit, it not only adheres to the teens out there, but for the young adults such as myself. A really chilling song, it has an easy listening quality to it, but is also high in musical quality as well. Everything from the instruments to the vocals worked well and made for a very nice listen. Touching, rocking, groovy, passionate, it can be described with every which adjective, and is perhaps my favourite from the album.

Songs that had less of that power pop and more of the modern rock TAI has done before includes Crowded Room, Coppertone, and One More Weekend. The vocals are very powerful in these songs, and the general pace is a bit harder. After The Last Midnight Show is the slowest track and is almost reminiscent of Brand New, but a lot more poppy. With glimpses of the dance rock, melodic power pop, and everything in between, TAI has done it again. Fast Times at Barrington High is a must buy for me, and I will definitely be purchasing this album tomorrow. With the three really solid and completely different albums, TAI is definitely one of the hottest bands to hit the mainstream. If I had to rate this album I’d give it a 4/5, only because I know their next album will be even better.

Check out their Myspace for official tour dates and to stream Fast Times at Barrington High in its entirety.

AWmusic