themafiagod's Full Review: Almost Here by The Academy Is...
Indie-rock bands seem to come and go as often as some people change their underwear. One minute they're here, and the next, they might be eligible to appear on a VH1 One-Hit Wonder list. Signed to indie power label Fueled By Ramen (which also has signed artists such as Fall Out Boy, Less Than Jake and previously helped propel Yellowcard and Jimmy Eat World to stardom), The Academy Is... is the next new thing out of Chi-town. From here on out, they will be known in this review as T.A.I. LLR Records released their debut EP last year, and it ended up with mixed reviews. Some critics tore it apart, and the band used that to mature for the future. Almost Here is The Academy Is' first full-length album, released in February of 2005.
The Academy Is...
William "Bill" Beckett (Vocals)
Tom Conrad (Guitar)
Mike Carden (Guitar)
Adam Siska (Bass)
Andy Mrotek (Drums)
The pop-punk rocker "Attention" jump-starts Almost Here with its coursing melodies and sing-along qualities. The guitar hooks are simple yet amazingly effective. If one song were to introduce T.A.I. to the world, I think they'd most latch onto this one. A more upbeat punk sound follows with "Season." Wicked chords interspersed with Beckett's pop vocals. A song of personal discovery, the production on it is very good. Distorted vocals occur throughout, along with some great machine-gun drumming by Mrotek.
"Slow Down" is yet another extremely good cut from T.A.I. The metaphors in this song are mildly amusing. But the song itself has that catchiness that'll have you singing along for hours. A bit of a tirade against conformity, the wall of guitars in the song are cleverly designed and masterfully executed, even if we've heard similar things before from other bands. T.A.I. makes it work, and they do so very well. "The Phrase That Pays" has a style that takes what the band has done previously on Almost Here and adding a twist. From the vocals to the instruments, they switch it up enough to keep it fresh, while sticking primarily to their tried and true formula.
"Black Mamba" has a neurotic energy that I haven't found on many songs recently. Ripping those who didn't like their debut EP, the band has some harsh words for those critics. Honestly, the caliber of Almost Here is indicative of Them taking the criticisms to heart and putting out an LP that absolutely kicks everyone's ass. The only detriment is that it doesn't even clear three minutes. "Skeptics and True Believers" follows, with a slow yet brazen intro that builds up little by little. Absolutely flying through this song, the riffs are fast and punchy, while Beckett gets right to the point.
Just when you think it can't get better, "Classifieds" starts playing. Don't expect a punk-rocker here. Much more gentle, this song leads to riff nirvana. Crossing from pop to almost punk back to airy pop, instrumentally, the band is extremely sound. "Checkmarks" is smooth with some distorted vocals thrown in. Lyricism is excellent here, although I can't say I love this song as much as the rest of the album. It just doesn't click as much as I feel it should.
"Down and Out" uses a brooding intro with moody Beckett vocals. People may not like it originally, but it kicks up a notch when the guitar and rest of the band add to the piano and start rocking. Pointed social commentary by the lead singer buffers the sing-along chorus' catchiness. It's really a magnificent song that gets better with age/replays. The title track, "Almost Here" is a frenetic close to the album. Attacking the guitars like no other, they have an amazing finish to a superb album. Beckett sings with urgency, and the distorted vocals to finalize the track are nicely done.
It's already three months into 2005, and I have several nominees for Album of the Year, and solidly among them is Almost Here. The simple elegance in which the album is presented leaves the listener wanting more than the ten tracks provided. Beckett's vocals seem a bit overemphasized at times, but his vocal quality is very good, and the CD itself is pure fun to listen to. A bit out of the mainstream, The Academy Is... is a very talented band that I recommend to each and every one of you.
Overall Grade: A
Copyright T. Pascarella, 2005. Written for The-Trades.com (article published 03/07/05), and reproduced by the author here. This may not be reprinted in any form without contacting the author first and getting express written consent.
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