Track Listing

1. Attention
2. Season
3. Slow Down
4. Phrase That Pays
5. Black Mamba
6. Skeptics And True Believers
7. Classifieds
8. Checkmarks
9. Down And Out
10. Almost Here

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #188238 in Music
• Released on: 2005-02-21
• Number of discs: 1

CD Description
On its 2005 debut, the Chicago-based emo-rock ensemble known as The Academy Is... unleashes surging punk-pop anthems (most notably "Attention" and "Checkmarks") that rely on melody more than angsty bombast. With fierce guitar lines, precise rhythms, and frontman William Beckett's plaintive (but notoverwrought) vocals, this group makes the kind of music that gives the sometimes-maligned emo subgenre a good name.

Customer Reviews

Flawless.
So, it’s nearly the end of 2005. At the end of the year I think about what my top 3 albums would be for the year and I thought I’d pretty much decided…until a certain album ended up in my itunes.

‘Almost Here’ by The Academy Is… is up there in my top three, dare I say it, maybe even my top two. I am totally addicted and have been for three whole weeks, I’ve listened to nothing else unless I’ve absolutely had to. The best thing about this album is the fact that nearly every day, my decision of favourite song has changed. To start off with, it was ‘Season’, a purely pop-filled number filled with killer singalong lyrics and a bass line which makes you hop from one foot to the other. Then it was ‘Checkmarks’, a song Story Of The Year could have written in their early days, then ‘Down And Out’ another beautifully melodic number that will have you singing into your hairbrush.

If you’re looking for a band to compare The Academy Is… with, then I guess it would be Fall Out Boy, but there are so many small elements that make The Academy Is… seem so different and unique from the usual. Lead singer William Beckett’s voice doesn’t have the distinct whine of all his pop punk counterparts, the tongue-in-cheek lyrics of the songs make you want to sing along no matter how you’re feeling; there’s a song for every mood on this perfect debut.

‘Almost Here’ is actually flawless, there are no songs you should skip or leave off your next mixtape. ‘Skeptics and True Believers’ is the one that’s start to skip thanks to my repeat button, a little heartbreaker with wonderfully arrogant lyrics, “would you believe me if I said I didn’t need you? Cos I wouldn’t believe you if you said the same to me”.

This album, I’m sure, will always be one of my favourites. I’ve bought people tickets to go and see The Academy Is… when they tour the UK in January, I’ve bought copies of the album for people for Christmas, I’ve requested interviews and I’ve bid for anything and everything of theirs on ebay. Definitely one of my favourite bands of this year….I hope they end up in your 2005 list too.

Brilliance
When i was 1st sent a couple of tracks off this album, i wasn't sure what they were trying to be. They sounded a bit (and i cant stress that BIT enough) like fall out boy, but the lead singer has his own distinctive voice, and their usualy pop/punky sound has been given a different twist by T.A.I. All i can say is that i highly recommend this album, and if u want to dowload some songs to make sure, i suggest 'slow down', 'black mamba', 'almost here' and 'skeptics and true believers'

The Academy Is... Are The Best!
This is such an incredible album, I don't know how I discovered them but I'm so glad I did. Their sound may not be original but it's better than most of the similar bands. The word 'emo' has been flung around too often nowadays and these aren't it at all, despite what my friends tell me. All the songs on here are excellent, my personal favourites including: Black Mamba, Slow Down, Skeptics & True Believers, Almost Here and Attention. Also the lyrics on Down & Out are exceptional. Money well spent =D