The Academy Is...

Item: The Academy
Author: Phil Nichols

The Academy

(2004)

Reviewed by Phil Nichols

Discogs YouTube

Label LLR RecordingsDecapolisApril 2004

emo pop punk post-hardcore

The Academy is currently living out most local bands' dreams. Within a year, with the help of two-song promo samplers and a decent ad campaign, these guys have gone from the Chicago underground scene to opening for acts like Less Than Jake, Hidden In Plain View, and the Early November. The Academy's debut EP has been somewhat anticipated, due to the exposure that the band has been getting recently. But is this album really worthy of all of the hype that's been going around?

The disc is six tracks long, five of which are actual songs. The opening track, "The Proverbial Unrest" is basically a minute or two of footsteps over a background of radio noise and other miscellaneous sounds. Then the music gets going. The Academy's sound is similar to Your Favorite Weapon-era Brand New mixed with some Taking Back Sunday and Armor For Sleep influences in some places. However, this album is not totally filled with cliche songs about lost love and heartbreak, there is some really great imagery used in some of these lyrics and the music is changed up enough to stay interesting. Even the album artwork is interesting as the different pictures and photographs fade in and out of one another flawlessly. Everything definitely seems to be in order with this EP.

Overall, I did enjoy listening to this album. An EP is supposed to show a brief synopsis of what a band is and what that band has been up to lately, and this EP does its job well. The production is good. Some of the lyrics are thought provoking. And while some songs are better than others, there is nothing on this album that is really terrible. Is it worth the hype? Sure, these guys are worthy of some hype. There is nothing groundbreaking here, but if you need something that will hold your interest for a few listens, you probably will not be too disappointed with this EP.

2.5/4