Album Review: The Academy Is… — Almost Here
Hey, kids! Great news: Fall Out Boy has a new album out!
Okay, I kid. Really, I do. It’s actually Almost Here, the not-new album from The Academy Is… (I’m not getting ready to write something else here; the ellipsis is part of their name). Released in 2005, this album by the Chicago quintet (and Fall Out Boy labelmates) falls into the oft-used category of not-bad-if-you-like-this-sort-of-thing.
A sense of deja-vu pervades my listening experience. I thought I reviewed this album last issue, but then it was called Hedley. It’s a numbingly familiar mix of emo, punk and pop, the sort of genre populated with people who think punk started with Green Day. But then that’s what attendees of the Warped Tour expect. Can’t let the kids down, dude. Be sure to throw in the word “fucking” as an adjective at least once.
The group betrays the self-conscious attitude that you’d expect, with lyrics (on the track “Black Mamba”) like, “when they review the debut, what if the critics hate you?” Sounds like teen spirit to me. Sounds like some reviewer made these guys mad. I certainly hope my review doesn’t have the same effect, because they seem like a nice bunch of kids. Kind of like…Fall Out Boy.
This reviewer isn’t clear why the label (or PR flack) would have sent this disc for review, seeing as Santi, the followup disc was released in April of this year. A quick look online suggests that how one feels about Almost Here will be a good indicator of how you’ll like the new one. Consider yourself warned.
About the Author
Bill Kopp
With a background in marketing and advertising, Bill Kopp got his professional start writing for Trouser Press. After a stint as Editor-in-chief for a national music magazine, Bill launched Musoscribe in 2009, and has published new content every business day since then (and every single day since 2018). The 4500-plus interviews, essays, and reviews on Musoscribe reflect Bill's keen interest in American musical forms, most notably rock, jazz, and soul. His work features a special emphasis on reissues and vinyl. Bill's work also appears in many other outlets both online and in print. He regularly hosts lecture/discussions on artists and albums of historical importance (including monthly events Music to Your Ears and Music Movie Mondays), and is a frequent guest on music-focused radio programs and podcasts. In Spring 2023 he taught a history of Rock 'n' Roll at UNC Asheville's College for Seniors. He also researches and authors liner notes for album reissues -- more than 30 to date -- and co-produced a reissue of jazz legend Julian "Cannonball" Adderley's final album. His first book, Reinventing Pink Floyd: From Syd Barrett to The Dark Side of the Moon was published by Rowman & Littlefield in 2018, and in paperback in 2019. His second book, Disturbing the Peace: 415 Records and the Rise of New Wave, was published in 2021 by HoZac Books. His third book, What's the Big Idea: Great Concept Albums will be published in 2024. Read even more about him here.