Rating:
Genre:
Rock
Release Date: 08/19/2008
For half a decade,
the Academy Is... watched from the sidelines as
Fall Out Boy became the Midwestern kings of
emo.
Fast Times at Barrington High makes a well-deserved grab for the crown, flaunting a combination of
rock & roll bombast and
pop-schooled songwriting. It's albums like this that challenge the definition of
emo, an amorphous genre whose current bands sound little like their 20th century ancestors. There's no whining here, no heart-wrenching lyrics, and few indications that
William Beckett's group is anything but an energetic
pop/rock outfit. So while
Fast Times pushes
the Academy Is... into the upper echelon of
emo bands, it also challenges the genre's entire composition, making it one of the most interesting
emo-related albums since
Jack's Mannequin's
Everything in Transit.
Of course, it's hard to tell how much credit belongs to
Beckett, whose vocals and songwriting skills have nicely progressed since the band's debut, and which accolades go to
Sam Hollander and
Dave Katz, the production team otherwise known as
S*A*M & Sluggo. Perhaps it's no coincidence that the album's first six songs, all written with the duo's help, are also the most radio-ready pop numbers here.
"Summer Hair = Forever Young" is a fist-pumping declaration to youth and warm weather, while
"His Girl Friday" -- the undisputed highlight of side A -- boasts the sort of muscled, sugary chorus found on albums by
Motion City Soundtrack and
Jimmy Eat World. The mood changes slightly during the album's latter half, where
Beckett takes over the songwriting reigns and steers his band closer to the
rock camp.
"Beware! Cougar!" is a particular highlight, while
"After the Last Midtown Show" pays tribute to
Gabe Saporta's former band with piano flourishes and vocal harmonies.
Fast Times at Barrington High doesn't go to the hoop with every song, but it scores more than enough points to make it a career highlight, not to mention one of the best
emo albums (whatever
that means) of 2008.
~Andrew Leahey, All Music Guide
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