2005 The first new music from The Academy Is… in nearly 18 years has arrived today. Guitarist Mike Carden shared, “William and I made the first record at nineteen and walked away at twenty-eight. Almost There is really about everything that’s happened in the space between.” Almost There finds the band at a comfortable place in their lives, having lived a rich life, building families, and ultimately reconnecting the pieces that made this band so special in the first place. This record is a bit subdued, vibey, and more on the relaxed side as far as the general feel. Front-man William Beckett shared some additional context surrounding the similar title of the new album to their debut by saying, ““Almost Here was about leaving home. This album is about finding your way back. It’s the other end of the spectrum.” By looking inward at their past/youth while trying to understand it all, The Academy Is… have made another album worthy of the legacy they created.
The record opens with “Up in the Air”, a floaty, atmospheric track about finding their footing again as not only a band, but as friends and people. Beckett begins the verses by trying to recapture the initial feelings of what it means to belong to something. The chorus leans heavily into the album title as Beckett carefully croons, “Up in the air / Floating through time / I’m learning we’re almost there / Did you know you could go back there?” It’s an interesting question to ask his audience and bandmates, since it’s been over 20 years since the band’s debut came out, and it feels as if this through this experimentation of self-discovery these musicians found a purpose for coming back. “Miracle” picks up the tempo significantly from the breathy opener with more of a sense of urgency behind Beckett’s lyrics. “I need to love again / Turn me on my head / I need to feel the warmth / Tell me I’m not dead / Show me, hold me / Oh, oh, I’m not dead, go” paint a picture of a person wanting to live like he used to, while still clamoring for the same connections that make us all human.
”2005″ was the first single to be released from Almost There and it was an easy choice based on the context and vibes surrounding the rest of the material. The steady bass line from Adam Siska stands out on repeat spins, while Carden’s intricate guitar parts make for a nice landscape for the band to explore over. The bridge looks back to the past as Beckett sings, “And I remember driving downtown / Listening to Stay What You Are / And I know it’s complicated / You don’t have to say it / And I actually want to thank you / For all the memories / And I wanted to text you / Wishing you well.” The band seems truly grateful for the time that they have spent together previously, while still attempting to repackage these feelings of nostalgia into some meaningful art that is authentic to them. The band largely pulls it off.
”Freak Out” is one of the cooler songs to be found on the new album and it features some breathy, subdued vocals from Beckett while the rhythm section of the band shows great restraint in their playing to match the vibe of the lyrics. The pre-chorus of, “Oh, where did you go? / Time isn’t all we have,” is an interesting quip from a band looking backwards in time for most of this LP. “Snow Days” leans more into this concept with the second verse of, “You finished college, I was on tour / Partied all night long, harder than we should / Then I got lost, the band ended / You tried to reach out, well, I’m sorry, I was out.” Beckett’s introspective lyrics come across as meaning well, with good intentions, as he tries to make sense of how things may have gotten off-kilter in his personal life. The chorus seems to highlight the good ol’ days with, “On top of the world, you and I / I know it’s not the end, oh, I miss you, friend,” that reiterates the point that he’d like to get back to the time when this friend and him were inseparable. It’s a relatable feeling for me as I reflect on my own life, the friends I’ve made and lost touch with over the years, and the band does a great job of identifying this exact feeling.
For a song that is called “100 mph”, the track never really takes off the way I was expecting it to. Instead, it seems comfortable getting into an acoustic-based, folk groove throughout. The chorus of, “But the world keeps turning / You’re still on my mind / And the years keep burning / We’re out of time,” continues the self-exploration of time and relationships, and how quickly things can change in the blink of an eye. After a brief interlude called “Floating Through Time” that features some piano and some great guitars from Carden, the band regroups with “L Train.” The song reminded a bit of the vibes put forth on The 1975’s debut album, and it reaches the same thrilling results. The track is comfortable in its steady pacing and the lyrics in the chorus are pretty telling with, “A little light shade / I’m so worried that I might wake up / I’ll be on the night train / Call me when you’re home / I’m a fucking psycho / Nowhere to go.” It’s a stunning admission from Beckett to call himself this, and yet his vulnerabilities are on full display as he grapples with mortality.
”Lost Signals” recalls the feelings of what made the band want to get back together in the first place: “I miss the boys and the road and the show / I miss the nights in the basement and what love meant / We were just kids dreaming big / I miss the boys and the road.” This simple connection to their fans, each other, and when the world seemed larger than life is a stark reminder of the starry-eyed vision many young bands feel when they’re just starting out and beginning to make waves in their local scene. The 80’s-esque song is a great addition to the band’s catalog, and it’s one of my favorites on Almost There.
”Lulu Boy” begins with a fairly simplistic drumbeat from Andy Mrotek, before bleeding into a nice guitar groove in the verses and the chorus. As the song gets going, The Academy Is… give the same feeling the vibes they put out on much of Fast Times At Barrington High, but with a more matured sound. The album closer of “Ten Years” finds the band at their most gracious and appreciative for the way their fans have embraced them in the past and continue to look fondly upon them today. Beckett’s smooth delivery of the chorus of, “Sometimes it feels like the first time I’m with you / Sometimes it seems like it’s never enough, who knew? / Driving around with the window down, I wanna / Sometimes it feels like the first time I’m with you,” is a nice reminder of the magic The Academy Is… is capable of creating to this day. While a lot of Almost There feels like a walk through their past history, the band’s willingness to still take some creative risks today makes for a memorable listening experience. The Academy Is… back, and we should all be glad that they chose to spend some more time with us.