The Academy Is...

After the success of 2005’s Almost Here, Chicago emo-punk group The Academy Is… took a creative gamble on its rockier follow-up Santi. Unfortunately, the risks didn’t pay off: Fans revolted, critics drubbed it, and the band itself publicly badmouthed it. All of that backlash seems to have cowed TAI from taking any more chances, as its 2008 disc Fast Times At Barrington High harkens back to what got it here—namely energetic, radio-ready anthems about girls and summer fun. Having refined what made it appealing in the first place, The Academy Is… took steps toward maturity with last year’s Cure-cribbing, keyboard-heavy EP Lost In Pacific Time.

Updated 08/26/2010