Posts tagged The Academy Is...
Today is another aniversary. Five years ago, The Academy Is… realeased their album “Almost Here.” I could, and have listened to this album, all the way through. For more of my thoughts on it, click here.
I am extremely excited about Blink 182’s reunion. In early middle school, I was familiar with songs like “First Date” and “All the Small Things” and I really liked them. The summer after 8th grade, we went on a trip to Disney World. The large Virgin Records Store that sat on one end of the Downtown Disney strip held inside of it “Blink 182’s Greatest Hits” on sale for seven bucks. How was I supposed to pass that up? I purchased the album, and just like that. I was hooked. That was in 2005, the same year the Tom DeLonge left the band. I had settled with the fact that I would probably never see Blink live, but the next summer I was able to settle for the next best thing.
2006 was the year I became obsessed with Fall Out Boy. I was somewhat late in the game, but I listened to “Take this to Your Grave” like it was going out of style and led those around me to think I had been listening since it first came out. Once I heard they were headlining, all I thought about was the Honda Civic Tour. I wanted to go badly, but I didn’t hear much about the other acts until much later. I did some research to figure out who they were. Cobra Starship (I knew one song), The Academy Is… (I knew their lead singer was rather attractive), Paul Wall (I liked “Grillz” and I knew he had something to do with it), and then there was +44. Mark Hoppus and Travis Barker. Two men I longed to see, for a long time. I was so excited and thought they did an awesome job at the show, but that’s not the point. Blink is back, and I am psyched.
At this point, I can’t say that I will like their new stuff, but I can’t wait to hear it. I’m also hoping that this time around I will be able to fulfill my dream of seeing them live. I think this is a great time for Blink to reunite. This is a time where bands that are considered pop punk and even just punk, are nothing more than straight up pop. But not with Blink on the scene, this is a chance for younger generations, who have never had the chance to listen to Blink, to subject themselves to an awesome group. But for now, we must sit and wait to see what sort of journey Mark, Travis, and Tom have in store for us. Blasting “Dude Ranch” and “Enema of the State” the whole way.
Originally written on 2/11/09.
Last Thursday, I was able to go to the Masquerade and experience an amazing concert. I was mainly going to see The Academy Is… but when I heard the rest of the acts I became even more excited. I had never heard of anything by Hey Monday or Carolina Liar, but with a quick myspace search I realized I liked both of them as well. I had first heard of the other co-headlining band, We the Kings, when I saw them last year when they opened for Cobra Starship on the Really Really Ridiculously Good Looking Tour. They had played a good show and I was very excited to see them again. I must say, their set this year was equally as good if not better. They were able to play a lot more than last year and they played an awesome cover of The Gorillaz’ “Feel Good Inc.” The Academy Is… played an amazing set and sounded incredible live. William Beckett is a born performer, which can be seen as he struts across the stage.
Originally written on 10/6/08
I’m in love with the new Fall Out Boy song, “What a Catch, Donnie.” The song is really different from their past music. This only song I can think of that is a little close to it is “Golden” of their last album, “Infinity on High.” Both songs show off Patrick Stump’s melodic voice, but this time there are many more instruments than just a piano. Not to mention more voices than just Patrick’s. Towards the end the song is greatly built up and then slows down so that almost all you can hear is Elvis Costello singing “Headfirst Sliding into Cooperstown on a Bad Bet.” The song then picks back up and as Patrick continues to sing, in the background you can hear the voices of singers from different Fueled by Ramen bands singing the choruses of older Fall Out Boy songs. These include Gabe Saporta, Travis McCoy, Brendon Urie, Alex Deleon, Dough Neumann, and William Beckett. Even if you’re someone who doesn’t like Fall Out Boy I really think that you could enjoy this song. I just hope the rest of the album is this good.
Originally written on 10/15/08.
I was recently listening to The Academy Is… song, “Down and Out.” While a truly heart breaking song, I can’t help but love it. The story of a mistreated girl taking control of her life gets me every time. The line, “Why do you wear sunglasses in the home when the sun went down about an hour ago?,” at first made me think of someone being abused and trying to cover up the marks. When I thought about this some more I realized that it also showed that she was hiding from herself behind something. The song does not signify who the abuser is (boyfriend, parent?) but it is still just as powerful. “Always up or down,” could be describing the relationship. It is either extremely happy or much more sad. I think that “You dream of demons while you sleep that make you stutter when you speak” shows that the girl worries about what will happen in the relationship. This could cause her to have nightmares and/or worry about and become hesitant of the things she does. “Speak now or forever hold your peace in pieces” describes her need to tell someone, but she hesitates to because she worries about what will happen if she does.
Originally written on 10/1/08
