Fast Times at Barrington High

The Academy Is... | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (August 19, 2008)
• Original Release Date: 2008
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Fueled By Ramen
• ASIN: B001CCHPFI
• In-Print Editions: Audio CD  |  Vinyl  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (23 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #9,482 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)
  • #57 in Music > Alternative Rock > Hardcore & Punk > Emo

Editorial Reviews

The Academy Is… returns with the follow up to their critically acclaimed album Santi. After wrapping their 2007 Sleeping with Giants U.S. tour they headed into the studio with Sam Hollander & Dave Katz (Gym Class Heroes, Metro Station) to work on Fast Times at Barrington High. This new album was recently described by lead singer William Beckett to Newsday as "a celebration of youth" with songs about enjoying life. He also recently spoke to Rolling Stone about how easily the album came together, saying, "I would compare it to starting over. [It’s] the way we felt on [2005’s] Almost Here."

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars nothing wrong with a lil pure pop., December 13, 2008

By 

paulsubpopman - See all my reviews

This review is from: Fast Times at Barrington High (Audio CD)

Just because this record seems like they are backsliding, who cares. This is a pop masterpiece front to back and I havent taken it out of my car cd player since I got it. I havent heard something so catchy since Teenage Fanclubs' "Bandwagonescue". Instantly catchy with all the right hooks and melodies, this is a perfect Summertime record.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Enjoying The Fast Times!, August 25, 2008

By 

Michael Stouffer (Los Angeles, CA United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Fast Times at Barrington High (Audio CD)

Why did a band that was seemingly maturing, turn back time to relive high school glory days? I don't know exactly but they do the job quite well. It's a gamble when a band goes for the thematic concept album. Some are hits (Pink Floyds' The Wall) and others are misses (Smashing Pumpkins' Machina). However, "The Academy Is..." pulls it off on songs like "About A Girl", "Summer Hair (Forever Young)", and "Beware Cougar!". The music represents high school -- it's fun yet at times, complicated. It's a time to enjoy the freedoms of youth, yet also a time to look toward the next chapter in life. "The Academy Is..." captures that feeling perfectly. Although the album lacks the musical and emotional depth of "Santi", it's fitting. These songs are from the perspective of an 18 year old kid that is coming of age, so to speak. This album is almost a prelude to "Almost Here" and "Santi" - a back story - and a very enjoyable one at that. As William Beckett sings in "After the Last Midtown Show": "Right here, the best days of our lives". Very true.

4 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A great album, December 19, 2008

By 

Ayelen (Buenos Aires, Argentina) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Fast Times at Barrington High (Audio CD)

Fast Times at Barrington High is a great album. I love every song on this CD and that's great. There's just a few artists who can make you love every song on a CD and I think TAI has done just that in a brilliant way.
The songs are catchy and fun. They are really "a celebration of youth", I agree with Beckett on that.

Now the thing is, if you are an "Almost Here" & "Santi" lover this album goes in an absolute different direction so you may find it not as good as them.


Track by track:

About a girl: A very good song with good lyrics, but I'm not sure I could listen to this song all day if you know what I mean.
7/10
Summer Hair = Forever Young: For some reason, I think this song is different from the other on the album. Of course, it doesn't mean it is not good, I really like it.
6/10
His Girl Friday: Catchy. That's all I can say.
8/10
The Test: One of my favourite songs on the album. Good lyrics. "You're a stranger I know well and not at all". I love it.
8/10
Rumored Nights: Another one of my favourite songs on the album. Great vocals and lyrics.
9/10
Automatic Eyes: I can't really say much of this song. It's good but after listening to this song for a while I feel like something it's missing.
7/10
Crowded Room: Great song. It's the one that most reminds me of TAI previous work. I can definitely hear some things from Almost Here and Santi here.
8/10
Coppertone: "But the charade is never going to last... So pick the poison and pour yourself a glass." This song is one of the best songs on the album, another one of my favourite ones. Besides, this song is just starting with the best part of the album to me.
10/10
After The Last Midtown Show: McMahon can't do anything wrong. He's a great piano player. This song would be as great as it is even without his collaboration but that collaboration earns it an extra point.
10/10
Beware! Cougar!: Catchy. Good lyrics. I think this song is great and right before Paper Chase is the best place for it.
9/10
Paper Chase: The best song in the album. When I'm listening to this song I see the celebration of youth Beckett talks about. This song is catchy and fun.
Beckett has done a great work, his vocals are brilliant.
10+/10
One More Weekend: After Paper Chase it's hard to think of a better song because Paper Chase is THE song. It is even hard to think of a good song to come after Paper Chase but One More Weekend is really good. I think it was a great choice to make this one be the last song and the one after Paper Chase. Even when every song on the album is great, I don't think any other song would do as well as One More Weekend to finish it.
8/10