Almost Here (The Academy Is... album)
{{Infobox album
| name = Almost Here
| type = studio
| artist = The Academy Is...
| cover = The_Academy_Is_Almost_Here.jpg
| alt =
| released = February 8, 2005
| recorded =
| venue =
| studio = Wisner Productions (St. Cloud, Florida)
| genre = {{flatlist|
- Pop{{cite web|url=http://www.theskinny.co.uk/music/reviews/albums/the-academy-is-almost-here|title=The Academy Is... - Almost Here - The Skinny|publisher=}}
- rock
- pop-punkMcMahon, ed. 2014, p. 19{{cite web|url=https://www.buzzfeed.com/bobmarshall/41-albums-that-all-2000s-pop-punk-kids-loved|title=41 Pop-Punk Albums All 2000s Kids Loved|work=BuzzFeed|author=Marshall, Bob |date=July 1, 2015|accessdate=June 12, 2016}}
- pop rock
- emo pop
}}
| length = 32:57
| label = Fueled by Ramen
| producer = James Paul Wisner
| prev_title = The Academy
| prev_year = 2004
| next_title = From the Carpet
| next_year = 2006
| misc = {{Singles
| name = Almost Here
| type = studio
| single1 = Checkmarks
| single1date = May 29, 2006
| single2 = Slow Down
| single2date = June 17, 2006
| single3 = The Phrase That Pays
| single3date = 2006
}}
}}
Almost Here is the debut studio album by American rock band The Academy Is..., released on February 8, 2005 by Fueled by Ramen.
Background
On April 13, 2004, the Academy Is signed to Fueled by Ramen; in the same month, they went on tour supporting Less Than Jake.{{cite web|url=https://www.punknews.org/article/8914/fueled-by-ramen-signs-the-academy-is|title=Fueled By Ramen signs The Academy Is…|publisher=Punknews.org|author=Heisel, Scott|date=April 13, 2004|accessdate=March 28, 2021}} On July 6, 2004, a demo of "Slow Down" was posted on their PureVolume account; that same month, they went toured the US with Fall Out Boy, Armor for Sleep and Bayside.{{cite web|url=https://www.punknews.org/article/9626/new-demo-from-the-academy-is-available|title=New demo from The Academy Is… available|publisher=Punknews.org|author=Heisel, Scott|date=July 6, 2004|accessdate=October 28, 2021}}
Almost Here was recorded at Wisner Productions in St. Cloud, Florida, with James Paul Wisner, who produced, engineered, and recorded the sessions. He also mixed the album with Jeremy Dubois at The Dungeon in Miami, Florida; Alan Douches mastered the album at West West Side Music.
After recording the album and a doing a summer tour, the band underwent a lineup change. Tom Conrad, formerly of Chicago local band 504 Plan, replaced AJ LaTrace as second guitarist/backing vocalist and Andy Mrotek, formerly of Last Place Champs, replaced Mike DelPrincipe as the drummer. Andy Mrotek and Thomas Conrad are listed in the liner notes, but were added to the band after the recording of Almost Here to replace DelPrincipe and LaTrace, respectively.
Release
In August 2004, it was reported that the band's upcoming debut, titled Almost Here, was schueled for release early next year. Following this, they toured with the Matches, Lucky Boys Confusion and Armor for Sleep in October.{{cite web|url=https://www.punknews.org/article/10106/fueled-by-ramen-puts-new-the-academy-is-media-online|title=Fueled By Ramen puts new The Academy Is… media online|publisher=Punknews.org|author=White, Adam|date=August 30, 2004|accessdate=October 28, 2021}} In January and February 2005, the band toured across the US alongside Something Corporate, Hidden in Plain View, Straylight Run,{{cite web|url=https://www.punknews.org/article/11246/tours-something-corporate-straylight-run-hidden-in-plain-view-the-academy-is|title=Something Corporate / Straylight Run / Hidden In Plain View / The Academy Is|work=Punknews.org|author=Shultz, Brian|date=January 4, 2005|accessdate=July 9, 2016}} and Armor for Sleep.{{cite web|url=http://www.thefader.com/2005/02/01/armor-for-sleep-launch-us-tour|title=Armor For Sleep Launch US Tour|work=The Fader|author=Adams, Chip|date=February 1, 2005|accessdate=September 18, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161130124847/http://www.thefader.com/2005/02/01/armor-for-sleep-launch-us-tour|archive-date=2016-11-30|url-status=dead}} Almost Here was released on February 8 through Fueled by Ramen; it was promoted in the US with the Fueled By Ramen & Friends Tour between March and May 2005, alongside labelmates Fall Out Boy and Gym Class Heroes, as well as Midtown and Silverstein.{{cite web|url=https://www.punknews.org/article/11395/tours-the-fueled-by-ramen-and-friends-tour-2005|title=The Fueled By Ramen & Friends Tour 2005|publisher=Punknews.org|author=Shultz, Brian|date=January 19, 2005|accessdate=October 29, 2021}} In addition to this, they appeared at The Bamboozle festival.{{cite web|url=https://www.punknews.org/article/11657/bamboozle-lineup|title=Bamboozle lineup|publisher=Punknews.org|author=Shultz, Brian|date=February 14, 2005|accessdate=October 30, 2021}} In mid-June, a music video for "Checkmarks" premiered on Fuse's Oven Fresh programme.{{cite web|url=http://www.absolutepunk.net:80/|archive-url=http://webarchive.loc.gov/all/20021113163447/http://www.absolutepunk.net/|url-status=dead|archive-date=November 13, 2002|title=AbsolutePunk.net|work=AbsolutePunk|publisher=SpinMedia|accessdate=August 2, 2017}}
In July 2005, the band toured with Plain White T's, Days Away and June, and appeared on the 2005 Warped Tour.{{cite web|url=http://www.mtv.com/news/1497704/warped-tour-lineup-itinerary-officially-announced/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141105111310/http://www.mtv.com/news/1497704/warped-tour-lineup-itinerary-officially-announced/|url-status=dead|archive-date=November 5, 2014|title=Warped Tour Lineup, Itinerary Officially Announced |work=MTV|author=Kaufman, Gil|date=March 3, 2005|accessdate=September 18, 2016}}{{cite web|url=https://www.punknews.org/article/12767/tours-the-academy-is-plain-white-ts-days-away-june|title=The Academy Is… / Plain White T's / Days Away / June|publisher=Punknews.org|author=Paul, Aubin|date=June 5, 2005|accessdate=October 31, 2021}} Following this, they went on a cross-country US tour with Hidden in Plain View, Spitalfield and Halifax in August and September 2005.{{cite web|url=https://www.punknews.org/article/13273/tours-hidden-in-plain-view-spitalfield-the-academy-is-dates|title=Hidden in Plain View/Spitalfield/The Academy Is… dates|publisher=Punknews.org|author=Paul, Aubin|date=July 26, 2005|accessdate=November 1, 2021}}
In January 2006, the band went on a sold-out UK tour with Panic! at the Disco.{{cite web|url=http://www.altpress.com/index.php/news/entry/archive_355|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20160816152438/http://www.altpress.com/index.php/news/entry/archive_355|title=The Academy Is… post new acoustic song, begin U.K. tour|work=Alternative Press|date=January 17, 2006|archivedate=August 16, 2016|accessdate=June 27, 2016}} In February and March, the group went on the Truckstops and Statelines tour, alongside Panic! at the Disco, Acceptance and Hellogoodbye.{{cite web|url=https://www.altpress.com/news/archive_192/|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20181014203953/https://www.altpress.com/news/archive_192/|title=The Academy Is… announce 'Truckstops And Statelines' tour|work=Alternative Press|author=Rork, Nicole|date=November 30, 2005|archivedate=October 14, 2018|accessdate=June 24, 2016}} On February 21, the band released an acoustic EP, titled From the Carpet, which included three songs from Almost Here: "The Phrase That Pays", "Down and Out" and "Black Mamba".{{cite web|url=http://www.altpress.com/index.php/news/entry/archive_460|title=The Academy Is… to release digital-only acoustic EP|work=Alternative Press|date=February 14, 2006|accessdate=June 29, 2016}} The band went on the 2006 edition of the Warped Tour.{{cite web|url=http://www.altpress.com/index.php/news/entry/archive_523|title=Warped Tour confirms tour routing, venues, more bands|work=Alternative Press|date=March 2, 2006|accessdate=July 19, 2016}}
The album spawned three singles: "Checkmarks", "Slow Down" (often incorrectly referred to as "Hollywood Hills"), which was chosen through an online poll on the band's website, and "The Phrase That Pays". "Classifieds" was an intended single from the album and a video was made for the song. This video was never officially released, but the video's director posted it on YouTube.{{cite video | url = https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NXFWw3UCNXw | title = The Academy Is... "Classifieds" | people = Ryan Rickett (director) | medium = Video | publisher = YouTube | date = 2007-04-25}}
Reception and legacy
{{Album ratings
| rev1 = AbsolutePunk
| rev2 = AllMusic
| rev2Score = {{Rating|3.5|5}}{{AllMusic|class=album|id=r728362}}
| rev3 = Melodic
| rev3Score = {{Rating|2.5|5}} {{cite web|url=http://www.melodic.net/?page=review&id=3358|title=The Academy Is - Almost Here|work=Melodic|author=Roth, Kaj|date=May 26, 2005|accessdate=July 18, 2017}}{{Dead link|date=August 2023 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}
| rev4 = musicOMH
| rev4Score = {{rating|3|5}}{{cite web|url=http://www.musicomh.com/reviews/albums/the-academy-is-almost-here|title=The Academy Is… – Almost Here - Album Reviews - musicOMH|date=6 February 2006 |publisher=}}
| rev5 = Sputnikmusic
| rev5Score = 4.5/5{{cite web|url=https://www.sputnikmusic.com/review/26440/The-Academy-Is...-Almost-Here/|title=Review: The Academy Is... - Almost Here|website=Sputnikmusic}}
}}
The album debuted at #20 on the Billboard Top Heatseekers chart, as well as at #24 on the Billboard Independent Albums chart.{{cite web | title=The Academy Is...: Artist Chart History | work=Billboard | url={{BillboardURLbyName|artist=the academy is...|chart=all}} | accessdate=28 December 2005 }} It also charted at #185 on The Billboard Top 200 Albums Chart. By May 2006, the album had sold over 144,000 copies.{{cite web|url=http://www.absolutepunk.net/showthread.php?t=137037|title=Soundscan Results: Week Ending May 14th, 2006|work=absolutepunk.net|author =Kohli, Rohan |date=May 17, 2006|accessdate=February 12, 2016}} By October 2009, the album's sales stood at 265,000.Bell; Harding 2009, p. 57
BuzzFeed included the album at number 33 on their "36 Pop Punk Albums You Need To Hear Before You F——ing Die" list.{{cite web|url=https://www.buzzfeed.com/mariasherm/36-pop-punk-albums-you-need-to-hear-before-you-f-ing-die|title=36 Pop Punk Albums You Need To Hear Before You F----ing Die|author1=Sherman, Maria |author2=Broderick, Ryan |work=BuzzFeed|date=July 2, 2013|accessdate=July 29, 2015}} Cleveland.com ranked "Checkmarks" at number 88 on their list of the top 100 pop-punk songs.{{cite web|url=https://www.cleveland.com/entertainment/2022/03/the-100-greatest-pop-punk-songs-of-all-time.html|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20220303183529/https://www.cleveland.com/entertainment/2022/03/the-100-greatest-pop-punk-songs-of-all-time.html|title=The 100 greatest pop punk songs of all time|publisher=Cleveland.com|author=Smith, Troy L.|date=March 2, 2022|archivedate=March 3, 2022|accessdate=March 3, 2022}}
On February 6, 2010, The Academy Is... performed a 5th Anniversary Show for the album with Sing It Loud and special guest.
On September 12, 2015, rumors were confirmed that the band would embark on a 10th Anniversary show for Riot Fest in Chicago.{{Cite web|title = The Academy Is… announce 'Almost Here' 10th anniversary tour at Riot Fest - News - Alternative Press|url = http://www.altpress.com/news/entry/the_academy_is..._announce_almost_here_10th_anniversary_tour_at_riot_fest|website = Alternative Press|access-date = 2016-02-01}} Following the announcement of the Riot Fest reunion show, the band released dates for the 10th Anniversary U.S. tour.{{Cite web|title = The Academy Is… officially announce 'Almost Here' 10-year anniversary tour - News - Alternative Press|url = http://www.altpress.com/news/entry/the_academy_is..._officially_announce_almost_here_10_year_anniversary_tour|website = Alternative Press|access-date = 2016-02-01}}
Track listing
All songs written by Mike Carden and William Beckett, except "Down and Out" by Beckett. All lyrics by Beckett.
{{Track listing
| total_length = 32:57
| title1 = Attention
| length1 = 2:53
| title2 = Season
| length2 = 3:34
| title3 =Slow Down
| length3 = 4:02
| title4 =The Phrase That Pays
| length4 = 3:17
| title5 =Black Mamba
| length5 = 2:46
| title6 =Skeptics and True Believers
| length6 = 2:54
| title7 =Classifieds
| length7 = 2:52
| title8 =Checkmarks
| length8 = 3:00
| title9 =Down and Out
| length9 = 4:30
| title10 =Almost Here
| length10 = 3:06
}}
Personnel
Adapted credits from the Almost Here liner notes.{{cite AV media notes|title=Almost Here|others=The Academy Is...|publisher=Fueled by Ramen|year=2005|type=booklet|id=FBR 071}}
The Academy Is...
- William Beckett – vocals
- AJ LaTrace – guitars
- Mike Carden – guitars
- Adam T. Siska – bass
- Mike DelPrincipe – drums
Production and design
- James Paul Wisner – producer, engineer, recording, mixing
- Jeremy Dubois – mixing
- Alan Douches – mastering
- Evan Leake – graphic design
Charts
Album
| class="wikitable" |
| Chart (2005)
!Peak |
|---|
| U.S. Billboard 200
|align="center"|186 |
| U.S. Billboard Top Heatseekers
| style="text-align:center;"|7 |
| U.S. Billboard Top Independent Albums
| style="text-align:center;"|16 |
| U.S. Billboard Top Internet Albums
| style="text-align:center;"|296 |
References
Citations
{{reflist|30em}}
Sources
{{refbegin}}
- {{cite journal|editor1-last=McMahon|editor1-first=James|title=51 Greatest Pop-Punk Albums Ever!|journal=Kerrang!|date=19 September 2015|issue=1586|publisher=Bauer Media Group|location=London|issn=0262-6624}}
- {{cite magazine|last1=Bell|first1=Crystal|last2=Harding|first2=Cortney|title=Dance of Days|magazine=Billboard|date=October 10, 2009|volume=121|issue=39|publisher=Prometheus Global Media|issn=0006-2510}}
{{refend}}
{{The Academy Is...}}
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Almost Here (The Academy Is... Album)}}
Category:The Academy Is... albums