With the release of the album Santi a little over a year ago, The Academy is? quickly turns in a different direction for their third album, Fast Times at Barrington High. The title, a clever spin off of the 1982 film, automatically attracts listeners to the album.

Five years out of high school, lead singer William Beckett revisits the dramatic, superficial halls of Barrington High, the actual high school Beckett attended in a suburb outside of Chicago, Illinois. Although the lyrics do not go much deeper than the title of their first song, “About a Girl,” The Academy Is? provides an upbeat, catchy third album.

With a more indie rock feel and an attempt to mature their sound in their second album, Santi (07), The Academy Is? reverts back to the radio friendly, pop/punk genre that most retro-loving teens will enjoy.

Sounding similar to We the Kings and Plain White T’s, Fast Times at Barrington High potentially appeals more to pre teen/adolescent fans. Possibly their best album to date, The Academy Is? provides many foot-tapping, melodious songs.

Full of energy and fast tempos, this album features many catchy songs, but shows no real originality. After one listen of the CD, the songs tend to blend together in one?s mind.

In the opening track, “About a Girl,” Beckett claims, ?I?m not gonna waste these words/ About a girl.? This song, along with many others, wastes quality music with shallow lyrics and juvenile themes. In the second song, “Summer Hair = Forever Young,” the band refuses to escape the days from their carefree high school years. They sing, ?It?s not over yet/ You and me forever/ Forever young.?

Despite some paint-by-numbers lyrics, the lead singer’s vocals give the album much of the originality it lacks. Enabling the sound to flow more smoothly, Beckett changes his vocal style to the point where it?s almost unrecognizable. He loses the annoying vibrato that seemed to define the sound of The Academy Is? in the two previous albums.

Allowing the listener to experience (or be reminded of) the fun, easygoing attitude of high school, The Academy Is? fits the bill of an enjoyable album for those in high school and those who wish to return.

For more music reviews, visit Ryan Swain’s May 22, 2008 article, Narrow Stairs fails under lackluster lyrics.