The Academy Is… just released its third and newest album, Fast Times at Barrington High.  It is full of songs many high schoolers will relate to.  The band keeps its young sound with songs about life and love that listeners of the 15-19 age range will appreciate.

The band continues in the direction of a different sound.  Gone are the days of the mellow and eclectic songs from Almost There, and enter the more electric and catchy songs from Santi.  The Academy Is… has continued to expand on the new sounds listeners were introduced to in Santi, their second album.

Appropriately named for the high school they attended, Fast Times at Barrington High aims to keep the demographic that made the band famous, but it makes the older listeners wonder how long the members of The Academy Is… will remain in the high school frame of mind.

The album’s first song, “About a Girl” sings of unrequited love with an upbeat sound.  That upbeat sound is supposed to be “the sound of youth” according to lead singer William Beckett.

The second song is also the first single entitled, “Summer Girls = Forever Young” continues on the upbeat melody, while stealing the classic “Forever Young” melody from Rod Stewart.  The new sound for The Academy Is… is very reminiscent of the band Boys Like Girls.

Fans who like the music Boys Like Girls puts out, will be very pleased with the new Academy Is… CD.  But for those who were fans of the old Academy Is… might find this CD harder to swallow and enjoy, but should still give it a try; they might like the new upbeat, more electric sound.