The Academy Is... - Santi

When Chicago's own The Academy Is... hit the scene in 2005 with their Fueled By Ramen debut, Almost Here, it was pretty clear the band was on the verge of hitting it big. Their pop/punk musical stylings and soaring vocals of flamboyant frontman William Beckett led people to believe they'd be the next Fall Out Boy and Atlantic Records swooped in to try and cash in on the fun. And with that comes Santi, the sophomore album from the band, which finds them all but abandoning their former sound for a bigger, classic rock inspired sound. The change is sure to alienate a large portion of their previous fan base, but may manage to bring in some new fans who aren't scared off by the over-used "emo" term often thrown around to describe the band. The album definitely packs a punch from track one, as Walker's touch is noticeable throughout. There's clearly more muscle here than before and even Beckett's vocals are more controlled and even powerful at times. In the midst of all this, they still manage to throw in some softer stuff, with "Everything We Had" being a standout track on the album. So don't let your previous feelings on The Academy Is... scare you away, because Santi is a worthy addition to an already strong 2007. [www.theacademyis.com]