More Interviews...
Features...
Reviews...

If there's one thing we can be sure of, it's that The Academy Is... continue to surpass themselves with each new release. Although not to everyone's taste, right from Almost Here, this is a band that has shown originality and development consistently, and elements of all three of their full-lengths are brought together harmoniously through Lost in Pacific Time. The five-track EP most closely resembles, and complements, Fast Times; a similar sound, perhaps with a few more subtleties - lots of synth, piano and something that sounds suspiciously like a glockenspiel, providing each of the tracks with depth and a polished-yet-raw sound that the band have been previously unable to achieve.

Emphasis here is far more on Beckett's lyrics and vocals than in previous records – the music is emphasising, rather than competing with, the melody, and in nowhere is this more evident than in Sputter – the long awaited collaboration with Andrew McMahon. Here, the major chords provide warmth, both contrasting and harmonising beautifully with the melancholy and simplicity of the vocals. Sputter has been widely criticised for being over-hyped; but I disagree – perhaps a better term would be over-anticipated, despite the fact that this is an excellent track, many expected so much more. However, I began listening to it with no expectations, and found it to be mellow, insightful, and compelling. I could listen to it for hours.

Each of the five songs is superb, and very different from the last, but the stand-out for me is the first – I’m Yours Tonight. It is truly anthemic, with the kind of catchy hook, beautifully simple lyrics and big, sing-along chorus that The Academy Is... excel at – this track will be dynamite live. The band's influences shine through on this record more so than ever before, and the first few bars of Days Like Masquerades – specifically the bass, drums, and vocals – have an almost Kings of Leon feel to them, whilst In The Rearview smacks of early Midtown – which can only ever be considered a good thing. All in all, I feel this record portrays the band in the best possible light – beautifully crafted, and showcasing their talent and potential to the utmost. They have matured greatly as musicians and songwriters, and if Lost in Pacific Time holds any indication of what The Academy Is...'s next full length will sound like, well, I simply can’t wait.