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A new year and a new perspective on life. I hope that everyone got everything they wished for and that Santa left them numerous other treats. I also hope that you got to spend time with family and friends which is really what the holidays are all about. I figured I would start the New Year out with a band that I’ve been listening to for quite some time now, yes that’s right ladies and gents, The Academy Is [TAI] (and if you check out our interview section you will notice that I did an interview with them not too long ago). I believe in starting off the New Year with a bang and that is my intention with this band. Music is what makes the world go round no matter where you are. Everyone relates to music and with the beats that this band produces you can’t help but fall in love with them.

For all of those who don’t really know, here is a little history on a band that the site has all fallen in love with (and yes Manda I’m pointing a finger at you because we just turned you over to the dark side –insert manic giggle here-). The band began in Chicago in 2002 with Mister William Beckett and Mister Mike Carden. The first music to enter the world was their EP The Academy in 2004 which was promptly heard by Mister Pete Wentz and the band was then signed to Fueled by Ramen. The band has gone on to release three successful full lengths, Almost Here in 2005, Santi in 2007 and their most recent release of Fast Times At Barrington High. Over the years the following of TAI has grown in numbers to the point where shows are filled with exuberant fans who want to see a piece of the band they adore. I must admit that I am one of those fans and one of those that really enjoy seeing them perform live on stage, which I believe is where they shine immensely. TAI hasn’t had as much commercial success as some other Fueled by Ramen bands have, but they are getting there. TAI is making a name for themselves and doing it the right way and with the right support. This past year they were headlining Warped Tour, and if anyone knows anything, bands that headline Warped Tour do tend to receive more attention in the future. I’ve had the chance to see them live four times now, and each time I see a growth in the band, not only in their music but in, their presence on stage. Beckett has always had his own flair for things, with the scarf tied around his waist in the past to the bracelets that adorn his wrists now. His front man high-spirited nature is what draws your attention to this band, not to mention TAITV, which gives you an inside perspective on the band.

No matter who you are, I do believe that you can find something within TAI that you will like. From ballads to catchy pop rifts, the band’s sound shines through. I know for a fact the first song I heard (which was Black Mamba) had me hooked, and made me look into them. I mean all it takes is one song and there you go. Hooked. I hope you take the time to check out a band when you hear that one song that you hear and maybe you might just become a fan like I have of TAI.

Natty’s Top 5 TAI songs:
- Black Mamba
- Down and Out (Piano Rendition)
- Neighbors
- Everything We Had
- In Our Defense

To be quite honest, I never really got into The Academy Is until we all banded together and went to Warped Tour this summer. We stopped by the stage where the band was playing and rocked out. I had heard a bit here and there, mostly from friends saying "Hey! This band will pwn you in the face!" but never really got into it. But after seeing them play live I was hooked! The live show is phenomenal, energetic, and interactive, and I found myself having a blast! After that, I bought a few songs from iTunes and started getting into it more and more! And now we have them as our Band of the Month, and I can 100% fully endorse this band to you! Check them out, it's definitely worth it, and if you can, swing by a live show, you can thank me in the form of fruit baskets...

January is my favorite month. It means the beginning of a brand new year. I love the band that was picked for January. I have nothing but warm fuzzy feelings for The Academy Is…

TAI came into my life about four years ago when I stumbled across Slow Down on one of my random music searches. I fell in love with it immediately and I have never grown tired of them. I love that I got the opportunity to discover this band while they were still pretty unknown, because that has given me the chance to see them grow into the highly respected band they are today. And they deserve every ounce of it. It also gave me the chance to see their sound grow from record to record, as it was happening.

Slow Down came into my life when I needed it most. You know how sometimes you just instantly connect with one specific lyric? Well I did. “Take back everything you ever said, you never meant a word of it. You never did.” Well…that is sort of self-explainitory so I wont go into details. I connected with that lyric. To this day, Slow Down remains one of my absolute favorite songs, and The Academy Is remains one of my favorite bands.

Unlike some of the other girls here, Warped was not my first time seeing them. The first time I got to see them was Honda Civic Tour 07…but I was in the 300 section, so I mostly heard them! The real TAI experience came that November when myself, Natty and two of our good friends were barricade for the Sleeping With Giants Tour. WOW to TAI fans!! Aside from falling in the Protest pit, The Academy Is holds THE most intense pit I have ever been in!! I had photographers ripping people off of me! But the pain that I went through was completely worth it. The Academy Is… puts on a fantastic live performance. If you have the chance to see them live, do not pass it up. They will not let you down. Checking out TAI is highly recommended, starting at the beginning with Almost Here and working your way up is a great idea too. Watch this band grow. It’s incredible.

I'm new in the ways of The Academy Is.. to be honest. For me, they were one of those bands that I definitely knew of, and I heard people talk about, but for some reason, I never really looked into. Well, that changed when I met Jen and Natty. They were the first people that I actually knew that were truly fans of the band, and they were the ones to introduce me to them.

We caught them this year at Warped Tour, and even though I didn't know any of their songs, I enjoyed watching them live. And I think seeing them live like that was what made me want to listen to them more. So, Natty to the rescue! She hooked me up with their CDs and I will admit that they're most of what I've been listening to for the last few weeks. I'm addicted to Sanit, specifically songs like "We've Got a Big Mess On Our Hands", and "Bulls In Brooklyn". When it comes to their new CD "Fast Times at Barrington High"? I'm thinking you should definitely check out "About a Girl", and "Beware! Cougar!"

Speaking as a new fan, I'm just going to tell you to go to their MySpace or PureVolume or something. They're pretty much awesome. Do it.

Ok guys, I have to say that I thought The Academy Is was a teeny bopper band, one whose main audience wasn't even old enough to drive. But, I got totally proved wrong at the Toronto Warped Tour. Their set was the first one we stopped at, and their show was amazing. I had heard some of their stuff before, but nothing prepared me for the awsomeness of their music live. It was a mixture of their labelmates Panic at the Disco and Bayside live.

After rocking out to them live, I came back to the States and downloaded their new album, Fast Times at Barrington High, from Itunes (currently on special for $7.99 at Itunes. come on, give it a try!). The Academy Is' new album is great when you're in the mood to rock out to some guitar driven rock. Highlights include "His Girl Friday" and "Summer Hair."

So, don't let my formerly misinformed opinion of The Academy Is make you run screaming in the opposite direction, and make you miss out on some great music. Because haven't you, the faithful reader, figured out by now that we know good music. And you should listen to it, because it will help you make friends, become popular, and finally beat that bully in a great 80s teen movie-esqe montage. Ok...maybe not, but you should still listen to The Academy Is. Because we said so.