The Academy Is...: William Beckett (vocals); Michael Guy Chislett (guitar, keyboards); Mike Carden (guitar); Adam T. Siska (bass guitar); Butcher (drums, background vocals).

Personnel: Gabe Saporta, Ryland Blackinton, Alex Suarez, Mason Musso (vocals); Andrew McMahon , Andrew James McMahon (piano); Blake Healy (keyboards).

Audio Mixers: Stephen Harris; Tom Lord-Alge.

Recording information: Ash Studio (05/2008-06/2008); Avatar Studio, New York, NY (05/2008-06/2008); Fresh Kills Studio (05/2008-06/2008).

Photographers: Taylor Gahm; Courtney Beckett.

Playfully nodding to the classic 1982 teen comedy FAST TIMES AT RIDGEMONT HIGH, this 2008 outing by the Academy Is... liberates the group from its emo trappings, and reinforces its status as an energetic young pop punk act. Frontman William Beckett, who continues to grow as a charismatic singer, wisely tones down the angst in favor of a refreshingly carefree approach, as best revealed by the freewheeling "About a Girl" (not to be confused with the Nirvana song of the same name) and the soaring "Summer Hair = Forever Young." More immediately engaging and accessible than just about any other Fueled By Ramen release, FAST TIMES confidently reveals the Academy's intentions to compete in the pop/rock big leagues.

For half a decade, the Academy Is... watched from the sidelines as Fall Out Boy became the Midwestern kings of emo. Fast Times at Barrington High makes a well-deserved grab for the crown, flaunting a combination of rock & roll bombast and pop-schooled songwriting. It's albums like this that challenge the definition of emo, an amorphous genre whose current bands sound little like their 20th century ancestors. There's no whining here, no heart-wrenching lyrics, and few indications that William Beckett's group is anything but an energetic pop/rock outfit. So while Fast Times pushes the Academy Is... into the upper echelon of emo bands, it also challenges the genre's entire composition, making it one of the most interesting emo-related albums since Jack's Mannequin's Everything in Transit.

Of course, it's hard to tell how much credit belongs to Beckett, whose vocals and songwriting skills have nicely progressed since the band's debut, and which accolades go to Sam Hollander and Dave Katz, the production team otherwise known as S*A*M & Sluggo. Perhaps it's no coincidence that the album's first six songs, all written with the duo's help, are also the most radio-ready pop numbers here. "Summer Hair = Forever Young" is a fist-pumping declaration to youth and warm weather, while "His Girl Friday" -- the undisputed highlight of side A -- boasts the sort of muscled, sugary chorus found on albums by Motion City Soundtrack and Jimmy Eat World. The mood changes slightly during the album's latter half, where Beckett takes over the songwriting reigns and steers his band closer to the rock camp. "Beware! Cougar!" is a particular highlight, while "After the Last Midtown Show" pays tribute to Gabe Saporta's former band with piano flourishes and vocal harmonies. Fast Times at Barrington High doesn't go to the hoop with every song, but it scores more than enough points to make it a career highlight, not to mention one of the best emo albums (whatever that means) of 2008. ~ Andrew Leahey