I gotta say, The Academy didn't get off to a very enjoyable or even listenable start with its first track, "The Proverbial Unrest". It's about three-minutes of what sounds like background noise, water pouring, clickety-clacking of glasses, and some mumbling and beeping, all leading to a loud bunch of noise... ugh. Unrest, indeed. Was that the point? Fine. But it's not much to listen to.

Things get a little more musical on the remaining five songs. This is decent, latter-day alternative rock. Vaguely poppy with some edge? Check. Emotive singing? Check. As it stands, I'd say The Academy's EP is decent background music for, like, writing a review of it, but nothing to get all goofy and excited about.

But, honestly, if I hadn't already heard 800 million other bands that I could easily get confused with The Academy, I bet I'd heartily recommend this EP. The last five tracks, anyway. But that first one... what the hell, fellas?