William Beckett – Genuine and Counterfeit
Review by Annette Schaefer
It seems all too often that good bands break-up and leave fans wanting more. On the other hand, there is also usually a brighter side to most break-ups; the release of a solo album. For William Beckett formerly of The Academy Is… that was just the case. The band wrapped things up in 2011 and since then Beckett has put out two EPs and an acoustic album with tracks from the EPs, giving fans little bits of his new sound before releasing his first full length, Genuine and Counterfeit, on August 20. This debut album was well worth the wait.
The album begins with the fun and energetic opening track “Pick up the Phone”. The song is a bit reminiscent of The Academy Is… and it really sets the tone for the rest of the album, although, don’t expect it to sound like another TAI album. The album then moves into the catchy tracks “In My Blood” and single “Benny & Joon”. Each track makes you want to bob your head sing along.
The album takes a bit of a slower turn once you reach the song “Turn on the Light”. That may be the only real downside to this album; it seems to slow down and never really pick back up to where is started. Either way the songs are pretty fantastic. Particularly songs like “Caught in the Middle” and “Time for a Sign” stand out with melodies and lyrics that will equally grab you by the heart strings.
Overall, this album is exactly what most fans of TAI and William Becket have been dying to hear. It’s an honest album that is both fun and touching. William Beckett is so talented and I, for one, can’t wait to see where he goes from here.
Overall Rating: 4/5
Recommended Tracks: “In My Blood”, “Benny & Joon” and “Time for a Sign”
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