The Academy Is… may be on hiatus, but the drummer Butcher has a new side project. The Animal Upstairs is full of refreshing sounds.
"Run For Your Life" is a gorgeous song. It's composed really well and surprisingly, I don't mind the female singer. It's well driven and catchy. It feels like something you'd hear in a coffee shop, but I actually like it.
"Temple" is my favourite of the five demos. It feels really passionate. It's another good coffee shop song, but it reminds me a little of an MGMT or Animal Collective tune. I like songs that don't have any real shape, and you're unsure of the verses and choruses, or where it's going to end. The mystery of those songs always entice me, and that's what this one does.
The Animal Upstairs is so different from The Academy Is…, it's weird to think that someone's been in both of those bands. I just wish TAI… would get off hiatus already!
http://theanimalupstairs.bandcamp.com/