In the lead-up to the release of their debut album, indie rock quartet
the Academic has been making a tremendous splash. The Irish indie rock darlings have arguably quickly become their country’s breakout hit. One viral manipulation of Facebook Live delays and a signing to Downtown/Interscope later, the quartet will be releasing their debut album, Tales from the Backseat, on 12 January. Pre-orders for the album go live tomorrow, 17 November.
Preceding pre-orders is the premiere of their newest single, “Why Can’t We Be Friends?” A punchy, swaying alternative rock-flavored tune aurally centered on their innate ability to craft an insatiable groove, it’s yet another atmospheric earworm from the band.
Lead vocalist Craig Fitzgerald describes it as “essentially a song about somebody you love to hate and hate to love”.
Meanwhile, bassist Stephen Murtagh says, “Why Can’t We Be Friends?” is a song “we had a lot of fun with in-studio. It’s based on a drum and bass groove and has wacky background guitars. It’s one of our favorites to play live at the moment.”
The Academic have also shared
Tales from the Backseat’s final tracklist with PopMatters.
1) “Permanent Vacation”
2) “Bear Claws”
3) “Different”
4) “I Feel It Too”
5) “Bite My Tongue”
6) “Fake ID”
7) “Northern Boy”
8) “Television”
9) “Why Can’t We Be Friends”
10) “Girlfriends”