The Academy Is… Return with Driving New Single “Miracle” Ahead of Almost There

Chicago alt-rock favorites The Academy Is… have released “Miracle,” the second single from their upcoming album Almost There, arriving March 27 via I Surrender Records. The track marks another step in the band’s first full-length studio release in over 18 years.

“Miracle” balances urgency with reflection, driven by sharp guitars and luminous textures. Frontman William Beckett delivers one of his most direct performances in years, anchoring the song’s emotional core with the refrain: “I need to love again / Turn me on my head / I need to feel the warmth / Tell me I’m not dead.” The result is a song that feels immediate without losing depth.

Guitarist Mike Carden describes the creative intention as chasing the rush of discovering a new favorite song — that unexpected jolt that pulls you in instantly. The band leaned into that energy, building a track designed to connect quickly while still carrying weight.

“Miracle” follows lead single “2005,” which introduced the tone of Almost There — a project shaped by reflection and reconnection. The album arrives nearly two decades after 2008’s Fast Times at Barrington High and serves as a companion in spirit to their 2005 debut Almost Here.

The band’s momentum continues on the road with the Almost Here 20th Anniversary Tour running through April and May, followed by appearances at Warped Tour 2026 in Washington, DC and Long Beach, CA this summer.

With “Miracle,” The Academy Is… reaffirm the chemistry that defined their early era while embracing where they stand now — not chasing the past, but building from it.