After his career as lead singer for the band The Academy Is… ended in 2011, William Beckett has made waves in the solo industry with a series of EPs and now his solo album Genuine and Counterfeit, released August 20.

Genuine and Counterfeit is similar to his previous EPs, What Will Be, Walk the Talk, and Winds Will Change, in that their brightness endears listeners, but has enough startling originality that compels even jaded fans to remain enthused throughout.

Beckett claims that he is especially eager for the release of this album:
“This album is about the delicate balance between what is authentic and what is false; the peaks and valleys between what is genuine and what is counterfeit,” Beckett said in his release notice on Facebook. “This album is the story I never told. Until now.”
The album starts with “Pick Up the Phone,” featuring Max Bemis of the band Say Anything. A mesh of synthesizer pop and alt rock, this song begins Genuine and Counterfeit with catchy frantic hand-clapping. The next song, “In My Blood,” is a slightly generic, dance-y number, but the beat is catchy enough to carry the song through.

Following “In My Blood” is “Benny and Joon,” a well-crafted pop culture reference layered on breezy vocals and a heart-stopping instrumental track that makes listening a true pleasure. “Benny and Joon” was also released as the first single several months ago.

As the album progresses, a number of songs stand out for either superb instrumentals, vocals, or particularly intriguing lyrics. However, several songs fall flat, either being too bland or too vague in tone, such as “In My Blood” or “One in the Same.”

Outstanding from the album are the songs “Turn on the Light,” “Cracks in the Ceiling,” and “Caught in the Middle,” with catchy, well-sung choruses and flawless backing.

The lyrics are particularly compelling. “Caught in the current, tearing us apart, but I’ll keep on swimming until my arms get out,” Beckett writes in “Cracks in the Ceiling.”

“Let’s put the moon to bed tonight,” he said in “Turn on the Light”. “I’ll be your shelter when the rain’s rolling in, if you wait for me.”

Also featured on Genuine and Counterfeit is Derek Sanders of the band Mayday Parade, the second-to-last song “Time for a Sign.” The record closes with “A Million People,” which along with “Time for a Sign” end the album on a triumphant note and have the dubious honor of being the best two tracks overall.

William Beckett continues to awe his growing fanbase with thought-provoking lyrics and crystal-clear instrumentals, and this record is certainly a testament to his solo career’s definite cogency, earning a solid four stars.