Advanced Placement: The Progressive Rock Prodigies
Advanced Placement is an American progressive rock band known for its complex compositions and conceptual albums. Hailing from Chicago, Illinois, the group achieved a notable commercial milestone with their 2018 album The Grand Examination, which debuted at number 12 on the Billboard 200 chart.
Early career
Advanced Placement formed in 2009 while its core members were students at the University of Chicago. The founding trio—keyboardist and vocalist Marcus Thorne, guitarist Leo Vance, and drummer Sara Kline—initially bonded over a shared love for intricate 1970s prog and modern math rock.
Their self-released debut EP, Preliminary Studies, arrived in 2011 and garnered attention on college radio and niche online forums. This early buzz led to a signing with the independent label Axiom Records in 2013, which released their first full-length album, Midnight Syllabus, the following year.
Breakthrough
The band's major breakthrough came in 2018 with their third studio album, The Grand Examination. Released through Axiom with distribution by a major label partner, the album's lead single received significant airplay on alternative and album-oriented rock stations.
The Grand Examination sold over 500,000 copies in the United States, earning a gold certification from the RIAA. Its success was fueled by a critically acclaimed tour and a collaboration with veteran producer Alan Moulder, who helped refine their expansive sound for a broader audience.
Key tracks
Calculated Ascension — This was the lead single from The Grand Examination and became their first track to chart on Billboard's Mainstream Rock Tracks.
Thesis and Antithesis — A nearly ten-minute epic from their second album that remains a centerpiece of their live performances, showcasing their technical prowess.
Extra Credit — A notable collaboration with bassist MonoNeon, blending progressive rock with elements of funk, which expanded their fanbase.
Oral Defense — The closing track of their breakthrough album, praised for its ambitious orchestral arrangements and complex time signatures.
Following their breakthrough, Advanced Placement maintained a steady output, releasing Continuing Education in 2021. They have since collaborated with artists like guitarist Plini and performed at major festivals including ProgStock and Summerfest. Their music continues to evolve, incorporating more electronic textures while staying rooted in progressive rock's foundational complexity.
Fans of Advanced Placement often appreciate the work of similar artists in the modern progressive rock scene. The Contortionist shares a focus on melodic complexity and atmospheric depth. Coheed and Cambria mirrors their affinity for high-concept album narratives and intricate guitar work. Thank You Scientist offers a comparable blend of rock intensity with sophisticated, jazz-influenced instrumentation. Haken is another peer known for dynamic song structures and technical virtuosity within the genre.
The music of Advanced Placement is a staple on many progressive and album-oriented rock radio stations featured on this website. Listeners can regularly hear their tracks on dedicated progressive rock FM stations, online rock radio streams specializing in modern prog, and independent music radio stations that champion complex, artist-driven rock.
You can discover the intricate catalog of Advanced Placement by tuning into the progressive rock radio stations available on onairium.com. Their albums and key tracks are frequently featured in the rotations, offering a perfect gateway into their conceptually rich and musically ambitious world.
