Red Jumpsuit Apparatus, The - Don't You Fake It

[Drew Beringer]

THE RED JUMPSUIT APPARATUS - Don't You Fake It

The Red Jumpsuit Apparatus has one of more unique and original names in music today. Basically, the Florida quintet randomly picked three arbitrary words and – voila! – their band name was born. Unfortunately, that’s where most of their originality ends. With their Virgin records debut, Don’t You Fake It, RJA dives headfirst into the overcrowded pool of generic pop-punk bands. Produced by David Bendeth, these twelve tracks show glimpses of a potential, but for the most part, they blend in with the same noise I hear on Fuse and MTV everyday.

The album kicks off with the powerful punch of “In Fate’s Hands” and a scream from vocalist Ronnie Winter and instantly Hawthorne Heights comes to mind. Basically, it’s a song that grabs your attention immediately, but it’s a song that gave me false hope. “Waiting” shows the melodic side of the band, but offers nothing new to the table. One of the better tracks is “Face Down,” the first single that has been getting heavy airplay on TV. I respect the lyrics of this song, as they are about domestic abuse and the hook is obnoxiously catchy. RJA also tries its hand at a ballad, with the soft “Cat And Mouse,” a track that reminds me of Cartel’s use of harmony and melody, as it is worth noting that Winter has a pretty good voice. After this song, though, the album goes downhill into mediocrity. “Atrophy” sounds like a b-side from If Only You Were Lonely, while “Seventeen Ain’t So Sweet” and “Justify” take cues from other bands in their scene and mashes them together. “Your Guardian Angel” is an admirable attempt at another dramatic ballad, but instead runs too long and kills the little flow that this album possessed. Though, the final track, “Grim Goodbye,” really shows the potential of this band and what they could do if they put more trust in their sound instead of what is popular right now. A track that spans over 7 and a half minutes, it’s heavy and emotional, building up to the climatic closing out. If you are going to check out one song from this band, at least check this one out, as it is heads and shoulders above the rest of the album’s tracks.

In the end, Don’t You Fake It misses the mark and just falls back into the crowd. Other than a few standout tracks, this album offers nothing to the listener other than a catchy 45 minutes, but after two or three listens, even that becomes too much. Yet, because of the final track of the album, I am not going to write off The Red Jumpsuit Apparatus just yet. But, as for know, I would only recommend this album to those who are fans of Hawthorne Heights, Yellowcard, and Cartel, but “Grim Goodbye,” “Cat and Mouse,” and “Face Down” are worth your 99 cents at the iTunes store. If the Red Jumpsuit Apparatus can mature and grow into their own sound and build off of their strong tracks, then they’ll be a band worth talking about in the future. As for now, they are just another band trying to stay afloat.
Tracklisting:
1. In Fate's Hands
2. Waiting
3. False Pretense
4. Face Down
5. Misery Loves Its Company
6. Cat And Mouse
7. Damn Regret
8. Atrophy
9. Seventeen Ain't So Sweet
10. Justify
11. Your Guardian Angel
12. Grim Goodbye
Produced by: David Bendeth

The Red Jumpsuit Apparatus are:
Ronnie Winter - vocals
Duke Kitchens - guitars/vocals
Elias Reidy - guitar/vocals
Joey Westwood - bass/vocals
Jon Wilkes - drums/vocals

Release Date: July 18, 2006
Record Label: Virgin Records (http://www.virginrecords.com)
Official Website (http://www.redjumpsuit.com); Official Myspace (http://www.myspace.com/redjumpsuit)

[Broken Parachute]

They suck so bad.

Nice review.

[jfb392]

I hate this band, everyone seems to love them.
Review was still generous, they are the same crap you hear everyday, and that shouldn't be given nearly as much credit.

[sweetforever]

face down is the only song of theirs that I enjoy

[Shatter590]

keeps reminding me of HH as well, but face down gets on my favorite songs of the year list. its pretty good.

[Mitch]

Good review. I hate this band.

[myaimistruex3]

good review
they do have potential, i hope they do better next time around.

[Julia Conny]

They're signed to Virgin? That makes complete and utter sense.

[ACA]

I've given this a few spins... for some reason it just seems to be generic. I can't put my finger on it.. but it just seems bland/watered down/generic... I mean, maybe it is.. but hmm

-ACA

[ironlionOROKU]

what a poopy band...nice review as always

[avoidthesky]

I've been waiting for a review on this sucker. We stock this album at work, and I was drawn in by the band name, but the risk's not worth the $14.99.

[1000shadesofred]

i dont think the album is as bad as you said it is... yes, it is very cookie cutter pop-punk, but it does do some unique things within that genre to make them stand out a bit... i still listen to this cd even though ive had it since like may, its worth a listen people

[Latane]

good review. I think the album is balls mahoney.

[NFG4ever]

I like this album , but it has no staying power. it got old pretty quick

[CWeezer]

i would agree with this. but i'm actually anxious for their next release because i think they could be decent someday. but if this was like a 2nd or 3rd album i would totally write them off.

[irthesteve]

wow, they really are not that bad. it's odd how some people just jump on the hate bandwagon

[Steve Henderson]

good review. I think the album is balls mahoney.Haha, that is classic.

[Steve Henderson]

I think this album is slightly better than what the review says...not THAT much better, though.

[bubonic311]

Drew hit the nail on the head with this review. The album isn't bad, but it really isn't good.

[girlsroxboys]

wow, they really are not that bad. it's odd how some people just jump on the hate bandwagon
Are you serious?

When a band is this bland/trite, there is no bandwagon; it must be the truth that they are horrible.

People need to start investing a little more into listening to music. There is so much more than power chords and monotone screams out there. Do some searching...

[manican sex]

i might check out grim goodbye, just download it i guess. sounds decent. i like long build up songs, circle takes the square songs, weezers only in dreams etc.

[jpgretzky15]

i like the acoustic song, but thats not even on there

[Shatter_Glass]

Horrid band. Fuck you Virgin Records.

[Chico]

I thought it was ok for the $8 I'd paid for it.

[dukeboy1986]

Very very generic

[RomeoAGoGo]

yes this band sucks

[thegreatescape1]

they pretty much wrote all those songs a few years ago for a 13 song demo they did and from that they haven't matured at all

[pasthefence49]

they pretty much wrote all those songs a few years ago for a 13 song demo they did and from that they haven't matured at all


dude exactly

dealt with them in jacksonville for idk how long now and all they do is make liek 3 new songs that are.........well they are.

everything else they either kept or changed the name only thing that sets this band apart from the bagazillion other scremo emo hardcore what ever bands out there is ronnies voice everything else is poop

[C480RG]

i couldnt help but feel the same thing after trying to play the cd straight forward. i lasted after face down only a few times only a few times.

probably worth seeing at warped if theres no other conflictions. id do it.

[cahrishurr]

i like their songs decent, the album yes has no staying power whatsoever

i saw them live too...they are way better on the cd lemme tell ya haha
they do some bullshit chant they MAKE the crowd sing along with...like verbally make everyone chant or they wont keep going, fuck that

[agent00013]

i like the acoustic song, but thats not even on there

The Acoustic Song got renamed "Guardian Angel" when the album came out. Yeah, I know, threw me off, too, but it's there. Oh, and my friend told me that on the actual release "Grim Goodbye" is a hidden track.

If anybody wants to preview the whole album, they have it streaming in its entirety at altsounds.fm (http://www.altsounds.fm/).

[Shatter_Glass]

"Touring next with 30 Seconds to MArs"

[InaGreendase]

Saying this is generic is generous.

[Co and Ca]

i heard this song all day at work at target. i guess they kept showing the video or something. i need an MP3 player (yeah I said MP3 player, fuck iPoops) so I can listen to my jams

[dbarker02]

this sucks

[TEN>YOU]

good review. I think the album is balls mahoney.

how can an album be a pro wrestler?

[boysdontcry17]

good review

[newfoundmichael]

I agree with the reviewer, this album was definitly lacking originality, yet I have to admit, I did enjoy it one time through...after that of course I had to put it down. I have listened to Face Down quite a few times though. I like the lyrics to that song.

[Cue the Sun]

the cd is decent, but they were absolutely horrible at warped.

[Conz]

single - good

album - horrid

[GRIFFARD]

uhoh. i should have read this review before i bought this. oh well, i may enjoy it

[jon.fftl]

single - good

album - horrid
Yeah, that basically sums it up. Don't buy this cd, chances are you already own it.

[love_american_style]

i like this band...but yeah they have a typical, generic cookie-cutter, screamo sound....i just like some of their songs. but they're deffenetly better than most bands on the radio stations where i live.

[Gilsteryo!]

This album is iight. They have to get more mature then they might be a great band.

[mr chainsaw]

crap crap crap

[Gin]

In my opinion it´s a great debut album for a pop-punk band.
There´re very catchy songs on it like face down, false pretense, atrophy and I really like the vocalist.
I found them on PureVolume and liked them from the beginning and I think there´re rightly many many people who like their album, too.
So I can´t really agree with the review at all^^"

[favorme05]

i dont think youre ginving them enough credit. . . yea the sound is like every other pop-punk band out there, but i think they have a few tricks up their sleeves for next time. .i think they just need to get comfortable.

[ryanrh29]

fucking idiots. People rave about Cartel, Boys Like Girls, +44, etc which sounds hardly any different, and rag on these guys because they are virgin records, wrote songs when they were younger. My feeling is this sound is no different than any other pop/punk band people go crazy for. I do enjoy the album. It's catchy and fun to have on while cruising around. I dont mind shit sounding the same since its what i like anyways.

[PoisonInMyVeins]

the singer does have a good voice,
but for the most part everything else is bland.
good review.

[hopeforthebest]

fucking idiots. People rave about Cartel, Boys Like Girls, +44, etc which sounds hardly any different, and rag on these guys because they are virgin records, wrote songs when they were younger. My feeling is this sound is no different than any other pop/punk band people go crazy for. I do enjoy the album. It's catchy and fun to have on while cruising around. I dont mind shit sounding the same since its what i like anyways.

that's so true

[liveloud4life]

As a musician, I have to agree with this review, but i still like bands like this, esp RJA. Obviously I have more respect for the type of bands that get high reviews, but I think every person has an exact sound that they look for in a band, and, generic as it is, this is it for me. Btw, if u do like Red jumpsuit, check out Change of Pace. They sound ridiculously like RJA, but i like them both alot.

[xii gsus iix]

the singer has a great voice and his screams are good.
if you get this album its one of em that youll enjoy even if its not groundbrakeing.
the critic got most of the good tracks but waiting is also a very good song.

[Shrillex]

hate the band like 1 song from them nice review

[imnotfalling]

i think they're next album will be better(hopefully) it wasn't terrible, there are some good songs on it. but a few of them sound the exact same. i like rja so i hope they can do better later on.

[*Mae*is*love*]

yeah they are so similar to like all the other bands in the mix! and oh! Hawthorne Heights has gotta be the worst band ever! i have been looking for "the worst band ever" until now but i finally found it, btu RJA is still better than HH and i wouldnt recomend buying the whole cd but a couple songs are pretty decent

[cereal4life]

Yep it's generic alright! Good review Drew. I actually really like the first track.

[bummm]

Should've been better.

[denissuxx]

This album > Lonely Road.

[Thomas Nassiff]

i was just looking through old album reviews, and it was like you took my thoughts on this album and put them in yuor review.

if lonely road was an expansion of dont you fake it, with every song progressing from the grim goodbye but not as long, then it would have been excellent. instead they just got more suck.

[MBIIdollaBill]

i fail to understand how this CD has a lower rating than lonely road...

[chewbacc7]

this in no way is generic pop punk.... have u heard the screams in the different songs in the cd's.........im tired or people hating on them

[chewbacc7]

this in no way is generic pop punk.... have u heard the screams in the different songs in the cd's.........im tired or people hating on them

[MBIIdollaBill]

this in no way is generic pop punk.... have u heard the screams in the different songs in the cd's.........im tired or people hating on them
they were pretty close to being generic with their first record, which i actually liked. the 2nd one totally ruined it though.

[Yellowcard2006]

Hey I like this album.

[SophGod]

Way too low of a score imo. I actually like the cd.... but it's a bit generic. The Grim Goodbye is nuts though.

[CouldItBe?]

they arent bad at all. they just hit the nail on the head. they made the album that everyone that could be considered their peer is trying to make. and they did it on there first album. thats why it sounds generic. its because its exactly what you wanted to hear. the singer has great vocals. and the guitars are fuzzy enough and raw enough to rock.
what i was concerned about was that ive heard 3 or so different versions of the same album. virgin records keeps fucking with the mix and it sucks dick now. the original tracks are the best sounding. deluxe version sounds poorly mixed.

[punked_26]

Shoot...this album is on my "favorite albums" list. I like it a lot.

[Echelon2297]

how can you guys hate them? this is like one of my favorite albums ever! this is to low of a review!

[showstopper]

stupid review.

[showstopper]

this in no way is generic pop punk.... have u heard the screams in the different songs in the cd's.........im tired or people hating on them
well said.