Don't You Fake It - Dark Publications

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Customer Reviews: Read 89 more reviews...

4 out of 5 stars

the more I listened, the more they won me over February 15, 2007
12 out of 14 found this review helpful

The Good
If you had to pick out two things that stand out when listening to "In Fates Hand" you'd most certainly mention the quick-fire drum beats and riot inducing vocals. Driving rhythms and harmonic vocals set the pace for "Waiting." Chugga-chugga riffage dominate "Face Down," while the storyline delves into domestic violence. An unexpected piano piece sets the ballad "Cat and Mouse" into motion. Smooth vocal melodies continue throughout the track, along with more piano enhancement. Monster riffs run rampant on "Damn Regret." Somehow in the onslaught of distortion, the group manages to pull of some great multi-part vocals. "Atrophy" walks the line between emo and punk rock with its charging progression and belting vocals. "Justify" has one of those memorable riffs that make you want to take guitar lessons.

The Bad
Nothing notable

The Verdict
I was quick to dismiss The Red Jumpsuit Apparatus as another whiney emo band after their first track, but the more I listened, the more they won me over. Sure, they do delve into that genre a bit here and there, but they add other elements of rock that help create their own sound. If you're itching for something new, fun, and energetic; then look no further.

3 out of 5 stars

Fun But Not Nearly Awesome Enough February 23, 2007
11 out of 20 found this review helpful

I'm thinking that if this CD came out back when I was in 10th grade then I would've had it made. Yes, this is what I would listen to in the morning when I got ready for a day of hitting on girls and daydreaming my way through class. There is something about this album that my 16 year old self would have loved. Now 25 I can safely say that I liked it, but I'm older and wiser (read: jaded) so I'm not going to sing its praises to the hills. But for a debut album Red Jumpsuit Apparatus do make a significant statement. The running time is brief and there is nothing revolutionary going on here but that is AOK with me.

I feel as though the beats and music carried this album despite the weak lyrics that depended on fluff. Most of the songs contain lines that don't mean anything to anybody, you know, dance dance, thank you to our fans, I love this faceless girl. I guess the song I feel obligated to bring up is "Face Down" only because it does try to say something. The message of the song being: Don't beat up girls. . .is that really where they want to take their stand? Not very tough if you ask me, and not very original either. I mean I do appreciate the effort, but anybody can stand on their soapbox and proclaim their manliness with that message without any fear of blowback. It does leave you wondering if the fans of Red Jumpsuit Apparatus feel that righteous or if it is just the bands idea of safe political speech. Platitudes aside however, it is a good song that I would love to dance to if I ever actually danced. At times they seem to stumble into power ballad territory, but that is a territory that I am fond of. They also seem to be genuine fans of the hook, but if that is what it took to get them on the radio then I am sure that they saw it as worth the sacrifice.

The beats were a joy to listen to. They were fast enough to keep the pep in your step but smooth enough so that you never felt yelled at. Near the end of the album my mind began to zone out mainly because the songs were starting to blur together. The bonus track was a trip. It sounded like they gave the record company 11 songs of what they wanted so that the band could do 1 song that they wanted. The result is a ten minute hodgepodge that incorporates loud screaming, bombastic instrumental solos and other weird noises. It is different for sure, but nowhere near good. I do recommend the CD though because it is fun to listen to. Perhaps better for background music while you lounge around the apartment as opposed to putting it under a microscope. But even if you do subject it to extreme scrutiny it still holds up as a good rock album that never loses control and managed to remind me of my glory days. I expect great things from these kids and look forward to their next album where they will undoubtedly denounce cheating on your wife. ***1/4

5 out of 5 stars

Wow July 23, 2006
10 out of 10 found this review helpful

I was so shocked when I heard this group. I had recently heard "Face Down" on TV & I thought I might check it out online. Well, that became my favorite song of all time and I just had to have the CD. Yes, there is screaming parts in it, but that's not the whole entire CD. The screaming actually makes The Red Jumpsuit Apparatus stand out from other groups. I loved all of the songs and here's my review.

In Fate's Hands: 4/5 - This was a great song to start the CD off. An upbeat, catchy song with great lyrics.

Waiting: 5/5 - I loved this song just after a few seconds of listening to it. The guitar's in it make this a truely unique song.

False Pretense: 4.5/5 - I couldn't give this song just a 4, nor 5. I love the parts where they sing "ca ca ca cause you know". But it's a bit short and I wish they had made the song longer because I loved it.

Face Down: 10/5 - My favorite song on the album and of all time. And it's not some pop song coated with sugar. It's about real life things like abusive relationships and how it affects people. It has a great message in it.

Misery Loves It's Company: 3/5 - Not my favorite, but I definitly like the song. The screaming sort of makes the song less likely to be, well, "liked". But it's still a wonderful song.

Cat and Mouse: 5/5 - I've heard different versions of this song and I LOVED this song. It's not guitars, but a piano, which is something we need to hear more of these days.

Damn Regret: 3/5 - Again, not my favorite, but it's OK. I can listen to it, but not exactly have it on repeat. It's just not that song that has the "WOW" factor, but it's very catchy.

Atrophy: 4/5 - Another one of my favorite songs on the CD. The screaming makes it go "WOW" they can sing, but not just with the screaming. I mean, I don't like songs with screaming being the whole song, but in parts, it can be kind of cool.

Seventeen Ain't so Sweet: 5/5 - Again, I've heard different versions of this song, and I loved it. Even my parent's like the song, which I don't hear very often.

Justify: 3/5 - Probably my least favorite song. I'm able to listen to it, but it doesn't affect me at all. It's just one of those songs that people go "eh, it was OK"

Your Guardian Angel: 5/5 - I LOVED THIS SONG! It starts off with an acoustic guitar and then goes into a power ballad which I loved.

The Hidden Track
Grim Goodbye: 4/5 - This song has the most screaming in it. And it's the longest song I've ever heard. About 7 minutes and 30 seconds or so. It's very powerful and I love the lyrics.

Overall, The Red Jumpsuit Apparatus rocks.

2 out of 5 stars

Style over substance September 22, 2006
8 out of 10 found this review helpful

Sometimes I like to think back to the days when writing good, catchy music was first and foremost a priority. Back then, if you had an authentic live show and a record full of timeless gems, YOU (and your collective) were a good band. These days, none of that really seems matter. As long as you can spin-kick with your guitar, write faux-depressive emo lyrics and look good in a pair of distressed jeans, you're golden. Which brings me to my point; The Red Jumpsuit Apparatus.

I won't lie, Face Down is a very catchy song...for about three listens. After that, you're left wanting something more. In fact, that can pretty much be said about this entire album. Three or four listens, and you're ready for the next flavour of the week. Following in the vein of My Chemical Romance and Hawthorne Heights, TRJA write pop friendly post-hardcore, and if you've already heard music from those bands, you've already heard Don't You Fake It front to back.

Every trend has it's time. Five years ago, labels were going crazy trying to sign every happy-go-lucky pop-punk band on the face of the earth, and if you were writing depressive post-hardcore, you weren't even considered. Ten years ago, you had to sound like everclear/no doubt or your demo was trashed! In 2006, though, you'd better be the most depressing thing on the face of the earth to even get noticed.

I'm pretty sure most people will get sick of this trend within the next couple of years. Until then, get ready to hear TRJA and peers in every clothing/music/video store in america. My ears are hurting already.

5 out of 5 stars

RJSA Review November 5, 2006
6 out of 7 found this review helpful

I heard the radio release on Sirius of "Face Down." I took a risk in buying the CD based on that and some advice from a friend. I was NOT disappointed. Unpredicatble patterns and an extremely diverse composition and feel to alot of songs contribute to this being one of the best buys of 2006.

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