Customer Reviews

Don't You Fake It

5 star:		(66)
4 star:		(14)
3 star:		(7)
2 star:		(7)
1 star:		(4)

 

 

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.

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.

Okay, I am a high school teacher in my mid-30's so what the heck do I know? More than you think! Well, I have heard a lot of music and am very aware of what young people listen to---even more than their own parents. This CD is terrific in all respects and the lyrics are well written. These guys are clean entertainment and are obviously spiritual but they do not sell their material as Christian rock. These guys are incredible live and are personable young men who sing and play with a passion. The lead singer screams in key and has a vocal range beyond any band I have heard in years.

The guitars and effects create an atmosphere that brings back memories of early Cure although RJA's sound is all their own. I would not call their music Screamo, emo, or alternative since these terms are limiting and overused and do not begin to describe this band that has the talent to outlive these restrictive categories. Thanks RJA for donating your time to the Enterprise High School benefit concert on May 3rd.

Don't You Fake It is an amazing debut album for The Red Jumpsuit Apparatus. The lyrics are well written for such a young band. It sounds like they've been in the industry for years. Every song is meaningful and there are no fillers. This is a must listen. I highly recommend it.

I have to admit, when I first heard about this band and viewed their website, everything about them screamed 'cookie-cutter pop/punk/screamo band'. You know what, they might even be just that, but their album is still pretty good, and that's what really matters.

I was most impressed with the first five tracks In Fate's Hands, Waiting, False Pretense, Face Down, Misery Loves Its Company, as well as Atrophy, and Justify. The others are alright, and the extra track The Grim Goodbye is pretty good.

The only real disappointment is that a couple other tracks by RJA I had previewed online and liked, were not on this album. (Getting By, Kins & Carroll, and 20-Hour Drive come to mind). In fact, if they'd dropped 'Damn Regret', 'Cat and Mouse', and 'Seventeen Ain't So Sweet' and put those three on there, I would have given it 5 stars.

Another note is that for those wondering which version of 'Face Down' is on the album, it's the less "screamo" version. I sorta like the other version a bit more but they're both good. A couple other tracks are also different recordings or productions than the ones I'd heard before.

Either way, it's a solid album and can be purchased pretty cheap. In addition to simply listening pleasure, some of the tracks are good for background music while working out or playing videogames. Overall, a solid purchase.

When I saw these guys on some 'Ones to Watch' sort of thing on mtv, i was immediately entranced. They had a catchy song and I immediately found my way to Limewire and downloaded face down.
When the album came out...i bought it have been listening to it ever sense. Part of me just blends with the music and falls into this trance (I ran into a 2 x 4 listening to their cd.) where it's just me and the music. It's rare i do that with music. my thing is movies.
RJA isn't like any other band. They don't have just ordinary catchy tunes that you can bounce around to when you're alone in your room. It's real music, with well thought up lyrics. The band is talented, and on their mark.
Don't You Fake It is seriously one of the greatest albums I've ever honed.

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.

When it comes to music, I probably have the broadest taste compared to just about anyone. The past few years I have been listening to mainly punk, emo, hardcore, and every other rock genre you can think of. I never usually purchase cds, and this is one of the first ones I've purchased in a while. It was probably the best 12 bucks I have ever spent.

I like to pride myself on listening to alot of music that alot of people don't know or havent really heard before, so when I first saw facedown on MTV2, I didnt really pay much attention, but i went online and gave it a listen. I am not big on MTV sellout bands, but RJA had a sound that i really enjoyed, so i bought the cd the day it came out. I can't believe it hasn't melted yet, everytime i put it in it plays til its done. It is probably one of the best cds i have ever heard front to back. Every song is amazing and has its own good qualities to it. Their style is different from most bands you usually hear on TV or the radio...plus every song on there cd packs a different punch. You get every cent worth out of this CD. You would be dumb not to give The Red Jumpsuit Apparatus a chance, they will be a household name before we know it.

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.

Yes, this CD rocks like many others have said, much more 'hardcore' than their latest release. I find it only fair to mention that the Amazon MP3 album is missing the song Grim Goodbye. I HIGHLY recommend you download this song in addition to the MP3 album. Grim Goodbye is 1 of the best songs on here, not sure why they would have left it off.

Hope this helps!