Lonely Road

The Red Jumpsuit Apparatus' first release "Don't You Fake It" has been one of my favorite albums over the past five years. That album featured many powerful songs that I could listen to for hours. I loved many of the raw rock tracks including Damn Regret, In Fate's Hands, Face Down, and False Pretense. They also mixed their sound up well with softer tracks like Misery Loves Its Company, Cat and Mouse, and You're Gurdian Angel. It was an all-around great CD.

Their second release has left me a little disappointed. They don't have that all-around raw sound this time. Most of the tracks are not very upbeat. I haven't found a track yet that I can really jam to and get pumped for. They do have some excellent softer songs including Believe and Godspeed. However, it's a bit too slow for the fast and exciting Red Jumpsuit Apparatus that I fell in love with from "Don't You Fake It."

I still love these guys and their sound, which is why I gave it 3 stars. There are many great tracks, but overall, it was just not quite what I expected.

1. You Better Pray (6/10)
Believe it's their first single, some will like it, others won't, very few will "love" it, some will "hate" it. The song definitely starts off catchy with the guitar intro and Ronnie the lead singers "whoahhhhh yeaaahhh." It's a good song but definitely not great.

2. No Spell (2/10)
Probably one of the two worst songs on the CD. Lyrics are very generic, as well as the music. It sounds like it would be catchy to some kids in late elementary / early middle school.

3. Pen & Paper (7/10)
Doesn't compare to anything on their first album Don't You Fake It, but its definitely one of the catchier songs on this CD, the main problem I and others may have with this song as well as most of the album, is all of these songs are soft and have no "kick" to them like the songs in Dont You Fake It, the same "kick" that made Your Guardian Angel stand out on the first album, because it was different from the rest of the songs.

4. Represent (8/10)
One of the couple of songs with decent lyrics and nice tune. Personally probably my 2nd or 3rd favorite on the second album, although once again it is a slower softer song.

5. Pull Me Back (6/10)
Starts off sounding like you are finally going to get a song with a little more "kick" like the previous album, but once again ends up soft compared to the first album. Very generic song, so most wont hate it, but the only people who will probably "love" it are hardcore RJA fans. This song sounds like it could be in a preview to a movie or something.

6. Step Right Up (5/10)
Once again nothing new or inspiring lyrically, not the worst of the album, but definitely bad compared to anything on their first album, sounds once again like a song a "young kid" in elementary or early middle school would like.

7. Believe (9/10)
By far the best effort on the new CD, decent lyrics, original beat and sound, only downfall is it's once again a soft song... Wouldn't be a downfall at all if it had songs with more "kick" surrounding it. Great song that any RJA fan will love, along with newcomers.

8. Pleads and Postcards (7/10)
Leans towards generic, but is definitely better than other attempts on the album. Sounds like a song that would be played in Hollister. Like it, dont love it, would probably skip it most of the time when listening to the CD, but its one of those songs that could grow on you and you might want to listen to every once in a while. Once again though, starts off sounding like you are finally going to get a little kick, and its up being soft compared to anything on their previous album.

9. Lonely Road (4/10)
Sounds like a song that some could like, i personally dont, and would have given it an even lower score if it weren't for the fact that i could see some people liking this song. The song is another soft song, nothing special lyrically, sounds like it could be played during the credits after a movie, also sounds like it has a mix of country in it as well.

10. Senioritis (5/10)
Generic once again. Not a horrible song. The one good thing about it, is its the only song on the album that has a very fast paced beat to it, although still soft compared to Don't You Fake It.

11. Godspeed (1/10)
Definitely not for me, might be better than some of the other songs lyrically, but the song itself sounds like something out of a history play, another slow song, and boring as well.

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If you are looking for something comparable to Don't You Fake It, this album is not for you. Overall, it is a mediocre sophomore attempt, which i expected more from. I am all for bands trying out different sounds, but in this instance it just didn't work for me. Hopefully on their third attempt they will steer more towards the roots of the first album. Not a bad deal if you catch it under [...] dollars shipped with tax.

First off I've been really excited about the second album since I finished listening to the first album. So I ran out to Target the morning of it's release, dropped 10 bucks, and ran to my car. I tore the packaging and almost broke the case, anxious to hear it.

Sadly there is nothing "blistering" about this album. I try to stay out of bands' personal issues, but I would say either the absence of Elias or the new producer (regardless of his success with Daughtry) severely maimed the "signature RJA-sound".

I kid you not as soon as I finished the last track (which I found myself checking how much was left a mere two minutes into), I fired up Don't You Fake It and jammed out.

Why 2 stars? Well I'm loyal to my boys and the quality is there. All the songs are done well. Nothing sloppy. But now I'm listening to Cat and Mouse and it kicks the piss out of the new album. The sheer raw bad-assedness matched to the raw emotional crossover of the first album is in NO WAY represented by the new album.

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