The James Logan Courier

By Susan Muramoto, Courier Staff Writer

The Red Jumpsuit Apparatus—what exactly is that? The name is actually quite meaningless, but it represents a band that’s bound for popularity.



Drop by the Courier's office, Room 509, for Red Jumpsuit Apparatus swag while supplies last, and to register for a drawing to win a free copy of their new CD. Deadline for entry: Nov. 3. Drawing: Nov. 6
. The Red Jumpsuit Apparatus, the new up-and-coming band from Florida, released their first album entitled “Don’t You Fake It” on July 26, 2006. Don’t You Fake It” made a successful debut with over 25,000 copies sold.

One of the most remarkable aspects of this band is that each person in this five-person band does vocals. Everyone but the lead singer, Ronnie Winter, plays an instrument as well.

Their tunes are catchy, and their lyrics are meaningful. The style of music is mainly rock, but their album includes various styles mixed in with their songs. One of the tracks, “Cat and Mouse”, begins with a slow and melancholy piano introduction that leads to a smooth chorus and soft rhythm. “Cat and Mouse” is actually one of my favorite tracks, simply because the style of the song differs so much from the rest of the tracks on the album. On top of that, the lyrics are deep and seem to give more meaning to the song itself. Another track entitled “Face Down” has profound lyrics with a great beat. The song addresses the very real problem of abusive relationships with lyrics such as “Do you feel like a man when you push her around? / Do you feel better now as she falls to the ground?” Another song I would recommend is “Damn Regret”. The beat is upbeat, with great instrumentals on the guitar.

Those were only three out of twelve tracks on the album (the twelfth track is hidden), but the rest of the songs deserve recognition as well. “In Fate’s Hands” is a fast-paced song with some screams mixed into it. However, the song still flows well with the smooth vocals of the band. “Waiting”, another fast song, contains lyrics about how difficult it is to wait for change to happen in life. “False Pretense” begins with a steady drum beat, and throughout the song slows down and speeds up to add to the beat. “Misery Loves Company” is one of the few songs with screaming in the background, and it’s just as good. The strong beat is appealing, and the album continues with its amazing vocals.

The rest of the songs continue with the same fast beat. Though the songs are overall quite good, the beat seems to be a bit repetitive over time. However, I would still, most definitely, recommend this CD to other people. Even if this isn’t the type of the music you usually listen to, it’s definitely worth a try because it mixes in with other genres. I can see why this album was successful, and I think their popularity will increase with time.

Also, if you want to listen to the hidden track—pop the CD in your computer.