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Red Jumpsuit Apparatus
"Lonely Road" was Red Jumpsuit Apparatus' '09 follow-up to their platinum certified debut full-length album "Don't You Fake It." But the group's story goes back to early in the decade when Ronnie Winter and Duke Kitchens were banging out Blink 182 covers. From that humble, yet promising beginning, Red Jumpsuit Apparatus officially came into existence in '03.
Choosing a name can sometimes be a make or break deal. A bad name often kills a band - a goofy one means an uphill battle for respect. But a name nobody can figure out gets attention. Red Jumpsuit Apparatus certainly fits into the latter category. "It's 100 percent completely arbitrary," claimed Winter. "When we started the band, we only cared about having a good time and writing good songs far more than coming up with some symbolic, incredibly intelligent name."
Just a year down the road, the Middleburg, FL group issued the EP "Kins And Carroll." That led to signing with Virgin Records.
But Red Jumpsuit Apparatus went through some changes along the way. Guitarist Thomas Amason, bassist Thomas Wurth and drummer Dan Wagler left. Elias Reidy stepped in on guitar and Joey Westwood took over bass. Drums were a little more problematic. Dorman Pantfoeder was the first choice but he proved to be a short-timer with Jon Wilkes finally getting the nod.
'06 saw the arrival of "Don't You Fake It," containing the singles "Face Down" and "False Pretense." Red Jumpsuit Apparatus did an '07 headlining stint on the US Take Action! Tour organized for the prevention of teen suicides. My Chemical Romance and Rise Against were also on the trek.
In another community service effort that year, Red Jumpsuit Apparatus played a benefit concert to rebuild Enterprise High School in Fort Rucker, AL. The school had been destroyed by a tornado two months earlier. They also worked with their label to raise funds for the National Coalition Against Domestic Violence.
Red Jumpsuit Apparatus went through another adjustment in late '08 when it was announced that Reidy was no longer in the band - and hadn't been for a couple months. But the band's blog also had a reassuring message for fans: "Have no fear - the core of RJA remains intact."
It's little wonder "Don't You Fake It" sold as well as it did. Red Jumpsuit Apparatus (RJA) possesses a keen pop sense with Emo leanings to make them relatable. There're really aren't any down moments on the album, not even the ballads "Cat And Mouse" or "Your Guardian Angel." But the chord driven songs don't kick down the doors or contain inescapable hooks. It could be argued that more risk would lead to greater reward but actually where they are on "Waiting," "Face Down," "False Pretense" and "Damn Regret" is not a bad place to be.
"Don't worry world, I feel your pain and it's a shame" is a line from "Believe" on "Lonely Road." Are lyrics like that lifted directly from some eighth-grader's poetry journal? And is that kid getting any royalties? Or better still, how can we make him stop? That's why people cringe when the term Emo gets tossed around. Actually, despite the lyrics (and lush orchestration - it's the album's big ballad) "Believe" isn't really a bad song.
On "Step Right Up" and "No Spell," Red Jumpsuit Apparatus mange to cut through their own clutter and produce memorable tunes. More often though they rely on standard issue material and studio polish - that's usually enough.
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