Red Jumpsuit Apparatus
Lonely Road

Review By Matt Conner

The long-awaited sophomore release from the Red Jumpsuit Apparatus faces less-than-desirable odds. Endless alt-rock bands over the last decade have attempted to navigate the waters of the dreaded follow-up after experiencing fair-to-moderate success on their debut, only to find themselves long forgotten by radio stations and former fans alike. A few listens to Lonely Road reveal just that ahead of the band as the now quartet (since guitarist Elias Reidy left RJA shortly after recording was finished) struggles to maintain relevance and a listening audience. Even bringing producer Howard Benson (Flyleaf, Mae) aboard isn’t enough to deepen the band’s cultural impact.

Lead single “You Better Pray” sounds fine enough but the retread riffs won’t woo anyone new to the band. “No Spell” follows and introduces the synth sound here from the first disc, but the melody present never leaves formulaic territory. It’s the same rhythm, same progression and same sound as every other what-was-their-name before them. Don’t You Fake It found a Gold-colored home for a reason, as the Jacksonville outfit proved itself catchy and creative, but Lonely Road fails to build in any significant way.