John Reuben - Boy Vs the Cynic (12 tracks) +Album Reviews

John Reubenite!

C. Page | London, Ohio | 08/02/2005

(5 out of 5 stars)

"A real gem, and lyrical dynamite!

This album is amazing. By far the artist's most mature sound, J Reu's messages, too, have come a long way. The tracks pump beats harder, the syncopation pops, and the lyrics are as clear as they've always been, if not "a bit passionate for your radio," as the line goes in Out of Control. And like a good meal, this album is rich in both the heavy and the light. What About Them? is perhaps the album's darkest song, attacking American ethnocentrism; Follow Your Leader is more of the same (this reviewer hasn't heard anything so convicting since the Supertones wrote Health and Wealth). And Cooperate will leave you wondering if this is the same artist who wrote Do Not, as it confronts the "costumes" yound adults put on. Out of Control and So Glad are the album's party songs. Sunshine and All I Have are the feel-good Elms/Reliant K-ish raps, although the energy leans more toward the hard-hitting drums and guitars of Reliant K. And speaking of Reliant K, Matt Thiessen of that band joins Reuben in Nuisance, creating harmonics so perfect you'll wonder why they never teamed up before.

Don't listen to this album if you're ready for "the usual." The Boy vs. The Cynic is something unlike Reuben's ever made. Appearing on the cover in a full-length formal suit may be one's first clue as to the reality Reuben wants to hammer home. But inasmuch as he knows how to make you reevalute your life, he also knows how to make you laugh. See if you can't also catch his music video for Nuisance and keep a straight face.

The layers abound. J Reu continues to suprise. A complex album that explores so many different angles that one's bound to see the only thing holding it all together is the epicenter, Christ."

A Breath of Fresh Air

Anthony Fullmer | USA | 05/07/2006

(5 out of 5 stars)

"If ever a CD was named aptly, it was this one. The Boy vs. the Cynic is one of the most hard hitting Christian Rap albums ever released. In a genre known for its uplifting and encouraging rhymes, John Reuben makes a bold move toward darker, but undoubtedly more important subject matter. John calls out American culture and Christianity alike, condeming corruption and complacency. John does the important job of admonishing the lackluster attitude of American Christianity and our compromising ways. In 'What About Them?' he lays down a convicting set of lyrics that speaks of the church's inability to walk the talk:

"Please remember to say grace before we scrape our plates and ignore the crying outside the door - sure you'll pray for their burdens but you don't want to make it yours."

Overall, a very satisfying, convicting, and enriching lyrical set from the fearless John Reuben. A definate buy for any believer seeking to forgo much of Christian music's fluff to address deeper spiritual matters."

New album has both Boy and Cynic

Sarah P. | Ohio | 06/28/2005

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I wasn't much of a Reuben fan before. I was listening to the radio one day and heard a song with the familiar voice of Matthew Thiessen (of Relient K.) I found later that the song was John Reuben's newest single, "Nuisance." The contrast of John's flowing rap and Thiessen's great harmonies, the song quickly became a favorite.

When the CD came out, I got it as soon as I could. For not being a fan of rap music, it's a great CD! It was reported that this time around, John Reuben sent two sets of songs to the record label (Gotee), one being a regular John Reuben tracklist, and the other more of a "side project" type of thing that seemed a bit more of a cynical. Gotee liked both projects and decided to mix the tracks from both for the next CD. Because of this, there's a great mix of stabbing views on society and optimistic hopes for the future.

A lot of the tracks seem to poke at some of society's latest trends. "Follow Your Leader" is an observation of last November's elections, when celebrities who had no political experience began to get involved, with lines like, "Sure you can sing and dance, but that don't mean you're qualified to give America advice." The song "What About Them?" talks about our nation's negligent behavior to other country's problems. On the other side of the spectrum, the sixth track - "Sunshine" - reminds us that God is there even if the future seems difficult.

John has a lot to say on this album and he does it with awesome sense of rhythm, eloquence, and passion. Using witty rhymes and interesting figures of speech, he gets the point across and simultaneously gets the catchy tunes stuck in your head."

Great for new and old Reuben fans

Joshua Schroeder | Lethbridge, Alberta, Canada | 06/22/2005

(5 out of 5 stars)

"John Reuben's latest album presents an enjoyable listen for those who are longtime fans, as well as those who are new to his music. On this, his fourth release, Reuben begins to make a shift towards pop and slightly away from hip-hop.Existing Reuben fans need not worry, though. John's inspired rhymes are still present, and a strong rap influence remains. "So Glad" brings a fun dance beat to this album, while "Out of Control" gives 'The Boy vs. The Cynic' somewhat of a rock feel. For those who liked how "Move" started 'Professional Rapper', you'll love what "Out of Control" does to get Reuben's latest album rolling.By the time of the CD release, most fans are probably already familiar with the album's first single, "Nuisance", a cooperative effort with Matt Thiessen from Relient K. This track, while not as exciting as some or Reuben's other tunes, is still an enjoyable and catchy tune."Follow Your Leader" and "There's Only Forgiveness" round out the more memorable songs, and both have a more traditional Reuben sound that the existing fans are sure to appreciate.As the album cover and title suggest, this latest release continues with the maturing trend that has characterized John Reuben's albums. The sounds on this album are more diverse than any of the previous albums, but remain true to the artist's style.All in all, this album was well worth skipping my lunch break for a trip down to the store to pick it up on release day. The young man from Pataskala continues to impress through his fourth release (and, as with most good artists, he's even better live in concert!). This album is money well spent."

He just keeps getting better....

David Roth | 09/13/2006

(5 out of 5 stars)

"For the last several years, John Reuben has been garnering himself quite the following in the Christian music world. As someone who has listened to him since his first CD (Are We There Yet) I have been able to see and hear the progression of his music and his message. For those familiar with his earlier CD's this one goes in a slightly different direction. Instead of it being just John, DJ Manuel, and occasionally Alan Augusta amongst a few others, John opts to go with a full band set up and delves into the rap/rock genre. And if I say so, he does it very well.

The first couple of tracks get you into the vibe of the CD, but once you get into the body of the album, John shows his musical growth. With songs that touch upon political correctness, the American coorporate ways, and the world of business marketing and the ways they do their business and place their expectations upon the unwilling public for their desires, he has begun to take on larger topics and grown his message to a much grander and profound scale. All of this is topped off with the self-reflective Boy vs The Cynic track. It is a slow brooding reflection upon how society and its ways effect him and how he copes and reacts.

While this may not be the same upbeat and fun Reuben sound most are used to, it is a huge leap in his progression as an artist. He still has his fun tracks on the CD of course, but the real meat lies in the new tone he throws in.

I highly recommend this CD for anyone who likes more of a rock vibe in their music as opposed to his traditional rap sound. The two are blended well. Regardless though, John Reuben is a tremendous artist and despite whether or not you may have liked some of his earlier things, this CD is worth a listen.

On a side note, see him live whenever you get the chance. He is a great entertainer and I have been lucky enough to see him several times (and even got on stage way back during the Are We There Yet years) and you just can't help but love it."

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