The Used - Artwork (12 tracks) +Album Reviews

C'mon Really? This is their best album hands down.

Number6 | Blasdell, New York USA | 09/23/2009

(5 out of 5 stars)

"C'mon I'm reading these reviews and am ready to puke. This is hands down the album of the year. It probably won't get that by the establishment that handles that, but to me it is. The band finally has become something great with this album. They put their heart and soul into this and it shines because of that. If anything they lost production. This is not over produced, if people even know what that means nowadays. Did anyone listen to Lies For The Liars? Which was an amazing album. But that production does no good here on the subject matter. Finally without Feldmann they've come back together stronger than ever. Hands down their best work, seconded only to the debut. Maybe it's just me, but Burt's lyrics really hit me hard. This album has literally been my life the past 5 months. All 11 songs are amazing and just flow so well. This will be in my CD player for a long long time to come."

Is this "In Love and Death 2"?

Weston C. Brice | Tucson, AZ USA | 09/03/2009

(2 out of 5 stars)

"Remember that tried-and-true Used formula? Intricate little intro, verse, building crescendo to a loud chorus, repeat... Well it's all too structured on this album. Every song follows this formula, and the end product doesn't end up as ripe or tasty as "In Love and Death", so it honestly sounds to me like tracks that didn't make it.

As much as I didn't personally enjoy "Lies for the Liars" for it's songwriting, I did applaud them for trying stuff out, like the use of horns and some neat little guitar work (see "With Me Tonight"). It was a good effort on their part, and songs like "Earthquake" and "Pretty Handsome Awkward" were to "Lies" what "A Box Full of Sharp Objects" and "The Taste of Ink" were to their self-titled.

Overall, none of the songs stand out the way some of their other tracks have over the years. The beginning of "Blood On My Hands" is promising, but ends up with the same emo-kid lyrics ("I hate to say that I told you so, but I told you so") and chord progression that has always been there. Another song that made me hopeful was "Sold My Soul", but the track ends with a melancholy piano bit, which ultimately ruins it.

Overall, this is the Used. It's just not the Used I love and scream along with."

I Blame Matt Squire.

Matt Poole | Louisville, KY USA | 09/05/2009

(2 out of 5 stars)

"The Used have changed producers for this album, as I'm sure some of you know. In doing so, they left the emotional rawness of their prior music (especially vocally) behind for what seems to be dark pop music. Bert's vocal's are too clean, which may sound odd, but anyone who love's Bert seemed to love his erratic vocal patterns and maniacal screams. Now he's dropped most of the screams and coarse vocal dynamics in favor of a more emo-pop melody--which I don't like nearly as much. I welcome change and progression with artists, even with a band like The Used who I've seen change a little with each album. I'm one of the people who actually really dug "Lies for the Liars", although I do agree that some of the lyrics seemed forced. Anywho...

Musically, like I said--it sounds like dark pop music. No band members really stand out. It almost seems like they're just there to be a back-up band for the new (but not improved) Bert McCracken. In other words, they're the equivalent of Chris Daughtry's band (ooohh, that burns).

The only stand-out track on this whole album, to me, is "Men Are All the Same". That track is actually pretty freakin' gnarly. It has a little bit of everything good about the band.

I highly suggest to any fan of The Used, SAMPLE THIS BEFORE YOU BUY IT! It is different for them, and if you're like me, the change isn't too good. Thus, I blame their new producer, Matt Squire, for their "far-too-polished" sound."

Weak but strong, heavy but mellow

Nick Colosi | Chesterland, OH, USA | 09/02/2009

(3 out of 5 stars)

"Listening to this CD this past week has made my brain do more thinking than ever before. First I didn't like it, then I loved it, then it confused me, then it was just as good as the old stuff, then it was too much of a change in direction, then it was too safe. I couldn't decide, and I still can't really decide so here's what I do know is true.

The songs that are not singles or ballads all kind of mesh together, basically everything 5 and on has a similar tone, which is why some have said this is a corporate rock album. Having said that the sound is not generic or super radio friendly. The Used have chucked the random soundboard effects out the window for crunchy low basslines, trudging drumming and heavy tuned down guitar riffs. The lyrics are dark and dysmal and usually all about death and hate, since this has been labeled a concept album about hating yourself. This is either brilliant or stupid and I'm not sure which, but Bert's vocals remain a high point on this CD.

The first four songs sound like they could have been from the last two CDs, "Blood on My Hand" and "Born to Quit" sound like continuations of tracks from "Lies for the Liars" and "Empty With You" and "Kissing You Goodbye" sound like "In Love and Death" slow songs. Except for "Kissing You Goodbye" they're all solid tracks,which is a step up on most CDs by this band that usually had 3 or 4 skippers. The downside to this is that the closest thing to a fast paced rocking number is "Blood on My Hands."

So this is basically a CD that every Used fan will take differently. Older fans will write them off, new fans will find it appealing, some older fans who were dissapointed with "Lies for the Liars" will welcome this change as a return to form. What will you think? I can't say, but I recomend finding these songs on the internet first and listening to them several times before you decide whether or not to indulge in this album."

Different, but in a good way

FairFury | Pasadena, CA United States | 11/11/2009

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I love the past work of The Used. Lies for the Liar, In Love and Death, The Used. Love them all. So I was excited about getting this one, but wary of the reviews/critiques that said the band had "sold out." I must admit. I don't hear the sell out. Anyone who doesn't like the ballad Kissing You Goodbye probably didn't like Smother Me on the last album. I played Smother Me at my wedding so obviously Kissing You Goodbye is one of my absolute favorites. Also, Blood on My Hands is a one-two punch of hard rocking beats and powerful vocals. Best of Me is also a standout. And Men Are All the Same ties it all together with sort of a hodgepodge of the strong points crammed in a new song. So guess I missed the "sell out." It's just different, which you expect in the natural evolution of a band."

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