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The Used Artwork Review

By: Nicole Bradley

Hailing from Orem, Utah comes The Used, an alternative, emo, screamo, post-hardcore band that almost every single skinny jean wearing teenager has heard of. The Used has been in stardom literally from their start on Reprise Records in 2001 with their album Demos from the Basement. With songs such as “The Taste of Ink”, “Blue and Yellow”, and “A Box Full Of Sharp Objects”, The Used climbed the ladder of fame and quickly became a highly known name. When they released their certified gold album In Love and Death, they started touring internationally. A mere several months later, they began writing their album Lies of the Liars. Since the beginning, The Used has released several music videos including “All That I’ve Got”, “The Taste of Ink”, “I Caught Fire”, and “The Bird & The Worm”. In June of 2009, The Used released their newest single and music video for “Blood On My Hands”. On August 31^st, they released their newest album Artwork formed by Panic at the Disco’s producer Matt Squire. Members of The Used say, “This is an important record. This is the one, I’ve got a feeling about, and everyone’s got a feeling about.” Outburn Magazine says that it’s “Possibly the best album of the year.” AP Magazine says they“…have delivered not only the definitive album of their career, but one of the best records you’ll hear in 2009.” So how does the album compare to past ones? Is this really the album of the year?

Well, the album begins with the song “Blood On My Hands”. The music video for it clearly outlines a shell of pedophilia and internet stalking. Bert McCracken, lead singer chases after a fifteen year old girl who he ends up killing. The video ends with McCracken being hung. The song is cushioned by the old sound of The Used, derived from songs including “Slit Your Own Throat” and “Sound Effects And Overdramatics”. The lyrics show a very common topic of failure and fault that has been carried throughout almost every album.

The second song, “Empty With You” begins in a more electronic sort of way that The Used has rarely used before. This song clearly depicts a stereotypical Used song, but the way that it has been transformed on the album is new and unique.

“Born To Quit” is essentially about failing at everything. In Alternative Press Magazine, The Used says this album is about “coming to grips with how much you really hate yourself.” Perfectly executed, this songs lyrics are literally about how much you suck at life, and how you were “born to quit” everything.

The piano has been used for the first time on the song “Kissing You Goodbye.” The song is much slower and much more different than any other on the album. Towards the end of the song, the pace speeds up and makes the perfect build-up ending that has been accomplished on a Used album.

“Sold My Soul” is probably my favorite song off the album. It could be the anthem song off of the album that brings crowds together. It’s a very well crafted song that also incorporates the piano accompanied with a stellar drum beat that could pump up any crowd.

“Watered Down” is a cross between “The Bird & The Worm” and “Lunacy Fringe”. “Watered Down” seems very much like a lot of other bands’ slower songs, but Bert’s vocals make it still very rough (in a good way), and keeps to The Used’s exclusive sound.

An oddly placed religious song is found on this album. “On The Cross” has an electronic feel to it, but still stays true to The Used’s brand of music. The lyrics talk about praying, how we go our own way, and that prayer should be sent our way to save us. What I find very controversial with this song is the beginning lyrics that are spoken say “We kill the faggots, we kill the lesbians, I said goddammit we kill them all!” and end in “Kill ‘em again cuz they didn’t die hard enough.” I’m not sure I quite understand where there heads were with this song, but I believe it will create tension within some of their fans.

I love the lyrics in the song “Come Undone”. They perfectly interlace and flow faultlessly. The lyrics again stike up an anthem feel, and also prove again that these songs are to prove that you hate yourself.

“Meant To Die” is an absolute favorite of mine. Although it sounds like almost every other band could play it, The Used make’s it their own. Personally, I believe the difference between other bands and The Used is Bert McCracken, he really puts a twist on the norm of vocals.

“The Best of Me” begins in a very morbid way, but builds up to be a fast paced amazing song. The shift between screaming and a more mellow singing voice was carried out great.

The final song off the album, “Men Are All The Same” sounds like a song off a Marilyn Manson album. This could definitely be the song that opens pits up in arenas.

For Fans Of: My Chemical Romance, Aiden
Overall Rating Out Of 10: 8/10
Top Tracks To Listen To: “Blood On My Hands”, “Sold My Soul”, and “Men Are All The Same”