The Used's Artwork
a music review
Jeremy Babb
The album has a slight variation from their other albums and a huge one-eighty from their last album, Lies for the Liars released only two years ago. It consisted of many studio tricks and electronic sounds that would have been impossible to produce at a live show. "The Bird and the Worm" and "Paralyzed" are two singles off that album that could turn you into a fan of The Used. Who knows?
Lies for the Liars was a huge disappointment for the band. The Used is a touring band that headlines shows worldwide, so it was not a good idea to produce a "studio album" that lost focus on the heart of what a good band should be all about, the music.
The Used consists of front man Bert McCracken, Quinn Allman (guitar), Jeph Howard (bass) and Dan Whitesides (drums). One of my least favorite words in the English language is "used" because it reminds me of something unclean and germ-ridden. One look at lead singer Bert and you may understand why they chose their name.
It is amazing to witness the talent of these guys. Bert's voice is as smooth as Claudia's from Coheed and Cambria (sometimes I can't tell the two apart), and sometime's Bert's voice can be as raspy as any screamo singer.
Artwork really strayed away from some of their emo roots and created an album that really is an experience-no two songs are alike. It is difficult to categorize this album into one particular genre of music.
The band brings everything to the table-everything from melodic and pleasant piano pieces to hardcore guitar riff, insane breakdowns to edge-of-your-seat build-ups. The band could be identified as pop punk, then all the way to the other end of the spectrum, hardcore metal and screamo (and everything in between).
One factor that is a turn-off for me is the lyrics of most of their songs, although their writing is very creative, it is a guilty pleasure one would indulge in to listen to any of The Used songs. Their lyrics are very depressing, becoming what I like to call the "cutter's anthem." The passion that Bert sings these songs with will make you fall in love with his music, if only we could ignore the message of his music.
"Born to Quit," "Best of Me" and "Come Undone" are three of the more hardcore songs on this album and a great example of the realism that Bert sings about that could easily sink you into depression. The chorus from "Born to Quit" says "The further you go/the less you'll know/You're born to quit/you've blown it/You need to let go/of letting go/You're full of sh**/you're born to quit." Perhaps not the most inspirational message in the world, but catchy as hell.
If you are a closet singer who loves to sing in the car or in the shower, these songs will make you sound like you are suicidal, but you will love every minute of it. Just make sure your new boyfriend or girlfriend doesn't hear you passionately whipping out these lyrics.
A trip to the shrink could be in store for you. "Best of Me" is the most aggressive of all the songs on this album. It will be exciting to see live, no doubt (I foresee massive mosh pits starting to come alive).
"Kissing You Goodbye" is a beautiful song that sets the tone for Artwork. As a matter of fact, the song appears again in the closing track on the album, "Men Are All the Same." It is a desperate plea not to have to kiss someone goodbye. The lyrics will perhaps put into words what many of us have felt at one time or another. "Nowhere to go/I'm not leaving/not going/I'm not kissing you goodbye/On my own/I'm nothing/just bleeding/I'm not kissing you goodbye."
The song's slow and melodic piano interlude at the beginning will set the hook; then the rest of the band comes in, and it can be quite a chilling experience. The song is what makes a band like The Used great-their music is not only intended for listening, but to be an experience.
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posted 11/23/09 @ 6:24 PM CST
It is amazing band!
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