Album Review

The Used - VulnerableThe Used – Vulnerable

When The Used stormed on to the music scene back in 2002 with their self titled debut album they caused a stir and instantly gained a fan base and ever since then The Used have remained in the limelight releasing three more albums, selling out Academy sized venues time and time again and also playing a handful of UK based festivals over the years, the last album by The Used was released back in 2009 but that is just about to change as The Used are ready to release album number 5 ‘Vulnerable’.

‘Vulnerable’ see’s The Used release their first album under new record label Hopeless Records, the album has been produced by John Feldmann who produced the bands first three albums and is easily the bands best album since they released their debut back in 2002, over the past year or so you may have heard Bert McCracken say how the band’s last album ‘Artwork’ was the worst album by The Used, the album also saw the band being dropped from Warner Bros who McCracken claims had their hands on the album far too much, well ‘Vulnerable’ is a result of these events and an album that The Used have had full control off and it easily proves that at times major record labels should leave the artist to their own device rather than taking over their work.

The album flows at a fantastic pace where pretty much every track comes alive in a straight up catchy positive way, the themes and lyrics may not be positive all the time but the way that McCracken voice comes in with a positive spark and radio friendly edge throughout the majority of the tracks is spot on.

‘I Come Alive’ opens the album and it is quite a beastly song instrumentally with a lot of noise being generated but with Bert’s uplifting vocals coming in and taking over a song which instrumentally sounds deep and dark ends up being a melodic masterpiece. ‘This Fire’ is another cracking song with a real bullsy edge, the vocals from McCracken are more raw and shouty sounding but still has that catchy McCracken edge. ‘Hands And Faces’ is a track which opens up in a way where you really think you are not going to enjoy the song but if you ignore the opening synths and underwater sounding vocals and wait for the infectious chorus to come in then the enjoyment will start.

What I find funny with ‘Vulnerable’ is that pretty much every song on the album sounds like it could be a single and that is something that the bands previous label kept pushing for so it is like now that the band have full control over their sound and direction they have purposely gone down that catchy route and ‘Put Me Out’ and ‘Shine’ will easily be future singles for the band with ‘Put Me Out’ having a double meaning with a slight dig at Warner Bros and ‘Shine’ being the most kick arse catchy song I have heard so far this year.

The majority of the album is crammed with catchy tracks but that is not to say that The Used have ditched the heavy sound from their past as songs like ‘Now That You’re Dead’ see the band proper beef things up and go all out with crunching riffs and ball breaking chants and screams like a fighting anthem.

Many people were shocked when The Used parted ways with Warner bros but I am sure after listening to the first couple of tracks from ‘Vulnerable’ they will realise that it was for the best and that The Used have come back as a much better band and with an album that will stand the test of time and you will still be enjoying in ten years time.

5/5

Review by Trigger

 Band Members

Bert McCracken
Jepha Howard
Quinn Allman
Dan Whitesides
 Track Listing
1. I Come Alive
2. This Fire
3. Hands and Faces
4. Put Me Out
5. Shine
6. Now That You're Dead
7. Give Me Love
8. Moving On
9. Getting Over You
10. Kiss It Goodbye
11. Hurt No One
12. Together Burning Bright
 Band Related Links
The Used Facebook
 Review Score Code
- Top Cheese
- Brilliant
- Pretty damn good
- Ok I guess
- What Was That?