i haven't listened to an album by The Used since the one after the self-titled (so their 2nd i believe) and this was surprisingly enjoyable since most people around here seem to shit on The Used and mention them in jest/mocking tones. not sure what all the albums between the 2nd one and this one sound like, but this isn't bad. "BIG, WANNA BE" vocals remind me of Papa Roach for some reason. hard to explain.
Every time they release new music I always just end up listening to s/t and ILAD. Those albums are so good. Huge part of my adolescence and finding my own music tastes.
Title track reminds me so much of Say Anything and chorus in The Lottery gives me Circa Survive vibes
Legit haven’t loved the used since in love and death... this is great wow. It’s just all good and reminds me of that time. Feldman did it this time.
This is their best work since Artwork, but as an album flow it feels all over the place with scattered heavy songs, pop songs, and classic used songs.
I really like how they break between different styles every song or so. Album doesn't flow weird at all for me.
Thought it was weird the album was hardly being mentioned in the band thread, I'm here now haha. Basically the first 5 songs sound like they were gonna make a typical Used album and then they got smart. Blow Me and Hate This Song are pretty decent musically but just terrible lyrics. I like Paradise Lost and played the crap out of it for a day or two but it just kinda lacks substance for me, I'm not sure. It's not a bad opener though. From track 6 on, I love almost everything. Clean Cut Heals is probably my favorite, musically it sounds like an early Timberlake solo song or something haha. Lighthouse is probably the weakest from that point but I like the dancey vibe anyways. The bridge in that song was begging for more to be done with it. Love Cathedral Bells a ton too.
Even the first few have grown on me at this point although the album seriously picks up with Cathedral Bell. I had to delete the title track though because I can't stand it lol.
this is pretty dang good, their best since vulnerable. but putting BIG, WANNA BE as the third song... ugh such a turn off to the start of the album.
I really like most of that song but the chorus still sucks. I need to revisit Artwork because I haven't listened to it in years but I think this might be their best since LFTL.
I like BIG WANNA BE more now after hearing Bert describe it as a sarcastic dig at social media influencer types.
i bet they did it on purpose to try and trick people searching for the actual heartwork record into stumbling upon their album.