There's few artists that have ever hit the level of disappointment The Used did for me with Ocean of the Sky and Imaginary Enemy.
Imaginary Enemy and Vulnerable are such nothing albums to me. Even the albums that came after it which weren't good had something memorable. The Canyon was adventurous but didn't hit, Toxic Positivity at least had a personality. Those two were just.... faceless, empty, forgettable
My nostalgia and deep love for the S/T and ILAD always brings me back to check out their new tunes, and TBH I haven't liked any of it since.
S/T is definitely their best, and Bert is definitely my favorite screamer of all time. Sad I never got to see them live while he was able to do it. I love Vulnerable. hands and faces is weird but I loved them trying something new. I think my biggest disappointment with the band is the jump from Heartwork to Toxic Positivity. Not that I think Toxic Positivity is bad, but Heartwork has some of their best songs since ILAD imo. Really dug the energy on that album... anyways... S/T ILAD Artwork Heartwork Lies for the Liars Shallow Believer Vulnerable Toxic Positivity The Canyon Imaginary Enemy
Toxic Positivity would be a lot better if they actually put the pre-release singles on it. Still don’t understand that move even a little bit lol
Vulnerable is so underrated! in my opinion that is the best album after the first two, which sadly I don't think will ever be topped haha.
While I enjoy ILAD now, fuck was I disappointed when it was released. S/T was literally perfect (except maybe for the final skit), and the poppiness of the follow up was so jarring. Must have been like what the AFI punk kids at my hs when sing the sorrow came out felt like( not me. that’s another perfect album).
I can see why people don't like Vulnerable, longtime fans especially. Some of the poppier stuff is almost unrecognizable as The Used — the choruses in "Shine" and "Moving On," the surprisingly uplifting closer. I don't love all of it, but I liked it more than Artwork.
Man, Ocean of the Sky is really cool. Better songs, performances, and more fitting production than the previous couple albums. "Tethys," though. What happened there?
... I don't remember The Canyon being this good, it rules! I think my music tastes at the moment finally align with what they were doing with it. its some seriously good emotive hardcore style post-hardcore w/psych rock, prog, and jazz influence. I think more people should give it another chance. Very reminiscent of how Ling Tosite Sigure writes records
I'm on The Canyon right now in my discography listen, and I kind of can't believe they had something like this in them after the last three.