Customer Reviews

Artwork

5 star:		(12)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(5)
2 star:		(3)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

C'mon I'm reading these reviews and am ready to puke. This is hands down the album of the year. It probably won't get that by the establishment that handles that, but to me it is. The band finally has become something great with this album. They put their heart and soul into this and it shines because of that. If anything they lost production. This is not over produced, if people even know what that means nowadays. Did anyone listen to Lies For The Liars? Which was an amazing album. But that production does no good here on the subject matter. Finally without Feldmann they've come back together stronger than ever. Hands down their best work, seconded only to the debut. Maybe it's just me, but Burt's lyrics really hit me hard. This album has literally been my life the past 5 months. All 11 songs are amazing and just flow so well. This will be in my CD player for a long long time to come.

The Used have changed producers for this album, as I'm sure some of you know. In doing so, they left the emotional rawness of their prior music (especially vocally) behind for what seems to be dark pop music. Bert's vocal's are too clean, which may sound odd, but anyone who love's Bert seemed to love his erratic vocal patterns and maniacal screams. Now he's dropped most of the screams and coarse vocal dynamics in favor of a more emo-pop melody--which I don't like nearly as much. I welcome change and progression with artists, even with a band like The Used who I've seen change a little with each album. I'm one of the people who actually really dug "Lies for the Liars", although I do agree that some of the lyrics seemed forced. Anywho...

Musically, like I said--it sounds like dark pop music. No band members really stand out. It almost seems like they're just there to be a back-up band for the new (but not improved) Bert McCracken. In other words, they're the equivalent of Chris Daughtry's band (ooohh, that burns).

The only stand-out track on this whole album, to me, is "Men Are All the Same". That track is actually pretty freakin' gnarly. It has a little bit of everything good about the band.

I highly suggest to any fan of The Used, SAMPLE THIS BEFORE YOU BUY IT! It is different for them, and if you're like me, the change isn't too good. Thus, I blame their new producer, Matt Squire, for their "far-too-polished" sound.

Remember that tried-and-true Used formula? Intricate little intro, verse, building crescendo to a loud chorus, repeat... Well it's all too structured on this album. Every song follows this formula, and the end product doesn't end up as ripe or tasty as "In Love and Death", so it honestly sounds to me like tracks that didn't make it.

As much as I didn't personally enjoy "Lies for the Liars" for it's songwriting, I did applaud them for trying stuff out, like the use of horns and some neat little guitar work (see "With Me Tonight"). It was a good effort on their part, and songs like "Earthquake" and "Pretty Handsome Awkward" were to "Lies" what "A Box Full of Sharp Objects" and "The Taste of Ink" were to their self-titled.

Overall, none of the songs stand out the way some of their other tracks have over the years. The beginning of "Blood On My Hands" is promising, but ends up with the same emo-kid lyrics ("I hate to say that I told you so, but I told you so") and chord progression that has always been there. Another song that made me hopeful was "Sold My Soul", but the track ends with a melancholy piano bit, which ultimately ruins it.

Overall, this is the Used. It's just not the Used I love and scream along with.

Listening to this CD this past week has made my brain do more thinking than ever before. First I didn't like it, then I loved it, then it confused me, then it was just as good as the old stuff, then it was too much of a change in direction, then it was too safe. I couldn't decide, and I still can't really decide so here's what I do know is true.

The songs that are not singles or ballads all kind of mesh together, basically everything 5 and on has a similar tone, which is why some have said this is a corporate rock album. Having said that the sound is not generic or super radio friendly. The Used have chucked the random soundboard effects out the window for crunchy low basslines, trudging drumming and heavy tuned down guitar riffs. The lyrics are dark and dysmal and usually all about death and hate, since this has been labeled a concept album about hating yourself. This is either brilliant or stupid and I'm not sure which, but Bert's vocals remain a high point on this CD.

The first four songs sound like they could have been from the last two CDs, "Blood on My Hand" and "Born to Quit" sound like continuations of tracks from "Lies for the Liars" and "Empty With You" and "Kissing You Goodbye" sound like "In Love and Death" slow songs. Except for "Kissing You Goodbye" they're all solid tracks,which is a step up on most CDs by this band that usually had 3 or 4 skippers. The downside to this is that the closest thing to a fast paced rocking number is "Blood on My Hands."

So this is basically a CD that every Used fan will take differently. Older fans will write them off, new fans will find it appealing, some older fans who were dissapointed with "Lies for the Liars" will welcome this change as a return to form. What will you think? I can't say, but I recomend finding these songs on the internet first and listening to them several times before you decide whether or not to indulge in this album.

This is one cd I can listen to over and over. I love the used and this album did not disappoint. This is probably my favorite album from The Used along with In Love and Death.

Favorite tracks:
Kissing you Goodbye
The Best Of Me
On the Cross
Empty with you

Bert has under gone surgery since the last album. His voice has significantly changed and it really makes me sad, this isn't the voice I fell in love with. The lyrics are still just as poetic, but Bert's voice is still different... If you've heard of the Dreaming (or his former band, stabbing westward) than you'd know what I'm talking about when I say his voice now sounds like Christopher's. It's still a great album, but I personally think each album has gotten progressively worse. The first album is by far my favorite and it probably will never be topped.

I have been listening to the used since i heard the taste of ink. Their first album is still hands down my favorite. But make no mistake. Every time these guys get together to write a cd something new comes out.

With Love and Death I wasnt sure what to think. Such a stark departure from the sound of thier first album. The screaming was off throwing at first but with in a listen threw or two again i was hooked.

I push these guys on every one. Telling them you will not be disappointed. And I have not found a complainer yet.

After Love and Death, Lies for the Liars really hooked me in with the rock edge sound they brought to the table. Once again they evolved to the trends of the music for that 3 year span. I dont think of it as selling out but more as how all artist should evolve to stay current and show their music still has meaning.

Then came Artwork. I didnt even know this was coming. I was hoping for new tunes from these guys but when I saw it was coming out it was at the top of my to buy list. Thankfully while we all waited for Artwork we had Shallow Believer with many of the B Sides that were just as good as the tracks that made the previous 3 cd's.

Artwork is amazing. Once again they transformed. A new yet familiar sound. More raw and unpolished in my opinion. I love this cd from start to finish. I am hoping there are B Sides for this album. But none yet to be seen. From the opening Blood on my hands to the middle where the energy new drops on Sold my soul. Or probably my favorite song on the whole cd ON THE CROSS.

You have to give it a listen. Forget what you think you should hear and listen to what they are saying. It is an amazing CD. My 2nd favorite of 4 albums.

Hope this review helps you. You will not be disappointed.

They've lost the edge I used to like about The Used. I've listened to it a few times, and I couldn't think of any stand out tracks. I can't recommend it, but it's not terrible either.

I don't know whether or not it's the new producer or just the progression of the band, but this album was definitely a step closer toward the genre of "pop". I'm definitely not a "pop" or "emo" fan. I have always enjoyed The Used because of Bert's amazing vocals and the band's ability to create unique song-progression that contained cacophonic melodies (hence the screaming, double bass, distortion, etc.).

Although I really like "Blood on My Hands", the first time I finished listening to it I felt like it had so much potential, but it never really reached the climax that I feel really defines The Used. The bridge was pretty "plain-Jane" and ended with a delay before returning to the chorus. Ah! I still get frustrated listening to it and hoping it goes further.

The majority of the other songs sound like they were for an album that should have been titled "The Used - Songs Specifically Written for the Radio". I'm used to celebrating the high highs and low lows that are typical of this band. These other songs seemed simple and tended to stay safe (which is the opposite of how I like The Used).

Ok, ok. This has been a bit harsh. I will say that from "Come Undone" to the end the album is pretty good and a little more typical of The Used. It's still a very good album overall. I just had really high expectations for this album ... and that being said, I think a very regretful 3.5 stars is all I can muster for this rating.

The Used's latest offering has a lot of hype surrounding it, perhaps due to a weaker preceding couple of releases. For once though, the hype is not unfounded. This album has a much more solid feel than any of its predecessors. It manages to be gritty and heavy without actually being too much of either. There is much less of a pop element than was present on In Love and Death & Lies For The Liars, which leaves you with a heavier rock based sound. Lies For the Liars was very much an experimental release from the band filled with a lot of random beats and unfamiliar vocal styles. Artwork, however, is the most solid record the Used have released since their self-titled. They really stick to what they know and don't stray too much from it. The Used themselves have described this album as `gross pop' and have said in interviews how this album is heavy without being too loud, which strangely is spot on. This is their first CD that hasn't been produced by John Feldmann, instead they've chosen Matt Squire to take the reins. This was a conscious decision by the band to change their direction and freshen things up.

From this record you can clearly see how the band has evolved. One noticeable element of the album is the low heavy bass lines. The somewhat poppy bass lines are gone and now blend really well with the heavy crunching guitars and drums. This album is the first full album that The Used's new drummer Dan Whitesides has played on; he doesn't disappoint. The lyrics are much darker and closer to the roots of the original CD, there's no 'Liar, Liar, Pants on Fire' here. Lyrically there are a lot of blood and death references. One clear example of this is from the album's debut single 'Blood On My Hands', but they are frequent in such songs as 'Never Meant To Die' as well as being heavily featured in the imagery surrounding the release. The overall balance of the CD is good, although it has to be said the songs don't vary a huge deal, which is actually a good thing when the songs are this good. You may find that on your first listen this album passes you by, but don't let it. Give it another good listen and you'll really start to appreciate what's to offer from this CD. The 'lightest' song is 'Kissing You Goodbye' which although isn't as heavy as the other songs, it doesn't seem out of place and is a good solid ballad. I would say though that it seems like it should be positioned at the end of the album, rather than the middle.

There are quite a lot of standout tracks. The lead single from the album 'Blood On My Hands' is a real catchy sing along track which will be stuck in your head for days. One song that perhaps may be the next full single is 'Empty With You' as it's an anthemic song with all the right hooks. Another stand out track is 'The Best Of Me', which is both eery, heavy and catchy. Other notable songs include, 'Come Undone', 'Sold My Soul' and 'Men Are All The Same'. The Used have really managed to turn things around with this release. There's plenty more life in this band yet.

Track Ratings:
1. Blood On My Hands - 8/10
2. Empty With You - 9/10
3. Born To Quit - 7/10
4. Kissing You Goodbye - 6/10
5. Sold My Soul - 8/10
6. Watered Down - 6/10
7. On The Cross - 7/10
8. Come Undone - 9/10
9. Meant To Die - 8/10
10. The Best Of Me - 9/10
11. Men Are All The Same - 8/10