Customer Reviews

The Used

5 star:		(277)
4 star:		(49)
3 star:		(13)
2 star:		(19)
1 star:		(17)

 

 

Wow, I cannot say enough about how amazing this band is. Not only is The Used's debut album THE best "screamo"/punk album to come out this year, it is one of the best albums to come out this year, period. The vocals & lyrics are amazing. Bert can scream better than anyone I've heard, but his singing voice is equally as impressive, and he can alternate between the two effortlessly. His words have so much substance and emotion behind them too, which seems especially rare in so much of today's music. Quinn's guitar work is as versatile as Bert's singing, with powerful, driving riffs and beutifully melodic phrases (also a rarity in today's heavier music). A couple of the songs also have orchestral arrangements under the guitars which make the music even more dynamic. The underlying rhythm section with Jeph on bass and Branden on drums is a driving force throughout the entire album as well. Every song is so well crafted, I couldn't pick any in particular as my favorite. There honestly isn't a weak track on here, but I think the highlights are probably "Poetic Tragedy", "Noise & Kisses", and "On My Own". I could go on forever, but I'll sum it up by saying that the last time I was this impressed by an album was when I first heard "Around the Fur" by the Deftones. (and that came out in 1997!) This album is a masterpiece, and I can't imagine anyone finding it as a disappointment.

I am a big fan of the genre they call pop punk, with my favorite band being MxPx. But once I was infected with the likes of the Used, Finch and Glassjaw, I just could not stop listening! This CD not only has great tunes and awesome screaming, but its extremely powerful. Not one song is bad, and not one song is mediocre! Every song is awesome! Heres how I rate them, with 10 being the best, and 1 the worst(even though none of the songs come close to a 1).

1.Maybe Memories - A great opener with a Deftone vibe. I have heard this song is about the lead singer Bert McCracken's dark, drug filled past. 9/10

2.The Taste of Ink - Another great song, great lyrics and great tune. Not as much screaming and power as track one, but it has an infectious tune and vibe, with an awesome chorus. 10/10

3.Bulimic - A great song once again, what more can I say? The phrase "a great song" is becoming a cliche now. The chorus is great on this song...as a matter of fact everything is great. Once again the lyrics send a message. 9/10

4.Say Days Ago - Awesome song, but not as good as the others. Its got a great heavy opening vibe to it and a scream-along prechorus. 9/10

5.Poetic Tragedy - Powerful song with amazing lyrics. A lot softer than the other tracks on the CD, but its probably one of the best songs. The songs about a poet/singer whose career becomes tragedy due to substance abuse. Very powerful. 10/10

6.Buried Myself Alive - When I first heard this song, I was left speechless!!! The best song on the CD, undoubtedly! It is a very powerful song, mixed with awesome lyrics, and a very very good chorus! Completely amazing! 15/10 hehe

7.A Box Full of Sharp Objects - The first single of the CD, and a very good choice. It represents the band's metal vibes and exemplifies a good amount of Bert's screaming. The video is also included on this CD in the enhanced part of it, so be sure to watch that also. 10/10

8.Blue and Yellow - A great song, with a lot less power and lyrics than the other songs, but its still got that awesome vibe and power that makes it an awesome song. 8/10

9.Greener with the Scenery - Amazing song, great lyrics to relate to if youve ever had a girl who plays games with your heart. I love the chorus. 10/10

10. Noises and Kisses - Not as good as the rest of the CD, but still a great CD. Its a good song to listen to and isn't worth skipping. Another great song with a great chorus from these guys. 8/10

11.On My Own - An amazingly powerful song with a very heavy and moving orchestral background. The mix of the acoustic guitar with this sort of saddening orchestral melody makes this song a must-listen! 2nd best song on the CD. 10/10

12.Pieces Mended - A very heavy, and great way to close out the CD.... 9/10
....but wait, theres more!

Hidden Track: Choke Me - I love listening to this song! Its such a good song to listen to when you are (mad). Lotsa screaming and lots of power and amazing guitar part! It comes about 7 minutes into the final track (#12). It starts out with you listening to Bert get a surprise birthday gift from the rest of the guys, when they ordered the fattest stripper in London to come over and...yeh...you get it. 10/10

All in all, this CD is absolutely amazing! John Feldmann, the lead singer of the also amazing band Goldfinger, produced this CD and did a great job. I cannot wait to see the Used at the Warped Tour this summer! They are gonna rock!! Later folks.

The first song I heard before buying this CD was "Box Full of Sharp Objects", and let me tell you, that song alone blew me away. I generally don't buy CDs after hearing only one song. But, I made an exception for The Used. And that was a good thing.
First off, Bert's vocals are so freaking raw. His scream is high and powerful, his singing voice is melodic and beautiful...and his super-octave singing voice is incredible! How can a guy sing so high without...well, never mind.
Second, the album displays such a diversity in each song, it makes you wonder (and look forward to) what will happen next. From soft, heart-felt love songs to aggressive, beat-you-in-the-face songs to emotionally tormented songs, The Used keep you pumped up and satisfy your hunger for raw, talented new music.

NOTE: The bonus video for "Box Full of Sharp Objects" is also pretty cool, as is the clip of the band during recording, which displays a very amusing side to the band.

The Used have developed a nearly flawless and perfect album. Every song from start to finish is awesome and full of emotion and energy. Though it seems odd to praise a lead singer whose main strength is a freightening scream, Bert McCraken takes listeners to a new height of musical emotion. The other band members blend together perfectly to make a flawless band. This CD is perhaps the greatest and most fun CD ever.

Maybe Memories- Very up tempo song, Bert quickly shows off his singing abilities and vocal range. The band also displays its unique rock music sound. 9/10

The Taste of Ink- A radio friendly hit. The song is very appealing to the ears and never seems to grow old. The dualing vocals by Bert are superb and the music flows very nicely. 10/10

Bulimic- The song is unbeleiveable. Nice opening guitar and the song suddenly takes off with a high pace. The chourus is awesome and the progressions of the song turn this into a very strong song. 10/10

Say Days Ago- This song takes off from the beginning with heavy drums and guitars. The vocals are amazing and the song has excellent feel to it. One of the heaviest songs on the album. 9.5/10

Poetic Tragedy- The band really shows its diversity and takes a different direction on this song. Very soothing and soft throughout the beginning of the song. The music creates an nice atmospshere and the lyrics and the vocals are perfect. Towards the end Bert takes over with his screaming and makes this song a masterpiece. 11/10

Buried Myself Alive- The number one single from this album. Everything about this song is perfect. The drums are awesome, the guitars sweet, and the singing flawless. The song has a rocking and uptempo pace to it. If you can't fall in love with this song, this music sytle is not for you. 15/10

Box Full of Sharp Objects- This song gives the band its image and put them on the map. It is crazy and FULL OF ENERGY. If you want to know what Bert McCraken's screams are all about check this song out. The music rocks and the song is a fan favorite. 11/10

Blue and Yellow- another single from the album. The song is very soft and peaceful. The piano at the beginning is amazing. Bert's vocals makes this song. He takes a simple song and turns it into something unbeliveable. 10/10

Greener with the Scenery- This is a beautiful song and seems to be a fan favorite. The music seems to blend perfectly with the vocals and the LYRICS. The words almost seem to be expressed in the music it's strange (you just have to listen). 10/10

Noise and Kisses- My personal favorite. The drums are sweet at the beginning and the guitars take the song right into Bert's vocals. The lyrics are unbeleiveable and the music flows throughout the whole song. 20/10

On My Own- Peaceful song with beautiful guitars. Once again Bert's voice takes over and the band turns out another awesome song. 10/10

Pieces Mended- Awesome opening with a sweet mix of drums and guitar riffs. At first it appears that the music is what makes this song, but once again Bert doesn't fail, delivering heart-felt vocals. 9/10

Choke Me- This song is on the same track as Pieces Mended you just have to fast forward a little bit after the song. This is crazy, crazy song. Bert screams his throat out during this song and the music is crazy as well. Its an interesting song to listen to, but it's a bonus track for a reason. It's just a nice little add on and it's not as good as the other stuff--but hey it's cool. 7/10

Make sure you go out and get the Maybe Memories DVD. On the CD the best Used song ever is on it. Alone this Holiday is the most amazing song in the world. Also It Could be a Good Excuse and Zero Mechanism deserve to be on this album as they are awesome songs.

Go buy The Used-- You will fall in love with this music.

The Used began as a small little band no one knew about, but by some strange coicidence (maybe it was their enormous talent) they broke through, and made it huge. You'd like to be able to put a lable to them, but you can't, because calling them punk would do injustice to the loud and heavy rock and roll influences, and vice versa. Bert Mcracken's harsh abrasive voice lies perfectly atop the dangerous lanscape of guitars and screams, like icing on the perfect cake. You can one minute be swooned in the haunting beauty of tracks like Blue and Yellow, but then agian, you'll dry your tears and get out a sledge hammer when tracks like Box of Sharp objects comes around the corner. And you ask yourself, are the Used holding you in a tight warm embrace, or are the strangling you?

I can't even tell you the last time I had a cd which I listened to as non stop as I do this one. Since it's June release, it has not even left my sight. The music, the lyrics, the emotion in Bert McCracken's vocals is just unbelievable. The Used are uncatergorical - you don't want to call them "emo", nor can you truly call them "hardcore" - the best thing to call them is amazing. From the poppy ("The Taste of Ink"), to the angry ("Choke Me","Box Full of Sharp Objects"), the heart-wrenching,("Blue and Yellow""Buried Myself Alive") and the outright mind-blowing("Noise and Kisses","Pieces Mended") - The Used never disappoint. Buy this record NOW!

I'll review every song individually and give it a rating to give you a better taste of the CD broken down. Then I'll summarize it at the end with a final grade:

1. Maybe Memories - 90/100
The intro song is a hard one. Intense vocals and clashing drums fill the background for the duration of the song. Around 1:40, it lightens up and Bert sings a few higher pitched notes. Overall a great start.

2. The Taste Of Ink - 93/100
The radio song and single. Also one of the most lyrically filled songs. The chorus is a memorable one and the medium-intensity song comes off extremely well.

3. Bulimic - 85/100
Not one of my favorites, but still a great song. One of the hardest (chorus at least) on the CD. Mellows out for a while in the middle, specially vocals, but comes back.

4. Say Days Ago - 92/100
The song that the Used usually begin their concerts with. A definite hit, and another pretty hard song. Sounds somewhat similar to song #1, but slightly better in my opinion.

5. Poetic Tragedy - 94/100
The mood of the CD flips a 180* and this mellow song kicks in with its soft guitar and bass rift beat. The chorus is a bit harder, "A sinnnnger, A wriiiter, hes not dream of going nowherre..". Classic.

6. Buried Myself Alive - 95/100
Definitely one of the more catchy songs on the album, simply because of the chorus. "I guess its Okay I puked the day away!! I guess it's better that you trapped yourself in your own wasy!!". Nice!

7. A Box Full Of Sharp Objects - 94/100
A hard song. Also the 2nd single from the album. Great lyrics and vocals throughout. Definitely NOT a skipper.

8. Blue And Yellow - 97/100
My personal favorite track on the CD. I love everything about it - the beginning guitar twings, the vocals, lyrics, and chorus. Sing to this one 'til your voice box gives out! Not as hard as many on the CD but just as intense in its own way.

9. Greener With The Scenery - 96/100
A perfect followup to the previous track and an instant classic. Probably the most memorable chorus on the CD besides for The Taste Of Ink. "Run we go around in circles...". Everything means so much.

10. Noise And Kisses - 96/100
Another classic. One of the best songs on the CD. Starts with some awesome drums then continues with great vocals by Bert. Chorus is awesome... argg! Play it loud!

11. On My Own - 94/100
The softest song on the CD, and it comes off near-flawless! Guitar is played to perfection and the production on the track couldn't be better. Amazing.

12. Pieces Mended - 89/100
The CD ends in a pretty hard song - with the chorus being the hardest. "Marry Me, stay the same, love me and try to say you never will...". Pretty short but leads to...

*Bonus Track. Choke Me - 84/100
For a bonus track it's a pretty good addition. Not nearly as good as most of the songs on the CD in my opinion though. Extremely hatd vocals and clashing instruments. It's still good music though.

OVERALL RATING: 94/100

OVERALL GRADE: A

Summary: The Used suprised me more than almost any debut CD I've ever heard. I don't consider myself an easy reviewer, but even so, almost every song is deserving of a top notch grade. It's amazingly great music, nothing less. The songs all have that intense appeal but each one stands out on its own at the same time. If you like hard rock, punk rock, and... well, any kind of rock, Go out and buy this album!

i can't believe it's been four years since this album was released. yet, i still listen to this album often today even though i have a 500+ cd library. i really can't describe how much this band and this album means to me. before the used came along i was in the whole "nu metal" stage and that's all i listened to. then i heard the song "a box of sharp objects" and i thought "wow", this is really awesome and different. i then bought the cd and i was amazed at what i had just heard. it was so different from anything i've ever heard and i loved it! the cd was beautiful, full of emotion, yet has lots of passion and angst with the screaming/singing mix. not to mention the passionate, poetic lyrics that really hit home and strike you deep, deep down. it was right at that moment when my taste in music changed. from there, i got into finch, thursday, glassjaw, thrice, coheed and cambria, the early november, taking back sunday, and so on. so i just want to send a thank you out to the used for opening my eyes to this new, different style of music and showing me what "real" music is.

although, as of today (june 2006) this type of screamo/emo music trend is so watered down, i feel priviledged to have known this album and the following pioneers of this genre before this style of music started to plummit (which would have been 2004).

with my personal feelings aside, this is one of the best albums out there. like i said, they are one of the pioneers of screamo and if you like that style of music, then you'll definitely love this cd. this album is on the same level with brand new's "deja entendu", finch's "what it is to burn", taking back sunday's "tell all your friends", thursday's "full collapse", coheed and cambria's "second stage of turbine blade". those albums, all of which are classics in this genre.

as for comparing this to their latest release "in love and death", it definitely tops it. although their new cd is good, it just doesn't have the same passion, rawness, poetic lyrics, and emotion as this album does. it's very polished and sounds more mainstream and poppy then this one does. nonetheless, if you're a fan of this band then you'll definitely like both albums.

as for standouts, that's hard. every single song on this cd means something special to me in a different way. with each song i can specifically remember experiences in my life or what i was doing when i was listening to that song. talk about a record having an impact on someone...

i would say that this cd is for everyone but it does have an acquired taste due to the raw, screaming vocals. if you can just overlook the screaming and concentrate on the songs and the emotion that the album is conveying the screaming fits in perfectly with the soothing, mesmermizing melodies of bert mccracken and the used. this cd is a classic and you're cd collection or your life shouldn't be without it...

Listening to this cd has definatly been a great expiernce for me.Now a days this genre of music is growing more and more away from the indapendant scene and into the "popular" crowd.These guys stay with the indie sound that we all know and love.The song "The Tast Of Ink" is the stand out track on here followed close by "A Box Full Of Sharp Objects" and "Blue And Yellow".All the songs on here are very good."On My Own"is a great acoustic melody and "Maybe Memories" and "Buried Myself Alive" are great songs to pump you up.The Other songs on the cd are also great so be sure to pick this one up.The reason why this cd didnt get 5 stars is cuz one or two songs dont have a great melody to it.(i rate really hard so if u see me give a 5 out the cd is really worth a 5).If ur into the new indie-punk genre thats growing very rapidly(I.E Alkaline Trio,Taking Back Sunday,Thursday)then ull really like this one.

Brilliantly combining elements of emo, punk & traces of hardcore with pop & commercial rock, The Used has forged a powerfully emotional, highly dynamic, and melodically appealing brand of music that conjures up images of Thursday, Finch, Taking Back Sunday, and Open Hand, yet also possesses its own unique flair. Sonically, The Used composes striking soundscapes that are a blend of sharp, inventive riffs, memorable hooks, & sweeping melodies inlaid with compelling rhythms and versatile drumwork, all of which is executed through tight musicianship and with excellent precision. Composition wise, songs are diverse and well arranged, featuring defined progressions, varying tempo shifts, and effective breakdowns, not to mention superb use of contrasting elements. Vocally, Bert McCraken leads the way with his meaningful lyrics and The Juliana Theory/Thursday-like vocals that range from beautiful harmonies & pop hooks to hardcore-influenced screams & cathartic Glassjaw-like expressionism, while strong backing vocals provide an additional characteristic. Overall, The Used have come a long way in a very short period of time, showcasing greater maturity & confidence compared to past efforts, while honing their sound into a more distinctive state. Truth be told, The Used have taken a more melodically driven, commercially accessible direction with their music, and are utilizing ideas that are not exactly original or groundbreaking, but in the end, those are just moot points when dealing with the pure emotion & integrity that emanates from the band.

In a time where such emo-inspired bands as Thursday, Jimmy Eat World, Dashboard Confessional, Glassjaw and Taking Back Sunday are flourishing, The Used have emerged with their S/T debut, which contains elements of the aforementioned bands, yet takes the entire "emo" scene to a whole new level of accessibility. With songs ranging from pop-like anthems & acoustic ballads to soaring rock numbers and hardcore-tinged designs, The Used's 12-track debut is a diverse, yet appealing album that captures the heartfelt emotion of the band in all of its raw anger, beauty & pain. Leading off the album in explosive fashion is Maybe Memories, which, along with Box Full Of Sharp Objects, are dynamic, aggressive/melodic-contrasting songs, with the former dealing with Bert McCraken's drug-related past. From there, the album introduces the more accessible side of the band, led by the ultra-catchy, pop-punk anthem The Taste Of Ink - a revised song that appears on the 2001 3-song demo, along with Maybe Memories and Box Full Of Sharp Objects - and is a track that represents the story of the band. Other highly infectious songs includes Blue And Yellow and Buried Myself Alive, both of which are melodically driven, emo-rock/pop-punk inspired tracks with the latter featuring powerfully emotional choruses. Showcasing yet another side to the band is the beautiful & heartrending acoustic ballad On My Own, while Poetic Tragedy is an emotional, melodic ballad that also contains traces of pop and hardcore screaming. Rounding out the album are such vigorous, yet catchy melodic contrasting songs as Bulimic & Say Days Ago, the emo/indie-like Greener With Scenery that shows traces of Sunny Day Real Estate, the groove-driven Noise And Kisses with its hardcore-like breakdown, and the semi-upbeat, emotional ending track Pieces Mended. In the end, The Used have recorded a very impressive debut that, while it may be criticized for its lack of overall originality & commercialized nature, should easily appeal to listeners of all genres, with its genre-spanning diversity, sincere emotion, and sense of timelessness...