Play it by Ear
Artwork by The Used
Tyler Allen
Issue date: 10/19/09 Section: Culture
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This Utah quartet's take on the emo genre seemed fresh when they released their self-titled debut in 2002. But in the latter part of the decade, their brand of rock only seems tired.
Guitarist Quinn Allman recently told U-News "we've changed as people and as artists."
I can't speak for them as people, but their evolution as artists is not evident on their newest album Artwork.
You'd think after all the success the band has seen over the years, lead singer and lyricist Bert McCracken would lighten up a bit. Such is not the case on Artwork.
McCracken is still an angry little emo kid on songs like the opening track, "Blood On My Hands." He sings "feel the pain that I never show, and I hope you know it's never healing."
The self-loathing doesn't stop when McCracken sings, "sold my life to bring the rain … sold my soul to stop the pain" in "Sold My Soul."
The painfully cheesy "Kissing You Goodbye" is reminiscent of hair-band ballads past. The track starts with McCracken whining about losing his lady over a soft piano riff.
When a reverb-laden 80s guitar solo explodes during the bridge, I can't help but picture Allman bursting through fog-machine smoke with teased hair to deliver it.
Through the dark imagery and regurgitated rock riffs, the album does provide some positives.
The Used has always had a knack for delivering catchy, anthemic choruses, such as on their break through single "The Taste Of Ink." They achieve the same with Artwork on songs like "Empty Without You" and "Watered Down." Even if their music seems old-hat, you might catch yourself singing along.
But even a well-constructed chorus can't save lines like "this spider web of dreams, I'm stuck here as it seems to be breaking."
What made The Used stand out against the wave of emo groups that descended upon the music scene years ago were honest lyrics and a unique sound. On Artwork, honest lyrics are replaced with ambiguous metaphors and their unique sound has become commonplace.
If you're missing the rock music of yesteryear, Artwork could seem nostalgic. But if you're searching for something different, I suggest looking elsewhere.
tallen@unews.com
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