The Used - Heartwork (April 24, 2020) Album • Page 3

I'm diving in. So far Paradise Lost is cool, kind of reminds me of that one EP they did after Vulnerable. Grungy punk rock suits them well.

I hate Big Wanna Be, so I'm ready for another inconsistent album from an inconsistent band.

 

Okay it's better than I expected, perhaps the most I appreciated a The Used album since Vulnerable or Artwork. It has quite a few duds, particularly the aptly titled Wow I Hate This Song, which sounds like a D.R.U.G.S. reject. When they suddenly start experimenting in the second third though, I'm pleasantly surprised.

Cathedral Bell is the most interesting thing they've done in a long time and easily my favorite song. 1984 comes close. Clean Cut Heals and the collab with Mark Hoppus explore a funky direction I never expected them to pull off, the first works much more than the second which feels a bit too dated. I like the throwbacks to their early stuff like Gravity's Rainbow or Obvious Blasé, the latter sounding like 2004 in a good way.

Another missed opportunity comes near the end with The Lottery. I love the early Madina Lake vibes I hear, but then that corny old school metalcore breakdown kills the mood (plus after hearing Don Broco or Silverstein use the same guest like this... I can't help but think "Can you come up with something else, Caleb?").

Even if the execution isn't always there, the more they step away from their usual sound, the better they get. I don't know where they go from here, but it'd be cool if they released a consistently good album front to back 20 years after their debut next. Full circle something.

I wrote way more about this band than I did in at least a decade whew

 

"Cathedral Bell", "Gravity's Rainbow" and "Obvious Blase" are so good, wish they would stop trying to write heavy songs entirely and just focus on stuff like that

 

Just popped in here to say that Cathedral Bell showed up randomly on Spotify today and I'm actually really impressed with this song.

 

Its pretty wild how awesome the music is for 'Wow, I Hate This Song' compared to how cheesy the lyrics are for the same song haha.

 

This is pretty terrible. However! There are two to three I really enjoy and it makes me sad how much I truly believe they could do. Lighthouse, Blase, and Wow are all fun. Some of the more stripped back tracks are listenable but then there is a lot of garbage. I think artwork was the last record I enjoyed as a whole unit.

 

Wow, I Hate This Song is the first one I actually fully enjoy musically, fun song despite the dumb lyrics. Bloody Nose and Big are both mostly solid but have weak choruses. Cathedral Bell is great.

 

very into Clean Cut Heals, fun song.

 

I saw some hate for The Lighthouse but I like this one a lot too, love the vibes in the verses and the chorus is jolly as hell.

 

I really like most of this album, easily their best since Vulnerable, maybe Artwork. I just wish the first five were better. Still, I'm glad they're finally putting out new music I like.

 

I'm not really understanding this whole "album starts off bad" thing. Paradise Lost and Blow Me are both great

 

Blow Me and Big, Wanna Be are easily the two worst on the album for me. Kinda hate both choruses.

 

Def think the second half is stronger

 

Not saying it does or doesn't get better as it goes, but it certainly doesn't start off on a terrible foot or anything

 

I wouldn’t peg you for a used fan; equally as surprised there’s a lot on here you can get down to.

 

Obvious Blase is prob my favorite right now. I actually really like 1984 and Darkness Bleeds a shit ton.

The bass in Clean Cut Heals slaps hard AF. Love it too.

tons of fun stuff on here.

 

"Paradise Lost" is fine, not convinced it works as the opener but it's a pretty good song

"Blow Me" is atrocious, like second half of Lies for the Liars-level bad from these guys. "Big" isn't much better either

 

Yeah I mean, the record is a mess lol

 

Am i the only that thinks Imaginary Enemy wasn't bad?

 

It's not bad, but it's my least favorite in their discography.

 

Really? Now that you said it I think I can’t works better lol

 

Very cool to have that info behind the lyrics. I like that story a lot.

 

Yeah the story is pretty endearing. Sorry you’re dad is so fucked, kid. Wonder if she asked him to cut all references to suicide, guns, bleeding, and self harm too? Lololol

 

I think “can” works better. The chorus sounds too bright.

 

I just like that it sounds uplifting but the lyrics would subvert that general concept