The Used - Vulnerable

I was anticipating this album for awhile and with that said lets see if they lived up to said anticipation. The mentally agitated vocal melody of "I Come Alive" satisfies my ears completely then the running chorus drops into a dub-step breakdown of sorts which actually works to effectively drive the theatre of The Used. The band have always been more of a audio stage play than anything else and I think that's why I like them so much.

One thing that The Used has always had on their side is the “Tim Burton Sound”… There’s no real other way to explain it, but they have that creepy feeling that they can bring to anything… It provides a bit of suspense and mystery to each song. The band take that and completely rip off the door with ‘Put Me Out’ reminding me of everything that is great about The Used, with Bert McCracken’s screeching banshee vocals reaching out through a powerhouse of raw riffs and violent breakdowns.

This is the bands debut for their own label and if the band is to be successful they have to make sure this album does some seriously good business for them and their label. I think that the album is strong on many levels and is a better record than Artwork over all. It might be because they use some different stuff in the production and structure of the songs. The ebb and flow on Vulnerable is much greater but also much easier to accept while it plays through.

 The One thing that pleasantly surprised me is that there’s an uplifting song on this album. Sure, it’s only one, but Bert McCracken has never been big on the empowerment so it’s a huge step. “Shine”, perhaps the only song by The Used I can say is genuinely inspirational, is my second favorite song on the album. The song also reminds me much of Panic! @ The Disco (wow two mentions in a row) and because I'm such a fan of that band I hear it plain as day on "Shine". The chorus is a powerful set of words delivered perfectly to get you up on your feet:

it's my time to shine, do it my way cuz it's my time baby
it's my time to burn, start a fire, be the one and only
I said it
I meant it
I never will forget it
change never happens by itself
it's my time to burn, my time to shine.
time to make it for myself.

One of the best songs on the album is another first for this band: honest-to-goodness alternative rock. “Moving On” is a masterpiece that combines the tone of bands like Good Charlotte with the more gritty feel of Rise Against, and it’s all wound together with McCracken’s distinct vocals. In order to fully grasp how unique this is for The Used, listen to “Empty With You” from Artwork (its closest counterpart) and then this song. The difference in tone is remarkable.

The Used have not always hit the nail on the head during their decade-spanning career, but 'Vulnerable' however, is their homecoming. Although not far removed from 'Artwork', this LP feels far more accomplished than their previous effort. From the force of 'Put Me Out' and 'Kiss It Goodbye' to the self-affirming moments in 'Shine' and 'Moving On', 'Vulnerable' places The Used firmly back on top of their game.