The Used – Vulnerable

Yesterday I got a text message: “You gotta come back to Edmonton for The Used in June. It’ll be like a reunion.” I said that I couldn’t but I’d be seeing them in Vancouver instead. It’s too bad though, because seeing The Used with that group of friends would have been like a throwback to my high school years – when we drove three hours down to Calgary just to see them play.

To many who grew up around that time, The Used were a pivotal band. Their break-out 2002 Self-Titled album will, most likely, be considered a classic years from now as it ushered in a new style and genre that countless other acts copied over the years. A decade later, the Utah quartet are back with Vulnerable – their first record on their own label imprint and their first with complete control.

In the four albums in between, the band changed and evolved – to their detriment or success depending on who you asked. On Vulnerable, the band reconnected with their break-out producer John Feldman and seemed to have stopped their so called evolution and taking a step back to fall back to somewhere in their In Love and Death phase (with a dash of Lies for The Liars too).

This, to me, is somewhat disappointing and at the same time somehow comforting.  The Used have returned to form and rekindled their “sludge-pop” style to great success. Bert McCraken’s vocals are still raw and visceral while Quinn Allman’s guitar lines have a sense of punk urgency melded with enough melody to hook you in. There are weird elements for sure (the near dub-step start to Hands and Faces for instance and my favourite track, Now That You’re Dead begins with an awkward minute-long introduction) but it seems to all tie together rather well.

The thing that makes Vulnerable disappointing though is that it feels so safe. The Used aren’t pushing themselves anymore and their decision to join up with John Feldman again doesn’t do much to dissuade that idea. It’s all been done before and they’re falling back to their pop side rather than their ferocity which just makes it seem slightly bland. I mean, Moving On is damn catchy and a solid track, but it’s missing some much needed intensity.

It’s not bad per say, but nothing stands out either – it’s slightly forgettable and ultimately safe; which is a descriptor I never thought I’d used for The Used.