Album Review: The Used - 'Imaginary Enemy'

WARNING: THIS IS NOT THE USED.

That's right, this album, 'Imaginary Enemy' is not the long haired, yahoo emo-punks that wrote 'Artwork' and 'In Love and Death'. Whoever wrote this album, is a different animal entirely. 'Imaginary Enemy' is one-hundred-and-twenty percent a rock album from start to finish. There's copious amount of swinging drum grooves, funk inspired bass lines and crisp guitar riffs. And then there's the flip-side of the sonically huge and powerful choruses that would make one question if the cover really says The Used.

Okay, literary mannerisms and devices aside, it's real talk time.

To reinforce the above, it's easy to see from opener 'Revolution' that 'Imaginary Enemy' is far from anything you've heard from this band before. At times, it comes out of the depths with a groovy, rock swagger that hits hard and strong. Tracks such as that contain the meat of the record that you can really sink your teeth into. 'Cry', 'A Song to Stifle Imperial Progression' and 'Revolution' are perfect examples of this. They hit hard, with a thick bass line backing up every bar and slick guitar riffs and a powerful percussion being layered in perfectly. Vocal wise it shows a welcome and impressive maturity in Bert McCracken's voice that blends in well, no matter what he's singing over.

And at other, more often times, the songs get down on a lower level and go for a melodically inspiring soundtrack with a pop-influenced edge. These kind of tracks hit home through their use of heart-pulling and spine-tingling harmonies and soaring choruses that intertwine and work superbly.

Songs like 'El-Oh-Vee-Ee' and 'Make Believe' make good use of this side to the album. They are catchy and infectious tracks that get stuck in your head and will have you belting out the words by play through two.

There is no doubt that the reason behind this change is because the band really are no longer the twenty-somethings that wrote those old-school emo and punk albums; they are adults now and they are older, wiser and although it might seem surprising, still experimenting and ever-changing.

But the downfall of the record comes in the form of the last two songs; both of which are essentially throwaway tracks. They fail to grasp and capture like their predecessors. The songwriting feels uninspiring and lacklustre as oppose to the rest of the record that just hits all the marks perfectly.  

Don't be fooled, this isn't The Used. The Used would never write funk and meaty inspired rock tracks that get you moving in a way that doesn't involve two-step and moshing. They would never craft these sonically-soaring and melodically beautiful pop-infused songs that infect your ears, heart and head. Although, 'Imaginary Enemies' isn't all shine and fine with its few shortcomings, it is still a genuinely great album, worthy of your time, money and praise. We won't say it one more time: this is not The Used. This is THE-MOTHERFUCKING-USED!