Back with a new full-length album – their first in several years – Bert McCracken and co are back with an album that turns up the melodies and turns down the aggression that littered their very successful first two albums. While the self-titled and ‘In Love and Death’ were commercially successful records, both albums – and especially the first – had a raw edge to them which, for me, made The Used stand out from the pack. Of course they came along at the right time, before the genre and the market became over-saturated, but there was something a little different which made the band.
‘Lies for the Liars’ loses that edge. The visceral screaming from Bert’s bowels is lost – certainly toned down – and the result is the radio-friendly strings of ‘Earthquake’ or the poppier first single ‘The Bird and The Worm’. And the loss of the roar doesn’t make this a bad record, it makes it different. Almost interesting. The rock operatics and strings are Panic! At the Disco-esque in places, ‘Paralyzed’ in particular sounds a little familiar and nothing like The Used of old. Even ‘With Me Tonight’ sounds more pop than punk…
The band are at their best when they’re really going at it and ‘Hospital’ sounds like a future single in waiting with its big chorus and vocal melodies. ‘Wake The Dead’ builds up really nicely with some beautifully chugging guitars, while ‘Liar Liar’ – terrible lyrics aside – is fast enough to gain your attention. The Used are back and this will undoubtedly be a commercial success. I don’t think this is a bad album, I just don’t believe it’s anywhere near their best. Had Panic! not stolen the band’s thunder with circus style noises and an added drama then this may well have sounded fresher than it does. Ultimately it sounds a little toned down and Bert isn’t always at his angry best. Expect some MTV-style shenanigans, maybe even Radio 1 airplay too – but if you loved the first album I think you may feel this is a bit of a letdown.