The Used Albums

This list of The Used albums showcase the band’s evolution from simplistic emo-rockers to multi-layered maturity. Since their initial emergence early in the millennium, The Used have honed their sound across a series of increasingly well-crafted albums. The band has utilized this maturation to escape the relatively immature confines of the emo genre and become legitimate players in the world of mainstream rock music. The alcum “The Used," released in 2002, thrust the band into the public consciousness with a raw and hard-hitting collection of songs. Ranging from the melodic mid-tempo “The Taste of Ink” to the scream-fest “A Box Full of Sharp Objects,” this album never sticks to a specific formula, which helped The Used to stand out from their contemporaries.

1. “In Love and Death.” As the full-length follow-up to their debut record, this 2004 album further developed the screaming, guitar-driven song structures present in the band’s debut. Likely one of the higher points of all The Used albums, “In Love and Death” strikes emo gold with gut-wrenching power tracks like “Take It Away” and “I Caught Fire.”
2. “Berth.” As a retrospective of The Used’s brief musical evolution, 2007’s mostly live album “Berth” was a mash-up of older songs and extra DVD material aimed at keeping the band in the public consciousness while they readied their next release. Vocalist Bert McCracken has the standout role here, as he bellows his way through a set list which relies heavily on “In Love and Death.”
3. “Lies for the Liars.” The triumphant return of new material for The Used, this 2007 album marked a key point in the band’s maturation process. In this collection of tunes, The Used’s song arrangements find influence from 1970s-era rock. This inspiration may seem out of place on an emo album, but the intricate melodies and structures of songs like “The Bird and the Worm” and “With Me Tonight” prove otherwise.
4. “Artwork.” One of the more ambitious of The Used albums, 2009’s “Artwork” continued the band’s defiance of the emo genre. There are plenty of references to the macabre, as evidenced by “Blood on My Hands,” the album’s first single. The Used stray further from their tried-and-true formula with the subtle “Kissing You Goodbye,” which is a refreshing divergence into softer melodies and structures. In total, “Artwork” shows promise for the band’s future endeavors as emo-rock mainstays.