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Review Summary: This EP shows a marked improvement from the disappointment that was Lies For The Liars. Oh, The Used. I fell in love with your self-titled album way back in senior year of high school. I would roll down the windows to my car and blast Maybe Memories and Say Days Ago until I couldn't hear anymore. Then sophomore year of college rolled around, and I couldn't wait to pick up your new album, In Love And Death. While not as explosive as your first album, I got used to the new, more poppy direction, and really enjoyed songs like Take It Away, Let It Bleed, and Sound Effects And Overdramatics. Then it came time for your third full-length, and I was hearing comparisons to The Black Parade, and I started to get scared. After a cursory listen to Lies For The Liars, I knew it wasn't worthy of buying. It contained some of the best songs you've written (The Ripper and Pretty Handsome Awkward), but there was also so much filler that it hurt.
I'm still a fan, so I decided to check out the Shallow Believer EP (although, I don't really know how a release with 10-songs can be called an EP, but whatever). I was so pleasantly surprised by this release. First of all, the artwork is great. Second, the quality of the songs is just miles above most of the filler that was found on Lies For The Liars. The slower/poppy songs on this one (Dark Days, Sick Hearts, Devil Beside You) are great, unlike Find A Way and Smother Me. The faster/harder ones (Slit Your Own Throat, My Pesticide) recall the early, glory days of The Used. In addition, The Back Of Your Mouth succeeds at employing horns, as opposed to the failure of some of the more experimental songs on Lies For The Liars.
There are some complaints, though. Tunnel and Sun Comes Up should have been left off this release. Also, where is Pain? That is by far one of The Used's best unreleased songs. If Shallow Believer dropped two or three tracks (including Choke Me - a great song, but it's already included on the self-titled album), and added Pain, The Ripper, and Pretty Handsome Awkward, then this would be the CD that should have been released in place of Lies For The Liars.
The Used have so much potential. I'm constantly baffled at how they can keep producing albums with fantastic songs right next to awful ones. They obviously know how to rock, and they are certainly adept at crafting a solid pop song - so why can't they make a 12-song album with all good songs? Here's to hoping that the fourth full-length finds The Used capitalizing on their strengths and getting the formula right. In the meantime, pick this one up - it's worth it.
(This release is only available for digital download - so head over to iTunes or Amazon).
| other reviews of this album |
Zippermouth (3)
Sometimes they suck, sometimes they're awesome. Always, they're The Used....
Free Death #2 (4.5)
Welcome back to greatness, The Used....
DurgTv (3.5)
Whether or not this was just a marketing ploy from the band, to keep an active fan base while in sea...
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(including Choke Me - a great song, but it's already included on the self-titled album) No it's not...and added Pain, The Ripper, and Pretty Handsome Awkward, then this would be the CD that should have been released in place of Lies For The Liars. This is a collection of B-Sides from the first three albums so, other then Pain, they'd have no reason to put those songs on here... especially since this is a digital-only release and people can download those songs from the original albums so why would they pay for them again here?Then it came time for your third full-length, and I was hearing comparisons to The Black Parade, and I started to get scared. The third full-length is almost as good as their debut, the second album sucks... much like Black Parade.
| | | Album Rating: 3.5
Choke Me is the secret song on their self-titled album, hence it is "included" on the album.
What I was saying, in reference to putting The Ripper and Pretty Handsome Awkward on this release, was that, in my opinion, Shallow Believer should have been released instead of Lies For The Liars, not in addition to it. So, having those two songs on this release would have made for a great full-length, because those two songs rock.
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I'll stand corrected on the first thing, but you're still asking for this album to be something it was never intended to be... nevermind, I don't like this band enough to really get into it.
Edit... and the album rating didn't come from me; I'd tell you if I did that.This Message Edited On 02.25.08
| | | Album Rating: 3.5
Needs less personal story and more description of the EP in itself. Also, too many parenthesis. Lies was a great album, and it is a good sign from the band cuz after the awesomeness that was the s/t, Love & Death was not even close to be as good.
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How is this an EP with 10 tracks?
| | | Album Rating: 3.5
I know it's weird, but this is a collection of B-Sides from the first three albums. This would be a EEP (Extended Extended Play)
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Well I guess if it's under 35 mins then it's cool but with 10 track I'd figure they try to market it as a LP.
Oh well I guess the label doesn't want to pay out more money to them (the used).
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I didn't know this was out yet. I hate digital download albums... at least it's on Amazon and I don't have to put up with Itunes.
This sounds pretty good, although I'm horrified that they didn't put "Pain" on it.
| | | Album Rating: 3.5
I agree with everything you've said. Good review, perhaps worded a bit poorly but i'm in agreement with your views so i can't complain.
| | | Album Rating: 4.0
Well written review , but the album was a bit uncomprimised
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The used are pretty boring even more then thrice
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