The Used
Imaginary Enemy


1.5
very poor

Review

by NordicMindset USER (160 Reviews)
March 31st, 2014 | 196 replies


Release Date: 2014 | Tracklist

Review Summary: More like album throwaway

I didn’t hate Vulnerable – despite its glaring flaws, there were still traces of the fire and energy that made The Used so great in the first place, even if the electronic elements were a bit too much. The same could not be said for last year’s The Ocean of the Sky, which not only showed weak experimentation (it says something when the EP starts with a furious opener and closes with a twenty-minute ambient soundscape), but also a lackluster recreation of their early work. It became glaringly obviously that The Used would never top the excellence of their self-titled debut, but even when they didn’t, it was still fairly enjoyable at most. Even if the band’s experiments over the last few years showed a recession in quality, none of them have been that cringeworthy enough to earn my ire.

Unfortunately, Imaginary Enemy manages to buck the trend. Providing the band’s most drastic sound change, The Used’s sixth studio album has Utah’s finest straying far from their roots and into a much poppier sound than anything else they’ve released. A majority of the record’s tracks seem catered to Top 40 airplay, mainly due to its overproduction. Every guitar riff is polished to the maximum, stripping it of any sense of edge or grit. It would be different if the change in sound resulted in at least some memorability, but there’s no catchiness to be found. For the most part, Imaginary Enemy plays it too safe, especially on songs like the title track and “Evolution” where traces of The Used’s roots are almost nonexistent.

While a poppy sound doesn’t necessarily correlate into low quality, Imaginary Enemy feels devoid of any energy or passion whatsoever. Bert McCracken’s vocals sound hollow and lifeless, and tracks like mid-paced snoozers “Generation Throwaway” and “Kenna Song” work perfectly as lullabies. His screams are almost all but gone, and the tracks where they remain provide the album’s highlights. On certain songs, his vocals are coated with layers of enhancer that become more prevalent as he tries to hit the high notes (at times he even sounds like Save Rock and Roll-era Patrick Stump). Bert’s singing ability used to be the highlight of Used albums, and now they’re one of the main causes of their downfall. His sheer lack of emotion greatly contributes to what makes their newfound sound so bland and uninspired.

You wouldn’t know it by Imaginary Enemy’s first few songs, though – fist-pumping anthem “Revolution” at least opens the album on a strong, rock-driven note; Bert’s cries of “This is the end, calling for revolution” coupled with guitarist Quinn Allman’s aggressive riffs create an expressive aura that is reminiscent of the In Love and Death era – his screams at the track’s conclusion only further signify this. Lead single “Cry” isn’t too shabby either; it’s anthemic hook and screamed bridge blend the album’s poppier tendencies with the emotion and anger of their early albums. Its lyrics can be a little immature and juvenile at times (“I’m gonna make you beg just for making me cry” seems ripped straight out the stereotypical teenage breakup book), but its blemishes are easy to overcome. The frantic “A Song to Stifle Imperial Progression (A Work in Progress)” may not live up to Bert’s description as ‘the heaviest song we’ve ever written’, but Dan Whitesides’ furious drumming gives it an edgier feel. Even “El-Oh-Vee-Ee” takes the best of the pop sound and runs with it, creating a fairly enjoyable tune.

The Used’s experimentation into a poppier sound is not why Imaginary Enemy marks the band’s worst release to date. All the energy and emotion that used to define them are gone, and it’s been replaced by uninspired vocals, lazy instrumentation and overproduction. They’ve always been a band driven by passion, and only traces of it are still discernable. While this isn’t entirely to blame on their new sonic direction, one can only ponder if the lack of energy was caused by their desire to explore new sounds. Although McCracken has stated in interviews that he wanted Imaginary Enemy’s pop sound to lead to more catchier material, it’s done exactly the opposite for him. Aside from the first four tracks, the album lacks a memorable moment - the choruses of "Generation Throwaway" and "Make Believe" are meant to get stuck in your head, but they never accomplish that goal. If this is what The Used have to offer, to me it's only make believe.



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user ratings (244)
2.4
average
other reviews of this album
Nathaniel (2)
3 words. Big. Fucking. Letdown....

mothy (3.5)
(12-track version) Great album with a determined feel. The only place you'll find happy-go-lucky mix...



Comments:Add a Comment 
NordicMindset
March 31st 2014


25137 Comments

Album Rating: 1.5

Stream at Pandora.

Diamondize
March 31st 2014


1367 Comments


I was kinda hoping this would be good, but the single is so cringeworthy. Might give it a shot.

danielito19
March 31st 2014


12251 Comments


this band still exists?

lol six

Matt6233
March 31st 2014


64 Comments

Album Rating: 3.5 | Sound Off

not sure how i feel about this yet

Calc
March 31st 2014


17454 Comments

Album Rating: 3.0

good review although I didn't dislike this as much as you did.



also: "it says something when the EP starts with a furious opener and closes with a twenty-minute ambient soundscape"



the sad thing is if Eluvium or EITS or Blue Sky Black Death used the exact same ambient soundscape people would be dick ridin' all the same.

trackbytrackreviews
March 31st 2014


3469 Comments

Album Rating: 2.5

Yeah this is their worst album.



Edit: Disclaimer, I don't think the album deserves a 4.5, I was like the second to put my rating on it

and I wanted to see an Used album with more than a 4 average.

avonbarksdale221
March 31st 2014


8298 Comments


@trackbytrack that it pretty moronic

really good review GB. haven't listened to these dudes since the first couple of albums, and based off this review I can't see myself changing that.


trackbytrackreviews
March 31st 2014


3469 Comments

Album Rating: 2.5

Maybe, but for like 15 minutes I had the pleasure of seeing an Used album at a 4.2 average.

Calc
March 31st 2014


17454 Comments

Album Rating: 3.0

A Used album*

trackbytrackreviews
March 31st 2014


3469 Comments

Album Rating: 2.5

I should write a track by track review of this, there's a reason I chose this name after all

EvoHavok
March 31st 2014


8088 Comments

Album Rating: 2.5

I dug 'Vulnerable', but I'm not keen on hearing this one.

jayz0ned
March 31st 2014


173 Comments

Album Rating: 2.5

*A The Used album.



For Bert's sake people, get your grammar right!

Feather
March 31st 2014


10437 Comments


any good song on this? I just wanna check out one.

trackbytrackreviews
March 31st 2014


3469 Comments

Album Rating: 2.5

An The Used's album

NordicMindset
March 31st 2014


25137 Comments

Album Rating: 1.5

Revolution and A Song to Stifle are pretty good, but the latter has this dance-y thing that goes on in the chorus that could become grating. Cry and El-Oh-Vee-Ee are the best representation of their poppier material

cagedbutterfly
March 31st 2014


584 Comments


The used, re-used, and used again.

cagedbutterfly
March 31st 2014


584 Comments


lol

Diamondize
March 31st 2014


1367 Comments


Could have been worse.

trackbytrackreviews
March 31st 2014


3469 Comments

Album Rating: 2.5

Could have been better.

NordicMindset
March 31st 2014


25137 Comments

Album Rating: 1.5

A lot better



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