Album Review - The Used - Heartwork Deluxe
REVIEW BY: Peter Moreman
The Used continue to win our ‘hearts’ over with their deluxe edition of Heartwork.
Now, I want to start off by saying how enormous this version is! The original has 16 songs, whereas they have added an additional 11, totalling 27. The album is now a bit under an hour and a half of absolute bangers. The Used have really mixed up their sound, and in a good way. They go from songs much tamer, such as Night-Sea Journey and Playing The Victim, all the way to slightly hard-core rock like Blood Meridian. However, for fans of the harder stuff, Blood Meridian is as hard as it gets (at least regarding the new songs).
Many of the new songs have a lot of synth vibes, that make you almost forget that they are an alt-rock band. I would be playing these loudly over my speaker and nearly forget who I was listening to, until their classic use of formulaic slamming of the drums and beautifully done guitar riffs made their entrance. The entire album does go really well together, I will however admit, I do, for the majority, prefer the original 16 but that is only by a little. They go together just that bit better, to make a more cohesive album. So, it makes sense they left the 11 songs off the original release.
Heartwork is an emotional album to say the least, there are many facets to each and every song. I feel like anyone could relate to at least a couple of them. And they certainly showed us the vocal range of Bert McCracken, hitting high notes with ease and being able to carry a tune for a long time. I listened to this album on near repeat for days and I have yet to become bored of it.
Each song takes you on a ride, and I’m very happy they released those songs, it allowed us to see a bit deeper into the band and their journey.
Rock icons The Used are sharing a massive collection of new songs with fans with Deluxe Edition of their eighth studio album Heartwork today. Available to stream and purchase via Big Noise, this extended album features 11 new songs all written during the original Heartwork sessions.
A variety of collaborators including producer John Feldmann, co-writer Mark Hoppus (Blink-182), guest artists Travis Barker, Jason Aalon Butler (Fever 333), Caleb Shomo (Beartooth) and more helped deliver this now 27-track album that simultaneously showcases what made The Used emerge as one of the most prolific bands of the early 2000s as well as what has kept them at the forefront of the genre ever since.
"Not a moment of our time in the studio for the Heartwork sessions was wasted. It seemed that every new day brought with it a song worth listening to. Therefore, we are beyond proud to present to you all of the songs that didn’t make the record; the entirety of the session. With love, THE USED"
Heartwork, originally released in 2020, arrived with the unbounded spirit of the pair of platinum albums that first introduced The Used to the world, mixed with the dramatic air of their gold-certified third, Lies for the Liars. The emotion, sincerity, and vulnerability found on The Used (2002) and In Love and Death (2004) is more urgent and insistent than ever on Heartwork, a diverse 16-song offering filled of self-examination, hyper-literate exploration, political pyromania, and keenly self-aware yet unrestrained whimsy.
The band celebrated a strong first week, locking in #2 spots on both the Current Alternative and Record Label Independent Album charts, #3 on both Current Rock and Top Current Album charts as well as landing in the Billboard Top 200 at the #87 spot.
Established in 2000, The Used was brought to life and have since released a collection of albums that pioneered the scene of emo rock. High energy live shows, gut wrenching relatable lyrics, and melodies that blended pop sensibility and hard rock was the perfect combination to make an everlasting impression on fans globally.
The Used is Bert McCracken (Vocals), Jepha (Bass), Dan Whitesides (Drums) and Joey Bradford (Guitar).
Fans can stream Heartwork "Deluxe" as well as purchase limited edition merch today at https://theused.ffm.to/heartworkdeluxe.
