The Used Album: “In Love and Death [Clean] [Bonus Track]”

it's hard to produce a "5 stars" album, especially when your debut album is already a "5 stars", because of the expectation of the audiences is extremely high. "In Love & Death" is the follow up of the The Used overwhelming self-titled debut, which they pretty much kept their own style, combine style-merging rhythm with emotional energetic vocal, turn out to be another album full of interesting arrangement and powerful melodies, "Light With A Sharpened Edge", "Hard To Say", "I Caught Fire" seems to be more melodic tunes, whereas others like "Sound Effects And Overdramatics", their first-single "Take It Away", "I'm A Fake" will be more on their harder, emo-ish side,

i personally enjoy listening to it very much, it deserve a nomination fot the album of year.....

Most fans of the first album liked the band's screaming, slightly death metal edge and provacative lyrics. With the second album, the lyrics are still fairly evocative, but the band's style has changed dramatically. I really like the second album, but I like for a whole different set of reasons than I liked the first. Love or Death is a lot more pop-sounding than the first album--much more in the mainstream emo-type realm. If you're looking for the hardcore sounds of their self-titled album, you probably won't enjoy this one, but if you like Bert's voice and you're into the emo thing, you'll love Love and Death.

The Used review by: Mr. Roman

The Used are a very awesome band from Utah. The album "In Love and Death" is great. The lyrics can make an old lady scream and their powerhouse guitar style can make Ozzy Osborne, the `Prince of Darkness', want to listen to them. I first noticed The Used when I went to their concert with My Chemical Romance, and they kicked some serious butt. I couldn't believe that this new band was so awesome.

The best songs on the album `In Love and Death' are: "Listening", "Take it Away", "Lunacy Fringe", "All That I've Got", and "Let it Bleed". The lyrics and style of the song "Let it Bleed" makes it unbelievably addictive and it just makes you want to sing it at the top of your lungs. They are sort of like a better version of Billy Talent and have a more punkish sound than My Chemical Romance.

If you want a band that can make you feel better on a bad day, well then listen to The Used because they can relate to your problems especially if you are a teenager because the songs have the same sort of outlook as a teenager. The song "All That I've Got" is about appreciating what you have because you might not always get what you want. As Tesla would say, "you don't always get what you need, you don't always get what you want". The band, The Used, is a very awesome band to watch in concert and to hear at home. If you are young like me go and buy the album and you wont be disappointed because they are like Kiss.... they rock and roll all night and party everyday.

I dont understand why everyone is giving this album negitive reviews, its a great album. Yeah i will agree that it is different from there last, but you dont want every album sounding the same. Every negitive reveiw has said there is no more anger and rage like the first, yes and no. Have they not listend to Sound Effects and Overdramtics, great song. The slow songs are good as well. I think its good that they arent as angery as they were. There people too and go through different things and have ups and downs, i think they have grown as musicans and are experimenting with some sounds. I've been waiting for this album for a long time and am not disappointed. Keep up the good work and i look forward to the next album.

In the summer of 2002, Utah branded quartet, The Used, embraced us with one of the best "emo-screamo hardcore" albums known today. This album only caused the band to be a well known favorite amongst thousands and prompted them to score a main stage slot on the 2003 Vans Warped Tour and an opening slot on the 2004 Projekt Revolution Tour.

Having achieved such success, the wait for the new album was one of the most anticipated albums of Fall 2004. Upon the release of the album, the band released their first single, "Take It Away" in the spring of 04. The song seemed to be a promising preview of what to expect from the band in the fall. On September 28th, the wait came to an end and the band dropped their sophomore release, entitled "In Love and Death."

As soon as you put this album in your CD player, you couldn't help bust notice that something has changed. Their first self-titled album was overflowing with hardcore melodic songs, which showcased the Used at their best, while the new album was lacking a bit in the hardcore department, possibly causing disappointment to the old-school Used fans.

However, it is emotionally better than the first album. In ballads such as, "I Caught Fire (In Your Eyes)" and "It's Hard To Say" singer Bert McCracken proves that he is capable of singing heart-felt songs without screaming which actually makes his amazing voice stand out.

While the band has melowed out a bit, the album has a unique twist to it. It has two sides that are clearly visable. The new side of course, showing the new-softer Used and the hardcore side showing the old-aggressive Used. In tracks such as, "Sound Effects and Overdramatics" and the album's stand out track, "I'm A Fake" it shows that Bert still has his amazing talent to scream that made everyone fall in love with them in the first place.

The new album in my opinion is another masterpiece created by one of the most well-respected-rising bands. The Used definitely have what it takes to make it in the industry today. Although, it doesn't really match up to their first release, this album is highly worth paying $13 and I highly reccommend checking them out.

Review written by: Kristie Taft