02 April 2012
Frontman Bert McCracken has enough fodder from his colourful, much publicised past to make an album that’s sick with autobiographical emotion and metaphorical disbelief. But five albums in, The Used have done this, well, five times already in the past eleven years, and after 2009’s Artwork saw the band’s then label unabashedly endeavour to cash in on his experiences, this release was understandably surrounded with doubt.
However, after branching out to release a fifth offering on their own and a triumph over another bout with drug addiction, McCracken truly had the open door to make another In Love and Death, or the self-titled debut; unfortunately this could be the exact reason why Vulnerable falls short.
Lyrically it’s missing the rawness from the promised self-titled leanings but instrumental aptitude and the genuine excitement of actually listening to new material from The Used overslaugh most disappointing aspects.
Thankfully, Vulnerable’s first two tracks I Come Alive and This Fire take all the best bits from 2007’s Lies For The Liars: jarring guitars, desperate vocals and lyrics displaying characteristics you either wish you owned or had the moxie to admit to.
Three tracks in and the elated feeling dissipates; repetitive lyrics are welcomed when it’s clear they’ve been bled onto a page, but parroted lines like ‘you put me out like a cigarette’ (Put Me Out) and ‘I never meant to hurt nobody, I never meant to hurt no one’ (Hurt No One) come across lazy. Thankfully the arresting and intricate guitar lines and manic percussion placate any hard feelings on these tracks.
Now That You’re Dead delivers the promise of a trip down memory lane; morally questionable lyrics, hints at necrophilia and religious iconography are what we missed from McCracken on Artwork as we realise his vulnerable yell is still solidly in tact.
Later in the record, Getting Over You may be the album’s answer to 2007 track Smother Me/Queso but it pales in comparison. Rounding out the record however is a glimmer of light that does faintly touch on Smother Me. Together Burning Bright is one of those unique moments where you begin to understand a musician instead of relating the lyrics to your own experiences.
McCracken is clearly an accomplished lyricist, able to communicate to his fans the darkest of desires, the most hopeful aspirations and the lowest strangulations of self-loathing. When he does this naturally it’s effective, but unfortunately much of Vulnerable comes across tried.
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