Album Review: The Used - Heartwork

Living in a somewhat forgotten genre, could The Used really surprise us with a new, 16-track album? It seems they can! There is rock, screamo, pop, post-hardcore, dance and poetry. It’s held together by a swarm of emo sounds that are both nostalgic and contemporary. 

Lovers of early noughties music will go ballistic as Heartwork sounds like The Used, Panic! At The Disco, Good Charlotte and Underoath combined. Sprinkle some Timberlake in there too, because, well, Clean Cut Heals.

We actually need to talk about Clean Cut Heals. If your teenage self were here, they would eye roll in disbelief when told this is the band who made In Love And Death. It is without a doubt the poppiest track in the band’s nearly 20-year history. And we’re digging it. Proving their OG sounds are still well and truly alive though, immediately following on from that is the album's title track, an angsty spoken word piece by vocalist Bert McCracken. 

The assortment of genres throughout the album will jolt you, but there is no room for boredom here. The best from the album? We can’t help but obsess over both blink-182 collabs. The Lighthouse is a true highlight thanks to blink's bass player/vocalist Mark Hoppus’ cameo, alongside a funky Seinfeld-esque sounding bass line. The Lottery, featuring blink's drummer Travis Barker, is the winner though, reminiscent of a noughties film opener, with a fresh pop-punk sound.

While remaining true to their roots, on Heartwork The Used have also found an adventurous side that is bolder than any before. We suspect they had a lot of fun making the album - a feeling that’ll be evoked right back to the listener.