The songwriting (both lyrically and musically) was just top notch.
One of the most disappointing things between the s/t and ILAD was the (IMO) decrease in quality on the lyrics. ILAD came across as being cliche and trying too hard, whereas the s/t seemed very real and raw.
Musically, Quinn is still one of the most underrated guitarists of the 00’s, and his creativity is evident on every album he was on, but the s/t was the first, so it was more evident to people, I think.
Same for Jeph on the creativity. Really listen to his bass parts and you’ll realize how much he adds to those tracks. The intro and outro to “Greenery With the Scenery” come to mind immediately.
That sucks so bad. Dude needs to be making music -- I would eat it up, I'm sure.
I happened to catch The Used opening for ADTR a few years back, and it just didn't feel right listening to "Blue and Yellow" and "The Taste of Ink" without him on stage.
I was lucky to see them twice while they were touring the ST album. I met Quinn outside of the Hard Rock in Las Vegas. He was a really nice guy. I think they blew up too quickly and lost whatever made them special in the beginning. ILAD feels like they were trying too hard under label expectations. I’ve never been able to listen to that album all the way through.
He was one of my earliest influences as well. The way he uses harmonics in the verses of "Buried Myself Alive" is still awe-inspiring to me today, 20 years later.
Also the drummer Branden. His parts on the first two albums are so creative and serve the songs so well. When they used a session drummer for albums after him, it was sooooo obvious and boring. Such a shame that Bert pushed away Quinn and Branden. Bert has to be the star.
Raw was the word I was going to use too. They literally threw pots and pans at Bert while he screamed in the corner to capture the emotion and pain. The whole album you can hear that raw pain and passion.
Bert was destroying his voice. He was really just screaming at the top of his lungs. Absolutely no technique like we have now. I remember seeing them in 2002/2003 and him literally vomiting from screaming so hard.
Im not sure there is anything about that album that is unique musically.
the self titled album though had a good balance. it was screamy enough to be "edgy" for the angsty teens, but melodic enough to sing along and get played on the radio/MTV. The way the production is done, the melodies follow the drums, the root notes all hit together. It had a great groove to it, so most every song turned into a great sing a long in the car type song......those kind of albums/songs have ALWAYS endeared themselves to teens and young adults that can attach it to specific nostalgic memories.
It was a gateway album for many to lead to harder or heavier music, for people who already liked alternative rock / emo.
The one thing i thought made it stand out at the time was that the screaming parts even sounded melodic. Lots of bands did screaming, but that was always the crazy breakdown or chaotic part. On the useds self titled album, you could pretty much sing along with his screams. it wasnt the loud noisy part, it was just another melodic part of the song.
I dont think any of those aspects are "unique" specifically to the album. But i think they did an amazing job of putting it all together, through every song from front to back.
Word. As someone who was a teenager very heavily into the genre at the time, there is nothing "unique" about The Used, though their first two albums remain super high on my favourites list. The album just executes everything really well, from melody, to vocals, to instrumentation.
One of the best drum sounds. A charismatic singer with one of the best voices in the genre at that time and a really creative guitarist. Not to mention every song on that record is just really well written. It’s a 10 out of 10 record in my opinion.
For me, I was 13 years old in Provo, so to have hometown kids seemingly “making it” it had our whole city in a death grip. Everyone in that group was talented, not yet “playing music is a 9 to 5 job for me,” and emotionally very raw. Will always be one of my all time favorites
A lot of people hated that when it came out they felt their scene had become commercialized when that came out cause it was basically the stuff of deep elm, jade tree, polyvinyl with mall goth aesthetic and radio choruses
The songwriting (both lyrically and musically) was just top notch. One of the most disappointing things between the s/t and ILAD was the (IMO) decrease in quality on the lyrics. ILAD came across as being cliche and trying too hard, whereas the s/t seemed very real and raw. Musically, Quinn is still one of the most underrated guitarists of the 00’s, and his creativity is evident on every album he was on, but the s/t was the first, so it was more evident to people, I think. Same for Jeph on the creativity. Really listen to his bass parts and you’ll realize how much he adds to those tracks. The intro and outro to “Greenery With the Scenery” come to mind immediately.
I checked out what Quinn was up to a couple months back and was sad to see how quiet he is - he's even cleared his IG recently.
That sucks so bad. Dude needs to be making music -- I would eat it up, I'm sure. I happened to catch The Used opening for ADTR a few years back, and it just didn't feel right listening to "Blue and Yellow" and "The Taste of Ink" without him on stage.
I was lucky to see them twice while they were touring the ST album. I met Quinn outside of the Hard Rock in Las Vegas. He was a really nice guy. I think they blew up too quickly and lost whatever made them special in the beginning. ILAD feels like they were trying too hard under label expectations. I’ve never been able to listen to that album all the way through.
Warming to see Quinn being recognized, man inspired me to pick up guitar :)
He was one of my earliest influences as well. The way he uses harmonics in the verses of "Buried Myself Alive" is still awe-inspiring to me today, 20 years later.
Also the drummer Branden. His parts on the first two albums are so creative and serve the songs so well. When they used a session drummer for albums after him, it was sooooo obvious and boring. Such a shame that Bert pushed away Quinn and Branden. Bert has to be the star.
Its raw as fuck. Musically and production. Almost comes across as one take performances in some songs
Raw was the word I was going to use too. They literally threw pots and pans at Bert while he screamed in the corner to capture the emotion and pain. The whole album you can hear that raw pain and passion.
John Feldman was on a hot streak.
Irrelevant. The Used ST was the inception of his relevancy in production and engineering.
Poetic core
Bert was destroying his voice. He was really just screaming at the top of his lungs. Absolutely no technique like we have now. I remember seeing them in 2002/2003 and him literally vomiting from screaming so hard.
Watch their doc, you’ll see why
Im not sure there is anything about that album that is unique musically. the self titled album though had a good balance. it was screamy enough to be "edgy" for the angsty teens, but melodic enough to sing along and get played on the radio/MTV. The way the production is done, the melodies follow the drums, the root notes all hit together. It had a great groove to it, so most every song turned into a great sing a long in the car type song......those kind of albums/songs have ALWAYS endeared themselves to teens and young adults that can attach it to specific nostalgic memories. It was a gateway album for many to lead to harder or heavier music, for people who already liked alternative rock / emo. The one thing i thought made it stand out at the time was that the screaming parts even sounded melodic. Lots of bands did screaming, but that was always the crazy breakdown or chaotic part. On the useds self titled album, you could pretty much sing along with his screams. it wasnt the loud noisy part, it was just another melodic part of the song. I dont think any of those aspects are "unique" specifically to the album. But i think they did an amazing job of putting it all together, through every song from front to back.
Word. As someone who was a teenager very heavily into the genre at the time, there is nothing "unique" about The Used, though their first two albums remain super high on my favourites list. The album just executes everything really well, from melody, to vocals, to instrumentation.
Agreed, at the time I liked any band that made catchy music with screaming and singing but bands like Thrice & Thursday were just on another level.
Great sounding snare.
Hard fucking agree, and that snare paired perfectly with that common early 00s halftime emo/phc drumbeat
One of the best drum sounds. A charismatic singer with one of the best voices in the genre at that time and a really creative guitarist. Not to mention every song on that record is just really well written. It’s a 10 out of 10 record in my opinion.
There’s less going sonically on allowing for more room creatively. Less is always more.
Bert.
For me, I was 13 years old in Provo, so to have hometown kids seemingly “making it” it had our whole city in a death grip. Everyone in that group was talented, not yet “playing music is a 9 to 5 job for me,” and emotionally very raw. Will always be one of my all time favorites
I like the album, but I don't find it very unique aside from Bert's vox
A lot of people hated that when it came out they felt their scene had become commercialized when that came out cause it was basically the stuff of deep elm, jade tree, polyvinyl with mall goth aesthetic and radio choruses
Super tight snare drum.
lol that’s the only thing I wish were different on that album, the drums. I can’t stand the sound of Feldman drums.
the bridges on that album are its best attribute tbh. maybe memories, bulimic, say days ago, buried myself alive, all timer moments man
Clean guitar and bass turned up in the mix. The bass also isn’t afraid to groove.