Album Review: Vulnerable

The Used's last two studio albums Lies For The Liar and Artwork gave the impression that their best days were behind them. Their latest record – and a solid contester for best to date – Vulnerable has come out of nowhere to smash those notions and show the world that they're not even close to finished. Maybe frontman Bert McCracken spent more time writing this album than previous. Spending four months recovering from broken bones suffered as a result of falling off stage in California would have given him plenty of time to knuckle down with pen and paper. Apparently the band had 60 song ideas floating around at one point. If there wasn't a decent 12 in that bunch, they would have been in trouble.

Wasting no time, they introduce their trademark sound with I Come Alive, the first single off the album, and it's a tune that sets the pace for the rest of the record. The video for the single features a kid taking revenge on those who have bullied him, and confirms that the band is still encompassing the emo aesthetic they became known for. Luckily that vibe doesn't force its way into the music too much – in the past it almost felt overdone.

The Used are a band that learn and grow from previous mistakes and experiences. While they had a bit of a dry spell, as far as quality goes, Vulnerable feeds off preceding works and is all the stronger for it.