Heartwork (The Used album)
Heartwork is the eighth studio album by American rock band the Used. It was released on April 24, 2020 on Big Noise.[1]
Heartwork | ||||
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Studio album by | ||||
Released | April 24, 2020 | |||
Recorded | 2019 | |||
Studio | Foxy Studios, Los Angeles | |||
Length | 46:18 | |||
Label | Big Noise | |||
Producer | John Feldmann | |||
The Used chronology | ||||
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Singles from Heartwork | ||||
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Background
In mid-2019, The Used signed to their long-time friend and producer John Feldmann's record label Big Noise.[2][3] They started recording the album in June 2019, took a break to headline the Disrupt Festival tour, and finished recording the album in November 2019.[4][5] A music video for the single "Blow Me" was released in December 2019, "Paradise Lost, a poem by John Milton" in February, and "Cathedral Bell" in April.[6][7][8] This is the first album to feature Joey Bradford on guitar after Justin Shekoski left in 2018. The band recorded 26 songs during the Heartwork sessions and plan on releasing another album later in 2020 that will include the remaining songs.[9]
Reception
Review scores | |
---|---|
Source | Rating |
AllMusic | |
Gigwise | |
Kerrang! | |
NME | |
Wall of Sound | 9.5/10[14] |
Ali Shutler of NME rated the album four out of five stars, writing that The Used returned to their heart-pounding choruses and pop sensibilities after their experimental work with The Canyon. She wrote that "Heartwork is full of dark, brooding songs" that are familiar but daring.[15]
At gigwise.com, Laviea Thomas gave it eight out of ten stars. She noted that the album started with flying riffs and swirling energy that becomes a joyous ride ending with an emotional goodbye as McCracken pleads, "I just wanna feel something, anything is better than this." Thomas also wrote that the return of Feldmann was "an undeniable part of the magic behind this album."[16]
Track listing
No. | Title | Length |
---|---|---|
1. | "Paradise Lost, a poem by John Milton" | 2:47 |
2. | "Blow Me" | 3:20 |
3. | "Big, Wanna Be" | 3:30 |
4. | "Bloody Nose" | 3:04 |
5. | "Wow, I Hate This Song" | 2:56 |
6. | "My Cocoon" | 1:00 |
7. | "Cathedral Bell" | 3:04 |
8. | "1984 (Infinite Jest)" | 2:44 |
9. | "Gravity's Rainbow" | 4:14 |
10. | "Clean Cut Heals" | 2:51 |
11. | "Heartwork" | 1:22 |
12. | "The Lighthouse" | 2:51 |
13. | "Obvious Blasé" | 2:52 |
14. | "The Lottery" | 2:44 |
15. | "Darkness Bleeds, FOTF" | 4:01 |
16. | "To Feel Something" | 2:56 |
Total length: | 46:18[10] |
Personnel
The Used
- Bert McCracken – vocals
- Jeph Howard – bass, backing vocals
- Dan Whitesides – drums, backing vocals
- Joey Bradford – guitars, backing vocals
Additional musicians[17]
- Jason Aalon Butler – on "Blow Me"
- Mark Hoppus – on "The Lighthouse"
- Travis Barker – on "Obvious Blasé"
- Caleb Shomo – on "The Lottery"
Production
- John Feldmann – producer, mixing
- Dylan McLean – engineer
- Scot Stewart – engineer
- Jacob Magness – engineer
- Michael Bono – engineer
Charts
Chart (2020) | Peak position |
---|---|
US Billboard 200[18] | 87 |
US Top Alternative Albums (Billboard)[19] | 4 |
US Top Hard Rock Albums (Billboard)[20] | 4 |
US Top Rock Albums (Billboard)[21] | 11 |
References
- "Heartwork CD". The Used Shop.
- "The Used". Big Noise.
- "Big Noise welcomes @WeAreTheUsed | We're excited to bring @JohnFeldy on board to produce the upcoming album! #bignoise #theusedpic.twitter.com/Dduu8NFTEV". June 5, 2019.
- Callwood, Brett (April 25, 2019). "The Used Are Coming Back for the Beach". LA Weekly. Retrieved January 22, 2020.
- Childers, Chad. "The Used May Release New Songs After Disrupt Tour". Loudwire.com. Retrieved January 22, 2020.
- "The Used - Blow Me [Official Music Video". December 5, 2019. Retrieved April 3, 2020 – via YouTube.
- "The Used - Paradise Lost, a poem by John Milton [Official Music Video". February 6, 2020. Retrieved April 3, 2020 – via YouTube.
- "The Used - Cathedral Bell [Official Music Video". April 16, 2020. Retrieved April 22, 2020 – via YouTube.
- "The Future Of The Used: "We Recorded 26 Or 27 Songs That We Love"". Kerrang!.
- "Heartwork - The Used | Songs, Reviews, Credits | AllMusic" – via www.allmusic.com.
- "Album Review: The Used — Heartwork". Gigwise. April 24, 2020. Retrieved April 28, 2020.
- "Album Review: The Used – Heartwork". Kerrang!. April 24, 2020. Retrieved April 28, 2020.
- "The Used – 'Heartwork' review: a dynamic and surprising adventure, and proof of their enduring legacy". NME. April 24, 2020. Retrieved April 28, 2020.
- "The Used – Heartwork (Album Review)". Wall of Sound. April 20, 2020. Retrieved April 28, 2020.
- "The Used – 'Heartwork' review". NME Music News, Reviews, Videos, Galleries, Tickets and Blogs | NME.COM. April 24, 2020. Retrieved May 13, 2020.
- "Album Review: The Used — Heartwork | Gigwise". www.gigwise.com. Retrieved May 13, 2020.
- "The Used reveal collab-packed 'Heartwork' album details". Alternative Press. February 6, 2020.
- "The Used Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved May 5, 2020.
- "The Used Chart History (Top Alternative Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved May 5, 2020.
- "The Used Chart History (Top Hard Rock Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved May 5, 2020.
- "The Used Chart History (Top Rock Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved May 5, 2020.