The Used - Lies for the Liars

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RIYL

Funeral for a Friend
My Chemical Romance
Saosin
The Red Jumpsuit Apparatus

Tracklist

1. The Ripper
2. Pretty Handsome Awkward
3. The Bird And The Worm
4. Earthquake
5. Hospital
6. Paralyzed
7. With Me Tonight
8. Wake The Dead
9. Find A Way
10. Liar Liar [Burn In Hell]
11. Smother Me

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The Used have always been an easy band to hate on. Their musical genre and Bert's personality have always been polarizing, with their popularity not having done much to silence the naysayers. If there is one thing you can’t hate on them for, though, it's their ability to weave Bert’s eccentric vocals in with the band’s ability to create insatiable melodies. On their self-titled release we were introduced to a band that was about to become one of the heavy hitters in what some might call the “screamo” genre. In reality, The Used have always been a rock band at heart and now on their third album, Lies for the Liars, the guys have dropped their screamo stylings and created what appears to be a well-polished rock record.

With the help of producer John Feldman, the music on Lies for the Liars is slick and smooth. It’s over the top and it’s damn good. The song that takes the cake on the album goes to “Pretty Handsome Awkward”. It's a catchy little tune that is more reminiscent of 80's hair metal than one of the dramatic screamo ballads normally associated with the band. Bert is always on point with his charismatic singing and the guitars are pure rock-n-roll. The first single “The Bird and the Worm” is the band’s attempt at a theatrical tune. Unlike labelmates My Chemical Romance, the guys don’t go too over the top and while it may feature Gregorian chants and pizzicato strings, the song is the band’s most ambitious song to date. I’m also glad to see them wearing the same clothes instead of looking like a bunch of ghosts, wishing they were Freddie Mercury Jr.

As previously mentioned, the music is over the top. The song that will probably come off as absolutely cheesy is “Liar Liar (Burn in Hell)". We all remember singing “Liar liar, pants on fire” as kids, but probably didn’t think much of it. Well, Bert uses that good ol’ saying and makes for song that is easily a guilty pleasure. The hook in it is undeniably catchy and will get stuck in your head for days.

So when listening to Lies for the Liars, give it a couple spins. I guarantee the album will grow on you even if you don’t want it to.

--Chris Conlan

Author

Chris Conlan
Last updated: 09/29/2009 08:59PM

Comments

SM760
05/22/2007
11:16AM
Location
Haleiwa, HI / Carlsbad, CA
Ok, ill be the first to comment. This album is growing on me quite a bit, although I do not think that it is a full length cd full of hits. I totally agree with the review on "Handsome Akward" being the best song on the disc. Even though it is an absolute rip of Motley Crue's "Dr. Feelgood", it is actually nice to hear what it would sound like if they had the production technology, that we have to day, back then. "Earthquake"," Paralyze", and "With Me Tonite" are also the most outstanding songs on the record, and "The Worm From a Bird" is coming in a close second. I dont really care much for the rest, and its too bad. If they had made more of an attempt as they did with the 5 songs I listed above, this would have been a top notch release. The horns in "Paralyze" and "With Me Tonite" also do it for me, because I am a huge ska fan, which is on its way back people.. Mark my words.. It will be interesting to see how fans react to this release, due to their success on the last couple of albums. But I also agree that it takes some getting use too, so listen to it a couple times.

- SM760

Aaron Yarborough
05/22/2007
11:27AM
Age: 30
Location
Atascadero, CA
yea the best song is definately the second track. soo catchy, all about it.. prolly the only reason I gave this album a chance was because of that track and now i like this album quite a bit.

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Jeremy Deal
05/22/2007
11:30AM
Age: 32
I honestly don't feel like they've dropped the "screamo" sound altogether yet. The album is very slick and does take some getting used to. I think the thing that really brings the album out to me is that they do experiment with different instrumentation and is a good step into experimentation without being the full jump that their buds MCR made, as you mentioned. I still don't see this holding much of a candle to the first album, but that's not to say it's not good. I tried to like "Liar, Liar", but it just becomes too annoying - ESPECIALLY with multiple listens. I like "Handsome Awkward", but I think it's one of my least favorites on the album due to it's alienation from the rest of the album and it's 80's sound. I just don't think it fits and really is a direction I could've done without them going. That's moreso my perspective on the band itself.. the song, judged solely as a song, isn't bad.

"These are our lives, but did they ever even matter - are we worth remembering?"
- "Tip The Scales"
Rise Against

marineal
05/22/2007
11:40AM
sorry man... i just don't like the used
lezsolt
05/22/2007
12:46PM
Age: 26
Location
Budapest, Hungary
I think it's even more terrible than the previous one. Too bad, because their first one was quite good.

Chris Conlan
05/22/2007
01:07PM
Age: 27
Location
Dubuque
I'll get hated on, but this album just keeps growing on me. I like this album 10 times better than In Love and Death.

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Chin35char
05/22/2007
02:04PM
Location
Vero Beach
This album was pretty fucking awesome I believe. The Used have deffinelty grown as a band since there last album, the new sound is awesome. I liked every song on this album except "Smother Me".



ATOMIChaelBOMB
05/22/2007
02:17PM
Age: 31
Location
Claremont, CA
after streaming the album on myspace first, and now just giving it the second spin after buying it...gotta say, this album is the shit. the production is very good, and all of the songs are very catchy. it IS the used afterall, and this album is a good continuation of what they've done. not to mention, the pink cd is FUCKING sick!
Rick Gebhardt
05/22/2007
02:32PM
Age: 30
Location
Minnesota
I don't even want to dignify this release by listening to it. Bert is such a fucktard that I have a hard time he can do anything worthwhile. When I've seen these guys live, all Bert did was wander around drunk, stoned, or high on something half assed singing and mumbling "where the fuck am I?". He's a terrible frontman and I have 0 respect for this band. Sorry. That's how it looks from up here on my high horse.

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barryscatton
05/22/2007
02:34PM
Age: 29
Location
Philadelphia, PA
rmgebhardt
I don't even want to dignify this release by listening to it. Bert is such a fucktard that I have a hard time he can do anything worthwhile. When I've seen these guys live, all Bert did was wander around drunk, stoned, or high on something half assed singing and mumbling "where the fuck am I?". He's a terrible frontman and I have 0 respect for this band. Sorry. That's how it looks from up here on my high horse.


I think its funny that Bert has his own personal tour manager to specifically keep him out of trouble on tour. Maybe that has changed, but I know for a while he did. I can't imagine being that much of a baby. It honestly wouldn't suprise me if he wore depends either.

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Chris Conlan
05/22/2007
02:36PM
Age: 27
Location
Dubuque
I've seen The Used 3 times and every time they were spot on.

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el badman
05/22/2007
03:14PM
Age: 31
Location
El Paso, TX
I think it's even more terrible than the previous one. Too bad, because their first one was quite good.

Same here, I can't really find anything to get excited about with this new record, just like the previous one. It's just too easy to confuse them for another band, I'm pretty sure they don't mind and they'll sell a bunch of this new one, but I personally can't find anything remotely original in their music (anymore).

I used to hate cell phones, but now I hate car accidents

Chin35char
05/22/2007
06:01PM
Location
Vero Beach
barryscatton
I think its funny that Bert has his own personal tour manager to specifically keep him out of trouble on tour. Maybe that has changed, but I know for a while he did. I can't imagine being that much of a baby. It honestly wouldn't suprise me if he wore depends either.


Haha, yea he still has his own personal tour manager.....i met her at the taste of chaos



theseed30
05/23/2007
04:24PM
Location
Cincinnati
listened about three times and it's okay. Loved their first release and second was just okay, very similar to this release.

I think 3 of the first 4 are the best tracks, the 4th being the bird and the worm, that's not worth the time of day.

As for Liar,Liar...i couldn't help but think of the Takingbacksunday song of a similar title. The track is certainly catchy musically, but it just gets ruined at the very end when he bellows "liar liar...telephone wire" wtf?
music soup
05/23/2007
06:15PM
Age: 30
Location
los angeles
here's my take.

i listened to linkin park's latest, it sucked. no energy. no inspiration. it felt like they were bored when they wrote the album. it seems like they're bored by life.

i put in lies for the liars and was impressed by the energy of the first song, and that the energy mostly remains throughout. in typical used fashion, it starts with a bang.


i know the two bands aren't going for the same sound, but the used blow linkin park out of the water, no contest.

did they offer you buttsex?

Matt
05/25/2007
04:22AM
Location
UK
I think this is the best The Used have ever sounded and I'm all for bands moving away from generic "screamo" sounds to something slightly differently. Unfortunately for The Used there's plenty of other bands that already have a similar sound and do a much better job of it, ultimately making this release fall into the realms of being nothing special.
Jeremy Deal
05/25/2007
05:27AM
Age: 32
music soup
here's my take.

i listened to linkin park's latest, it sucked. no energy. no inspiration. it felt like they were bored when they wrote the album. it seems like they're bored by life.

i put in lies for the liars and was impressed by the energy of the first song, and that the energy mostly remains throughout. in typical used fashion, it starts with a bang.


i know the two bands aren't going for the same sound, but the used blow linkin park out of the water, no contest.


Well put, I'd have to agree. Also, have to agree with Matt directly above me. If I didn't have a history with the Used in my brain already, the new album would sound pretty good, but probably wouldn't have garnered much further attention from me. I mean, I hate to say that.. it sounds rather bad, but it's true. The only reason I gave it multiple spins is I already expected SOMETHING out of them and wanted to judge what that something was. It's a decent enough disc, but I havne't listened to it again since that first day or two I heard it. I guess that says a lot as well.

"These are our lives, but did they ever even matter - are we worth remembering?"
- "Tip The Scales"
Rise Against

theseed30
05/25/2007
03:27PM
Location
Cincinnati
in listening to all 3 cd's back to back to back today, 1 is still the best, no arguement. However, 2 & 3 are very similar in content and arrangement of the tracks...it has a very similar mix of slower vs. harder tracks. I think the tracks could be interchangable between 2 & 3 and no one would know. For me, i think 2 has a slight edge over 3 in # of quality tracks, but in no way does the 3rd cd discourage me from continuing to listen to the band like other bands 2nd or 3rd cd's (aka FOB, Finger11, or the late Finch)
Roncag
05/26/2007
04:16PM
Age: 31
Location
Anytown USA
This album isn't terrible. Has some pretty good moments. However, it's staying power will be nil.

You play to win the game.

rustycage
05/27/2007
09:07AM
I think they could easily break through the mainstream like MCR did but somehow they never do it, i mean, become REALLY BIG. I must say that after several listens this album sounds better time after time. I completely disliked the second record, and the self titled is still awesome, these guys know how to write catchy tunes. I was wrong, this is pretty decent.
rustycage
05/28/2007
02:07PM
And by the way, who thought the female-like vocals on Wake The Dead were inspired by Clare Torry's improv on The Great Gig In the Sky???

I know, I sound delusional...
zrbrown
06/01/2007
07:34AM
Age: 29
Location
Cincinnasty, OH
I just got around to listening to this disc, and I am pretty impressed. I really enjoyed the first disc and couldn't stand the second one but I'm really digging this one. I love the songs Pretty Handsome Awkward, Liar Liar (Burn in Hell), Smother Me and The Bird and The Worm. Not to say that I don't like the other songs those are just my current standouts.

My one complaint would be Berts voice... I've seen them live a couple times and his voice is so overproduced for the albums that he can't hold up live.
rustycage
06/01/2007
07:44AM
Blame Feldman for that one.
Spikydrummerboy
06/01/2007
07:47AM
Location
Pennsylvannia
the bird and the worm is a crazy video

because you take it, want it, need it forever
the more you take the effect gets better
which makes you need it to survive
killing yourself no need for knives

Rick Gebhardt
06/13/2007
09:03AM
Age: 30
Location
Minnesota
Ok. So, what's all the fuss? This album is pretty damn boring. Outside of the first two tracks (which sound like updated 80's cock rock) there's really nothing of interest.

I can't believe I just wasted time listening to this.

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