The Used: Heartwork (Deluxe)
The Used are sharing a massive collection of new songs with fans with Deluxe Edition of their eighth studio album Heartwork today. Available to stream and purchase via Big Noise, this extended album features 11 new songs all written during the original Heartwork sessions. This now 27 track album shows listeners not only what The Used was capable of when they broke into the scene, but how they have maintained a 20 year career, while being with the front of the pack.
These new songs kick off as the end of the original album transitions into Night-Sea Journey. Sonically this track fits in with the newer sound of the album but lyrically it is classic Bert. This is one of the hybrid tracks that old fans that fell out of touch with the band, and new fans who recently discovered them will be able to connect to.
The Brothers Karamozov is a track that feels like it should be in an early 2000’s teen movie. That being said it is not overly cliche’ or a mirror image of anything. It is just a very commercially friendly track.
Next we have River Stay which you can check see in the official lyric video here. It’s easy to see why this was a single for the deluxe edition of the album and it stands out as one of the fan favorites. Bert shows off some of his vocal prowess with climbing verses and vibrato throughout.
Mi Medicina, Mi Heroina comes in next, a bit of an up-tempo track that still has the juxtaposition of sad/dark lyrics.
Following that you have Blood Meridian, which is a kind of throwback track. Featuring some of the old screams, and dirty vocals that longtime fans will be happy with. This is definitely one of the stand out tracks of the bonus tracks that dropped.
Brain Unguent is just a short, introspective track that really serves as a transitional piece.
Coming into Playing The Victim the listener gets hit with a mix of emo and narcissistic lyrics. Sonically the track is a relatively basic song, that’s not to say the song isn’t solid, it just features a drum beat that clearly sets the temp and doesn’t feature a lot of flair.
Operation Me is another very clearly Used song, the lyrical delivery by Bert is exactly what people love about The Used. The song also features a fun little metaphor/link to the game Operation.
One of my favorite tracks off the deluxe edition is Love Heart. “As soon as the war is over, I’m coming home” is a lyric that will echo through the listeners mind. The track is laid back and will give the listeners the start of the mellow out that they need as the album begins to close
Sing Out Of Tune is an artsy tune that features a musical composition that is about as stripped down as you can get, complete with fingersnaps instead of snare rimshots. The song touches some haunting parts of our minds as we connect with the lyrics.
Closing out the deluxe edition is See You In Hell, which in typical Bert fashion features dark lyrics delivered in a upbeat progression. The song is a great way to end for the listener as Bert says “So long, farewell, now we’re in hell; I guess this never has to end”.
Overall this extra 11 songs is very solid and easily could have been a couple of stand alone EPs or a LP. But I think the best play was to do a deluxe edition as these songs fill in some gaps to the story and continue the story, and vibe of the album.
Heartwork (Deluxe) Tracklisting:
Night-Sea Journey
The Brothers Karamazov
River Stay
Mi Medicina, Mi Heroína
Blood Meridian
Brain Unguent
Playing the Victim
Operation Me
Love Heart
Sing Out of Tune
See You in Hell
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