The Used are back after three years with a new album titled Toxic Positivity. It features eleven tracks that explore various styles of composition all the while remaining very true to the essence that is The Used. There were several tracks that pushed the album to a higher status in terms of melodies and instrumentalization. Frontman Bert McCracken has delivered an album in which he quite openly discusses coping mechanisms during vulnerable moments in the psyche.
Strongest tracks in no particular order were Headspace, Pinky Swear, Top of The World and Dopamine (it pulled at the heartstrings because it rang similar to The Bird and The Worm. Strong contenders for favorite tracks off the album were, I Hate Everybody, Giving Up, and House of Sand.
Headspace is where McCracken allowed for his story to be told about his struggles with mental illness, which he has been public about in the past. The song exposes how the invisible fight to remain healthy within one’s own mind is an everyday fight with oneself. It is blunt and quite refreshing to hear such honesty about a topic that is taboo for many still to this day.
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Take Me Back To Eden by Sleep Token
Drummer Dan Whitesides executes a perfectly balanced and gentle approach to the dreamlike upbeat song that is House of Sand. The song takes two very different themes and blends them effortlessly: Lullaby-like instrumentalization while lyrically painting a picture of chaos when everything is inevitably crumbling down.
Pinky Swear stood out loudly and wonderfully with great heavy riffs that balanced the crisp vocals coming through. While the song seemed bright during some of the verses, it leaned more towards the heavy side and allowed for McCracken, Whitesides, and bassist-back-up vocalist Jeph Howard to belt out some serious screams that rang true to the screamo that I fell in love with when listening to The Used all these years.
Joey Bradford did an outstanding number with the guitar throughout Top of The World. The song has moments where you just can’t figure out where it is going instrumentally. I kept going back to listen to the guitars because I can’t picture how insane the fretwork must look in person. This one is the song to listen out for when the band goes on tour next week. I really do hope they include it in the setlist.
Toxic Positivity will definitely be an album that I’ll add to my playlist for singalongs on road trips this summer. With over twenty years in the running, The Used have done it again and this album shows why they are still a crowd favorite for all this time.
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The Used Toxic Positivity Album Review The Used Toxic Positivity Album Review
