Vulnerable (The Used album)

Vulnerable
Studio album by
The Used
ReleasedMarch 26, 2012 (2012-03-26)
Recorded2010–2011
Genre
Length43:47
Label
ProducerJohn Feldmann
The Used chronology
Artwork
(2009) 		Vulnerable
(2012) 		The Ocean of the Sky
(2013)
Singles from Vulnerable
  1. "I Come Alive"
    Released: January 10, 2012
  2. "Put Me Out"
    Released: August 14, 2012
  3. "Hands and Faces"
    Released: February 21, 2013
Alternative cover
Re-issue cover (2013)
Professional ratings
Aggregate scores
SourceRating
Metacritic(69/100)[2]
Review scores
SourceRating
AbsolutePunk(60%)[3]
AllMusic[4]
Alternative Press[2]
Audiopinions(9/10)[5]
Blare Magazine[6]
Melodic [7]
The Metal Forge[8]
PopMatters[9]
Punknews.org[10]
Q[11]

Vulnerable is the fifth studio album by American rock band the Used. It was released on March 26, 2012, via Hopeless Records. The album was produced by John Feldmann,[12] who also produced the band's first three studio albums, The Used (2002), In Love and Death (2004), and Lies for the Liars (2007), and their Maybe Memories (2003) compilation album.

Background

In late April 2010, the group cancelled all upcoming shows in Europe and Russia, citing circumstances rising from a split with their management team. In addition, they mentioned they had started writing for their next album.[13]

Musical style

Lead singer Bert McCracken said of the album: "This record's really about becoming more than just who you are, and allowing yourself that vulnerability to be a more powerful person. It's a lot more positive than a lot of records we’ve written in the past. I think everyone could use some positivity nowadays."[14]

McCracken also said about the music: "There’s a lot of hip-hop influence, beats and drum and bass kind of stuff, but it’s also still a The Used record, by all means. Just like any other Used record, it’s a horse of many colors: There are a lot of soft and heavy sounds, there are a lot of brutal, sharp, bright sounds, and the tempos are anywhere from ultra-slow to super fast and heavy. There are a lot of different conceptual feelings on the record."[14]

Release

"I Come Alive" was made available for streaming on January 5, 2012[15] through KROQ-FM,[16] before being released as a single on January 10.[17] The album's track listing was revealed on January 19.[18] The following day, a lyric video was released for "I Come Alive".[19] "I Come Alive" was released to alternative radio stations on February 14.[20] "Hands and Faces" was released as a single on February 21.[21] The group appeared at the Alternative Press' South by Southwest showcase on March 17[22] performing an acoustic set.[23] In the days leading up to the release of the album, the band streamed several tracks through a variety of music websites: "Shine" (through Alternative Press)[24] and "Put Me Out" (through Hurley International) on March 20,[25] "Moving On" (through Revolver)[26] and "Hurt No One" (through Noisecreep) on March 22,[27] and "Getting Over You" and "This Fire" on March 23.[28] Vulnerable was released on March 26 as joint release between Anger Music Group and Hopeless Records.[24] On the same day, the group made an outtake "Machine" available for streaming.[29]

On April 6, a music video was released for "I Come Alive".[30] It was followed by streams of acoustic renditions of "I Come Alive" and "Put Me Out" on April 12.[31] In April, the group embarked on a UK tour[32] with support from Marmozets.[33] In May and June, the group went on a headlining US tour, before appearing on the Warped Tour in June and July.[34] On July 18, a lyric video was released for "Put Me Out".[35] The track was released to alternative radio stations on August 14.[36] The band released a music video for "Put Me Out" on September 17,[37] before embarking on a headlining west coast US tour with support from Twin Atlantic and Stars in Stereo.[38] In November, the band headlined Warped Tour UK[39] before supporting Evanescence on their UK arena tour.[40] On January 21, 2013, a deluxe edition was released featuring an extra disc of recordings and new artwork.[41] Between January and March, the group headlined the Take Action Tour.[42] On March 8, the band released a music video for "Hands and Faces".[43] In May, the band co-headlined the AP Tour in Japan with Silverstein and Crossfaith.[44]

Track listing

All tracks are written by the Used, except where noted.

Standard edition
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."I Come Alive" 3:16
2."This Fire"John Feldmann3:14
3."Hands and Faces"Feldmann3:25
4."Put Me Out"Feldmann4:02
5."Shine"Evan Taubenfeld4:03
6."Now That You're Dead"Feldmann4:06
7."Give Me Love" 3:18
8."Moving On" 4:01
9."Getting Over You"Martin Johnson3:45
10."Kiss It Goodbye"Feldmann3:23
11."Hurt No One"Feldmann3:20
12."Together Burning Bright"Feldmann3:54
Total length:43:47

Additional track information

The Used recorded 16 songs during the Vulnerable recording session. The 4 b-sides from the session are titled "Surrender", "The Lonely", "Machine", and "Disaster". Some were released as bonus tracks and were all later included on the reissue of the album along with acoustic and remix versions of some of the album's songs.

Japanese bonus tracks
No.TitleLength
13."The Lonely"3:29
14."I Come Alive" (Acoustic)3:03
Total length:50:27
Deluxe edition bonus tracks
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
13."Machine" 4:02
14."Disaster" 3:19
15."Put Me Out" (Acoustic)Feldmann3:50
16."I Come Alive" (Acoustic) 3:03
17."Together Burning Bright" (Acoustic)Feldmann3:59
Total length:61:57
iTunes deluxe edition bonus tracks
No.TitleLength
13."Machine"4:02
14."Disaster"3:19
15."I Come Alive" (Acoustic)3:03
Total length:54:14
Reissue second disc
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."Surrender" 4:04
2."The Lonely" 3:26
3."Machine" 4:01
4."Disaster" 3:18
5."I Come Alive" (Revolvr and Danny Mihai remix) 3:15
6."Hands and Faces" (Bobby Alt remix)Feldmann4:57
7."Put Me Out" (Kraddy remix)Feldmann3:00
8."I Come Alive" (Acoustic) 3:02
9."Put Me Out" (Acoustic)Feldmann3:49
10."Together Burning Bright" (Acoustic)Feldmann3:59

Personnel

Charts

Chart Peak
position
Canadian Albums Chart[45] 21
UK Albums Chart[46] 65
US Billboard 200[47] 8
Australia Album Chart[48] 18
US Top Digital Albums[48] 7
US Top Hard Rock Albums[48] 2
US Top Independent Albums[48] 1
US Top Modern Rock/Alternative Albums[48] 3
US Top Rock Albums[48] 3

Release history

Region Date Label Format Catalogue
United States March 26, 2012 Hopeless, Anger 12" vinyl HR749-1
CD HR749-2
Japan April 11, 2012 Kick Rock EKRM-1212

References

  1. ^ "The Metal Forge >> Review >> the Used - Vulnerable".
  2. ^ a b Critic reviews at Metacritic
  3. ^ AbsolutePunk review
  4. ^ Monger, James Christopher (2012-03-26). "Vulnerable - The Used". AllMusic. Retrieved 2012-03-26.
  5. ^ "Featured Artist: The Used « Audiopinions". Archived from the original on April 11, 2012. Retrieved March 22, 2012.
  6. ^ Blare Magazine review
  7. ^ Wippsson, Johan (May 6, 2012). "The Used - Vulnerable". Melodic. Retrieved July 19, 2017.[permanent dead link]
  8. ^ The Metal Forge review
  9. ^ PopMatters review
  10. ^ Punknews.org review
  11. ^ Album reviews at CD Universe
  12. ^ Zaleski, Annie (December 15, 2011). "Exclusive Interview: Bert McCracken on the Used partnering with Hopeless Records". Alternative Press. Retrieved January 22, 2012.
  13. ^ Dan (April 30, 2009). "The Used pull out of Download". Kerrang!. Archived from the original on October 17, 2012. Retrieved March 10, 2019.
  14. ^ a b "The Used, Band". Archived from the original on 2013-01-31. Retrieved 2013-02-28.
  15. ^ Yancey, Bryne (January 5, 2012). "The Used stream new song, "I Come Alive"". Alternative Press. Retrieved March 7, 2019.
  16. ^ Redrup, Zach (January 6, 2012). "NEWS: The Used premiere new single 'I Come Alive' on KROQ!". Dead Press!. Retrieved March 8, 2019.
  17. ^ Bliss, Karen (January 11, 2012). "The Used's Bert McCracken Talks New Album, Becoming a Business Man". Noisecreep. AOL Music. Retrieved January 22, 2012.
  18. ^ Bird, Michele (January 19, 2012). "The Used reveal "Vulnerable" tracklisting". Alternative Press. Retrieved March 7, 2019.
  19. ^ Bird, Michele (January 20, 2012). "The Used release lyric video for "I Come Alive"". Alternative Press. Retrieved March 7, 2019.
  20. ^ "AllAccess.com Alternative eWeekly". AllAccess. February 7, 2012. Retrieved July 3, 2016.
  21. ^ Wippsson, Johan. "The Used - Hands and Faces - Single". Melodic. Retrieved March 10, 2019.
  22. ^ Yancey, Bryne (February 10, 2012). "Breathe Carolina, the Used, the Early November to play AP SXSW party". Alternative Press. Retrieved March 7, 2019.
  23. ^ Yancey, Bryne (March 14, 2012). "The Used will perform acoustic at the AP 100 Bands You Need To Know Party at SXSW". Alternative Press. Retrieved March 7, 2019.
  24. ^ a b "Premiere: The Used, "Shine"". Alternative Press. March 20, 2012. Retrieved March 7, 2019.
  25. ^ Zaleski, Annie (March 20, 2012). "The Used premiere another new song, "Put Me Out"". Alternative Press. Retrieved March 7, 2019.
  26. ^ Grow, Kory (March 22, 2012). "The Used Premiere New Song,"Moving On"". Revolver. Archived from the original on March 24, 2012. Retrieved March 7, 2019.
  27. ^ Ramirez, Carlos (March 22, 2012). "The Used, 'Hurt No One': Exclusive Song Premiere". Noisecreep. Archived from the original on March 24, 2012. Retrieved March 7, 2019.
  28. ^ Bird, Michele (March 23, 2012). "The Used release two new songs". Alternative Press. Retrieved March 7, 2019.
  29. ^ Yancey, Bryne (March 26, 2012). "Check out a bonus track from the Used, "Machine"". Alternative Press. Retrieved March 7, 2019.
  30. ^ Redrup, Zach (April 5, 2012). "VIDEO: The Used – I Come Alive". Dead Press!. Retrieved March 8, 2019.
  31. ^ Yancey, Bryne (April 12, 2012). "The Used stream acoustic versions of "I Come Alive" and "Put Me Out"". Alternative Press. Retrieved March 7, 2019.
  32. ^ Yancey, Bryne (February 20, 2012). "The Used announce UK shows". Alternative Press. Retrieved March 7, 2019.
  33. ^ Redrup, Zach (April 5, 2012). "NEWS: Marmozets set to support The Used on April UK tour!". Dead Press!. Retrieved March 8, 2019.
  34. ^ Wippsson, Johan (April 3, 2012). "New The Used Tour Dates Announced! Tickets On Sale Now". Melodic. Retrieved March 7, 2019.
  35. ^ Bird, Michele (July 18, 2012). "The Used release "Put Me Out" lyric video". Alternative Press. Retrieved March 7, 2019.
  36. ^ "AllAccess.com Alternative eWeekly". AllAccess. August 7, 2012. Retrieved July 3, 2016.
  37. ^ "News - Entertainment, Music, Movies, Celebrity".
  38. ^ Colwell, Matthew (July 24, 2012). "The Used announce fall tour dates with Twin Atlantic and Stars In Stereo". Alternative Press. Retrieved March 7, 2019.
  39. ^ Whitt, Cassie (November 7, 2012). "The Used announced as special guest headliner at Warped Tour UK". Alternative Press. Retrieved March 7, 2019.
  40. ^ Whitt, Cassie (July 19, 2012). "The Used to support Evanescence on UK tour". Alternative Press. Retrieved March 7, 2019.
  41. ^ Redrup, Zach (November 14, 2012). "NEWS: The Used announce deluxe re-release of 'Vulnerable' on January 21st!". Dead Press!. Retrieved March 8, 2019.
  42. ^ Whitt, Cassie (November 9, 2012). "The Used, We Came As Romans and Crown The Empire to play 2013 Take Action Tour". Alternative Press. Retrieved March 7, 2019.
  43. ^ Whitt, Cassie (February 22, 2013). "The Used release "Hands And Faces" video". Alternative Press. Retrieved March 7, 2019.
  44. ^ Whitt, Cassie (April 19, 2013). "The Used, Silverstein and Crossfaith to play AP tour Japan; AltPress Japan launching soon". Alternative Press. Retrieved March 7, 2019.
  45. ^ "The Used – Chart History – Canadian Albums". Billboard. Retrieved 2012-04-05.
  46. ^ "Used - Albums". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 2012-04-05.
  47. ^ "The Used – Charts History – Billboard 200". Billboard. Retrieved 2012-04-05.
  48. ^ a b c d e f "Vulnerable - the Used | Songs, Reviews, Credits | AllMusic". AllMusic.

External links