I immediately threw this CD on my iPod before I listened to it because I have always been a fan and was very optimistic. I was taking a long road trip so I had plenty of time to get intimate with this record and give it a good listen.

The album opens with “Blood On My Hands” which is the first single and a great song overall. I can’t stress that enough. But don’t get too excited because “Empty With You” comes next, and at this point you’re starting to come down. Now let’s just say you make it through this song and the one after. That’s where we come to the black sheep of the record. My God, people. I am a passionate man and I will admit I have watched The Notebook…by myself…at two in the morning (middle finger). But I swear I think I grew ovaries listening to this song. Writing a good ballad or even a good love song is fine, but this was a swing and a miss. My wife, also an avid fan of this genre and The Used, shut down before me. Not good, Burt…not good. The ladies are not feeling this one and that’s not a good sign.

Moving on down the line…the songs aren’t bad, but they won’t blow you away. The next three songs are just there. “On the Cross” is just an attack on Christianity. While that isn’t necessarily the problem, personally I’m just not a fan of any song that expresses a singer’s opinions too heavily. Nobody cares that you’re an atheist, Burt. Move on.

“Come Undone” is a catchy tune, but like the others, is so predictable. You know when you go to a movie and they say the name of the movie in the dialogue, and you think “wow, that was cheesy.” Well, that’s the problem with a lot of the songs on this record. The first time I heard them I could sing along because I knew what he was going to say before he said it. It’s like he stole the lyrics from a nine year old’s poetry homework. Even worse, it’s like they wrote three or four great songs, said “whatever” to the rest, and tossed in some random mess as filler.

Make sure that, even if you reject every other song on this album, you at least check out “Meant To Die” and “The Best Of Me.” These are two great songs and nothing short of what you would expect out of these guys. “Meant To Die” is a fast-paced, catchy tune that reminds me of my younger days and their earlier albums. “The Best of Me” starts slow, but really makes up for it. It’s a great song with a big chorus- Burt at his best.

So, in conclusion, the album starts off with a bang and ends great. There is a little bit of disappointment in the middle, but if you’re a fan of The Used you can forgive that and make it through. I listened to this record three or four times and I guess it does grow on you. I must admit, though, that I still skip through more than I would like. But what can you do- the album’s not perfect, but then again most CDs now only have two or three good songs. Personally, I wouldn’t buy the whole record. Take my advice: “Blood On My Hands,” “Meant To Die,” and “The Best Of Me” are worth 99 cents.

3.0/5