The Used - Shallow Believer

The Used are one of those bands where their b-sides often outshine the material that actually makes the album, and Shallow Believer is a prime example. A ten-track EP containing b-sides mainly from the band's latest album Lies for the Liars, Shallow Believer is a short, sharp mish-mash of their distinct post-hardcore Utah sound.

For me, Lies for the Liars was a bitter disappointment. The boys seemed to have traded in their raw, agonised screamo for sparkly studio effects and soaring Backstreet Boys-esque ballads. Being a determinedly loyal fan, I somewhat reluctantly learned to enjoy the album, but couldn't help but hanker for the days of "A Box Full of Sharp Objects" and "Maybe Memories" (both delightfully aggressive tracks from The Used's self-titled debut of 2002). Although Shallow Believer is obviously incomparable to the band's first two albums, it did contain an inkling of their old aggression that left me hopeful for the future of my favourite band.

The record opens with "Dark Days", a song with a classic Lies for the Liars trait - extremely cringe-worthy lyrics. "Our love is to big for us to break/You got me wishing for the stars in outer space", I kid you not. "The opening is promising, with a guitar riff reminiscent of "I Caught Fire", a single off the band's tremendous sophomore album, In Love and Death. Overall, the track is worth a listen, though relatively unimpressive. Trivia: at the beginning of "Dark Days", you can faintly hear the intro to the song "Cut Up Angels" from In Love and Death."

"Slit Your Own Throat" displays a pleasant sense of acidic fury and is definitely a standout track of the record, although it doesn't quite match the good old shrieking of "Choke Me," the only b-side taken from their first album - a refreshing slice of pure hardcore that will leave you smiling wistfully if you're a fan of the band's older material. My only criticism is that it's the shortest song on the record, with lead vocalist Bert McCracken only screaming his heart out for a brief two minutes. Tracks three and five, "Devil Beside You" and "My Pesticide", are pretty cool, the former being an upbeat "good riddance" song and the latter a wailing angst-fest that's actually quite catchy considering the title brings to mind ant spray and slug pellets.

"Into My Web" is one of the two In Love and Death b-sides on the record, and it’s pretty clear why this never made the album. If you find the rather whiny opening annoying and tiresome as yours truly did, you won't like the song, because that's pretty much all there is to it, with McCracken whinging, "I stopped to call you my little girl/I meant more, so much more. " for almost an entire four minutes. Disappointing.

"Sick Hearts" is another Lies for the Liars b-side, and believe me, this nauseating track is aptly titled. This time guitarist Quinn Allman offers no catchy riff to make up for the hopeless lyrics as McCracken croons, "Call me a boy 'til I've learned/Call me the bird or the worm...", bringing back memories of the embarrassingly cliché "Bird and the Worm", the lead release off Lies for the Liars. "The Back of your Mouth" swiftly follows this disaster, a potentially decent track that is horribly marred by an irritating trumpeting that dances along in the background for most of the track, contrasting oddly with the violent lyrics. Think Fight Club on Broadway.

"Sun Comes Up" echoes "Earthquake" and "Find a Way", both from Lies For the Liars. It’s a pretty, tinkly little track (you’d never think I was talking about the band of the man who used to screech until he puke his guts up on stage...), pleasant, but but nothing phenomenal.

The final track is one that I'm pretty torn over. Although it has nestled comfortably on my Nano for almost a year now, I'm unsure about whether I actually like "Tunnel" or not. A honey-smooth ballad about hope and light, it certainly isn't unpleasant on the ears. However, it strikes me as the type of track that may have made more of an impact without the soaring string orchestra and epic choir of singers that join McCracken in his chorus of "we are the light in the tunnel", as these both cause the track to come off as overdone and too try-hard. "Tunnel" lacks the sincerity of earlier slow songs such as "Greener With the Scenery" and of course the simply perfect "Blue and Yellow". I can imagine "Tunnel" as a much more beautiful piece of music if it was stripped of all its frills and decorations, right down to Bert's gravelly voice and Quinn's acoustic guitar.

Although it's hard to tell from my bitchy ranting that I actually liked Shallow Believer, "My Pesticide" is in fact up there with the likes of Placebo and the Sex Pistols on my iPod’s “Top 25 Most Played” list. I mean, let’s face it, I doubt that the guys are ever going to record another The Used, but all in all, Shallow Believer was a nice, noisy little cacophony of sound that will keep me going until their next album. And am I the only one who found the cover artwork totally adorable?