In honor of The Used's 25th anniversary as a band, they are embarking on a massive tour where they will play three nights in each city playing their first three albums in their entirety. Additionally, they have released special editions of these landmark albums with reimagined artwork from new artists. We had the opportunity to collaborate with the band and get our hands on these records. It is our pleasure to review them on these special Collector's Corners for you in honor of the band's anniversary as a part of our weeklong programming special dedicated to one of our favorite bands out there!
Background
In Love And Death is the 2003 follow-up to The Used's smash self-titled LP. The album is the band's most commercially successful thus far in their careers and was certified platinum as was their first record. To write the album, the band returned to Orem, Utah, their hometown to be in familiar surroundings after almost a year on the road playing numerous shows and festivals including Vans Warped Tour and Ozzfest. The album was recorded in Foxy Studios in Los Angeles, CA and featured producer John Feldmann who produced their debut.
The time leading up to the writing, recording, and release of the record was tumultuous for numerous reasons. Lead singer Bert McCracken experienced numerous personal losses of friends and family including his pregnant girlfriend. Additionally, there were tensions among members of the band and production over the direction of the album. McCracken would later share that these tensions in the process helped make the music even better and almost magic. McCracken is certainly right about that as audiences quickly flocked to the music and it further pushed the band's star status. It is also the final album to feature drummer Branden Steineckert.
(Photo Credit: Michael La Torre)
The Artwork
The original artwork for the album was done by artist longtime collaborator of the band Alex Pardee. It features the signature blood heart that the band uses for their imagery today (and which I have a very similar looking tattoo on my right shoulder lol). The reimagined artwork you see above was also completed by Pardee and he incorporates a lot of visually similar elements to this work as he did with the first back in 2004.
The cover features a giant heart shaped organ, strung up tight by ropes. It's accompanied by blood emanating and dripping from it. Pardee's creation also features a visage to it, with xx'd out eyes and a monster like set of teeth that evoke memories of a Hellraiser cenobite (IYKYK). In the center of the heart is another black heart, this one smaller than the larger organ that encompasses much of the jacket. Pardee also brings back the band's italicized script logo that was used in the original issuing of this record. For the title he has incorporated symbols to represent the words of the title.
The inner-sleeve of the record features the heart(s) along with the symbols of In Love And Death once again. On the inside, you get an inverse of coloring (red background with white lettering) scheme along with the lyrics of the album's tracks for your reading pleasure. The back cover, actually features the backside of heart creature and the script logo and album title symbols in reverse (we'll see more of this theme later).
(Photo Credit: Michael La Torre)
The LP
The LP on this album is actually my favorite from all three of the reissues the band did in this series. And look, I get it I'm a fanboy of a good splatter vinyl, but the red and black combo is just killer on this and is on brand for the record color scheme. I love the synergy!
The Music
I remember thinking when the press was discussing The Used's upcoming record back before the release that it would be hard to come out with another LP featuring the number of bangers that The Used did. Boy did I underestimate the band. In Love And Death sold over 90,000 copies in its first week alone. The album would feature four singles including "Take It Away", "All That I've Got", "I Caught Fire", and "Under Pressure" a cover of the famous Queen and David Bowie collaboration that would also feature emo icons My Chemical Romance. With the release of In Love And Death, The Used could do no wrong and served as major influences in the emo and alternative rock scene. In short, every emo kid's style was influence by Bert McCracken and Co.'s imagery on this record. Their sound was often imitated, but never replicated. In Love And Death shot the band into superstardom. This reissue perfectly captures the sound that the band intended all with the warmth that vinyl is able to provide. Again, I have to say, as I did with the entry on their self-titled reissue, many bands attempt to do style and substance with their reissues and fail. The Used are not one of those bands. You've got to get your hands on this record, you can find it here.
Additionally, if you're interested in the band's 25th Anniversary Tour, see the dates below:
The Used 2025 Tour Dates
April 3 – Detroit, MI – The Fillmore*
April 5 – Detroit, MI – The Fillmore^
April 6 – Detroit, MI – The Fillmore+
April 9 – Boston, MA – House Of Blues*
April 11 – Boston, MA – House Of Blues^
April 12 – Boston, MA – House Of Blues+
April 15 – Sayreville, NJ – The Starland Ballroom*
April 16 – Sayreville, NJ – The Starland Ballroom^
April 18 – Sayreville, NJ –The Starland Ballroom+
April 19 – New York, NY – Irving Plaza*
April 21 – New York, NY – Irving Plaza^
April 22 – New York, NY – Irving Plaza+
April 25 – Chicago, IL – House Of Blues*
April 26 – Chicago, IL – House Of Blues^
April 27 – Chicago, IL –House Of Blues+
April 29 – Denver, CO – Ogden Theatre*
April 30 Denver, CO – Ogden Theatre^
May 2 Denver, CO –Ogden Theatre+
May 3 – Salt Lake City, UT – The Union*
May 5 – Salt Lake City, UT – The Union^
May 6 – Salt Lake City, UT – The Union+
May 8 – Los Angeles, CA – The Wiltern*
May 10 – Los Angeles, CA – The Wiltern^
May 11 – Los Angeles, CA – The Wiltern+
May 13 – San Diego, CA – House Of Blues*
May 15 – San Diego, CA – House Of Blues^
May 16 – San Diego, CA – House Of Blues+
* Playing Self-Titled Record
^ Playing In Love And Death
+ Playing Lies For The Liars
FMI on all things The Used visit their website at theused.net.
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