Imaginary Enemy (album)

The album was produced by John Feldmann, who also produced all of the band's studio albums with the exception of Artwork.{{cite web|title=The Used stream new album 'Imaginary Enemy'|url=http://kroq.cbslocal.com/2014/03/25/the-used-stream-new-album-imaginary-enemy/|publisher=KROQ-FM|accessdate=March 28, 2014|date=March 25, 2014|archive-date=March 27, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140327234443/http://kroq.cbslocal.com/2014/03/25/the-used-stream-new-album-imaginary-enemy/|url-status=dead}}

In an interview with Jeph, he stated that they recorded the album "backwards" by having the vocals recorded first and then having the music written to the vocals. It is the first time they have recorded like this and did so because they were unhappy with the sound of the songs when recording the music so they scrapped the dozen songs they had written and tried something new.{{cite web|last=Chatterjee|first=Upasana|title=Interview with The Used|url=http://www.amhnetwork.com/interview-with-the-used/|publisher=AMH Network|accessdate=March 9, 2014|date=October 25, 2013|archive-url=https://archive.today/20140326070830/http://www.amhnetwork.com/interview-with-the-used/|archive-date=March 26, 2014|url-status=dead}}

On January 20, 2014, Imaginary Enemy was announced for release in April; its track listing and artwork were revealed.{{cite web|url=https://www.altpress.com/news/the_used_announce_new_album_imaginary_enemy/|title=The Used announce new album, 'Imaginary Enemy'|work=Alternative Press|author=Crane, Matt|date=January 20, 2014|accessdate=March 7, 2019}} A week later, a music video was released for "Cry".{{cite web|url=https://www.altpress.com/news/the_used_release_new_music_video_for_cry/|title=The Used release new music video for "Cry"|work=Alternative Press|author=Crane, Matt|date=January 27, 2014|accessdate=March 7, 2019}} The track was released to alternative radio stations on February 4.{{cite web|url=http://www.allaccess.com/mail/archive/eweekly/alternative/2014-1-28.html|title=AllAccess.com Alternative eWeekly|work=AllAccess|date=January 28, 2014|accessdate=July 3, 2016}} Following a performance at South by So What?! festival, the band went on a co-headlining US tour with Taking Back Sunday in March and April. They were supported by Sleepwave and Tonight Alive.{{cite web|url=https://www.altpress.com/news/entry/the_used_taking_back_sunday_announce_co_headlining_tour|title=The Used, Taking Back Sunday announce co-headlining tour|work=Alternative Press|publisher=Alternative Press Magazine, Inc|author=Crane, Matt|date=January 28, 2014|accessdate=November 20, 2017}} Imaginary Enemy was made available for streaming on March 26, before being released on April 1{{cite web|url=http://www.deadpress.co.uk/audio-the-used-imaginary-enemy-album/|title=AUDIO: The Used – Imaginary Enemy (Album)|work=Dead Press!|author=Bliss, Tony|date=March 26, 2014|accessdate=March 9, 2019|archive-date=October 25, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201025100203/https://www.deadpress.co.uk/audio-the-used-imaginary-enemy-album/|url-status=dead}} through Hopeless Records and the band's label GAS Union.{{cite web|url=https://www.rocksound.tv/news/read/the-useds-video-for-revolution-is-a-call-for-arms-if-weve-ever-seen-one|title=The Used's Video For 'Revolution' Is A Call For Arms If We've Ever Seen One |work=Rock Sound|author=Rock Sound|date=September 18, 2014|accessdate=March 9, 2019}} The band performed at the Download Festival in the UK in June.{{cite web|url=http://www.deadpress.co.uk/news-download-festival-2014-confirm-more-bands-including-the-used-and-emmure/|title=NEWS: Download Festival 2014 confirm more bands, including The Used and Emmure!|work=Dead Press!|author=Redrup, Zach|date=January 27, 2014|accessdate=March 9, 2019|archive-date=May 3, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200503190814/https://www.deadpress.co.uk/news-download-festival-2014-confirm-more-bands-including-the-used-and-emmure/|url-status=dead}} The group toured Australia with Taking Back Sunday in August{{cite web|url=https://www.altpress.com/news/entry/taking_back_sunday_the_used_announce_australian_tour_dates|title=Taking Back Sunday, The Used announce Australian tour dates|work=Alternative Press|publisher=Alternative Press Magazine, Inc|author=Sharp, Tyler|date=May 10, 2014|accessdate=November 20, 2017}} and the US in September and October{{cite web|url=https://www.altpress.com/news/entry/taking_back_sunday_the_used_announce_fall_co_headlining_tour|title=Taking Back Sunday, the Used announce fall co-headlining tour|work=Alternative Press|publisher=Alternative Press Magazine, Inc|author=Crane, Matt|date=May 17, 2014|accessdate=November 20, 2017}} with support from Frank Iero.{{cite web|url=https://www.altpress.com/news/entry/frnkiero_andthe_cellabration_announced_as_support_for_taking_back_sunday_th|title=Frnkiero Andthe Cellabration announced as support for Taking Back Sunday/the Used fall tour

|work=Alternative Press|publisher=Alternative Press Magazine, Inc|author=Crane, Matt|date=June 18, 2014|accessdate=November 20, 2017}}

Partway through the tour, the group released a split 10" vinyl EP, which featured two songs by Taking Back Sunday, and "Revolution" and "Money Monster" from the Used.{{cite web|url=https://www.altpress.com/news/entry/the_used_taking_back_sunday_announce_split_10_inch|title=The Used, Taking Back Sunday announce split 10-inch|work=Alternative Press|publisher=Alternative Press Magazine, Inc|author=Sharp, Tyler|date=July 29, 2014|accessdate=November 20, 2017}} On September 18, a music video was released for "Revolution".{{cite web|url=https://www.altpress.com/news/the_used_release_revolution_music_video/|title=The Used release "Revolution" music video|work=Alternative Press|author=Crane, Matt|date=September 18, 2014|accessdate=March 7, 2019}} The track was released to alternative radio stations on September 30.{{cite web|url=http://www.allaccess.com/mail/archive/eweekly/alternative/2014-9-23.html|title=AllAccess.com Alternative eWeekly|work=AllAccess|date=September 23, 2014|accessdate=July 4, 2016}} On February 2, 2015, the band announced that guitarist Quinn Allman would be taking a temporary year of absence; Justin Shekoski of Saosin filled in Allman's role.{{cite web|url=https://www.altpress.com/news/the_used_guitarist_to_take_temporary_leave_from_band_saosin_member_to_fill/|title=The Used guitarist to take temporary leave from band, Saosin member to fill in|work=Alternative Press|author=Sharp, Tyler|date=February 2, 2015|accessdate=March 7, 2019}} Following this, the group went on a headlining UK tour with support from Decade and Landscapes.{{cite web|url=http://www.deadpress.co.uk/news-decade-confirmed-to-support-the-used-on-their-february-uk-tour/|title=NEWS: Decade confirmed to support The Used on their February UK tour!|work=Dead Press!|author=Bliss, Tony|date=January 20, 2015|accessdate=March 9, 2019|archive-date=August 25, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210825095712/https://www.deadpress.co.uk/news-decade-confirmed-to-support-the-used-on-their-february-uk-tour/|url-status=dead}} In April and May, the group went on a headlining US tour with support from Every Time I Die, Marmozets and the Eeries,{{cite web|url=https://www.altpress.com/news/the_used_every_time_i_die_announce_spring_tour/|title=The Used, Every Time I Die announce spring tour|work=Alternative Press|author=Sharp, Tyler|date=January 26, 2015|accessdate=March 7, 2019}} before embarking on a co-headlining US tour with Chevelle later in May.{{cite web|url=https://www.altpress.com/news/the_used_announce_co_headlining_tour_with_chevelle/|title=The Used announce co-headlining tour with Chevelle|work=Alternative Press|author=Sharp, Tyler|date=February 9, 2015|accessdate=March 7, 2019}} In October, the band appeared at the Taste of Chaos festival.{{cite web|url=https://www.altpress.com/news/taste_of_chaos_set_times_announced/|title=Taste Of Chaos set times announced|work=Alternative Press|author=Bazley, John|date=July 18, 2015|accessdate=March 7, 2019}}

{{Album ratings

| rev1 = AllMusic

| rev1Score = {{Rating|4|5}}{{Cite web|url=http://www.allmusic.com/album/imaginary-enemy-mw0002615094|title = Imaginary Enemy - the Used | Songs, Reviews, Credits | AllMusic|website = AllMusic}}

| rev2 = Alternative Press

| rev2Score = {{Rating|3.5|5}}{{cite journal|title=The Used – Imaginary Enemy|last=Lucy|first=Evan|year=2014|journal=Alternative Press|volume=May 2014|issue=310|page=88|publisher=Alternative Press Magazine|issn=1065-1667}}

| rev3 = Dead Press!

| rev3score = {{Rating|6|10}}{{cite web|url=http://www.deadpress.co.uk/album-the-used-imaginary-enemy/|title=ALBUM: The Used – Imaginary Enemy|work=Dead Press!|author=Bailey, Grant|date=April 1, 2014|accessdate=March 9, 2019|archive-date=May 14, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200514100237/https://www.deadpress.co.uk/album-the-used-imaginary-enemy/|url-status=dead}}

| rev4 = HM Magazine

| rev4score = {{Rating|4|5}}{{cite journal |url=http://hmmagazine.com/blog/album-reviews/the-used-imaginary-enemy/ |title=The Used - Imaginary Enemy |last=Ullman |first=Zane|publisher=HM Publications LLC |date=April 17, 2014 |journal=HM Magazine |accessdate=May 9, 2014 |issn=1066-6923 }}

| rev5 = Punknews.org

| rev5Score = {{rating|3|5}}[https://www.punknews.org/review/12507/the-used-imaginary-enemy Punknews.org review]

}}

At Alternative Press, Evan Lucy rated the album three-and-a-half stars out of five, writing that "Whether the band's fanbase latches on to the politicism is yet to be seen, but these songs will sound great from the pit regardless."

The album charted at number 14 on the Billboard 200 and number 1 on the Independent albums chart.{{Cite web|url=http://www.allmusic.com/artist/the-used-mn0000577358/awards|title = The Used | Awards|website = AllMusic}}

{{Track listing

| total_length =

| title1 = Revolution

| length1 = 4:04

| title2 = Cry

| length2 = 3:30

| title3 = El-Oh-Vee-Ee

| length3 = 3:32

| title4 = A Song to Stifle Imperial Progression (A Work in Progress)

| length4 = 4:05

| title5 = Generation Throwaway

| length5 = 3:05

| title6 = Make Believe

| length6 = 3:27

| title7 = Evolution

| length7 = 4:38

| title8 = Imaginary Enemy

| length8 = 3:24

| title9 = Kenna Song

| length9 = 4:20

| title10 = Force Without Violence

| length10 = 5:23

| title11 = Overdose

| note11 = ends at 3:52, hidden track "Red Heart" starts at 7:41

| length11 = 14:41

}}

The Used released 13 tracks from the Imaginary Enemy recording session. The only two b-sides released to date is "Money Monster" and "Red Heart", "Money Monster" which was released as a bonus track on the limited edition of the album. A hidden track titled "Red Heart" also appears at the end of the album.

{{Track listing

| headline = Limited edition bonus track

| total_length =

| title12 = Money Monster

| length12 = 3:02

}}

A limited edition of 15,000 numbered copies will be made featuring deluxe artwork and a bonus track titled "Money Monster".{{cite web|title=Imaginary Enemy (Deluxed Edition)|url=http://www.musicshop.com.au/the-used-imaginary-enemy-deluxed-edition-cd.html|publisher=The Music Shop|accessdate=March 27, 2014|archive-url=https://archive.today/20140320012826/http://www.musicshop.com.au/the-used-imaginary-enemy-deluxed-edition-cd.html|archive-date=March 20, 2014|url-status=dead}}

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The Used

• Bert McCracken – lead vocals
• Quinn Allman – guitar
• Jeph Howard – bass
• Dan Whitesides – drums

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;Technical and production

• John Feldmann – producer, mixing
• Zakk Cervini – programming, additional mixing, engineering
• Ago Teppand – programming, additional mixing, engineering
• Kenny Carkeet – programming, additional mixing, engineering
• Chris Qualls – additional engineering
• James Clarke – additional engineering

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{{Reflist}}

• [https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLTo9pEXsDq8YZHGDcHz5Sd1JgS5hKQtsD Imaginary Enemy] at YouTube (streamed copy where licensed)

{{The Used}}

{{Authority control}}

Category:2014 albums

Category:Albums produced by John Feldmann

Category:The Used albums

Category:Hopeless Records albums