The Canyon (album)
{{Use mdy dates|date=February 2020}}
{{Infobox album
| name = The Canyon
| type = studio
| artist = The Used
| cover = thecanyontheused.jpg
| alt =
| released = {{Start date|2017|10|27}}
| recorded = 2017
| venue =
| studio = Studio 606, Los Angeles,{{cite web|url=https://www.instagram.com/p/BTtD1PNlAUD/ |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/iarchive/s/instagram/BTtD1PNlAUD |archive-date=December 24, 2021 |url-access=registration|title=Instagram post by Justin Shekoski • May 5, 2017 at 8:32am UTC|website=Instagram.com|accessdate=September 8, 2017}}{{cbignore}}
Valentine Recording Studios, North Hollywood, California{{cite news|last=Biddulph|first=Andy|title=The Used's Bert McCracken: "Everything In My Life Has Led Up To This Moment..."|url=https://www.rocksound.tv/features/read/the-useds-bert-mccracken-everything-in-my-life-has-led-up-to-this-moment|work=Rock Sound|accessdate=September 12, 2017|date=September 11, 2017}}
| genre =
- Post-hardcore{{cite web|last=Johnston |first=Emma |url=http://teamrock.com/review/2017-12-03/the-used-the-canyon-album-review |title=The Used - The Canyon album review | Louder |date=December 3, 2017 |publisher=Teamrock.com |accessdate=April 13, 2019}}
- alternative rock{{Cite web|url=https://www.bandwagon.asia/articles/the-used-interview-discography-bert-mccracken|title=The Used's Bert McCracken runs through the band's pain-stained discography — interview|date=January 5, 2018}}
| length = 78:58
| label = Hopeless
| producer = Ross Robinson
| prev_title = Live & Acoustic at the Palace
| prev_year = 2016
| next_title = Heartwork
| next_year = 2020
| misc = {{Singles
| name = The Canyon
| type = studio
| single1 = Over and Over Again
| single1date = September 7, 2017
| single2 = Rise Up Lights
| single2date = November 3, 2017
| single3 = The Nexus
| single3date = May 2, 2018
}}
}}
The Canyon is the seventh studio album by American rock band the Used. The album was released as double album on October 27, 2017, through Hopeless Records and is dedicated to Tregen, a friend of Bert McCracken, who shot himself in Provo Canyon after coming off his anti-depressants for about a week.{{Cite magazine|title=The Used's Bert McCracken Talks Suicide & Loss, How It Influenced New Album 'The Canyon'|url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/rock/8013821/the-used-new-album-the-canyon-bert-mccracken-interview/|access-date=2021-04-12|magazine=Billboard|language=en}} It is the only studio album to feature guitarist Justin Shekoski since Quinn Allman's departure in 2015. It was highly acclaimed by critics and fans alike and appearing on many best-of-the-year lists, though it only peaked at 50 on the Billboard 200.
Background and production
On February 2, 2015, the band announced that guitarist Quinn Allman be on a temporary leave of absence for a year; Justin Shekoski of Saosin was brought in to fill 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}} On November 19, the group officially parted ways with Allman and made Shekoski a full-time member.{{cite web|url=https://www.altpress.com/news/the_used_welcome_saosin_guitarist_after_officially_parting_ways_with_quinn/|title=The Used welcome Saosin guitarist after officially parting ways with Quinn Allman|work=Alternative Press|author=Sharp, Tyler|date=November 19, 2015|accessdate=March 7, 2019}} Following this, the group went on tour to celebrate 15 years of being a band in April and May 2016.{{cite web|url=https://www.altpress.com/features/the_used_announce_anniversary_tour_and_live_acoustic_album/|title=The Used announce anniversary tour and live acoustic album|work=Alternative Press|author=Sharp, Tyler|date=November 17, 2015|accessdate=March 7, 2019}} Further dates were added extending it into June,{{cite web|url=https://www.altpress.com/news/the_useds_acoustic_album_hits_11_on_billboards_albums_chart/|title=The Used's acoustic album hits #11 on Billboard's albums chart|work=Alternative Press|author=Chatterjee, Kika|date=April 12, 2016|accessdate=March 7, 2019}} before a second leg in August and September was added.{{cite web|url=https://www.altpress.com/news/the_used_announce_second_leg_of_15_year_anniversary_tour/|title=The Used announce second leg of 15-year anniversary tour|work=Alternative Press|author=Sharp, Tyler|date=June 14, 2016|accessdate=March 7, 2019}}
The Canyon is the group's first album to feature production from Ross Robinson.{{cite news|last=DiVita|first=Joe|title=The Used Announce 'The Canyon' Album, Share Quirky 'Over and Over Again' Video|url=http://loudwire.com/the-used-the-canyon-album-over-and-over-again-video/|work=Loudwire|date=September 8, 2017|accessdate=September 9, 2017}} Previous albums utilized John Feldmann (with the exception of Artwork, produced by Matt Squire). The album was recorded using analog equipment with no click-tracks or backing vocals to achieve a raw sound.{{cite magazine |url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/rock/8013821/the-used-new-album-the-canyon-bert-mccracken-interview |title=The Used's New Album 'The Canyon': Bert McCracken Interview |magazine=Billboard |date=October 26, 2017 |accessdate=April 13, 2019}} Some of the song titles reference David Foster Wallace, Syria and The Odyssey, among others.{{cite web|url=http://www.deadpress.co.uk/news-the-used-announce-new-album-the-canyon/|title=NEWS: The Used announce new album, 'The Canyon'!|work=Dead Press!|author=Tuck, Dylan|date=September 8, 2017|accessdate=March 9, 2019}}
The Canyon is also the group's first and only studio album with guitarist Justin Shekoski. On Shekoski's addition to the band, in an interview with Billboard, lead singer Bert McCracken stated Shekoski's "lust for life and passion for art is inspiring. It's been a fire underneath The Used. It's a new chapter of a brand new book" and "since Justin became a part of the Used it's been nothing but exciting for the next step."{{Cite magazine|title=The Used's Bert McCracken Talks Suicide & Loss, How It Influenced New Album 'The Canyon'|url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/rock/8013821/the-used-new-album-the-canyon-bert-mccracken-interview/|access-date=2021-05-07|magazine=Billboard|language=en}} The band members were inspired following the live recording of Live and Acoustic at the Palace (2016), and wanted to reflect the live experience in their new album.{{Cite magazine|title=The Used's Bert McCracken Talks Suicide & Loss, How It Influenced New Album 'The Canyon'|url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/rock/8013821/the-used-new-album-the-canyon-bert-mccracken-interview/|access-date=2021-05-07|magazine=Billboard|language=en}}
Release
On September 7, 2017, The Canyon was announced for release the following month; alongside this, a music video was released for the first single, "Over and Over Again."{{Cite web|date=September 8, 2017|first=Joe |last=DiVita|title=The Used Announce New Album, Release 'Over and Over Again' Video|url=https://loudwire.com/the-used-the-canyon-album-over-and-over-again-video/|access-date=2021-05-07|website=Loudwire|language=en}} The music video was directed by Lisa Mann and included dance choreography with bright visuals. In October and November 2017, the group went on a headlining US tour with support from Glassjaw.{{cite web|url=https://www.altpress.com/news/the_used_over_and_over_again_new_song_the_canyon_new_album/|title=The Used debut new song, "Over And Over Again," taken from forthcoming album, 'The Canyon'|work=Alternative Press|author=Dickman, Maggie|date=September 7, 2017|accessdate=March 7, 2019}} A lyric video was released for "Rise Up Lights" on October 23, 2017.{{cite web|url=https://www.altpress.com/news/the_used_rise_up_lights_new_song/|title=The Used debut supercharged new song 'Rise Up Lights'|work=Alternative Press|author=Dickman, Maggie|date=October 23, 2017|accessdate=March 7, 2019}} The Canyon was released on October 27, 2017 through Hopeless Records. A music video was released for "Rise Up Lights" on November 3, 2017 which also depicted interpretive dancing "seemingly meant for their avant-garde dystopian anthem."{{cite web|url=https://www.altpress.com/news/the_used_rise_up_lights_music_video/|title=Watch the Used's slightly NSFW music video for "Rise Up Lights"|work=Alternative Press|author=Dickman, Maggie|date=November 3, 2017|accessdate=March 7, 2019}}
The group were due to go on a European tour in February 2018,{{cite web|author=Heinz, Natasha|date=November 22, 2017|title=The Used announce tour and other news you might have missed today|url=https://www.altpress.com/news/the_used_announce_tour/|work=Alternative Press|accessdate=March 7, 2019}} but the shows were postponed until August 2018 due to a "family death."{{cite web|author=Cook, Lottie|date=March 21, 2018|title=NEWS: The Used announce rescheduled UK tour for August 2018!|url=http://www.deadpress.co.uk/news-the-used-announce-rescheduled-uk-tour-for-august-2018/|work=Dead Press!|accessdate=March 9, 2019}}
Following this, the group went on a headlining US tour with support from Red Sun Rising and Fever 333 in April and May 2018. On May 1, a music video was released for "The Nexus".{{cite web|url=https://www.altpress.com/news/nothing_more_just_say_when_music_video/|title=The Used announce dates for rescheduled tour|work=Alternative Press|author=Dickman, Maggie|date=March 19, 2018|accessdate=March 7, 2019}} Directed by Lisa Mann, the video is a love story between two "identities battling for supremacy and independence only to be locked in patterned loops together throughout time told through experimental movement."{{cite web|url=http://www.deadpress.co.uk/video-the-used-the-nexus/|title=VIDEO: The Used – The Nexus
|work=Dead Press!|author=Tuck, Dylan|date=May 4, 2018|accessdate=March 9, 2019}} The band then performed on the Warped Tour in June and July.{{cite web|url=https://www.altpress.com/news/the_used_spring_north_american_tour_2018/|title=Nothing More share music video for 'Just Say When' and other news you might have missed today|work=Alternative Press|author=Casteel, Beth|date=May 1, 2018|accessdate=March 7, 2019}} The group also appeared at the Reading and Leeds Festivals in August 2018.{{cite web|author=Tuck, Dylan|date=March 31, 2018|title=NEWS: Mike Shinoda, Skindred, and 70+ more join Reading & Leeds Festival 2018!|url=http://www.deadpress.co.uk/news-mike-shinoda-skindred-and-70-more-join-reading-leeds-festival-2018/|work=Dead Press!|accessdate=March 9, 2019}}
Reception
{{Album ratings
| rev1 = AllMusic
| rev1Score = {{Rating|4|5}}{{cite web|website=AllMusic|last=Yeung|first=Neil Z.|url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/the-canyon-mw0003108503|title=The Canyon - The Used|accessdate=October 22, 2024}}
| rev2 = Alternative Press
| rev2Score = {{Rating|4|5}}{{cite web|work=Alternative Press|url=https://www.altpress.com/reviews/the_used_the_canyon_review/|title='The Canyon' is the Used's most soul-wrenching effort to date|date=October 27, 2017|accessdate=September 9, 2018}}
| rev3 = Drowned in Sound
| rev3Score = {{Rating|4.5|5}}{{cite web|work=Drowned in Sound|last=Reynolds|first=Aidan|url=http://drownedinsound.com/releases/20122/reviews/4151443|title=Album Review: The Used - The Canyon|accessdate=September 9, 2018|archive-date=September 10, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180910014456/http://drownedinsound.com/releases/20122/reviews/4151443|url-status=dead}}
| rev5 = New Noise
| rev5score = {{rating|4.5|5}}{{cite web|publisher=New Noise|last=Lay|first=Nathaniel|url=https://newnoisemagazine.com/review-used-canyon/|title=Album Review: The Used - The Canyon|date=November 8, 2017|accessdate=September 9, 2018}}
}}
The album received positive reception following its release, with Alternative Press claiming the album has "A vibrancy and vulnerability not felt since the Used's 2002 self-titled debut," and stating that the band's new guitarist Justin Shekoski "has breathed new life into the songwriting."{{Cite web|date=2017-10-27|title='The Canyon' is the Used's most soul-wrenching effort to date|url=https://www.altpress.com/reviews/the_used_the_canyon_review/|access-date=2021-05-07|website=Alternative Press|language=en-US}} McCracken's delivery of the lyrics coupled with Shekoski's melodies and riffs, showed "The Used have fully realized their wild imagination" and critics noted "this collection of songs are more compelling and moving than anything heard previously from the band."{{Cite web|date=2017-10-27|title='The Canyon' is the Used's most soul-wrenching effort to date|url=https://www.altpress.com/reviews/the_used_the_canyon_review/|access-date=2021-05-07|website=Alternative Press|language=en-US}}
The album appears in AllMusic's 2017 Year In Review: Favorite Punk Albums,{{cite web|url=https://www.allmusic.com/year-in-review/2017/favorite-punk|title=Favorite Punk Albums {{!}} AllMusic 2017 in Review|website=AllMusic|access-date=May 21, 2018}} Alternative Press{{'s}} The 40 best albums of 2017,{{Cite news|url=https://altpress.jp/?p=64044|title=【FEATURES】The 40 best albums of 2017|work=ALTERNATIVE PRESS JAPAN|access-date=May 21, 2018|language=ja}} Drowned in Sound{{'s}} Album of 2017: Staff edit{{Cite news|url=http://drownedinsound.com/in_depth/4151513-staff-poll--drowned-in-sounds-albums-of-2017-list|title=Staff Poll: Drowned In Sound's Albums Of 2017 List|work=Drowned in Sound|access-date=May 21, 2018|archive-date=May 22, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180522112439/http://drownedinsound.com/in_depth/4151513-staff-poll--drowned-in-sounds-albums-of-2017-list|url-status=dead}} and Kerrang!{{'s}} Albums of 2017 lists.{{cite web|url=http://www.kerrang.com/features/kerrang-albums-of-2017/|title=Kerrang!'s Albums Of 2017 — Kerrang!|website=Kerrang!|date=December 29, 2017 |access-date=May 21, 2018}}
Track listing
{{Track listing
| headline = Disc One
| total_length = 41:58
| title1 = For You
| length1 = 4:35
| title2 = Cold War Telescreen
| length2 = 4:41
| title3 = Broken Windows
| length3 = 4:45
| title4 = Rise Up Lights
| length4 = 3:28
| title5 = Vertigo Cave
| length5 = 4:25
| title6 = Pretty Picture
| length6 = 4:11
| title7 = Funeral Post
| length7 = 5:19
| title8 = Upper Falls
| length8 = 5:34
| title9 = The Divine Absence (This Is Water)
| length9 = 5:00
}}{{Track listing
| headline = Disc Two
| title10 = Selfies in Aleppo
| length10 = 4:33
| title11 = Moving the Mountain (Odysseus Surrenders)
| length11 = 4:16
| title12 = Over and Over Again
| length12 = 5:14
| title13 = The Quiet War
| length13 = 4:11
| title14 = Moon-Dream
| length14 = 4:45
| title15 = The Nexus
| length15 = 4:41
| title16 = About You (No Songs Left to Sing)
| length16 = 3:47
| title17 = The Mouth of the Canyon
| length17 = 5:33
| total_length = 37:00
| all_writing = Justin Shekoski, Bert McCracken, Jeph Howard, Dan Whitesides
}}
Live debut of the songs
| class="wikitable sortable mw-collapsible"
!Song !Venue !Date !Tour !Source |
| About You (No Songs Left to Sing)
|SeaLegs Live at the Beach, Huntington Beach, California, U.S. |August 9, 2017 | - |
| For You
|Masonic Auditorium, San Francisco, California, U.S. |October 27, 2017 |The Canyon Tour |
| Over and Over Again
|Masonic Auditorium, San Francisco, California, U.S. |October 27, 2017 |The Canyon Tour |
| Rise Up Lights
|Masonic Auditorium, San Francisco, California, U.S. |October 27, 2017 |The Canyon Tour |
| The Nexus
|Uptown Theater, Kansas City, Missouri, U.S. |October 31, 2017 |The Canyon Tour |
| Selfies in Aleppo
|Starland Ballroom, Sayreville, New Jersey, U.S. |November 12, 2017 |The Canyon Tour |
Personnel
The Used
- Bert McCracken – lead vocals, piano (tracks 8 & 12), solina strings on "The Quiet War"
- Justin Shekoski – guitars, backing vocals, fretless guitar, banjo, Hammond B-3, harmonica, piano arrangement, programming, solina strings, album cover design
- Jeph Howard – bass guitar
- Dan Whitesides – drums, percussion
Additional personnel
- Jeph Howard, Rob McCracken, Justin Shekoski, Dan Whitesides, Brittni Whitesides, Erin Balboa, Michael Balboa, Danny Payne and Travis Pavur - group vocals on tracks 4,6,10
- Charlene Huang, Nicole Garcia - violins on tracks 1,2,7,8,12,14,17
- Hiro Goto - viola and strings arrangements on tracks 1,2,7,8,12,14,17
- April Guthrie - cello on tracks 1,2,7,8,12,14,17
- Edie Lehmann Boddicker, Luke Edgemon, Missi Hale - backing vocal ensemble on tracks 2,7,8,11,12,17
- Ron Manaog - percussion (all tracks except 1,14)
- The Used and Farrah Whitesides - percussion on "Vertigo Cave"
- Cleopatra Rose McCracken - vocals on "Moon-Dream"
- Michael Lehmann Boddicker - piano and synthesizer production on "Moon-Dream"
Production
- Ross Robinson – producer, mixing
- Michael Balboa - engineering
- Mike Frase - mixing
- Travis Pavur - additional engineering
Charts
| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center" |
| scope="col"| Chart (2017)
! scope="col"| Peak |
|---|
| scope="row"| Australian Albums (ARIA){{cite web|url=https://www.auspop.com.au/2017/11/aria-chart-watch-445/|title=ARIA Chart Watch #445|publisher=auspOp|date=November 4, 2017|accessdate=November 4, 2017|archive-date=October 28, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201028215917/https://www.auspop.com.au/2017/11/aria-chart-watch-445/|url-status=dead}}
| 69 |
| {{album chart|Billboard200|50|artist=The Used|rowheader=true|accessdate=November 7, 2017}} |
| {{album chart|BillboardAlternative|6|artist=The Used|rowheader=true|accessdate=November 7, 2017}} |
| {{album chart|BillboardHardRock|3|artist=The Used|rowheader=true|accessdate=November 7, 2017}} |
| {{album chart|BillboardRock|8|artist=The Used|rowheader=true|accessdate=November 7, 2017}} |
References
{{reflist}}
{{The Used}}
{{Authority control}}
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