Imaginary Enemy (album) explained

Imaginary Enemy
Type:studio
Artist:The Used
Cover:Imaginary Enemy (album).jpg
Length:54:09
Producer:John Feldmann
Prev Title:The Ocean of the Sky
Prev Year:2013
Next Title:Live & Acoustic at the Palace
Next Year:2016

Imaginary Enemy is the sixth studio album by American rock band the Used. It is the first album released on, and the second label the band created and own, GAS Union.

Imaginary Enemy is the final album to feature guitarist Quinn Allman before he parted from the band in November 2015.

Recording

The album was produced by John Feldmann, who also produced all of the band's studio albums with the exception of Artwork.[1]

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.[2]

Release

On January 20, 2014, Imaginary Enemy was announced for release in April; its track listing and artwork were revealed.[3] A week later, a music video was released for "Cry".[4] The track was released to alternative radio stations on February 4.[5] 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.[6] Imaginary Enemy was made available for streaming on March 26, before being released on April 1[7] through Hopeless Records and the band's label GAS Union.[8] The band performed at the Download Festival in the UK in June.[9] The group toured Australia with Taking Back Sunday in August[10] and the US in September and October[11] with support from Frank Iero.[12]

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.[13] On September 18, a music video was released for "Revolution".[14] The track was released to alternative radio stations on September 30.[15] 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.[16] Following this, the group went on a headlining UK tour with support from Decade and Landscapes.[17] In April and May, the group went on a headlining US tour with support from Every Time I Die, Marmozets and the Eeries,[18] before embarking on a co-headlining US tour with Chevelle later in May.[19] In October, the band appeared at the Taste of Chaos festival.[20]

Reception

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.[21]

Track listing

Additional track information

The Used released 12 tracks from the Imaginary Enemy recording session. The only b-side released to date is "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.

Limited edition

A limited edition of 15,000 numbered copies will be made featuring deluxe artwork and a bonus track titled "Money Monster".[22]

Personnel

The Used

Technical and production

Chart performance

Chart (2014)Peak
position
US Billboard 20014
US Billboard Rock Albums5
US Billboard Alternative Albums5
US Billboard Independent Albums1

Live debut of the songs

SongVenueDateTourSource
CryQuikTrip Park, Grand Prairie, Texas, U.S.Mar 14, 20142014 Spring Tour[23]
RevolutionKool Haus, Toronto, Canada April 8, 20142014 Spring Tour[24]
A Song to Stifle Imperial Progression (A Work in Progress)Egyptian Room at Old National Centre, Indianapolis, Indiana, U.S.Sep 14, 2014[25]
OverdosePalace Theatre, Los Angeles, California, U.S.Oct 11, 2015Live and Acoustic At The Palace (special event)[26]

Release history

RegionDateFormat(s)Edition(s)LabelRef.
United KingdomMarch 31, 2014Standard[27]
United StatesApril 1, 2014[28]
JapanApril 2, 2014Standard[29]
AustraliaApril 4, 2014
GermanyStandard[30]

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: The Used stream new album 'Imaginary Enemy'|url=http://kroq.cbslocal.com/2014/03/25/the-used-stream-new-album-imaginary-enemy/. KROQ-FM. March 28, 2014. March 25, 2014. March 27, 2014. https://web.archive.org/web/20140327234443/http://kroq.cbslocal.com/2014/03/25/the-used-stream-new-album-imaginary-enemy/. dead.
  2. Web site: Chatterjee. Upasana. Interview with The Used. AMH Network. March 9, 2014. October 25, 2013. https://archive.today/20140326070830/http://www.amhnetwork.com/interview-with-the-used/. March 26, 2014. dead.
  3. Web site: The Used announce new album, 'Imaginary Enemy'. Alternative Press. Crane, Matt. January 20, 2014. March 7, 2019.
  4. Web site: The Used release new music video for "Cry". Alternative Press. Crane, Matt. January 27, 2014. March 7, 2019.
  5. Web site: AllAccess.com Alternative eWeekly. AllAccess. January 28, 2014. July 3, 2016.
  6. Web site: The Used, Taking Back Sunday announce co-headlining tour. Alternative Press. Alternative Press Magazine, Inc. Crane, Matt. January 28, 2014. November 20, 2017.
  7. Web site: AUDIO: The Used – Imaginary Enemy (Album). Dead Press!. Bliss, Tony. March 26, 2014. March 9, 2019.
  8. Web site: The Used's Video For 'Revolution' Is A Call For Arms If We've Ever Seen One . Rock Sound. Rock Sound. September 18, 2014. March 9, 2019.
  9. Web site: NEWS: Download Festival 2014 confirm more bands, including The Used and Emmure!. Dead Press!. Redrup, Zach. January 27, 2014. March 9, 2019.
  10. Web site: Taking Back Sunday, The Used announce Australian tour dates. Alternative Press. Alternative Press Magazine, Inc. Sharp, Tyler. May 10, 2014. November 20, 2017.
  11. Web site: Taking Back Sunday, the Used announce fall co-headlining tour. Alternative Press. Alternative Press Magazine, Inc. Crane, Matt. May 17, 2014. November 20, 2017.
  12. Web site: Frnkiero Andthe Cellabration announced as support for Taking Back Sunday/the Used fall tour. Alternative Press. Alternative Press Magazine, Inc. Crane, Matt. June 18, 2014. November 20, 2017.
  13. Web site: The Used, Taking Back Sunday announce split 10-inch. Alternative Press. Alternative Press Magazine, Inc. Sharp, Tyler. July 29, 2014. November 20, 2017.
  14. Web site: The Used release "Revolution" music video. Alternative Press. Crane, Matt. September 18, 2014. March 7, 2019.
  15. Web site: AllAccess.com Alternative eWeekly. AllAccess. September 23, 2014. July 4, 2016.
  16. Web site: The Used guitarist to take temporary leave from band, Saosin member to fill in. Alternative Press. Sharp, Tyler. February 2, 2015. March 7, 2019.
  17. Web site: NEWS: Decade confirmed to support The Used on their February UK tour!. Dead Press!. Bliss, Tony. January 20, 2015. March 9, 2019.
  18. Web site: The Used, Every Time I Die announce spring tour. Alternative Press. Sharp, Tyler. January 26, 2015. March 7, 2019.
  19. Web site: The Used announce co-headlining tour with Chevelle. Alternative Press. Sharp, Tyler. February 9, 2015. March 7, 2019.
  20. Web site: Taste Of Chaos set times announced. Alternative Press. Bazley, John. July 18, 2015. March 7, 2019.
  21. Web site: The Used | Awards. AllMusic.
  22. Web site: Imaginary Enemy (Deluxed Edition). The Music Shop. March 27, 2014. https://archive.today/20140320012826/http://www.musicshop.com.au/the-used-imaginary-enemy-deluxed-edition-cd.html. March 20, 2014. dead.
  23. Web site: The Used Setlist at QuikTrip Park, Grand Prairie, TX, USA . setlist.fm. April 21, 2020.
  24. Web site: The Used Setlist at Kool Haus, Toronto, ON, Canada . setlist.fm. April 21, 2020.
  25. Web site: The Used Setlist at Egyptian Room at Old National Centre, Indianapolis, IN, USA . setlist.fm. April 21, 2020.
  26. Web site: The Used Setlist at Palace Theatre, Los Angeles, CA, USA . setlist.fm. April 21, 2020.
  27. Web site: Imaginary Enemy. Amazon UK. March 25, 2014.
  28. Web site: Imaginary Enemy. Amazon. March 25, 2014.
  29. Web site: Imaginary Enemy. March 25, 2014. Japanese.
  30. Web site: Imaginary Enemy. Amazon Germany. March 27, 2014. German.

This article is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License. It uses material from the Wikipedia article "Imaginary Enemy (album)".

Except where otherwise indicated, Everything.Explained.Today is © Copyright 2009-2024, A B Cryer, All Rights Reserved. Cookie policy.