The Canyon (album) explained

The Canyon
Type:studio
Artist:The Used
Cover:thecanyontheused.jpg
Recorded:2017
Studio:Studio 606, Los Angeles,[1]
Valentine Recording Studios, North Hollywood, California[2]
Genre:
Length:78:58
Label:Hopeless
Producer:Ross Robinson
Prev Title:Live & Acoustic at the Palace
Prev Year:2016
Next Title:Heartwork
Next Year:2020

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.[5] 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.[6] On November 19, the group officially parted ways with Allman and made Shekoski a full-time member.[7] Following this, the group went on tour to celebrate 15 years of being a band in April and May 2016.[8] Further dates were added extending it into June,[9] before a second leg in August and September was added.[10]

The Canyon is the group's first album to feature production from Ross Robinson.[11] 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.[12] Some of the song titles reference David Foster Wallace, Syria and The Odyssey, among others.[13]

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."[14] 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.[15]

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."[16] The music video was directed by Lisa Mann and included dance choreography with bright visuals.[16] In October and November 2017, the group went on a headlining US tour with support from Glassjaw.[17] A lyric video was released for "Rise Up Lights" on October 23, 2017.[18] The Canyon was released on October 27, 2017 through Hopeless Records.[17] 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."[19]

The group were due to go on a European tour in February 2018,[20] but the shows were postponed until August 2018 due to a "family death."[21]

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".[22] 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."[23] The band then performed on the Warped Tour in June and July.[24] The group also appeared at the Reading and Leeds Festivals in August 2018.[25]

Reception

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."[26] 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."[27]

The album appears in AllMusic's 2017 Year In Review: Favorite Punk Albums,[28] Alternative Press The 40 best albums of 2017,[29] Drowned in Sound Album of 2017: Staff edit[30] and Kerrang! Albums of 2017 lists.[31]

Live debut of the songs

SongVenueDateTourSource
About You (No Songs Left to Sing)SeaLegs Live at the Beach, Huntington Beach, California, U.S.August 9, 2017-[32]
For YouMasonic Auditorium, San Francisco, California, U.S.October 27, 2017The Canyon Tour[33]
Over and Over AgainMasonic Auditorium, San Francisco, California, U.S.October 27, 2017The Canyon Tour
Rise Up LightsMasonic Auditorium, San Francisco, California, U.S.October 27, 2017The Canyon Tour
The NexusUptown Theater, Kansas City, Missouri, U.S.October 31, 2017The Canyon Tour[34]
Selfies in AleppoStarland Ballroom, Sayreville, New Jersey, U.S.November 12, 2017The Canyon Tour[35]

Personnel

The Used

Additional personnel

Production

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Instagram post by Justin Shekoski • May 5, 2017 at 8:32am UTC. https://ghostarchive.org/iarchive/s/instagram/BTtD1PNlAUD . December 24, 2021 . registration. Instagram.com. September 8, 2017.
  2. News: Biddulph. Andy. The Used's Bert McCracken: "Everything In My Life Has Led Up To This Moment...". Rock Sound. September 12, 2017. September 11, 2017.
  3. Web site: Johnston . Emma . The Used - The Canyon album review | Louder . December 3, 2017 . Teamrock.com . April 13, 2019.
  4. Web site: The Used's Bert McCracken runs through the band's pain-stained discography — interview. January 5, 2018.
  5. The Used's Bert McCracken Talks Suicide & Loss, How It Influenced New Album 'The Canyon'. 2021-04-12. Billboard. en.
  6. 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.
  7. Web site: The Used welcome Saosin guitarist after officially parting ways with Quinn Allman. Alternative Press. Sharp, Tyler. November 19, 2015. March 7, 2019.
  8. Web site: The Used announce anniversary tour and live acoustic album. Alternative Press. Sharp, Tyler. November 17, 2015. March 7, 2019.
  9. Web site: The Used's acoustic album hits #11 on Billboard's albums chart. Alternative Press. Chatterjee, Kika. April 12, 2016. March 7, 2019.
  10. Web site: The Used announce second leg of 15-year anniversary tour. Alternative Press. Sharp, Tyler. June 14, 2016. March 7, 2019.
  11. News: DiVita. Joe. The Used Announce 'The Canyon' Album, Share Quirky 'Over and Over Again' Video. Loudwire. September 8, 2017. September 9, 2017.
  12. The Used's New Album 'The Canyon': Bert McCracken Interview . Billboard . October 26, 2017 . April 13, 2019.
  13. Web site: NEWS: The Used announce new album, 'The Canyon'!. Dead Press!. Tuck, Dylan. September 8, 2017. March 9, 2019.
  14. The Used's Bert McCracken Talks Suicide & Loss, How It Influenced New Album 'The Canyon'. 2021-05-07. Billboard. en.
  15. The Used's Bert McCracken Talks Suicide & Loss, How It Influenced New Album 'The Canyon'. 2021-05-07. Billboard. en.
  16. Web site: September 8, 2017. Joe . DiVita. The Used Announce New Album, Release 'Over and Over Again' Video. 2021-05-07. Loudwire. en.
  17. Web site: The Used debut new song, "Over And Over Again," taken from forthcoming album, 'The Canyon'. Alternative Press. Dickman, Maggie. September 7, 2017. March 7, 2019.
  18. Web site: The Used debut supercharged new song 'Rise Up Lights'. Alternative Press. Dickman, Maggie. October 23, 2017. March 7, 2019.
  19. Web site: Watch the Used's slightly NSFW music video for "Rise Up Lights". Alternative Press. Dickman, Maggie. November 3, 2017. March 7, 2019.
  20. Web site: Heinz, Natasha. November 22, 2017. The Used announce tour and other news you might have missed today. Alternative Press. March 7, 2019.
  21. Web site: Cook, Lottie. March 21, 2018. NEWS: The Used announce rescheduled UK tour for August 2018!. Dead Press!. March 9, 2019.
  22. Web site: The Used announce dates for rescheduled tour. Alternative Press. Dickman, Maggie. March 19, 2018. March 7, 2019.
  23. Web site: VIDEO: The Used – The Nexus. Dead Press!. Tuck, Dylan. May 4, 2018. March 9, 2019.
  24. Web site: Nothing More share music video for 'Just Say When' and other news you might have missed today. Alternative Press. Casteel, Beth. May 1, 2018. March 7, 2019.
  25. Web site: Tuck, Dylan. March 31, 2018. NEWS: Mike Shinoda, Skindred, and 70+ more join Reading & Leeds Festival 2018!. Dead Press!. March 9, 2019.
  26. Web site: 2017-10-27. 'The Canyon' is the Used's most soul-wrenching effort to date. 2021-05-07. Alternative Press. en-US.
  27. Web site: 2017-10-27. 'The Canyon' is the Used's most soul-wrenching effort to date. 2021-05-07. Alternative Press. en-US.
  28. Web site: Favorite Punk Albums AllMusic 2017 in Review. AllMusic. May 21, 2018.
  29. News: 【FEATURES】The 40 best albums of 2017. ALTERNATIVE PRESS JAPAN. May 21, 2018. ja.
  30. News: Staff Poll: Drowned In Sound's Albums Of 2017 List. Drowned in Sound. May 21, 2018. May 22, 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20180522112439/http://drownedinsound.com/in_depth/4151513-staff-poll--drowned-in-sounds-albums-of-2017-list. dead.
  31. Web site: Kerrang!'s Albums Of 2017 — Kerrang!. Kerrang!. December 29, 2017 . May 21, 2018.
  32. Web site: The Used Setlist at SeaLegs Live at the Beach, Huntington Beach. setlist.fm. en. August 19, 2019.
  33. Web site: The Used Setlist at Masonic Auditorium, San Francisco. setlist.fm. en. August 19, 2019.
  34. Web site: The Used Setlist at Uptown Theater, Kansas City. setlist.fm. en. August 19, 2019.
  35. Web site: The Used Setlist at Starland Ballroom, Sayreville. setlist.fm. en. August 19, 2019.
  36. Web site: ARIA Chart Watch #445. auspOp. November 4, 2017. November 4, 2017. October 28, 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20201028215917/https://www.auspop.com.au/2017/11/aria-chart-watch-445/. dead.

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