The Used

There’s surely some sort of official story behind the origin of the Used’s name, but it might as well describe the elements that make up the band’s music. The threads of pop punk, metal and even good old-fashioned rock and roll that are woven into the screamo-tinged tunes are well traveled and well known, passed down from each generation of angry young dudes to the next with nary a twist to be found. Each of the group’s five studio albums, including last year’s Vulnerable, shows an increasing command of songcraft and sound, even if things don’t ever change too much. That said, teenage angst doesn’t change much, either, so this stuff never really goes bad, and the bandmembers manage to fashion some appealing numbers from the familiar material.