Described as a “day-in-the-life journey of a depressed, anxiety-ridden person” by vocalist Bert McCracken, Toxic Positivity, the new record from The Used, shares the highs and lows of depression and addiction through a cohesive body of work, speaking to the ever-changing headspace that he was experiencing at the time of writing.

“This record is quite tough for me to listen to,” he adds, “because it’s a reflection of times in my life that have been some of my lowest ever.”

Absorbed front-to-back in its finished form, Toxic Positivity pulls from every facet of The Used’s definitive sound. There’s the buzzsaw riff of Pinky Swear (Save Me); the sweeping, arena-sized chorus of Headspace; the riveting hooks of The Worst I’ve Ever Been; and the underlying pop sensibilities of I Hate Everybody. Displaying a depth of sonic variety while never allowing an inch of slack into its taut cohesiveness, this is the past, present, and future of The Used represented in 11 tracks that combined barely break the half-hour mark.

"It has always just been in us, and we’ve had to get it out. I read a quote once that said you either work your entire lifetime on four great pieces, or you write thousands of pieces and become great that way. Everything that we feel, I think it always makes for a good song."

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