You Me At Six - Take Off Your Colours - Album Review

Released	October 20, 2008 (see release history)
Recorded	March–May 2008 at Outhouse Studios, Reading, England
Genre	Pop punk
Length	51:09 (Original) 69:07 (Deluxe Edition)
Label	Slam Dunk, Epitaph
Producer	Matty O'Grady, John Mitchell Rating                 9.9/10

I'm dating back a bit now to You Me At Six's first ever album, which was released in 2008 and labeled as a pop punk genre, which seems to be a change to what they are now. The reason in which I am doing this review of their oldest album is because I want to compare and contrast the difference of each one, as I have spotted a clear marked theme in each one which strongly sets them apart, showing the transformation of a progressive band in the music industry. Starting out with five very young and new lads from Surrey, they have composed together a typical band formation, trying to make it big.

If you're not already aware of this band then let me introduce you to them. Lead vocalist Josh Franceschi who was 17 at the time of this album joined by Max Helyer (guitar and backing vocals), Chris Miller (Guitar), Matt Barnes( bassist) and finally Dan Flint (Drummer). Now they sing about the typical teenaged boy stuff in this album as you are aware for most young bands sing about which are: girls, gossip and the usual dramas of a teenage life take priority in their stories, I find them to tackle this with with more humor and sarcasm, yet still keeping that cheesy, poetry love crap in there.

To me this album proves to be one of their strongest, despite its underrated recognition, musically and lyrically, You Me At Six take on the true punk elements infusing it with new pop melodies, composed into 13/18 songs.

The deluxe edition which was released a year late, added on five, already improved, immaculate songs to the album, proving its strength as a whole.

From begging with "The Truth Is A Terrible Thing" to "Gossip" the intro and out-tro both infuse together to build up a confused difference in two separate songs, however building up to the chorus the term is marked with the very catchy, clappy beat which is carried out throughout.  Keeping in touch with the same heavy guitar riffs, the pitch changing vocals, Gossip takes the album more to the heart of it all, as it really gets you into the head banging movement, finding yourself pumped for the next bouncy beat. The easily learnable lyrics catch your attention just hearing them at first glance, you will be able to pick them up almost instantly as being truly simple the band have kept this sing along tune intact for their fans to join in at any point.

As the album dives into its fourth song which is "Jealous Minds Think Alike", it thrives to prove to be the strongest, also being the first ever song I heard from them, it caught my ears in a drum beat. Slightly differing from the past few songs, it takes on a more structured and professional turn, diving into a brilliant chorus, with uplifting vocals as well as thrashing guitar and drum beats, the song is clearly following a pop rock style of music. Another main point which sets it apart is its strong out-tro and intro into the song, it still follows the nostalgic rhythm from the previous songs, however it is set apart with its memorable breakdown of a finish.

From one great song to another, "Save It For The Bedroom" proved to be another catchy tune, right from the intro of the 8/8, guitarist Chris and Max has pulled you right into this hypnotic pule which is then broken by vocalist Josh, joined by Dan, bursting into an outbreak of drums.

Reminisces back to the start of the album, this song is another crowd-pleaser with its catchy lyrical notion of "who's keeping score on who is who's whore" seems to be worth remembering  before the breakdown of "Too far, save it for the bedroom" replays over and over again before it all comes to slow, crashing end of pure instrumentals. 

Just halfway in the self titled track "Take Off Your Colours" displays the troubled teen problems, deeply engaging with girls, being lied to and fakness, more upbeat than the next song "You've made your bed" which takes this theme even deeper, the change in pitch and tempo presents a self-referential ode to a ex-girlfriend, directly speaking to her through a mix-match of lyrics. Gradually getting slower and slower, "Tigers and Sharks" highlight this with it's though paced trail of words, as you can easily follow Josh's spirit of betray and heartbreak come crashing down in pure emotion from the chorus where everything is dropped into heavy, passionate screams.

Lifting moods up high, yet still keeping the same themes by containing heavy layers of guitar sounding, almost post-hardcore the band have made their trademark of a killer chorus. "If You Run" its self sounds like you are on the run, with its false start and repair verse in which the guitar focuses heavily on, before giving up that outburst into the chorus. Another favorite is hidden towards the end as "If I Were In Your Shoes" proves to be the proper head mosher in this album, as the belting of the chorus allows the audiences to relate quickly, getting them into the right mod for the guitar solo before restoring them back to the playful lyrics. 

Playing with our emotions once again, another speed stopped, "Always Attract" provides a sweet sounding acoustic echo of a love ballad. May seem a bit unusual to find, this song fits in with this album as it keeps in touch with its repetitive guitar rifts along with the slow calmness of Josh's voice, sending us quiet for three minutes to just think and absorb. We are soon joined by his sister, Elissa who features as a guest on this track, harmonizing, beautifully for heightened ending, joined by an instrumental clatter, of the rest of the band joining in this crescendo. 

Ending the album with, "Rumor" just takes you on your journey back to the start of the album, with just a few new adjustments. By the end of this you will have heard a very solid and strong album, produced by five very young, yet extremely talented young lads who have shown that they have more for us to listen to, and in the future will achieve what they had originally set out to do.

With the five added bonus tracks, this easily tops all of their other albums, providing a solid 10/10, full of spectacular melodies, that capture your ears intensely.

Adding "Kiss and Tell" to start off the bonus tracks, it has already shown the progress of the band waiting a year, with their cleaned up vocals and perfected instrumental sound. Keeping in touch with their repetitive lyrics, being blasted at the crowd, they have taken on a much heavier approach.

Placing "Finders Keepers" in with a brand new music video, the band have also grown as teenaged boys into adults, as this song explores more about them growing up and past experiences in which they have decided to let go of and face more serious issues and relationships. Yet there is still a key, teenaged boy, jealous vibe going on with Josh adding his sarcastic "I bet you're sorry" commentary in, the song takes on a whole new atmosphere. Pleasurable yet getting you thinking this song puts you in a doubtful mood, re visiting memories in which you can relate to with the childlike lyric of "Finders keepers" being played over again, the aged band are still delivering their presence. 

However I will admit that "Sweet Feet" and " All Your Fault" don't relate much to the Deluxe as well as the other songs, as these songs both distant them self the new mixture of feelings. Following on from a childlike theme, Sweet Feet does follow this through, "I hate to say I told you so..." another, cocky line placed, showing more of Josh's funny side into the song it makes its more and more original to them as a band than just another heartbreak song.

In my opinion, the last two songs were alright to be added to the Deluxe, as they seemed pretty irrelevant to be on the album, yet added to the closure of TAKE OFF YOUR COLOURS. Both date back to the starting songs, keeping in touch with 4/4 beat and the causal head nodding, ending the song with a strained note.

Like I have said before, this album still proves to be my favorite, even now with the advancement of YMAS, I always date back to this track listing to find all the bangers and songs I can confidently sing along to, proving it to be worthy for their best album yet, without them even realising at the time.

Track Listing

01. The Truth is a Terrible Thing
02. Gossip
03. Call That a Comeback?
04. Jealous Minds Think Alike
05. Save It for the Bedroom
06. Take Off Your Colours
07. You've Made Your Bed
08. If You Run
09. Tigers and Sharks
10. If I Were in Your Shoes
11. Always Attract
12. Nasty Habits
13. The Rumour

DELUX:

14. Kiss and Tell
15. Finders Keepers
16. Sweet Feet
17. All Your Fault
18. Blue Eyes Don't Lie