Artist: You Me At Six
Title: Hold Me Down
Label: Virgin
Genre: Rock
Bitrate: 197kbit av.
Time: 00:40:30
Size: 60.25 mb
Rip Date: 2010-01-08
Str Date: 2010-01-11
01. The Consequence 4:26
02. Underdog 2:23
03. Playing The Blame Game 3:05
04. Stay With Me 3:15
05. Safer To Hate Her 3:18
06. Take Your Breath Away 3:03
07. Liquid Confidence 3:11
08. Hard To Swallow 3:24
09. Contagious Chemistry 3:29
10. ThereÆs No Such Thing As Accidental Infidelity 3:46
11. Trophy Eyes 2:50
12. Fireworks 4:20
Release Notes:
Late last year I reviewed the excellent ÆKiss And TellÆ and suggested
that ÆHold Me DownÆ would make for an interesting release. Here is a
band that have headlined a festival (LeedsÆ Slam Dunk) and had two high
profile arena support slots (with Fall Out Boy and Paramore) yet one
could argue that their popularity has yet to be matched by their
musical output, having released (and re-released) the one album, 2008s
ÆTake Off Your ColoursÆ. ÆHold Me DownÆ is a chance to redress this
imbalance and provide a further set of songs for the band to bring to a
live setting.
The album opens with first single ÆThe ConsequenceÆ, a track premiered
on the Paramore tour and available to download from the bands website.
It follows the template set down by ÆKiss And TellÆ, a poppy sing along
tune ending with a repetitive crescendo of angst. ÆUnderdogÆ is
infuriatingly catchy, and unsurprisingly will surface as the bands next
single. ÆGet out of my list of things to do, Æcos IÆve already done
youÆ is the frankly brilliant lyric that opens ÆPlaying The Blame GameÆ
before a rather pedestrian beat unravels unexpectedly into a strong
pop-rock tune, with, of all things, a background string section.
After the opening trio of tracks, the quality dips, but never below
mediocre. Thankfully there are deviations from the template the band
have thus far adhered to; ÆStay With MeÆ is a passable ballad with
requisite emotional vocal delivery. ÆThereÆs No Such Thing As
Accidental InfidelityÆ plods along disappointingly before a lighters in
the air style chorus does more than save the track, but rather elevates
it to the high point of the album.
The first time I listened to this record it completely passed me by, on
the one hand it shows a remarkable consistency, on the other it shows
that they have some way to challenge the bigger fish of the pop punk
pond, the likes of Paramore and Fall Out Boy who can craft instant
radio hits with ease. However, upon repeat listens a number of gems are
unearthed, but there lingers a sense that this is an opportunity
missed, a chance to establish themselves amongst the upper echelons of
the pop punk ladder or at least to provide an album to match the
adulation bestowed upon them. This will undoubtedly be lapped up by
Kerrang subscribers and their success and popularity will continue to
baffle critics.
sire@hush.ai