Take Off Your Colours

Background

You Me at Six formed in Weybridge, Surrey in 2004. The band's line-up consisted of vocalist Josh Franceschi, guitarists Max Helyer and Chris Miller, bassist Matt Barnes, and drummer Joe Phillips. The group released an EP, We Know What It Means to Be Alone in 2006, after which, Phillips left the band. Dan Flint, a friend the band had gone to college with, was initially asked to fill in on drums for a tour. He ended up becoming Phillips' permanent replacement following the band's appearance at Slam Dunk Festival 2007. The band then released another EP later in 2007.

You Me at Six went on tour with Elliot Minor, during which both bands released singles. "Save It for the Bedroom" was released on 22 October 2007 through Slam Dunk Records, a label co-founded by the band with help from their manager and fans. The single featured "You've Made Your Made (So Sleep in It)" as the B-side, and both tracks would later appear on Take Off Your Colours. A music video for "Save It for the Bedroom" had been released a few days prior and was directed by Lawrence Hardy. The band's release sold more copies than Elliot Minor's single, which was released through a major label. This situation made it clear to the band that, according to Franceschi, "major labels are good but over the years they have totally lost touch of what sells." By this time, the group was in discussion with a range of independent and major labels.

Composition and recording

Following the Elliot Minor tour, the group began writing material for their debut album. In late November and early December, the band went on their first headlining tour of the UK, with support from Flood of Red. During the latter month, the band wrote further material. All of the songs on the album were written and arranged by themselves. Typically, Helyer or Franceschi would have an idea that the band would then flesh out together. Occasionally, the band would record demos and change sections of them.

The title, Take Off Your Colours, is a quote from a line by the orphan leader in the film The Warriors (1979). The album's sound has been described by critics as pop punk and emo pop. At the time, the group was listening to bands such as Blink-182, New Found Glory, and, according to Barnes, "all that sort of Drive-Thru scene." One of the members described it as "a mixture of genres. Some songs are pop punk and some are rockier and heavier." The group did not intentionally compose a pop punk album but "it just sort of came [out] like that," according to Barnes. The band gauged the reaction to the new material by playing the songs live. You Me at Six performed at Reading Festival 2008, and the audience was larger than their tent's capacity.

The band began recording in spring 2008 at Outhouse Studios in Reading, Berkshire over the course of two weeks. Matt O'Grady and John Mitchell handled producer duties, with Mitchell also mixing the proceedings, while Tim Turan mastered the album. "Save It for the Bedroom" and "You've Made Your Bed (So Sleep in It)", which were initially released as a single in 2007, were re-recorded during the album's studio sessions. Franceschi's sister Elissa provided additional vocals on "Always Attract".

Release and touring

A music video was released for "If I Were in Your Shoes" on 14 February 2008, while it was officially announced as single on 17 March through Slam Dunk, with "Taste" as the B-side. During the previous month, the band also supported The Audition during their headlining tour of the UK. On 26 June, it was announced the band had signed a one-album contract with Slam Dunk. Franceschi explained that if the group wished to move to a bigger label, they "can easily move on [or] if we are happy we [will] stay [on Slam Dunk]". "Gossip" was released as the second single, with "All Your Fault" as the B-side, on 28 July 2008. A music video for the song was also released. On 11 August of the same year, the band released "If You Run" as a free download from their website.

On 11 September 2008, a music video was released for "Jealous Minds Think Alike", which was directed by Shane Davey. The song was released as a single on 29 September, with "Blue Eyes Don't Lie" as the B-side. It was the band's first single to chart, peaking at number 100 on the UK Singles Chart in November. The album, Take Off Your Colours was released on 6 October 2008 through Slam Dunk. The band did a series of in-store performances to help promote the release. Later in the month, the band toured in the United Kingdom with support from Houston Calls and Farewell. On 19 February 2009, the band released a second music video for "Save It for the Bedroom", which was directed by Davey. "Save It for the Bedroom" was released as a single on 9 March 2009.

The band also announced that they had signed to Epitaph Records on 9 March 2009. "Finders Keepers" was released as a single to precede the album on 25 May 2009. Epitaph released Take Off Your Colours in the US on 21 July. As well as studio and acoustic versions of "Finders Keepers", this version featured several bonus tracks: an acoustic version of "Save It for the Bedroom", the B-sides to "Gossip", "Jealous Minds Think Alike", and re-recorded "Save It for the Bedroom" singles. The US iTunes version of Take Off Your Colours also includes "Kiss and Tell", a song which would later be released as a single to promote a UK limited edition of the album. In August, the band went on the 2009 edition of Warped Tour. In early September, the band did some small, intimate club shows in the UK. "Kiss and Tell" was released as a single on 7 September 2009, a week before the limited edition of Take Off Your Colours was released in the UK. In addition to "Kiss and Tell", it features the original album on one disc and another disc of additional songs: "Finders Keepers", and B-sides to the "Gossip", "Jealous Minds Think Alike", and re-recorded "Save It for the Bedroom" singles. Between September and November, the band performed with The Academy Is..., Mayday Parade, Set Your Goals and The Secret Handshake in the US on the AP Fall Ball Tour.

By November 2009, Franceschi described playing the material live as having "become suffocated almost and we've really overplayed some of them". Prior to Slam Dunk Festival 2015, there were rumours that the band was going to perform Take Off Your Colours in its entirety. Franceschi later explained the band would be "extensively paying homage to that with songs" from the album.

Commercial performance

The album peaked on the UK Albums Chart at number 25, and the deluxe edition re-entered the chart, peaking at number 61. While "If I Were In Your Shoes" and "Gossip" failed to chart, "Jealous Minds Think Alike" peaked at number 100 and "Save It For the Bedroom" peaked at number 146. While promoting the deluxe version of the album, "Finders Keepers" and "Kiss and Tell" reached number 33 and 42, respectively. In March 2012, the album was certified silver in the UK, and four months later, it was certified gold.

Critical reception

Reviews for the album were generally positive. Alter the Press! reviewer Sean Reid said the album showed the band had "potential to reach the level of success as bands such as Fall Out Boy and Panic At The Disco [sic]." Jen Walker of Big Cheese called the album "a refreshing English pop punk debut", which contained "clear musical influences" from New Found Glory, Panic! at the Disco, and Brand New. Strange Glue reviewer Aidan Williamson praised the album's hooks.

Evan Lucy of Alternative Press gave the album a mixed review, feeling "some songs feel ripped from Fall Out Boy's Take This to Your Grave," but praised songs which were less adherent to pop punk, namely "Tigers and Sharks" and "Always Attract". AllMusic reviewer Jon O'Brien criticised the album's sound, describing it as an album which was more mature than a Busted record, but not as heavy as Fightstar's music. O'Brien stated that the band followed a "well-worn formula" of emo pop on Take Off Your Colours. However, another AllMusic reviewer, Jason Birchmeier, later regarded Take Off Your Colours as an "impressive debut album" which cemented the group "as one of England's hottest up-and-coming rock bands". The Guardian described the band's sound to be "the UK's answer to Fall Out Boy," with reviewer Emma Johnston choosing "Jealous Minds Think Alike" as a highlight.

Track listing

All songs written and arranged by You Me at Six.

Personnel

Personnel per booklet.