2010 was a simpler time.
Warped Tour was still alive and well. The Academy Is… and My Chemical Romance hadn’t announced any breakups. Tumblr was a cool thing to have.
And best of all, in 2010, You Me At Six released their sophomore album “Hold Me Down.”
Exactly ten years ago today, the British rockers released “Hold Me Down” and began steadily gaining traction in the alternative music scene. And, in honor of the special anniversary, we’re taking a look back at the album and all of it’s killer tracks.
1)The Consequence
“I’ve got real big plans and such bad thoughts,” – what an ICONIC lyric to open an album with. Also the best lyric to put as your Myspace or Facebook status to let everyone know that you were feeling *angsty.*
2) Underdog
“Underdog” was one of the best songs off of “Hold Me Down.”
The second track to be released ahead of the full album, “Underdog” gave fans a taste of what the follow up to “Take Off Your Colours,” would feel and sound like- and it was a fantastic preview. With an incredibly catchy instrumental track and extremely *emo* lyrics, “Underdog” was the perfect f*ck you song to listen to whenever you were going through anything.
To this day, this is one of the best songs that You Me At Six have released.
3) Playing The Blame Game
“You’re not on my list of things to do, cause I’ve already done you.” – Top ten lyrics of the decade. No contest. No further comments.
4) Stay With Me
“Stay With Me” is the first real love song that You Me At Six put out since “Take Off Your Colours”‘s “Always Attract” and it is just as powerful.
Showing the band’s full range, “Stay With Me” showed that the rock band had a softer side, and that despite the angst and anger that some of their other tracks expressed, they could feel happy, reciprocated (?) love.
5) Safer to Hate Her
Another song about tricky relationships, but this time about the fear of falling in love with a close friend.
“Safer To Hate Her” is another classic catchy track about how much easier it is to never get close to someone than to fall for them and risk losing the relationship you have with them.
“It’s safer to hate her than to love her and to lose her,” – words of wisdom from a 19 year old Josh Franceschi.
6) Take Your Breath Away
The perfect song to listen to when you’re feeling like hot sh*t.
‘Take Your Breath Away” is almost the opposite of every other You Me At Six song in that it exudes confidence and cockiness. Instead of pining or feeling jilted over a failed relationship, this track is all about having all of the control in a relationship. And from the sounds of it- an unhealthy one.
My younger self was never sure if this song was referencing taking someones breath away in the sense that they are breathtaking and making the other person fall in love, or if they were threatening to kill their partner. My older self is still unsure, but I’ve accepted and am decidedly okay with not knowing.
7) Liquid Confidence
“Liquid Confidence” is the perfect song to listen to when you are trying to hype yourself up and confess your love to your crush, but then want to talk yourself out of it.
It is an incredibly catchy, dance-y song, and is the most pop-centric on the album.
“We are an example of why not to fall in love,” was definitely posted as a Facebook status on my account that year.
8) Hard to Swallow
When “Hold Me Down” was released, “Hard to Swallow” instantly became my favorite song. To this day, it remains my favorite.
The song- from an instrumental perspective- is very catchy, just like the rest of the album. But, something about the lyrics has always resonated with me. Perhaps the fact that they are about questioning who you are and who you want to be, while struggling to not miss out by letting time pass by too quickly without taking action.
Either way, this is my go-to song from “Hold Me Down.”
“We’re running out of time, we’ve got things on our mind and things that we just don’t like. Who’d you wanna see? Who’d you wanna be tonight?”
9) Contagious Chemistry
“Contagious Chemistry” is the angriest and most aggressive track on “Hold Me Down.” It became a fan favorite shortly after it’s release due to the use of the words “you bitch,” during the final verse.
And even though the song doesn’t conjure up the same emotions as some of the other hard hitting tracks, it is still 100% a great song to angry-jam out to.
10) There’s No Such Thing as Accidental Infidelity
“There’s No Such Thing As Accidental Infidelity,” broke my heart as a 15-year-old who had never so much as been in a relationship, and still breaks my heart now as a 25-year-old in a healthy long-term relationship.
It has not only a groovy bass line, but also gut-wrenching lyrics about heartbreak and cheating that will have anyone tearing up thinking about the wrong doing that has been done to them. Definitely one of the most powerful on the album.
11) Trophy Eyes
“Trophy Eyes” is the second heaviest song on the album (second to “The Consequence”) and it still goes extremely hard, even ten years later.
All about lying, scandals, and navigating deceit, this track has everything an angsty emo kid needed to help get out their frustration. Insightful lyrics, a heavy guitar and killer percussion beats.
“I keep my friends so close, and you even closer.”
12) Fireworks
The only song that is more gut-wrenching than “There’s No Such Thing As Accidental Infidelity” is “Fireworks.”
I distinctly remember the day that I heard this song for the first time, and cried. I was 15, had an unrequited crush, and listened to it on repeat because I felt like I *related.*
To this day, “Fireworks” remains one of the best You Me At Six releases. If you are ever going through a breakup, add this to your playlist. It will ruin your life, but become one of your favorite songs. Trust me.
What songs were your favorite off of “Hold Me Down?”
Let us know in the comments below, and be sure to show You Me At Six some love so we can *maybe* get a 10 year anniversary tour to come to the US.
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