You Me At Six– Lover Boy (25/09/2011 Virgin Records)

 You Me At Six, a pop punk band from Weybridge, Surrey are set to release their third album on 3^rd October this year. The first single from which, ‘Lover Boy’ will be released 8 days prior and an official music video is expected over the next couple of weeks.

     ‘Lover Boy’ is fans’ first taste of what is to come from up-and-coming ‘Sinners Never Sleep’, and if it is anything to go by they will not be disappointed! Firing up with somewhat bland gang vocals, the track takes off when the thumping blues bass line begins. Despite it being simplistic, it sets the stage perfectly for a gritty and intense first verse. Written by the band themselves, this track is personal and bitter without being over the top. It defines some progression from the band’s previous compilation ‘Hold Me Down’ without varying their sound completely, which can be difficult to achieve.

'Lover Boy': Artwork

    The verses of ‘Lover Boy’ illustrate frontman Josh Franceshi’s astounding vocal abilities, proving the possibility of being an earth-shattering singer without being technically flawless. Serious You Me At Six fans will spot Franceshi’s live techniques shining through within the chorus, such as a trace of his Weybridge accent, ‘Don’t you feel bad, don’t you feel bad?’, as well as an insinuation of the original, post-hardcore You Me At Six, ‘of course I would...’.

     Overall, the likeability of this debut single from ‘Sinners Never Sleep’ is unquestionable and the temper filled edge of it lacks sentiment, which is something that adds to a worthy catchy song, ‘this is the night you’ll regret in the morning...’. If nothing else, the band prove opportunity for more artists and bands to write and release memorable material that is not pop based. You Me At Six have done well with regards to writing a relatable track for their fans, without being whiney, soppy, heartless and without screeching about sex, drugs and booze every other lyric.

You Me At Six

     With the gritty and grainy guitar solo and gang vocals, the track is also gig-perfect, particularly for an opener. Additionally, the boys have managed to avoid default pop mode like other bands of a similar genre and have successfully charted their progress as musicians, and undoubtedly people from previous work, despite ‘Lover Boy’ being described as the most similar to the sound of ‘Hold Me Down’.

4/5

Listen to the track here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1slKomFgYBI