Hold Me Down is the second studio album by English rock band You Me at Six, released on 11 January 2010 through Virgin Records[1] as the follow-up to 2008's Take Off Your Colours.

[12] Author Neil Daniels, in his book You Me at Six – Never Hold an Underdog Down (2015) said getting Ludwig meant the band was informing their fanbase that they were "outgrowing their youthful pop-punk roots and maturing".

[14] The album also features guest vocals from Aled Phillips of Kids in Glass Houses on "There's No Such Thing as Accidental Infidelity" and Sean Smith of The Blackout on "The Consequence".

[19] Daniels noted influences from older 1990s and 2000s acts Incubus, Jimmy Eat World and the Starting Line, in contrast to the peer-influenced direction of their debut album.

[14] Franceschi's lyrical influences during this time consisted of Envy on the Coast, Mayday Parade and rediscovery of Jimmy Eat World.

[21] "The Consequence" is a darker-edged track that opens the album with sound of sirens; the guitar riff in it recalls the one in "Everyday Combat" by Lostprophets.

[19] "Underdog" with its focus on drums and guitars earned a comparison to "Disloyal Order of Water Buffaloes" (2008) by Fall Out Boy.

[24] "Safer to Hate Her" is an emo song that is followed by "Take Your Breath Away", which Daniels saw as a "speedy rocker with a lot of anger and frustration" from Franceschi.

[24] Daniels said it displays a "definite progression from Take Off Your Colours with a strong vocal performance, more crafted guitars and decidedly pronounced choruses.

[26] Between September and November 2009, You Me at Six performed on the AP Fall Ball Tour in the US,[27] with the Academy Is..., Mayday Parade, Set Your Goals and the Secret Handshake.

[26] A in-store performance at Banquet Records in London, planned to coincide with the album's release, was moved to the nearby Hippodrome due to the hype surrounding the band.

[39] In February and March,[40] the band performed at the Soundwave festival in Australia, and then embarked on a headlining UK tour, with support from Forever the Sickest Kids and We the Kings.

[51] After a Halloween show they went on another UK headlining tour to close out the year in December 2010,[52] with support from the Blackout, Set Your Goals and Canterbury.

However, at the insistence of Virgin Records, who wanted a heavy-sounding rock track, they issued the non-album song "Rescue Me" (2011) instead, which was a collaboration with Chiddy Bang.

Few reviewers considered it to be "too clean-cut in its production and execution ... lack[ing] the kind of rawness that punk rock strived for".

Additional remarks were levied at the band for coming across as too American, while the other critics noted an evolution since their last release and complimented Franceschi's voice for maturity despite its whiny tonality.

There are way too many melodic rock/pop-punk bands in the world who are happy to ride on the coattails of others; throughout Hold Me Down, You Me at Six have instead pushed themselves to create a record that will delight existing fans and should rightfully attract many more".

David McLaughlin stated that "this time around You Me at Six have spiked the mix and created a cocktail so sweetly addictive that the faithful might just have to get used to sharing this band with many more".

He lamented, "any of the dozen tracks of Hold Me Down, despite being flawlessly executed, could just as easily have been knocked out by teen-adored Hoobastank or Taking Back Sunday.

[65] More unfavorable reviews also followed from British newspapers; Simon Price of The Independent bemoaned, "From the action-packed band name to the obligatory long song titles, from the witless blare of the vocals to the compressed blandness of the guitar sound, this is bog-standard emo ordinaire".

Its sole insight is contained in the song title 'There's No Such Thing As Accidental Infidelity'; not even the most fine-meshed musical sieve could unearth any originality here".

He summarised his article by stating the album was, "simply a carefully polished and highly competent, nearly retrospective collection of pop-rock songs from a band that, even at a young age, has nothing to say that hasn't been said by others before them (and, unarguably, said better).

She wrote, "Admittedly, their angry outbursts (Safer To Hate Her) and cod-American drawling stick to a well-worn formula but it’s one spiced up with ample punch, pop and prettiness".

With their second full studio effort, that direction has been discovered as the heavier elements start to show through, while maintaining the catchy crowd pleasing sing alongs; as an example, the slightly predictable nature of first single 'Underdog' demonstrates there is something here for everyone".

[23] Niki Boyle of The List was also more favourable, stating: "Chances are, if you liked YMA6’s first effort Take Off Your Colours, you’ll find plenty to like here.

Spiky pop-punk riffs, catchy choruses and guest vocalists from The Blackout and Kids in Glass Houses ensure there’s nothing to disappoint the fans".