Make Yourself Sick

Boys Night Out initially formed in 1998, and broke up after a single show with the members forming other bands. The Burlington, Ontario music scene that the band came from went through an evolutionary period; during this time, vocalist Jeff Davis had nostalgia for his old band's material. In early 2001, Davis and Connor Lovat-Fraser, both of whom had played in Gym Class Joke and the Pettit Project, recorded two Boys Night Out songs. They soon recruited former Boys Night Out member Rob Pasalic on guitar, Ruins member Dave Costa on bass, and former Grade member Chris Danner on drums.[2] They self-released their debut EP You Are My Canvas in mid-2001.[3] Shortly after some live performances, Danner was replaced by Ben Arseneau, previously of Allendale.[2]

By January 2002, they had signed to One Day Savior Recordings and Ferret Music. Following this, they toured with the likes of Fordirelifesake, Fata, and the Fullblast.[4] In July 2002, the band released their second EP Broken Bones and Bloody Kisses through One Day Savior Recordings.[3] They played less shows after the release of the EP to center their attention on writing material for their debut album.[4] For the rest of the year, they went on short tours with the likes of From Autumn to Ashes, the Suicide Machines, and Thursday.[5]

Musically, the sound of Make Yourself Sick has been described as emo and pop-punk, with screamo vocals and the occasional lyric touching on hardcore punk.[1][6] It has been compared to the works of Glasseater, Ransom, and Taking Back Sunday.[7][8] The opening track, "I Got Punched in the Nose for Sticking My Face in Other People's Business", is done in the style of the Get Up Kids.[1] It is sung from the perspective of a victim talking to a criminal.[6] Halfway into the slow-tempo "Hold on Tightly. Let Go Lightly.", a long pause is heard before it continues with a woodwind instrument till its end. The closing track, "Yeah, No...I Know...", evokes the darker sound of Broken Bones and Bloody Kisses. It is slow-paced with distorted dual vocals, concluding with off-key guitar playing.[6]

In July and August 2003, the band went on a tour of the US with Saosin.[9] On August 3, 2003, Make Yourself Sick was announced for release in the following month; it was made available for streaming on August 13.[10][11] Make Yourself Sick was released on September 23, 2003, through Ferret Records.[10] In October and November 2003, the band toured the US supporting Catch 22.[12] In January and February 2004, the band supported Senses Fail on their headlining US tour.[13] In April 2004, the band appeared at the Skate and Surf Festival, before touring across Canada until May with Alexisonfire.[14][15] On April 29, 2004, a music video was released for "I Got Punched in the Nose for Sticking My Face in Other People's Business". They spent two weeks touring California with Park, before going on a West Coast tour with Matchbook Romance, and toured the East Coast with Nightmare of You and My Chemical Romance.[16] Boys Night Out then supported Saves the Day; on July 3, 2004, drummer Ben Arseneau left the band to go into teaching. His role was filled by Fordirelifesake drummer Brian Southall.[17] Following this, they went on two two-week intervals of the Warped Tour.[16] They were due to support Eighteen Visions on their US tour, until that band cancelled it for a European trek.[18] Boys Night Out instead went on a three-month tour to end the year; they performed with As Tall as Lions, Simpcoe Street Mob, Emery, Gym Class Heroes, From First to Last and Roses Are Red.[19] Partway through the tour, Pasalic left the band, resulting in Davis performing lead and rhythm guitar roles.[20]

Professional ratings

Review scores
Source	Rating
AllMusic	[1]
Modern Fix	Favorable[7]
Ox-Fanzine	8/10[8]
Punknews.org	[6]
Rock Hard	8/10[21]
Telegraph Herald	Favorable[22]

Make Yourself Sick has received generally favorable reviews from critics. AllMusic reviewer Johnny Loftus stated the band had "so much potential for innovation here", but criticized the "drum programming, balladry, and digitally tuned vocals", and ultimately concluded that "the album is indeed 'sick as frick', but not in the romantic sense".[1]

Punknews.org staff member Brian Schulz noted that the intro for opening track "I Got Punched in the Nose for Sticking My Face in Other People's Business" is "like a joke, but it works" and favorably compared the song to the band's song "The Only Honest Lovesong" from Broken Bones and Bloody Kisses. Schulz called "Hold On Tightly, Let Go Lightly" irritating, noting the pause between the bridge and breakdown.[6]

All lyrics are written by Jeff Davis and Connor Lovat-Fraser; all music is composed by Boys Night Out.

Boys Night Out

• Dave Costa - bass
• Jeff Davis - guitar, vocals
• Connor Lovat-Fraser - vocals
• Ben Arseneau - drums
• Rob Pasalic - guitar, vocals

Additional personnel

• Backup vocals on Track 9 were provided by Scott Komer.
• Group vocals on Track 9 were provided by Joan Komer and The Women of the St. Stephens United Church Choir.
• Additional vocals on Track 5 were provided by Adam Mansbridge.
• Additional keyboards by Scott Komer, Connor Lovat-Fraser and Rob Pasalic.
• Programming on Track 5 by Connor Lovat-Fraser.

• Official Band Website
• Ferret Records