In Color

In Color was produced by Tom Werman for Epic with a more polished sound in the hope of making a commercial impact. It was the band's first record to reach the Billboard 200, debuting at 149 and peaking at 73, but it was far more successful in Japan, where I Want You to Want Me and Clock Strikes Ten were hit singles. Rolling Stone ranked it number 443 in 2003, and Shake Some Action: The Ultimate Power Pop Guide ranked it fourth.

The band disliked the production. Petersson told Louder in 2008 that the label tried to make them radio-friendly and safe, and that the album sounded nothing like them. Nielsen said Werman added the piano to I Want You to Want Me and that it was not how they played it live. Five of its ten tracks later appeared in live form on At Budokan. The band re-recorded most of the album in 1997 with Steve Albini, but it was never officially released.