Wishful Thinking (Neck Deep album)

Wishful Thinking is the debut studio album by the Welsh pop punk band Neck Deep. Vocalist Ben Barlow met guitarist Lloyd Roberts when Roberts was working with Barlow's brother, Seb. Following the upload of a song under the artist name Neck Deep, the song gained attention. This attention resulted in the duo obtaining guitarist Matt West, drummer Dani Washington and bassist Fil Thorpe-Evans. The band released two EPs, Rain in July (2012) and A History of Bad Decisions. In March 2013 the band started recording material at Celestial Recordings in Wrexham, where they began recording guitar, bass and vocals. The group then moved to Outhouse Studio in Reading, where they recorded drums. Material was produced by Seb Barlow and the band. In mid-August, the group had signed to Hopeless, and by late August, they announced the album had been finished.

Wishful Thinking
Studio album by
Neck Deep
Released14 January 2014 (2014-01-14)
RecordedMarch – August 2013
StudioCelestial Recordings, Wrexham;
Outhouse Studio, Reading
GenrePop punk[1][2][3]
Length34:27
LabelHopeless
ProducerSeb Barlow, Neck Deep
Neck Deep chronology
A History of Bad Decisions
(2013)		 Wishful Thinking
(2014)		 Life's Not out to Get You
(2015)
Singles from Wishful Thinking
  1. "Crushing Grief (No Remedy)"
    Released: 29 October 2013
  2. "Growing Pains"
    Released: 17 December 2013
  3. "Losing Teeth"
    Released: 2 July 2014

"Crushing Grief (No Remedy)" was released as a single in October 2013. Following this the band toured the UK and Australia. "Growing Pains" was released as a single in December. In early January 2014 Wishful Thinking was made available for streaming, and the group went on a headlining tour of the UK. The album, released a week after the stream, was so successful that the band moved from a "fun, part-time [entity]", as Barlow called it, to a full-time endeavor. As such, Thorpe-Evans, West and Roberts quit their jobs, Washington turned down a place at the Academy of Contemporary Music, and Barlow dropped out of university. "Losing Teeth" was released as a single in July.

Background

Vocalist Ben Barlow met guitarist Lloyd Roberts when Barlow's older brother, Seb, was recording the Wrexham hardcore band Spires that Roberts played in.[4] At the time Barlow wrote pop punk songs for fun.[4] The duo posted the song "What Did You Expect?" online under the name Neck Deep.[4] According to Roberts Barlow "literally said, 'What about Neck Deep [as the band name]?' and that was that."[4] "What Did You Expect?" soon gained attention online.[4] This resulted in the duo adding guitarist Matt West, who also played in Spires, and drummer Dani Washington, who was aware of Wrexham's local music scene.[4] Bassist Fil Thorpe-Evans joined shortly after leaving Lincoln post-hardcore band Climates.[4] The band recorded more songs with Seb Barlow in the attic of Ben's home.[4] The band released an EP, Rain in July, in September 2012,[5] which gained the band even more attention from people.[4] According to Barlow, "People took notice and demanded that we play shows."[4]

The band supported With the Punches and Me Vs Hero in the UK in December.[6] The 3 December date of tour was the band's live debut.[7] At their second show the band signed with a manager.[7] The band toured the UK supporting Hacktivist in February 2013.[8] Also in February the band released the A History of Bad Decisions EP as a "pay what you want" download.[9] The band and their tour manager went on a holiday to Florida.[10] The group ended up playing two shows that were "crazy and sold out and packed", according to Thorpe-Evans.[10] Videos of the shows ended up online, which were seen by independent label Hopeless Records.[10] Hopeless got in contact with the band's manager who put the label in contact with the band.[10] The band signed to Hopeless in August 2013.[11] Being signed to the label was "a dream come true" for the band.[12]

Composition and recording

All of the songs that would feature on Wishful Thinking were written during the summer[13] with almost all of them credited to Neck Deep.[14] "Crushing Grief (No Remedy)" was credited to the band and Seb Barlow.[14] Ben Barlow considered "inspiration" the hardest part of making the album due to him being "super happy".[15] Whereas for the band's EP releases Barlow "had some shit going on that I needed to get off my chest".[15] The band "worked incredibly hard" to make an album that reaches high standards set by other artists' albums that Hopeless have released.[12] Rock Sound contributor Rob Sayce noted that the album was influenced by All Time Low's Nothing Personal (2009).[16] Sayce wrote that the band "gave British pop-punk a shot in the arm, drawing on the production sheen of 'Nothing Personal.'"[16] "Losing Teeth" is about how Barlow and his friends were pursuing careers that would take them away from their hometown. Barlow said it wasn't "about the end of our youth, as such, but definitely the end of us being kids, and reflecting on that."[17] "Growing Pains" was the band's first attempt at "diversity we have tried to implement", according to Thorpe-Evans.[18] Thorpe-Evans mentioned that the group felt the song "has a flair of originality and uniqueness" when compared to the previous output.[18] "Candour" was inspired by Barlow's dad, who was "ill for a while."[19]

Following a tour with Attention Thieves that ended in March 2013[20] the band went to record in Barlow's attic,[7] which was dubbed Celestial Recordings.[14] Material recorded here was produced and engineered by the band and Seb Barlow.[14] At Celestial Recordings, the band recorded guitar, bass and vocals.[14] The drums were recorded at Outhouse Studio, located in Reading.[14] Here, Ben Humphreys helped with recording and engineering.[14] "What Did You Expect?" was re-recorded for inclusion on the album as the group, according to Barlow, wanted to "see how far we've come as a band."[21][nb 1] The band, George Prole, Laura Whiteside, Seb Barlow provided backing vocals.[14] Sean Harrison created an orchestral arrangement for "Candour", which features guest vocals by Whiteside.[14] The album was mixed by Jordan Valeriote at Sundown Studio in Guelph, Canada while mastering was performed by Troy Glessner at Spectre Mastering in Seattle, Washington.[14] On 25 August, it was announced that the album was "finished. Mixed, mastered and delivered" to Hopeless.[24] The band "couldn't be happier with the results" and were looking forward to their fans hearing it.[24]

Release

"Crushing Grief (No Remedy)" was released as a single on 29 October 2013.[25] A day later the album was announced.[26] Neck Deep toured with fellow label mates The Wonder Years in the UK in mid November.[12] In late November the band toured Australia.[12] "Growing Pains" was released as a single on 17 December.[27] A music video was released for the song on the same day,[28] which was directed by LOVE Vis-Art.[29] The video parodies 1990s popular culture, based around "simple, universal themes that anyone can relate to: adolescence, love and friendship", according to Thorpe-Evans.[30] On 1 January 2014 the band teased clips of the Losing Teeth" and "Crushing Grief (No Remedy)"[31] and a day later, the band teased a clip of "Staircase Wit".[32] On 7 January, the album was made available for streaming.[33] A day later, the band went on a headlining tour in the UK.[18] During the tour the band had two shows to celebrate the release of the album, one in Wrexham and the other in London.[18] On 14 January, Wishful Thinking was released through Hopeless Records.[34][nb 2] The band later revealed that if they didn't sign with Hopeless, they were initially going to self-release the album.[15] Up until this point, the band was a "fun, part-time [entity]", according to Barlow.[36] With the release of the album, the band became a full-time thing, according to Barlow: "Fuck it, let's do this properly".[36]

The success of the album resulted in Thorpe-Evans, West and Roberts quitting their jobs, drummer Dani Washington turning down a place at the Academy of Contemporary Music[37] and Barlow dropping out of university.[7] In late January and early February 2014 the band supported We Are the In Crowd in the UK.[38] Between late February and early April the band toured the US alongside Light Years and Knuckle Puck.[39] In mid-to-late April, the band toured the UK with Climates as the support act.[40] "Losing Teeth" was released as a single on 2 July,[41] A music video was released for the song[42] on the same day.[43] The video was filmed back in May.[44] The original vision for the video would have consisted of with two girls dressed as teeth. Barlow said that concept "didn’t really translate", resulting in the performance-based video.[17] The band played on the 2014 edition of Warped Tour.[45] In September, the band went on a co-headlining tour with State Champs in Australia.[46] In October and November, the band supported Real Friends on their tour of the US.[47] The band went on The Intercontinental Championships Tour in the UK, with Knuckle Puck, Seaway and Trophy Eyes as support acts, in January and February 2015.[48] According to Barlow all of the support acts were friends with the band.[48] Barlow was "really stoked" being able to bring those bands to the UK as the fans have been expecting them.[48] The tour was the band's biggest headlining tour so far.[49]

Reception
Professional ratings
Aggregate scores
SourceRating
Metacritic71/100[50]
Review scores
SourceRating
AbsolutePunk[2]
AllMusic[1]
Alternative Press[3]
Kerrang![51]

Wishful Thinking charted at number 108 in the UK album chart.[52] It charted at number 2 on both the Rock & Metal Albums[53] and the Record Store charts.[54] It also charted at number 6 on the Independent Album Breakers chart,[55] and at number 14 on the Independent Albums chart.[56] In the US, the album charted on the Billboard Heatseekers Albums chart at number 3,[57] and at number 35 on the Independent Albums chart.[58] The album was included on Noisecreep's "Most Anticipated Release of January 2014" list.[59] The album was included at number 27 on Rock Sound's "The 51 Most Essential Pop Punk Albums of All Time" list.[60] The album was included at number 15 on Rock Sound's "Top 50 Albums of the Year" list.[61] The album was noted for "its importance" that "cannot be overstated" due to the UK's low number of pop punk bands.[61] It "propell[ed the band] into the genre's upper echelons virtually overnight."[61] The album was included at number 30 on Kerrang!'s "The Top 50 Rock Albums Of 2014" list.[62]

Jack Rogers of Rock Sound wrote that the album was full of "Fast-paced, infectiously catchy" songs that were "brimming with youthful energy".[63] He considered the collection of songs "exactly the [kind of] album the band needed to deliver", following on from their EPs.[63] Rogers thought the final two songs, "Blank Pages" and "Candour", "fizzle out rather than explode", although they show "a young band delivering on their initial promise."[63] Concluding that there is "still plenty of room for improvement and growth", the group have "certainly come out swinging."[63]

Track listing

All songs written by Neck Deep, except for "Crushing Grief (No Remedy)" written by Neck Deep and Seb Barlow.[14]

No.TitleLength
1."Losing Teeth"2:59
2."Crushing Grief (No Remedy)"2:56
3."Staircase Wit"3:10
4."Damsel in Distress"3:22
5."Zoltar Speaks"2:56
6."Growing Pains"2:56
7."Say What You Want"1:01
8."Mileage"2:39
9."Sweet Nothings"2:42
10."What Did You Expect?"3:16
11."Blank Pages"3:13
12."Candour"3:17

Personnel

Personnel per booklet.[14]

Chart positions
Charts (2014) Peak
position
UK Albums Chart[52] 108
UK Independent Album Chart[56] 14
UK Independent Album Breakers Chart[55] 6
UK Record Store Chart[54] 2
UK Rock & Metal Albums Chart[53] 2
US Billboard Heatseekers Albums[57] 3
US Billboard Independent Albums[58] 35
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References

Footnotes

  1. "Threat Level Midnight" was recorded for the album, however, the band were unsure of where to place the song in the track listing.[22] The song was nearly included as a bonus track for Wishful Thinking,[22] instead it was re-recorded for Life's Not out to Get You (2015).[23]
  2. US Hopeless HR 787[35]

Citations

  1. Deming, Mark. "Wishful Thinking - Neck Deep". Allmusic.com. Archived from the original on 17 March 2015. Retrieved 19 May 2015.
  2. Solomon, Blake. "Wishful Thinking - Neck Deep". absolutepunk.net. Archived from the original on 3 February 2014. Retrieved 19 May 2015.
  3. Kraus, Brian (14 January 2014). "Wishful Thinking - Neck Deep". Alternative Press. Archived from the original on 21 February 2015. Retrieved 19 May 2015.
  4. Bird 2014, p. 59
  5. Wagner, Christian (17 September 2012). "Featured Stream: Neck Deep EP". AbsolutePunk.net. Archived from the original on 3 September 2015. Retrieved 20 July 2015.
  6. Kraus, Brian (5 November 2012). "Neck Deep releasing 'Rain In July' on vinyl, announce UK dates". Alternative Press. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 21 July 2015.
  7. Bird 2014, p. 60
  8. Biddulph, Andy (11 January 2013). "Hacktivist, Neck Deep & Eager Teeth UK Tour". AbsolutePunk.net. Archived from the original on 17 September 2015. Retrieved 21 July 2015.
  9. Beringer, Drew (21 February 2013). "New Neck Deep EP Available". AbsolutePunk.net. Archived from the original on 17 September 2015. Retrieved 20 July 2015.
  10. Neck Deep (2 June 2014). "Interview: Neck Deep take on the U.S." (Interview). Alternative Press. For the shows in Florida and signing with Hopeless: 8:09–36. Archived from the original on 4 August 2015. Retrieved 21 July 2015.
  11. Gallo, Alexa (14 August 2013). "Neck Deep signs with Hopeless Records". idobi.com. Archived from the original on 12 April 2015. Retrieved 19 May 2015.
  12. Hopeless Records (14 August 2013). "Hopeless Records Signs Neck Deep". hopelessrecords.com. Retrieved 20 July 2015.
  13. Biddulph 2015 (196), p. 40
  14. Wishful Thinking (Booklet). Neck Deep. Hopeless. 2014. HR787-2.CS1 maint: others (link)
  15. Denning, Jake (4 August 2014). "Neck Deep - 08/04/14". AbsolutePunk.net. Archived from the original on 17 September 2015. Retrieved 20 July 2015.
  16. Sayce 2015, p. 32
  17. McMahon ed. 2015, p. 17
  18. Crane, Matt (17 December 2013). "Neck Deep release new song, video "Growing Pains"". Alternative Press. Archived from the original on 20 July 2015. Retrieved 20 July 2015.
  19. McLaughlin 2017, p. 62
  20. Whitt, Cassie (19 February 2013). "EP Premiere: Neck Deep, 'A History Of Bad Decisions'". Alternative Press. Archived from the original on 5 March 2014. Retrieved 20 July 2015.
  21. Tom (6 December 2013). "Love pop-punk? Then prepare to fall head over heels for Neck Deep..." HMV. Archived from the original on 14 August 2015. Retrieved 14 August 2015.
  22. Neck Deep (13 August 2015). "Neck Deep on Twitter". Twitter. Archived from the original on 13 August 2015. Retrieved 13 August 2015.
  23. Neck Deep (13 August 2015). "Neck Deep on Twitter". Twitter. Archived from the original on 13 August 2015. Retrieved 13 August 2015.
  24. Bird, Michele (29 August 2013). "Neck Deep finish new album, 'Wishful Thinking'". Alternative Press. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 20 July 2015.
  25. "Crushing Grief - Neck Deep - Release Information, Reviews and Credits". AllMusic. Archived from the original on 4 August 2015. Retrieved 21 July 2015.
  26. Gardner, Ryan (30 October 2013). "Neck Deep Stream Song, Announce Pre-Order". AbsolutePunk.net. Archived from the original on 17 September 2015. Retrieved 20 July 2015.
  27. "iTunes - Music - Growing Pains - Single by Neck Deep". iTunes. Archived from the original on 19 May 2015. Retrieved 19 May 2015.
  28. Ilvonen, Keagan (17 December 2013). "Neck Deep Releases "Growing Pains" Music Video". AbsolutePunk.net. Archived from the original on 17 September 2015. Retrieved 20 July 2015.
  29. Hopeless Records (17 December 2013). Neck Deep - Growing Pains (Official Music Video). YouTube. Archived from the original on 20 May 2015. Retrieved 21 July 2015.
  30. "Neck Deep - Growing Pains". bigcheesemagazine.com. 18 December 2013. Archived from the original on 10 August 2015. Retrieved 10 August 2015.
  31. Bird, Michele (1 January 2014). "Neck Deep tease two new songs from 'Wishful Thinking'". Alternative Press. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 20 July 2015.
  32. Bird, Michele (2 January 2014). "Neck Deep tease new song, "Staircase Wit"". Alternative Press. Archived from the original on 11 January 2014. Retrieved 20 July 2015.
  33. Solomon, Blake (7 January 2014). "New Neck Deep LP Streaming". AbsolutePunk.net. Archived from the original on 17 September 2015. Retrieved 20 July 2015.
  34. "iTunes - Music - Wishful Thinking by Neck Deep". iTunes. Archived from the original on 19 May 2015. Retrieved 19 May 2015.
  35. Deming, Mark. "Wishful Thinking - Neck Deep - Release Information, Reviews and Credits". AllMusic. Archived from the original on 4 August 2015. Retrieved 21 July 2015.
  36. Barlow 2015, p. 66
  37. Biddulph 2015 (203), p. 60
  38. Wagner, Christian (3 December 2013). "We Are The In Crowd Announces US And UK Headlining Tours". AbsolutePunk.net. Archived from the original on 13 May 2014. Retrieved 20 July 2015.
  39. Wagner, Christian (29 October 2013). "Neck Deep/Light Years/Knuckle Puck Spring Tour". AbsolutePunk.net. Archived from the original on 17 September 2015. Retrieved 20 July 2015.
  40. Crane, Matt (26 February 2014). "Neck Deep announce UK tour". Alternative Press. Archived from the original on 4 August 2015. Retrieved 20 July 2015.
  41. Losing Teeth (Sleeve). Neck Deep. Hopeless. 2014. none.CS1 maint: others (link)
  42. Emily (4 July 2014). "Neck Deep Stream Losing Teeth Video". Kerrang!. Archived from the original on 8 August 2015. Retrieved 20 July 2015.
  43. Whitt, Cassie (2 July 2014). "Neck Deep - "Losing Teeth" video premiere". Alternative Press. Archived from the original on 22 July 2015. Retrieved 20 July 2015.
  44. Sharp, Tyler (20 May 2014). "Neck Deep filming "Losing Teeth" music video". Alternative Press. Archived from the original on 19 February 2016. Retrieved 20 July 2015.
  45. Gardner, Ryan (27 February 2014). "Warped Tour Announce More Bands". AbsolutePunk.net. Archived from the original on 17 September 2015. Retrieved 20 July 2015.
  46. Kraus, Brian (11 May 2014). "Neck Deep and State Champs announce Australian tour". Alternative Press. Archived from the original on 2 August 2014. Retrieved 20 July 2015.
  47. Crane, Matt (4 August 2014). "Real Friends announce fall tour with Neck Deep, Cruel Hand, Have Mercy". Alternative Press. Archived from the original on 10 November 2014. Retrieved 19 May 2015.
  48. Emily (20 August 2014). "Neck Deep Announce Intercontinental Championships Tour". Kerrang!. Archived from the original on 8 August 2015. Retrieved 20 July 2015.
  49. Sutherland 2015, p. 56
  50. "Reviews for Wishful Thinking by Neck Deep - Metacritic". Metacritic.com. Archived from the original on 24 July 2015. Retrieved 19 May 2015.
  51. Shepherd 2013, p. 70
  52. "CHART: CLUK Update 25.01.2014 (wk3)". zobbel.de. Archived from the original on 21 May 2015. Retrieved 18 July 2015.
  53. "Official Rock & Metal Albums Chart Top 40". officialcharts.com. Archived from the original on 4 June 2015. Retrieved 19 May 2015.
  54. "Official Record Store Chart Top 40". officialcharts.com. Archived from the original on 4 June 2015. Retrieved 19 May 2015.
  55. "Official Independent Album Breakers Chart Top 20". officialcharts.com. Archived from the original on 4 June 2015. Retrieved 19 May 2015.
  56. "Official Independent Albums Chart Top 50". officialcharts.com. Archived from the original on 2 April 2015. Retrieved 19 May 2015.
  57. "Neck Deep (Heatseekers Albums)". billboard.com. Archived from the original on 4 August 2015. Retrieved 21 July 2015.
  58. "Neck Deep (Independent Albums)". billboard.com. Archived from the original on 4 August 2015. Retrieved 21 July 2015.
  59. Childers, Chad (16 December 2013). "Vote for the Most Anticipated Release of January 2014". Noisecreep. Archived from the original on 22 July 2015. Retrieved 21 July 2015.
  60. Bird ed. 2014, p. 71
  61. Bird ed. 2015, p. 27
  62. Emily (18 March 2015). "The Top 50 Rock Albums Of 2014". Kerrang!. Archived from the original on 21 July 2015. Retrieved 25 July 2015.
  63. Rogers 2014, p. 81

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