Neck Deep is the next hot thing in pop punk. At least that’s what I’ve been told for 3 years. Since this band took the scene in 2012 with their debut EP ‘Rain In July’ I was told that this band was going to take over the world. I wrote them off as a poor man’s The Story So Far. Then they signed to Hopeless Records in 2014 and would release their debut album ‘Wishful Thinking’ that same year. I still didn’t get it.
Fast forward to the end of 2014 when Neck Deep announced they had entered the studio with A Day To Remember frontman Jeremy McKinnon and Andrew Wade, who had produced the past 3 A Day To Remember albums. This had me intrigued to say the least. I’m a big fan of A Day To Remember and I was interesting to see what influence they would have the boys from jolly ol’ England, and I’m very pleased with what the UK pop punkers have given us with their sophomore effort.
The album kicks off with a hardcore influenced track ‘Citizens of Earth’. This is an odd choice as an opener for a largely pop punk record. It sounds more like a B-side then a true opener, but it punches you right in the gut as Ben sings about critics and those have doubted the band through their short but successful career. The song is a surprise to anyone who heard the first 3 singles from the record. This song took a few listens for it truly grow on me, and it’s one of my favorites from the record.
‘Threat Level Midnight’ seems like it’s the true start to the album as it holds more with pop punk sound the band is known for. Ben sings about feeling down on various things, such as a shitty job, and break up. Neck Deep is looking like they want to get past their sad boi past and bring some bounce to their sound. Ben’s singing has improved ten fold since the band started and he’s showing it off in this song. Neck Deep is out to show that the success of ‘WIshful Thinking’ wasn’t a fluke and so far two songs in they are cementing their place on top the pop punk scene.
‘Can’t Kick Up The Roots’, the first single off the record, brings some much needed bounce to the album. In a tried and true pop punk cliche Ben and the gang sing about how much they hate and love their hometown in an ‘ez’ influenced track. The influence of McKinnon and Wade are not lost on this track, or album for that matter. This track shows off Neck Deep’s knack for catchy, anthemic choruses and is rife for crowd participation.
‘Kahli Ma’ brings things back to 90s as it blasts into the chorus from the start. The song has a standard structure when it hits mini breakdown that sounds awfully like something New Found Glory would write. Jeremy McKinnon is featured on this track at the very end of the song which is a high point of the song.
The next on this pop punk killer is ‘Gold Steps’ which is my personal favorite. This song shows off the McKinnon effect on the album. An uplifting song, and it has plenty of bounce to it. Very reminiscent of something off Common Courtesy, Neck Deep is showing why the guys in the ADTR camp took such an interest in them from the onset.
‘Lime St.’, ‘Serpents’’, and ‘The Beach is for Lovers (Not Lonely Losers)’ bridge the album’s middle. Of this group ‘Serpents’ is the stand out for its change of tone. With a still pop punk tinge to it, Neck Deep takes a darker turn on this track as Ben talks about a dishonest relationship. Again, the McKinnon effect is at full force in this song. The fast pace rhythm of the drums keep the pop punk feeling going but the guitars bring everything down on this track.
Now we come to the ballad of the album in ‘December’. A call back to the song that made them popular, ‘A Part Of Me’, Neck Deep slows things down with a nice acoustic track. It truly breaks up the constant pace of high energy pop punk.
‘Smooth Seas Don’t Make Good Sailors’ brings the energy right back up. Not letting anything drag on this track Neck Deep brings back the bounce. They sandwich this song in between two slower songs to make sure the energy doesn’t die down on this album.
‘I Hope This Comes Back To Haunt You’ and ‘Rock Bottom’ round out the record. Both songs have a feeling of old school pop punk. ‘Rock Bottom’ starts off with a bass line that reminds you of something Mark Hoppus would lay down. ‘Rock Bottom’ ends the record on a high note music wise as Neck Deep shows off that maybe they haven’t really given up their sad boi roots, but that they want maybe evolve the sound to something new.
‘Life’s Not Out To Get You’ is hands down the best pop punk album of the year, possibly even album of the year. What Neck Deep has created with this album is something rarely seen. WIth this album Neck Deep as chiseled their head onto the Mount Rushmore of pop punk. Neck Deep, you have proven me, and everyone who has doubted you wrong with this record. So, a toast to you guys, you have created one of the sentimental pop punk records of the past 10 years.
Notable songs: ‘Gold Steps’, ‘Khali Ma’, ‘Serpents’
Final Score: 10/10
