Rain in July

Rain in July
EP by Neck Deep
Released 18 September 2012 (2012-09-18)
Recorded July 2012,
Celestial Recordings, Wrexham
Length 16:42
Label We Are Triumphant
Producer Sebastian Barlow
Neck Deep chronology
Rain in July
(2012)		 A History of Bad Decisions
(2013)

Rain in July is the first EP by Welsh pop punk band Neck Deep.

Background and production

Vocalist Ben Barlow met lead guitarist Lloyd Roberts when Barlow's older brother, Seb, was recording the Wrexham hardcore band Spires that Roberts played in.[1] At the time, Ben Barlow wrote pop punk songs on his own for fun.[1] On 19 April 2012[2] the duo posted the song "What Did You Expect?" online under the name Neck Deep.[1] According to Roberts, Barlow "literally said, 'What about Neck Deep [as the band name]?' and that was that."[1] The name comes from the Crucial Dudes' song "Boom, Roasted".[3] "What Did You Expect?" soon gained attention online.[1]

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.[1] Bassist Fil Thorpe-Evans joined shortly after leaving Lincoln post-hardcore band Climates.[1] "I Couldn't Wait to Leave 6 Months Ago " was posted online on 8 June.[4] On 11 June, it was announced the band had signed to US label We Are Triumphant.[5] In July,[6] the band recorded more songs with Seb Barlow in the attic of Ben's home,[1] dubbed Celestial Recordings.[6] The recordings were then mixed by Michael Fossenkemper at Turtletone Studios.[6] The EP contains "six songs about girls and one song about posers", according to Rock Sound's Ollie Pelling.[7] Barlow wrote "A Part of Me" when he was 16 "about a girl who I was crazy about."[8]

Release and reception

Rain in July was made available for streaming via AbsolutePunk on 17 September 2012 and was released a day later[9] through We Are Triumphant. The band's sound has elements of The Story So Far and City Lights.[9] On 28 October, a music video was released for "I Couldn’t Wait to Leave 6 Months Ago".[10] In November, the EP was released on vinyl via Hang Tight.[11] According to Barlow, "People took notice [of the band] and demanded that we play shows."[1] The band supported With the Punches and Me Vs Hero in the UK in December.[12] The 3 December date of tour was the band's live debut.[13] On 20 January 2013 a music video was released for "Over and Over".[14]

The EP was remixed and remastered as part of the compilation Rain in July / A History of Bad Decisions, released on Hopeless on 17 June 2014.[15] It was released to capitalize on the band's popularity at the time.[16] Barlow said that this compilation would be "definitive release of [these] songs".[17] The band hoped that the new fans that enjoyed Wishful Thinking "will enjoy the chance to check these songs out now that we've had a chance to improve how they sound!"[17]

Rock Sound reviewer Ollie Pelling wrote that despite "looking distinctly average on paper, Neck Deep are more than distinctly average."[7] He mentioned that listeners "won't find many bands writing better pop-punk hooks".[7] He ended with calling the EP "derivative, but there's enough passion, energy and talent here to make it count."[7]

Track listing

All songs written by Neck Deep.[6]

  1. "Kick It" – 1:34
  2. "Silver Lining" – 2:43
  3. "What Did You Expect?" – 3:17
  4. "Over and Over" – 2:55
  5. "A Part of Me" – 3:09
  6. "I Couldn't Wait to Leave 6 Months Ago" – 2:22
  7. "All Hype, No Heart" – 0:42

Personnel

Personnel adapted from the booklet/sleeve of the Rain in July / A History of Bad Decisions compilation.[6][18]

Neck Deep
  • Ben Barlow – vocals
  • Lloyd Roberts – guitar
  • Fil Thorpe-Evans – bass
  • Matt West – guitar
  • Dani Washington – drums
Additional musician
  • Laura Whiteside – guest vocals
Production
  • Sebastian Barlow – producer, engineer
  • Michael Fossenkemper – mastering
  • Peter O'Toole – 'Ned' illustration

References

Citations
  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 Bird 2014, p. 59
  2. ↑ "What Did You Expect? - Neck Deep". Neck Deep. 19 April 2012. Retrieved 14 August 2015.
  3. ↑ McMahon, ed. 2014, p. 24
  4. ↑ "I Couldn't Wait to Leave 6 Months Ago - Neck Deep". Neck Deep. 8 June 2012. Retrieved 14 August 2015.
  5. ↑ "Neck Deep Media - Signing Announcement :: We Are Triumphant Records Sign Neck Deep". neckdeepmedia.com. 11 June 2012. Archived from the original on 14 August 2015. Retrieved 14 August 2015.
  6. 1 2 3 4 5 Rain in July / A History of Bad Decisions (Sleeve). Neck Deep. Hopeless. 2014. HR795-2.
  7. 1 2 3 4 Pelling 2013, p. 84
  8. ↑ Barlow 2016, p. 63
  9. 1 2 Wagner, Christian (17 September 2012). "Featured Stream: Neck Deep EP". AbsolutePunk.net. Retrieved 15 September 2015.
  10. ↑ Kraus, Brian (28 October 2012). "Neck Deep release video for "I Couldn't Wait To Leave 6 Months Ago"". Alternative Press. Retrieved 15 September 2015.
  11. ↑ Kraus, Brian (5 November 2012). "Neck Deep releasing 'Rain In July' on vinyl, announce UK dates". Alternative Press. Retrieved 15 September 2015.
  12. ↑ Kraus, Brian (5 November 2012). "Neck Deep releasing 'Rain In July' on vinyl, announce UK dates". Alternative Press. Retrieved 15 September 2015.
  13. ↑ Bird 2014, p. 60
  14. ↑ Kraus, Brian (20 January 2013). "Neck Deep release video for "Over And Over"". Alternative Press. Retrieved 15 September 2015.
  15. ↑ Bear, Alex (12 May 2014). "Neck Deep to re-release 'Rain In July' and 'A History of Bad Decisions'". idobi.com. Retrieved 19 May 2015.
  16. ↑ BenG (21 July 2014). "Review: Neck Deep - Rain In July / A History Of Bad Decisions (Album)". AltSounds. Archived from the original on 25 July 2014. Retrieved 15 September 2015.
  17. 1 2 "Neck Deep reissuing EPs as album". bigcheesemagazine.com. 19 May 2014. Retrieved 21 July 2015.
  18. ↑ Rain in July / A History of Bad Decisions (Booklet). Neck Deep. Hopeless. 2014. HR795-2.
Sources
  • Barlow, Ben (20 February 2016). McMahon, James, ed. "The Ultimate Rockstar Test: Ben Barlow". Kerrang!. London: Bauer Media Group (1607). ISSN 0262-6624. 
  • Bird, Ryan (September 2014). Bird, Ryan, ed. "Smokin' Aces". Rock Sound. London: Freeway Press Inc. (191). ISSN 1465-0185. 
  • McMahon, James, ed. (26 July 2014). "Always Meet Your Heroes!". Kerrang!. London: Bauer Media Group (1527). ISSN 0262-6624. 
  • Pelling, Ollie (April 2013). Patashnik, Ben, ed. "Reviews". Rock Sound. London: Freeway Press Inc. (172). ISSN 1465-0185. 
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