Rain in July

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. At the time, Ben Barlow wrote pop punk songs on his own for fun.Bird 2014, p. 59 On 19 April 2012{{cite web|url=http://neckdeeppoppunk.bandcamp.com/track/what-did-you-expect|title=What Did You Expect? - Neck Deep|date=19 April 2012|work=Neck Deep|accessdate=14 August 2015|url-status=live|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20150814230946/http://neckdeeppoppunk.bandcamp.com/track/what-did-you-expect|archivedate=14 August 2015|df=dmy-all}} the duo posted the song "What Did You Expect?" online under the name Neck Deep. According to Roberts, Barlow "literally said, 'What about Neck Deep [as the band name]?' and that was that." The name comes from the Crucial Dudes' song "Boom, Roasted".McMahon, ed. 2014, p. 24 "What Did You Expect?" soon gained attention online.

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. Bassist Fil Thorpe-Evans joined shortly after leaving Lincoln post-hardcore band Climates. "I Couldn't Wait to Leave 6 Months Ago " was posted online on 8 June.{{cite web|url=http://neckdeeppoppunk.bandcamp.com/track/i-couldnt-wait-to-leave-6-months-ago|title=I Couldn't Wait to Leave 6 Months Ago - Neck Deep|date=8 June 2012|work=Neck Deep|accessdate=14 August 2015|url-status=live|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20150814230938/http://neckdeeppoppunk.bandcamp.com/track/i-couldnt-wait-to-leave-6-months-ago|archivedate=14 August 2015|df=dmy-all}} On 11 June, it was announced the band had signed to US label We Are Triumphant.{{cite web|url=http://www.neckdeepmedia.com/misc/signing-announcement-we-are-triumphant-records-sign-neck-deep-8500#.Vc55n5rbKAi|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20150814233111/http://www.neckdeepmedia.com/misc/signing-announcement-we-are-triumphant-records-sign-neck-deep-8500#.VfeqaDZRGUk|title=Neck Deep Media - Signing Announcement :: We Are Triumphant Records Sign Neck Deep|work=neckdeepmedia.com|date=11 June 2012|archivedate=14 August 2015|accessdate=14 August 2015}} In July, the band recorded more songs with Seb Barlow in the attic of Ben's home, dubbed Celestial Recordings. The recordings were then mixed by Michael Fossenkemper at Turtletone Studios. The EP contains "six songs about girls and one song about posers", according to Rock Sound{{'}}s Ollie Pelling.Pelling 2013, p. 84 Barlow wrote "A Part of Me" when he was 16 "about a girl who I was crazy about."Barlow 2016, p. 63

Rain in July was made available for streaming via AbsolutePunk on 17 September 2012 and was released a day later{{cite web|url=http://www.absolutepunk.net/showthread.php?t=2891952|title=Featured Stream: Neck Deep EP|work=AbsolutePunk.net|author=Wagner, Christian|date=17 September 2012|accessdate=15 September 2015|url-status=live|archiveurl=https://archive.today/20150903151909/http://www.absolutepunk.net/showthread.php?t=2891952|archivedate=3 September 2015|df=dmy-all}} through We Are Triumphant. Barlow dubbed the character on the artwork Ned the Head.McMahon ed. 2017, p. 42 The band's sound has elements of The Story So Far and City Lights. On 28 October, a music video was released for "I Couldn’t Wait to Leave 6 Months Ago".{{cite web|url=http://www.altpress.com/news/entry/neck_deep_release_video_for_i_couldnt_wait_to_leave_6_months_ago|title=Neck Deep release video for "I Couldn't Wait To Leave 6 Months Ago"|work=Alternative Press|author=Kraus, Brian|date=28 October 2012|accessdate=15 September 2015|url-status=live|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304224707/http://www.altpress.com/news/entry/neck_deep_release_video_for_i_couldnt_wait_to_leave_6_months_ago|archivedate=4 March 2016|df=dmy-all}} In November, the EP was released on vinyl via Hang Tight.{{cite web|url=http://www.altpress.com/news/entry/neck_deep_releasing_rain_in_july_on_vinyl_announce_uk_dates|title=Neck Deep releasing 'Rain In July' on vinyl, announce UK dates|work=Alternative Press|author=Kraus, Brian|date=5 November 2012|accessdate=15 September 2015|url-status=live|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304204626/http://www.altpress.com/news/entry/neck_deep_releasing_rain_in_july_on_vinyl_announce_uk_dates|archivedate=4 March 2016|df=dmy-all}} According to Barlow, "People took notice [of the band] and demanded that we play shows." The band supported With the Punches and Me Vs Hero in the UK in December. The 3 December date of tour was the band's live debut.Bird 2014, p. 60 On 20 January 2013 a music video was released for "Over and Over".{{cite web|url=http://www.altpress.com/news/entry/neck_deep_release_video_for_over_and_over|title=Neck Deep release video for "Over And Over"|work=Alternative Press|author=Kraus, Brian|date=20 January 2013|accessdate=15 September 2015|url-status=live|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20160219062756/http://www.altpress.com/news/entry/neck_deep_release_video_for_over_and_over|archivedate=19 February 2016|df=dmy-all}}

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.{{cite web|url=http://idobi.com/news/2014/05/neck-deep-re-release-eps/|title=Neck Deep to re-release 'Rain In July' and 'A History of Bad Decisions'|work=idobi.com|author=Bear, Alex|date=12 May 2014|accessdate=19 May 2015|url-status=live|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20150520145256/http://idobi.com/news/2014/05/neck-deep-re-release-eps/|archivedate=20 May 2015|df=dmy-all}} It was released to capitalize on the band's popularity at the time.{{cite web|url=http://hangout.altsounds.com/reviews/166515-review-neck-deep-rain-july-a-history.html|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20140725095402/http://hangout.altsounds.com/reviews/166515-review-neck-deep-rain-july-a-history.html|title=Review: Neck Deep - Rain In July / A History Of Bad Decisions (Album)|work=AltSounds|author=BenG|archivedate=25 July 2014|date=21 July 2014|accessdate=15 September 2015}} Barlow said that this compilation would be "definitive release of [these] songs".{{cite web|url=http://www.bigcheesemagazine.com/news/article/neck-deep-reissuing-eps-as-album|title=Neck Deep reissuing EPs as album|work=bigcheesemagazine.com|date=19 May 2014|accessdate=21 July 2015|url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20150906171053/http://www.bigcheesemagazine.com/news/article/neck-deep-reissuing-eps-as-album|archivedate=6 September 2015|df=dmy-all}} 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!"

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

{{track listing

| all_writing = Neck Deep

| title1 = Kick It

| length1 = 1:34

| title2 = Silver Lining

| length2 = 2:43

| title3 = What Did You Expect?

| length3 = 3:17

| title4 = Over and Over

| length4 = 2:55

| title5 = A Part of Me (feat. Laura Whiteside)

| length5 = 3:09

| title6 = I Couldn't Wait to Leave 6 Months Ago

| length6 = 2:22

| title7 = All Hype, No Heart

| length7 = 0:42

|title8=|length8=|title9=|length9=|title10=|length10=|title11=|length11=|title12=|length12=|title13=|length13=|title14=|length14=|title15=|length15=|title16=|length16=|title17=|length17=|title18=|length18=|title19=|length19=|title20=|length20=|total_length=}}

Personnel adapted from the booklet/sleeve of the Rain in July / A History of Bad Decisions compilation.{{cite AV media notes|title=Rain in July / A History of Bad Decisions |others=Neck Deep |year=2014|type=Sleeve|publisher=Hopeless|id=HR795-2}}{{cite AV media notes|title=Rain in July / A History of Bad Decisions |others=Neck Deep |year=2014|type=Booklet|publisher=Hopeless|id=HR795-2}}

{{col-begin}}

{{col-2}}

;Neck Deep

• Ben Barlow – vocals
• Lloyd Roberts – lead guitar
• Fil Thorpe-Evans – bass
• Matt West – rhythm guitar
• Dani Washington – drums

;Additional musician

• Laura Whiteside – guest vocals

{{col-2}}

;Production

• Sebastian Barlow – producer, engineer
• Michael Fossenkemper – mastering
• Peter O'Toole – 'Ned' illustration

{{col-end}}

; Citations

{{Reflist|2}}

;Sources

{{refbegin}}

• {{cite journal|editor1-last=McMahon|editor1-first=James|last=Barlow|first=Ben|title=The Ultimate Rockstar Test: Ben Barlow|journal=Kerrang!|date=20 February 2016|issue=1607|publisher=Bauer Media Group|location=London|issn=0262-6624}}
• {{cite journal|editor1-last=Bird|editor1-first=Ryan|last=Bird|first=Ryan|title=Smokin' Aces|journal=Rock Sound|date=September 2014|issue=191|publisher=Freeway Press Inc.|location=London|issn=1465-0185}}
• {{cite journal|editor1-last=McMahon|editor1-first=James|title=Always Meet Your Heroes!|journal=Kerrang!|date=26 July 2014|issue=1527|publisher=Bauer Media Group|location=London|issn=0262-6624}}
• {{cite journal|editor1-last=McMahon|editor1-first=James|title=Deep Impact|journal=Kerrang!|date=12 August 2017|issue=1683|publisher=Bauer Media Group|location=London|issn=0262-6624}}
• {{cite journal|editor1-last=Patashnik|editor1-first=Ben|last=Pelling|first=Ollie|title=Reviews|journal=Rock Sound|date=April 2013|issue=172|publisher=Freeway Press Inc.|location=London|issn=1465-0185}}

{{refend}}

• [https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLGwARwiF9Iwy7OXQjbG4f27UQS3cCLIuu Rain in July] at YouTube (streamed copy where licensed)

{{Neck Deep}}

{{Authority control}}

Category:Neck Deep EPs

Category:2012 debut EPs