“Oh, don’t be so solipsistic, you’re not the only one.”
Neck Deep’s self-titled album serves as a dynamic mix of the band’s early material; fast, loud, and proud of its pop-punk roots. There are also nods to their more recent laid-back, squeaky-clean pop-rock stylings. Kicking off with the extremely energetic “Dumbstruck Dumbfuck“, the band seamlessly blends old with new and sets a vibrant tone for what’s to come. The instrumentals here are catchy and fun, creating an engaging atmosphere from the start. The lyrical content is what we have all come to expect from Neck Deep in this modern age, and doesn’t push any boundaries, but is definitely fun and fits the overall vibe perfectly.
“Sort Yourself Out” capitalizes on the tone set by the opener, picking up the pace even more. The lyrics aren’t profound, yet the execution and ideas make the track enjoyable anyway. The chorus on this track is particularly catchy, with a lot of potential for crowd sing-alongs and is something that has always been a staple for the band’s live performances. We slow things down with “This Is All My Fault“, a pretty and conceptually rich piece that explores the idea of letting someone go to avoid holding them back. The track feels reminiscent of “The Peace and The Panic” and is bound to scratch that itch for a lot of fans.
Similarly, “We Need More Bricks” echoes the style of “Life’s Not Out to Get You“, and feels like the perfect follow-up to “This Is All My Fault“, as stylistically it takes us back in time into the band’s past. There is an inherent catchiness to this track, and it’s clear to see why it was chosen to be a single. Though lyrically it is once again very surface level with its ideas, this doesn’t stand out negatively and definitely allows for the delivery to remain upbeat and fun. Again, it’s another case of the band showing that they are still capable of creating tracks that fall into their older soundscape somewhat while also keeping things fresh and modern.
“Heartbreak Of The Century” was the debut single for this release, and the reasoning for that is clear to see. This track encapsulates the essence of Neck Deep‘s evolution perfectly, appealing to fans of the band’s older work and their newer style in one cohesive piece. It’s undoubtedly the catchiest choruses on the album and will almost definitely become a live staple for years to come.
Following suit on “Go Outside“, which sees the band slowing things down once again and giving the listener a needed break from the faster-paced tracks that were laid before it. Once again, the lyrics here lack depth but not to the track’s detriment in the majority of cases, though admittedly there are some rather cringe-worthy moments if you do pay close attention. “Take Me With You” also falls into this sort of trap, where the track is lyrically nothing special. It does, however, manage to create a light and fun atmosphere and boasts a few catchy moments, even if they are somewhat corny.
Sadly, “They May Not Mean To” stands out on this release for all the wrong reasons. The track is really quite bland, and the lyrical content is extremely cliché. It’s hard to see why the band included this track on the release as it definitely works to the album’s detriment. Following this up with “It Won’t Be Like This Forever” doesn’t really help this scenario either, with similarly dull lyrical content and an extremely familiar structure that we have heard from the band plenty of times before. I wasn’t sure why this was released as a single initially, and having heard the album, it makes me even less certain. All that can really be said to this track’s benefit is that it undoubtedly has that recognizable Neck Deep sound to it, but sadly it doesn’t bring anything new to the table or pull it off well enough to stand out.
That leaves “Moody Weirdo” to close out the album. Taking a much softer approach vocally to the rest of the album, this track feels well-positioned and fitting. Once more, the lyrical content is rather on-the-nose; however, the execution, catchiness, and a well-timed bridge all aid in keeping the track from feeling stale.
Neck Deep is the quintessential Neck Deep record. I say this as it showcases the band’s growth since Life’s Not Out To Get You, and willingness still to have fun with their music. The incorporation of elements from their older work, along with a polished modern style, is pulled off really quite well and is a welcomed stylistic change that is bound to bring some of their older fanbase back. While the band has never been known particularly for their lyricism, they are now reaching a stage in their careers where there’s less of an excuse for being surface-level and cliché lyrically. While a good portion of the album still sounds great despite this, it is definitely the main factor putting a damper on the experience. With that said, while this release may not cater to those yearning for the louder, shoutier pop-punk of old, the album measures the growth and maturity that the band have gained, and definitely feels like it was the album that the band set out to make.
7/10
Neck Deep is out January 19th via Hopeless Records, and can be pre-ordered here.