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A History of Bad Decisions
A History of Bad Decisions
EP by Neck Deep
Released	19 February 2013
Recorded	January 2013,; Celestial Recordings, Wrexham
Genre	Pop punk
Length	9:17
Label	Self-released
Producer	Sebastian Barlow
Neck Deep chronology

A History of Bad Decisions is the second EP by Welsh pop punk band Neck Deep, released 19 February 2013, following up their first EP Rain in July.

Background and production

Vocalist Ben Barlow met guitarist Lloyd Roberts when Barlow's older brother, Seb, was recording the Wrexham hardcore band Spires that Roberts played in.^[1] At the time Barlow wrote pop punk songs for fun.^[1] The duo posted the song "What Did You Expect?" online under the name Neck Deep.^[1] The song 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]

The band recorded more songs with Seb Barlow in the attic of Ben's home,^[1] dubbed Celestial Recordings.^[2] The band released an EP, Rain in July, in September 2012,^[3] which gained the band even more attention from people.^[1] According to Barlow, "People took notice and demanded that we play shows."^[1] The band supported With the Punches and Me Vs Hero in the UK in December.^[4] In January 2013, the band recording the A History of Bad Decisions EP at Celestial Recordings.^[2] The recordings were then mixed by Michael Fossenkemper at Turtletone Studios.^[2] "Up in Smoke" details when Barlow was kicked out of university and for being a stoner, which is where the title comes from. Barlow said he was kicked out as he was not attending lectures, which he missed due to tours with the band.^[5]

Release and reception

On 21 February 2013, the band released the EP as a "pay what you want" download.^[6] The band toured the UK supporting Hacktivist in February 2013.^[7]

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.^[8] It was released to capitalize on the band's popularity at the time.^[9] Vocalist Ben Barlow said that this compilation would be "definitive release of [these] songs".^[10] 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!"^[10]

Andy Ritchie of Rock Sound wrote that the EP's length doesn't provide "much in terms of listening capacity", but shows the band's progression since their Rain in July EP.^[11] He named "Tables Turned" and "Head to the Ground" as "sonic proof" of the band's capability to compose "catchy songs with heart and soul."^[11]

Track listing

All tracks are written by Neck Deep^[2]

No.	Title	Length
1.	"Up in Smoke"	3:11
2.	"Tables Turned"	3:28
3.	"Head to the Ground"	2:40

Personnel

Personnel adapted from the booklet/sleeve of the Rain in July / A History of Bad Decisions compilation.^[2]^[12]

Neck Deep

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

Production

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

References

Citations

^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f ^g ^h ⁱ Bird 2014, p. 59
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e Rain in July / A History of Bad Decisions (Sleeve). Neck Deep. Hopeless. 2014. HR795-2.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
^ Wagner, Christian (17 September 2012). "Featured Stream: Neck Deep EP". AbsolutePunk.net. Archived from the original on 3 September 2015. Retrieved 28 November 2015.
^ 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 28 November 2015.
^ Travers 2015, p. 43
^ Beringer, Drew (21 February 2013). "New Neck Deep EP Available". AbsolutePunk.net. Archived from the original on 17 September 2015. Retrieved 15 September 2015.
^ Biddulph, Andy (11 January 2013). "Hacktivist, Neck Deep & Eager Teeth UK Tour". AbsolutePunk.net. Archived from the original on 17 September 2015. Retrieved 28 November 2015.
^ Bear, Alex (12 May 2014). "Neck Deep to re-release 'Rain In July' and 'A History of Bad Decisions'". idobi.com. Archived from the original on 20 May 2015. Retrieved 19 May 2015.
^ 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.
^ ^a ^b "Neck Deep reissuing EPs as album". bigcheesemagazine.com. 19 May 2014. Archived from the original on 6 September 2015. Retrieved 21 July 2015.
^ ^a ^b Ritchie 2013, p. 99
^ Rain in July / A History of Bad Decisions (Booklet). Neck Deep. Hopeless. 2014. HR795-2.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)

Sources

Bird, Ryan (September 2014). Bird, Ryan (ed.). "Smokin' Aces". Rock Sound (191). London: Freeway Press Inc. ISSN 1465-0185.
Ritchie, Andy (May 2013). Patashnik, Ben (ed.). "Reviews". Rock Sound (173). London: Freeway Press Inc. ISSN 1465-0185.
Travers, Paul (8 August 2015). McMahon, James (ed.). "The Songs That Saved My Life". Kerrang! (1580). London: Bauer Media Group. ISSN 0262-6624.