Life's Not Out to Get You
Life's Not Out to Get You is at its best when encouragement becomes a physical thing. The drums push, the guitar parts spring upward, and Ben Barlow throws himself into choruses that practically ask for another voice beside his. Neck Deep make a persuasive case for pop-punk as a way of getting moving when your thoughts have become stuck.
“Can't Kick Up The Roots” gives that energy a specific setting. Its attachment to home sounds warm without making the place seem perfect, and the hook is strong enough to carry both affection and frustration. “Gold Steps” turns a more general message about continuing through setbacks into one of the album's biggest releases. The words are straightforward, but the band's conviction gives them weight.
“Kali Ma” is another highlight, with restless guitars and a chorus that holds together even as the energy climbs. Jeremy McKinnon's vocal appearance suits the song's busy, communal atmosphere. The sharper “Serpents” adds some welcome hostility, while “Lime St.” shows that the band can make a melody stick without running at maximum speed. Those shifts help a familiar set of influences feel well handled.
The acoustic “December” offers the clearest break. Barlow's delivery is still direct, but the simpler setting leaves the disappointment exposed. It supplies a different emotional scale from the faster songs. I find it more convincing than the more exaggerated opening “Citizens Of Earth,” whose brash attitude promises a rougher record than the one that follows.
A few lyrics settle for easy reassurance, and the closing “Rock Bottom” feels less memorable than several earlier peaks. Even so, the record's central appeal is remarkably consistent. Neck Deep understand how to place a melodic guitar figure, a vocal lift and a drum fill so that each one increases the other's effect. The album's optimism is strongest in that shared effort. It sounds like a band making the next difficult step feel possible.
