Wishful Thinking is the debut studio album by the Welsh pop punk band Neck Deep.

This attention resulted in the duo obtaining guitarist Matt West, drummer Dani Washington and bassist Fil Thorpe-Evans.

In early January 2014 Wishful Thinking was made available for streaming, and the group went on a headlining tour of the UK.

The album, released a week after the stream, was so successful that the band moved from a "fun, part-time [entity]", as Barlow called it, to a full-time endeavor.

As such, Thorpe-Evans, West and Roberts quit their jobs, Washington turned down a place at the Academy of Contemporary Music, and Barlow dropped out of university.

[4] 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.

[4] Bassist Fil Thorpe-Evans joined shortly after leaving Lincoln post-hardcore band Climates.

[8] Also in February the band released the A History of Bad Decisions EP as a "pay what you want" download.

[14] Ben Barlow considered "inspiration" the hardest part of making the album due to him being "super happy".

[12] Rock Sound contributor Rob Sayce noted that the album was influenced by All Time Low's Nothing Personal (2009).

[16] Sayce wrote that the band "gave British pop-punk a shot in the arm, drawing on the production sheen of 'Nothing Personal.

[18] Thorpe-Evans mentioned that the group felt the song "has a flair of originality and uniqueness" when compared to the previous output.

"[21][nb 1] The band, George Prole, Laura Whiteside, Seb Barlow provided backing vocals.

[14] Sean Harrison created an orchestral arrangement for "Candour", which features guest vocals by Whiteside.

[26] Neck Deep toured with fellow label mates The Wonder Years in the UK in mid November.

[29] The video parodies 1990s popular culture, based around "simple, universal themes that anyone can relate to: adolescence, love and friendship", according to Thorpe-Evans.

[36] The success of the album resulted in Thorpe-Evans, West and Roberts quitting their jobs, drummer Dani Washington turning down a place at the Academy of Contemporary Music[37] and Barlow dropping out of university.

[38] Between late February and early April the band toured the US alongside Light Years and Knuckle Puck.

[47] The band went on The Intercontinental Championships Tour in the UK, with Knuckle Puck, Seaway and Trophy Eyes as support acts, in January and February 2015.

[61] The album was noted for "its importance" that "cannot be overstated" due to the UK's low number of pop punk bands.

[62] Jack Rogers of Rock Sound wrote that the album was full of "Fast-paced, infectiously catchy" songs that were "brimming with youthful energy".

[63] Rogers thought the final two songs, "Blank Pages" and "Candour", "fizzle out rather than explode", although they show "a young band delivering on their initial promise.