Westside cowboy release debut album
The highly anticipated debut album from the Manchester based band is amazing from beginning to end showcasing the many reasons why this band have gone from pubs to 2k+ capacity venues within just 3 years. I first heard of them when they started popping up on my social media a few months ago but only dived into their music after seeing them perform on Later... with Jools Holland back in June. I have loved their music since then especially how the self describe their sound as "Britainicana" which is a combo of American folk/traditional and British indie-rock.
Photo courtesy of Chuff Media
The album begins with that same song that got me into them and also the 1st single released off the album called "Kick Stones (The Boys)" which starts off slow but climaxes to a really energetic and chaotic outro. It also has perfect harmonies throughout by Reuben (guitarist) and Aoife (bassist) which always helps make their music stands out. Paperchains is a very upbeat song with some amazing drumming during it especially about half way through. A majority of songs in this album have a common theme of including a big crescendo usually towards the end but it is always perfect in every song it happens in which further reinforces why they are doing so well.
Dobro, which is their latest single, and Well Done Kid, You Did It both showcase how solid their song writing is and the melodies in both are an example of how great the band work together to create bangers after bangers every time they release any music. Worried Age feels very "Britainicana" as the and describe it because it sounds very folk at the beginning but starts to transition into indie-rock as it gets towards the end with their high energy outros that I always look forward to. The next track Big Wheels gives us a breather from the high energy with a more relaxed, get your phone torch on vibe but the calm doesn’t last for long though as Pin Up Boys is up next. This is the 2nd single released from the album and a song i'm also very familiar with as I listen to it all the time and will never get bored of hearing it as it is written perfectly by the band just like every song on this album.
Coyote is another song demonstrating this songwriting with incredible harmonies and guitar riffs galore during it. I was very suprised by the next song Patchwork thinking it was going to be a relaxing song until after about 2 minutes and the band took my breath away yet again with another amazing outro and the always insane drumming by Paddy making this one of my many highlights from the album. After that, it was time for a more relaxing song (for real this time) named Take My Leaving As I Love You showing the more slower side of the band and a very intimate feel using just a guitar and vocals. After this chill moment, the closer You Could Have Died There On The Dancefloor was up next which personally for me is the weakest song on the album but it proves just how strong this album is as it is still a really well made song and it ends perfectly with the lyric "That's All" bringing the album to a close.
The record definitely doesn't disappoint in the slightest and it is perfect from start to end. Especially when thinking this is only their debut album and with them writing songs so strong already it leaves me thinking this band will go very far very soon as they release even more material and play more gigs. If this is the quality they produce within only 3 years of being a band where will they be in another 3 years? Arenas? World Tour? Who knows but what I definitely know is that this album is already one of my favourites released so far this year!
