Westside Cowboy release another single off their upcoming debut album ‘It Goes On’ entitled ‘Pin Up Boys’ which perfectly embodies their staple ‘Britainicana’ DIY sound.
The track begins with Reuben Haycock’s raw, sedative guitar alongside his soothing vocals, followed by Jimmy Bradbury’s dreamlike guitar that swells in. The verse explodes into a catchy singalong chorus, followed by a short addictive atmospheric guitar instrumental before the track continues building.
Driven by the powerful drums of the vivacious Paddy Murphy, it’s clear that Westside Cowboy have mastered the art of controlling the energy and emotion of their songs. They know how to effectively build up tension throughout the song – Reuben masterfully controls the dynamics, like a conductor and understands the perfect balance between when his vocals should remain calm and when the song requires fury and grit. The track reaches its full force with a euphoric, singalong chorus where Reuben reflectively sings “you learned your limits and they stay that way” which is paired with blissful backing vocals from Aoife Anson O’Connel.
Reuben explains that ‘Pin Up Boys’ became “heavier and more aggro” every time they played it live; a mirror to its preoccupations with the struggles of self control. Reuben also said during the recording of ‘It Goes On’, “Any time we’d disagree on something – which was very rare – we’d just consult the original mission statement: if you’ve got too many chords in it, you’re wrong.” This track fulfills their mission statement as a band as they’re able to grasp maturity while also not overcomplicating their craft.
This single builds on the ethos of the album, with a focus on simplicity – It carries their signature DIY garage sound, doesn’t sound overpolished and they don’t feel like they have anything to prove, they are assured in their sound. ‘Pin Up Boys’ is the perfect amalgamation of teenage angst and regret, while also staying reflective and honest.
Photo by Clémentine Schneidermann
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