Manchester quartet Westside Cowboy are quickly making a name for themselves as one of the UK’s most exciting emerging bands by fusing unlikely genres together and creating a unique sound for themselves. Their highly anticipated debut album It Goes On proves just why there is such a hype around them.
The album’s opener, ‘Kick Stones (The Boys)’, was released as the lead single back in May and the band couldn’t have picked a better song to be the lead single and open the album. Reuben Haycocks and Aoife Anson O’Connell share vocals throughout the song, their voices harmonising perfectly, especially as the song builds towards its conclusion. Paddy Murphy’s exuberant drumming supports this build to create an energetic start to the 11-song album, drawing listeners in and creating that classic Westside Cowboy sound. Later in the album, ‘Worried Age’ also builds on that sound. The guitar gradually increases in intensity, along with Murphy’s drumming, which explodes into a release of noise in the song’s final quarter. This pattern has been seen in many of their songs, both on this album and before it, helping the band to establish their sound and create something so uniquely theirs.
Tracks two and three, ‘Paperchains’ and ‘Dobro’, drive the album forward, maintaining the high energy set before it. The lively melody of ‘Paperchains’ leads into a false end in the breakdown, where you think the song is over before the guitars kick back in and you can appreciate the complexity in each layer of the instrumental. And if, like me, you love when an album title appears in the lyrics of a song, then ‘Paperchains’ is the song for you, with the repetition of the title being a key part of the song. Jimmy Bradbury takes over the vocals on ‘Dobro’, which has an almost grungy sound to it, that suits Bradbury’s vocal style incredibly well. The fuzzy guitars and vibrating bassline make for a very memorable sound, creating a song which no doubt will become a fan favourite.
Speaking of fan favourites, ‘Well Done Kid, You Did It’ is sure to become one as well, and it might just be my favourite on the album! The song is about discovering who you are in this confusing and difficult world when all you can do is your best, something that many people can relate to. The chorus is one to be chanted at the top of your lungs, with lyrics repeating and growing more intense in their delivery as the song progresses.
The second half of the album slows down a bit, with the exception of ‘Pin Up Boys’, which features a haunting vocal line from Anson O’Connell which is reminiscent of the late Dolores O’Riordan of The Cranberries. Westside Cowboy are known for the range of genres they explore in their music and ‘Big Wheels’ has a bittersweet sound which weirdly reminds me of Midwest emo, like imagine if Modern Baseball were from Manchester (or maybe I’ve just been listening to too much Modern Baseball this summer!)
‘Coyote’ blesses us with Anson O’Connell’s blissful vocals once more. The lyrics explore a more difficult subject with the song seemingly reflecting the modern world and the current political and environmental climate. “And if you’re the man of the people, well then we’re all fucking doomed,” sings Anson O’Connell and Haycocks, and I’m sure you don’t need to think hard about who that could be a reference to.
‘Patchwork’ features a beautiful piano line, adding another layer of melancholy to an already devastating song. There are few lyrics, but the music does all the talking in this one, conveying a wistful tone. If ‘Patchwork’ wasn’t enough to get you down, ‘Take My Leaving As I Love You’ certainly will. The lyrics tell a story of walking away from a relationship to be the bigger person and ending things to save each other, sung over a devastating acoustic guitar. This stripped-back ballad shows a different side to Westside Cowboy, one that we haven’t heard much of so far in their small discography.
The album fortunately ends on a much lighter note with ‘You Could Have Died There On The Dancefloor’, which returns to their familiar ‘indie-rock’ sound. The song finishes with the band saying, “That’s all”, bringing the album to a satisfying and amusing conclusion.
It Goes On is short, snappy and concise. It’s clear that Westside Cowboy have already established their sound and simply want to create fresh and exciting music. They’ve already sold out their UK winter tour before the release of their debut album, and it’s clear that they’re something special, and I truly believe Westside Cowboy will be the next big thing!
Westside Cowboy: It Goes On – Released 21 August 2026 (Island Records)
Cowboy – Pin Up Boys – YouTube
