BLACK VINYL

Calling Westside Cowboy a British band imitating American songwriting is a reductive way of looking at their fantastic debut album, It Goes On, but it isn't entirely untrue. Luckily, the self-described Britanicana band have pulled out all the stops to land this thing with expert pacing and invigorating energy. They walk a fine line between tenderness and joy, deftly melding wiry, loose indie rock sensibility with the warmth and honesty of country music. Ultimately, they set out to bridge the Atlantic, and they've delivered on that promise and then some.

It Goes On is a thoroughly good time, and like all good times it absolutely flies by. From the propulsive opener of "Kick Stones," the energy barely lets up, all played with complete earnest, through the swing of "Paper Chains" or the heartfelt yearning of "Dobro." They take a small breather on "Big Wheels," but even that ends in a crescendo. While there are a lot of crescendos present, they are mostly all earned. The band manage to be just as engaging in the quiet moments in large part due to the emotional honesty on display. In fact, the only song not to feature some kind of buildup or last-minute hurrah is the second-to-last track, "Take My Leaving as I Love You." It's not a problem overall, as the album is such a cohesive experience; with no track clocking in at over four minutes, it becomes a quickfire exercise in quiet/loud dynamics.

Westside Cowboy haven't taken any particularly big swings, but it was never their intention to reinvent the wheel. Instead, it's a solid debut from a young Mancunian band who began by playing country covers in their bedrooms, and to that end they've risen to the challenge of a full-length. The final track, "You Could Have Died There on the Dancefloor," cuts off abruptly, ending the record at around the 30-minute mark and leaving the impression that they've got gas in the tank and a lot more to say. For now, It Goes On is certainly enough.

A1        Kick Stones (The Boys)    3:56
A2        Paper Chains    2:51
A3        Dobro    2:45
A4        Well Done Kid, You Did It    3:27
A5        Worried Age    3:58
B6        Big Wheels    3:17
B7        Pin Up Boys    2:45
B8        Coyote    3:18
B9        Patchwork    3:22
B10        Take My Leaving As I Love You    2:43
B11        You Could Have Died There On The Dancefloor    2:43