WEST FRIENDS RETURNS WITH POP PUNK RIPPER “IT IS WHAT IT IS”

Our friends—West Friends- have been putting out hit after hit this year. Their last single, "Ruminate," was lyrically heavy but undeniably catchy. Their debut LP rollout continues with a gritty single, "It Is What It Is." Their "c'est la vie" approach is contagious, even if they try to convince themselves throughout the song.

It opens with a click track sample, which is always neat. While they aren't the first to do this, the tactic adds a nice edge to songs, creating an intimate ambiance for listeners, as if they were in the studio with West Friends. The group spent a lot of studio time on this one, as it is their most polished release.

After three singles, West Friends offers a strong vocal performance that is equally emotionally driven as technically skilled. The lead vocals have a familiar pop-punk tone without diving too far into Tom Delonge impersonation territory. Their music sounds like theirs, despite utilizing clear pop-punk devices and motifs. Vocal layering stands out in "It Is What It Is," next to a clever guitar riff that will get stuck in your head.

West Friends' debut LP is looking to be a sharp first effort. Their creative intuition culminates in expressive singles, hopefully translating well as they carve out deep cuts and B-sides. Regardless, our friends (West Friends) are off to an incredible start, and it has been such a treat to witness their journey from the beginning!