River Westin — Candy Cigarettes EP (Review)
It was on my most recent hunt for new indie-pop that I came across River Westin. I was on the lookout for new indie LGBTQ+ artists, and Spotify had me covered. The cover to his Candy Cigarettes EP immediately caught my eye. The references to 60s pop and country-western vinyl album covers were just too good to pass up. These references would prove to be spot on for the sound inside.
Westin’s music blends a healthy amount of dream pop with these vintage sounds. This calls back to some of Westin’s influences in country crooners and vintage sounds that inspired him. Westin began his music career in 2017, releasing his first project the Kayuta EP. He has taken his dream-pop beginnings and shaped in into his most recent project, the Candy Cigarettes EP. Unlike contemporaries such as Lana Del Rey who blend femme fatale with a Velvet Underground/Nico-esque image, Westin’s work feels more authentic and less of a persona. On top of his current work on streaming (Spotify and Apple Music), Westin has numerous other projects that you can access off of his website (something that I recommend). Prepare for the neon lights of Vegas and plenty of western-inspired imagery as we go into River Westin’s Candy Cigarettes EP.
“Dark Side” is the first single to be released off of this project. The song has a rather spacey feel that gives an indie-pop sound to the western overtones on the track. The production is reminiscent of Lana Del Ray’s debut album, although much more subtle in its mix with the western-inspired landscape. Westin sings of a man whose bored of his current life and relationship. At this moment, the man gives in to his desires and walks life on the wild side even if only for one night. (“Come on let’s get crazy babe/ I know you got a dark side/ Go on leave your hard life back at home/ Take me out on a Friday night/ And kiss me under the party lights/ I know you got a dark side in that soul…”). Westin coos through the chorus which is a dangerous sexy edge to throwback tune.
“Maraschino” is the first track I heard from this project, albeit in its acoustic form. The song is a doo-wop country-inspired number that blossoms into this milky dream pop by the chorus. It’s definitely a highlight on the album. The song paints the image of Vegas nightlife, falling for a handsome stranger, and sharing a lustful night of wonder with one another. This is brought up to a fever pitch by right before the chorus: (“In the Vegas lights, slip a maraschino/ From your lips to mine..”, bringing a palpable sexual tension between the two.). The chorus is the euphoric eruption of sound as Westin languorously singing the lines, (“I’m seeing red/ I’m seeing red/ And it’s so sweet…”),.Casting the image of being in the full throws of love-making as lust overtakes the two in this moment of ecstasy. The music video of the song is very simple, just a beautiful swirl of color over Westin singing the song, in western-inspired attire.
“Candy Cigarettes” revolves around the dichotomy of pushing your boundaries to feel more adult and staying in your comfort zone and maintaining your innocence. Westin sees through this act and calls this out,: (“Boy look at you/ Acting like you’re 22/ With those candy cigarettes in your pocket…”). telling him to take it slow as you only grow up once. This relates to the characters drinking, partying, and sexual encounters. It’s a warning to keep a lucid mind in these scenarios so that he doesn't get hurt. This is another highlight for me off the project with its Lana Del Rey-inspired beats, lush strings, and dreamy production. It’s a gorgeous pop song. This is a sound I hope he continues to experiment with as it's a hit.
“Sweeter Than the Rest” is an ode to young love. Westin’s lyrics paint the world through rose-colored glasses that you have with the young love. You can feel that naive obsession the two have for each other with references to starry eyes, glittering silhouettes, hummingbird hearts, and sugar rushes. It’s almost too perfect. The chorus keeps the western edge referencing no other man was “more gold out west”. Out of all the boys, he is the sweetest. The song reminds me of an Everly Brothers tune with some sequins and red lipstick. The dreamy innocence that brings works with the theme of Westin’s words.
“Back to Blue” reminds me of that tragic kind of love you find when you’re still young and naive. Westin croons over this boy who he knows keeps him at arm's length. He knows this relationship is dangerous, he could be dropped at any minute, but just keeps going back for more. In the end, though he could end up broken-hearted, he is more than happy to be in the moment with him. The song has this desolate feel painted dark pop pastel to give this western image life.
“Gardens in the Summer” shows Westin looking back at this youth as his boyfriend and him drive through his old haunts. The lines, (“You’d come to defend me/ But no one’s gonna mess with me again/ Cause baby you’re so hard, they’re runnin’ scared”), shows his newfound safety and confidence with his boyfriend. He’s no longer as vulnerable and as lonely as he once was. He also points out the beauty in things that Westin’s character couldn’t see in the things around him. The song is lyrically nice, but sonically not completely there for me. I wish it was a bit more glittery. It’s still a nice song.
Since the release of this EP, River has released an entire album to this project, which includes the songs off the EP and additional tracks. I recommend giving “Super 8 Tape” and “Jack + Coke” a listen. The album, also titled Candy Cigarettes, includes the acoustic version of “Maraschino”. He also has a collection of covers, Rivers Sings! for Young Lovers & Old Souls, that you can get off of his website. I love the aesthetic he brings to this EP. His music is an interesting blend of milky dream pop and 60s pop/western. The themes of love and lust in their various forms permeate the project. I hope Westin continues to hone his sound and expand upon these themes in his future projects. I definitely recommend giving this EP a listen and checking out some of his other work. The highlights on the EP include:
- “Maraschino”
- “Candy Cigarettes”
- “Back to Blue”
My overall rating: 6 out of 10 candy cigarettes.
River Weston’s Website: http://riverwestin.com
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