Music Review: The Westies, Six On The Out

By Tyler Hodg

The Westies’ sophomore album, Six on the Out, eclipses their previous work to set a new precedent, which prior to its release, seemed impossible. The Chicago husband and wife duo builds off of their folk-rock sound and successfully balances a grounded, yet expansive style–both musically and lyrically.

Band member Michael McDermott credits his sobriety over the last two years for the ability to reclaim important moments of his life that had been hidden away by substances. These stories are exploited on Six on the Out, and for the better. The Westies deliver a perfect soliloquy, where the audience can find solace in its honesty.

The album is breathtaking, and not in the overused, cliche way, but in the literal sense. Tight chest, loss of reality, a disregard for anything excluding the music–these are all symptoms of The Westies’ brilliance as songwriters.

The line “I’m tired of being pushed around, I can’t seem to break free / If I had a gun I might point it back at me” from “If I Had a Gun” is the pinnacle of the album’s darkness, which is prevalent throughout. Yet, with a melancholy heart, McDermott also writes with a hint of hopefulness and optimism, specifically in the tracks “Parole” and “Everything is All I Want for You.”

Regrettably, there is one negative aspect of Six on the Out; the music evolves as a flood of emotions, yet the album artwork does not. The overly-simplistic style of the cover may have been purposeful, but ultimately comes off as underwhelming. With that said, the release doesn’t suffer to the point where its worth is spoiled.

The Westies have surpassed any expectations to become one of the most underrated active bands. As songwriters, McDermott and wife Heather Horton are giants among the average, waiting to be spotted by the world. The juxtaposition of Six on the Out with not only popular music, but other folk music, allows it to stand out as the masterpiece many have yearned for, and further cements The Westies’ relevance.

Six on the Out was released on January 28 by Pauper Sky Music.