Geoff Westen isn’t here to ask permission. With Music For My Friends, the veteran drops a 10-track grenade that detonates with the force of a leather-jacketed revolt against the soul-sucking, algorithm-driven monotony of modern music This isn’t your grandma’s easy-listening playlist – it’s a lovely attack on the eardrums, flipping the bird to all that algorithm-driven crap clogging up your Spotify. Buckle up.
A stalwart of the underground scene, Westen cut his teeth in bands like The Other Half and C.K. Strong before going rogue with his label, Disturbing Music. Known for his “aural assaults” (his words, not ours), he’s the kind of artist who’d rather chew glass than dilute a melody for streaming stats. Music For My Friends continues his “hard-pop” crusade—a fusion of grungy guitars, neon-lit synths, and choruses so massive they’d make Bon Jovi blush. This ain’t background music for scrolling TikTok; it’s a full-speed, windows-down, volume-at-11 thesis.
Westen not just recycling from the ’80s—he hijacks its spirit, straps it to a rocket, and launches it into 2025. Tracks like Bye Bye Bebe kick things off with a jolt of adrenaline, all pounding drums and snarling vocals that’ll transport you straight back to those late-night radio binges of your youth. But don’t think for a second this is some tired rehash – the production’s sharp as a tack, with synths that sparkle like a disco ball in a seedy bar and guitars that growl like a garage band on Red Bull.
It’s Not Over really takes you to some dark places. Picture yourself wandering through Berlin at 3 AM, lights reflecting off puddles while synths and beats echo from underground clubs. Then Technicolor Dream hits you like a brick wall of sound – Westen’s throwing alt-rock riffs into the electronic mix, and somehow it all works. It’s chaotic, but in that good way, like when you’re in a packed venue and everyone’s moving as one sweaty, happy mass.
Standout Tracks:
- Headed For A Fantasy: This is the song your cooler-than-you uncle would’ve blasted while peeling out of the driveway in his Camaro. All bouncy and stupidly optimistic, dripping with synths – you can practically see Molly Ringwald dancing to this in some 80s teen movie.
- Night Ride: The album’s left-field gem. The bass just doesn’t quit, the vocals sound like they’re coming through some creepy old radio, and the synths? Pure John Carpenter horror vibes. It’s unsettling but weirdly makes you want to dance. Westen’s showing us he’s got range.
- You’re Too Good For Me: Closes things out with a bang. It’s big, it’s loud, it’s got that fist-in-the-air energy. Imagine if Eddie Van Halen decided to join forces with A Flock of Seagulls – that’s the vibe here, and we’re all for it.
Don’t let the glossy exterior fool you. Dig a little deeper, and “Music For My Friends” is dealing with some heavy stuff. Rejection, escape, trying to find real connections in a world that feels increasingly fake. Songs like “I Hate The City” and “Living On The Metro” really capture that feeling of being alone in a crowd – you know, when you’re surrounded by people on the subway but feel completely invisible. Westen’s lyrics bounce from defiant (“You will stay!”) to disheartened, like a guy who’s danced through heartbreak but still believes in the magic of a killer riff.
In a period where “vibes” trump melodic style and tracks are engineered to fade out before your attention span dies, Westen doubles down on structure. Verse-chorus-bridge? Hell yeah. Key changes? Bring ’em. This is music that moves, shifting from sugary highs to brooding lows without apology. The drums on Why? Why Not! aren’t just keeping time—they’re a character in the story, clashing with vocals in a way that feels live-wire spontaneous.
And let’s talk sincerity. There’s zero irony here. When Westen sings “You’re too good for me,” he means it. In 2025, that level of earnestness isn’t just refreshing—it’s radical.
Music For My Friends isn’t trying to be the next big thing. It’s here to remind us why rock ‘n’ roll is timeless: because it rolls, it rips, and it leaves tread marks on anyone in its path. Geoff Westen has mixed the carefree spirit of ’80s pop with the grit of someone who’s seen the music biz’s dark side and still believes in its magic. Is it over-the-top? Absolutely. Glorious? You bet your ass. Play it loud, play it messy, and for god’s sake—don’t skip the solos. Music For My Friends is out now on Disturbing Music. Stream it, wind it, and join the rebellion.