Punk rock has long since embraced the emotional assurance of bands like JAWBREAKER and THE REPLACEMENTS, to the point that heart-on-the-sleeve punk has become little more than a buzzword. It sounds great, sure, and the imagery it conjures up is of aggressive strums backing open-wound lyrics that cut as much as they stick, but its the rare band that delivers on that promise. WESTERN SETTINGS’ debut “Yes It Is” delivers, and it delivers hard. Filled from top to bottom with sticky melodies and muscular musicianship, WESTERN SETTINGS has written a record that rocks as hard as it resonates.
