Young Gun Silver Fox – West End Coast

West End Coast, the 2015 debut album from Young Gun Silver Fox (the duo of Andy Platts and Shawn Lee), is a lush, sun-soaked tribute to '70s West Coast AOR and yacht rock. Smooth grooves, shimmering harmonies, and intricate arrangements dominate the record, conjuring a retro atmosphere without feeling like pure pastiche. It’s meticulously produced, with every track evoking a breezy Los Angeles skyline or a slow cruise down Pacific Coast Highway.

Yet beneath the smooth surface lies a genuine love for the genre, with standout songwriting that avoids kitsch. Tracks like “You Can Feel It” and “Long Way Back” blend soulful vocals with funky rhythm sections and vintage instrumentation. It's the kind of album that surprises listeners with how fresh it feels despite its retro style, managing to sound timeless rather than nostalgic.

Reviews

"The songwriting is uniformly strong, the performances slick and soulful, and the production warm and enveloping. It's a record that rewards repeated listens." — AllMusic

“An absolutely sublime slice of blue-eyed soul and soft rock magic. Every track is a gem.” — Mojo Magazine

"West End Coast channels the spirit of Steely Dan, Hall & Oates, and Boz Scaggs without ever sounding like a carbon copy." — Record Collector

"This is pure ear candy for anyone with a soft spot for yacht rock. It’s smooth, sure—but also surprisingly deep." — The Guardian

"A loving homage that manages to rise above retro mimicry and become something distinctive in its own right." — PopMatters