London’s own Sad Boys Club are back, with their new single ‘Could Have Beens (& What Ifs).’
Proving an eerie opener and a more gothic style, the lads are back after the release of ‘25,’ their huge and final single release for 2020. ‘Could Have Beens (& What Ifs)’ appears to almost function as almost a desperate call for help, with vocalist Jacob Wheldon singing:
“I cannot do this myself / Everything feels on my own”
With contrastingly dark lyrics compared to their preppy and upbeat instrumentals, Sad Boys Club have delivered an amalgamation of power and emotion in this new track. Echoing vocal choruses give the impression of someone singing out into the darkness, in an attempt to grab someone’s attention. Stand out lyrics like ‘prisons of the present’ are easily memorable, alongside circling guitar riffs, which build to a sequential and positive climax. The band’s ability to construct creative choruses seems to be growing stronger, fuelled by politics and the world’s changing climate:
“The country has at times felt so hostile, isolating, alienating, foreign. This is as much about friends as it is Farage. Navigating what to be vocal about, when to be vocal about it and how to be vocal about it… it’s weird to have to worry about that in the place you call home.” – Jacob Wheldon, lead vocals
Sad Boys Club’s music would sit perfectly in the playlists of fans of Bombay Bicycle Club and Marsicans. ‘Could Have Beens (& What Ifs)’ features a swirling bridge that you know would fit perfectly on Snow Patrol’s 2008 album A Hundred Million Suns. It’s this eclectic mix that will draw in audiences from so many different genres, with SBC having a mainstream surface-level appeal for easy listening. Of course, their tracks have so much more meaning than that, just look at their band name.
Overall, the track has a brilliant, laid-back nature, growing and progressing like the narrative of a novel. Taking the audience on an actual journey whilst listening to a track is a clear illustration of complex songwriting, something many bands could take note of. It’s also an interesting surprise to hear the political influences from Wheldon, an aspect of everyday life that smaller artists tend to stray away from in songwriting. With the ever-changing political climate, these issues aren’t something we can ignore, and knowing the perspectives behind the songwriting is a refreshing change.
Although it is a common comparison, particularly in a pandemic, you can hear the clarity and talent in this band that makes for great live performances. Sad Boys Club are a force to be reckoned with, and hold up as an engaging and energising support act for bigger indie tours.
