Miserable chillers is the longtime project of the New York-based singer and songwriter Miguel Gallego and various collaborators. The prolific musician finds solace in blurring the lines between genres, drawing just as much inspiration from the busy D.I.Y scene of New York City as he does from the long history of pop music. After integrating himself into Brooklyn’s vibrant music scene, Gallego began releasing music under the Miserable chillers moniker in 2014. He has released multiple projects and singles under the name, including his most recent mixtape, 2024’s Great American Turn Off, a collection of unreleased material from the first decade of Miserable chillers.
A highlight of the new mixtape is the dusty twang of “Go West Boys.” Thanks to Michael Blair’s guest guitar work, the sentimental tune sways as hypnotic guitars drive a lo-fi-rock-inspired arrangement. Gallego employs vague yet vulnerable poetry for the lyrics, combining the imagery of folksy storytelling with the simplicity of a pop record. Underneath the croons on the hook and repeated themes in the verses is a moving tale of finding your footing on your terms and being comfortable with where you land. Gallego can evoke a quaint warmth that draws you into his fuzzed-out and expansive creative world by keeping everything simple. “Go West Boys” is a twangy lo-fi outing with Gallego’s raw vocals levitating over captivating musicianship.
“I wrote ‘Go West Boys’ a few years ago for a friend’s project that remains as of yet unfinished. I decided to revise the demo for this release,” explains Gallego. “I got the idea from the Village People song, ‘Go West.’ I wanted to write from the bitter and disappointed perspective of someone who has gone west and doesn’t have much to show for it. What did they want to find there in the first place? Are our dreams really our own?”
