Warm, dusty, and irresistibly charming, Best Boys’ enchanting debut single "Forgive Forget" offers a delicate, atmospheric indie pop reverie. This song serves as a twilight reflection on recollections, disconnection, and the heaviness of what remains.
Listen: "Forgive Forget" – Best Boys
… and I don’t forget… and you don’t forgive…
* * *
There’s a certain type of enchantment in the items we wear out over time – those jeans that always fit perfectly, that jacket that carries your history. Best Boys’ first single encompasses that same effortless intimacy: it's not loud or overwhelming, but rather quietly intense, personal, and consistently captivating. "Forgive Forget" embodies the sound of reflection in movement – a dreamy, twilight-inspired indie pop reverie steeped in memory and sadness, remorse and liberation. Its gentle rhythm and softly oscillating guitar evoke a sense of familiarity, like a cherished piece of clothing that still holds the scent of someone from your past – perhaps an ex, or an earlier version of yourself. It’s atmospheric, entrancing, and cinematic – the kind of track that encourages you to experience everything and nothing simultaneously.
Cover art for Best Boys’ debut single "Forgive Forget" © Paul McGreevy
Cruising all along
When I had control
Past the crossroads
Where you sold your soul
It's just a small thing
That I wouldn’t do
I’m just a little lost
But it all feels new
Atwood Magazine proudly presents "Forgive Forget," the captivating debut from Best Boys. This new venture by Black Fly’s Joe Rittling and producer Aaron Levison embodies the sound of a lifelong friendship expressed through music – cinematic, textured, and richly lived-in. Set to release on July 8, "Forgive Forget" accompanies a charming and charismatic music video that highlights the song's moody essence, along with its themes of distance, memory, and acceptance.
"We created 'Forgive Forget' one afternoon while messing around in my living room," Rittling shares with Atwood Magazine. “What began as a simple, hypnotic guitar riff quickly evolved into a full song. Uncommonly, this track came together smoothly. It had a light yet somewhat melancholic quality that influenced the lyrics. It felt reminiscent of a journey to an unspecified destination. That's essentially the mindset of the song – driving along and contemplating a route that didn’t quite succeed."
Best Boys © Anna McClain
It felt like a journey to nowhere specific.
* * *
That melancholic simplicity permeates every aspect of "Forgive Forget." The lyrics resemble a dialogue with the rearview mirror – haunted by spoken and unspoken words, by what could have been salvaged, and what could never be:
I wish I could recall when we lost our step
Or spotted the signs of what followed next
A pair of double lines came between us two
In the opposite direction we were pushed into
Rittling’s voice is filled with subtle emotion – never demanding attention, but rich with feeling. Levison’s production weaves a gentle luminosity around him: sunshine-drenched guitars, dusty percussion, and synths that unfurl like heat waves on the horizon. The track unfolds like a long sigh – relaxed yet restless, always moving forward while occasionally looking back.
The video, also directed by Rittling, embraces that transitional mood with a dusty aesthetic, showcasing shots of Rittling in a cowboy hat across various stunning desert landscapes – each one grander than the last, all seemingly suspended in time – snapshots of another life. It perfectly complements the hot, summery sound of Best Boys while reflecting their introspective, brooding lyrics as well.
And I don’t forget
And you don’t forgive
Best Boys © Anna McClain
"Forgive Forget" does not attempt to resolve anything – it merely exists with the pain, allows it to breathe, and creates something beautiful from that stillness.
It's a striking introduction to Best Boys, who sound like a band with a considerable background – and in many ways, they truly are.
This marks the beginning of something extraordinary: A project born not only from collaboration but also from connection, chemistry, and shared experiences.
Best Boys’ debut single "Forgive Forget" launches on July 8. Let this one envelop you in its gentle atmosphere, and don’t miss its filmic music video, debuting exclusively on Atwood Magazine!
The scorching desert sun can sometimes feel cold,
The view of the horizon is starting to wear thin,
And I can't even tell if the sky is still blue,
Every passing cloud reminds me of you.
And I don’t forget
And you don’t forgive
And I don’t forget
And you don’t forgive
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:: Connect with Best Boys here ::
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Listen: "Forgive Forget" –
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Best Boys' enchanting debut single "Forgive Forget" is a gentle, atmospheric indie pop dream – an evening-inspired reflection on memories, disconnection, and the heaviness of what remains.