Wavves - "King of the Beach"

Seeing as how I just got home from a King of the Beach themed party last night, it only feels right to post this rad little gem of an album.

I typically don't trust Rolling Stone to give me good music or accurate reviews, but when they mentioned a band with a guy named Nathan singing accompanied by some long haired looking surfer dude in a Misfits shirt singing and playing a jazzmaster, I had to check them out. I wasn't dissapointed.
Wavves is the brainchild of Nathan Williams. Though it started with solo recordings from a bedroom, this was the first album he recorded with a full backing band (Jay Reatard's backing band, actually) in a full on studio, and its right about when Wavves stopped being an interesting little noise experiment and became a fun, unique band. Alot of people like to hate on Wavves (or so I have heard,) saying they are boring and un original. I say nay, you haters. Wavves rules!
It's beach ready fuzz pop, with a dash of punk thrown here and there. There's a ton of Beach Boys-style "oooohs" and Ramones buzzsaw riffs, with even a hint of 90's alternative here and there. Think Nirvana, if Kurt Cobain surfed and smoked weed instead of shot heroin. Whats real interesting, however, is the occasional exploration into noise rock and shoegaze they make, sandwiching optimistic sounding pop punk riffs with really surreal effects and lyrics. The production strikes just the right balance of slick sheen and lo fi noise, making for an organic -yet raw- sound. Its funny because I tend to prefer a bands lo-fi origins compared to its production heavy evolution, but I think Wavves went from a middle of the road noise project to a legitiment musical force with better sound quality and a full band. Just dont expect any deeper lyrics then mediations on girls, having fun, smoking up, and (you guessed it) the beach.
Overall, the album is brilliant in a really bratty, fun way. It juxtaposes all that sunny American good time surfer soul shit with tight, mean sounding riffs and apathetic values that cuts open the throat lets all the sunshine out. 60's slackers had surfing and lazing, modern day slackers have... Wavves. Or whatever. Its a really good record, so enjoy!

1. King Of The Beach
2. Super Soaker
3. Idiot
4. When Will You Come
5. Post Acid
6. Take On The World
7. Baseball Cards
8. Convertible Balloon
9. Green Eyes
10. Mickey Mouse
11. Linus Spacehead
12. Baby Say Goodbye


DL link here!



PS, here's me being a King of the Beach.