Wavves
Wavves King of the Beach (Fat Possum)
This time last year it looked as though Wavves' 'most promising' badge had been ripped from the band's chest when lead singer and founder Nathan Williams had a booze-and-drug-induced onstage breakdown that resulted in the band's tour being abandoned and its future in tatters.
But with the help of two of the late Jay Reatard's band, Wavves are back with a great new album. King of the Beach is lo-fi at its best - scratchy, noisy, joyous and wearing its influences on its sleeves.
Surf-punk-pop is the sound of the moment and chimes its sun-kissed way through this bright and breezy summertastic set. When Will You Come and Mickey Mouse borrow heavily from the Shangri-La's and Ronettes while the single Post Acid sounds like The Ramones on a California beach holiday.
The general tone of King of the Beach is far broader than the band's previous albums. The title track manages to give grunge a cheery uplift thanks to Williams' impossibly chirpy vocals, and the fast-slow, loud-quiet aesthetic of Nirvana and the Pixies are apparent in Green Eyes and Linus Spacehead, which is driven by a wonderful neo-goth guitar track.
This summery album will have you rocking well into the chilly winter nights.
