Weekly Release Spotlight: Wavves
Posted on 3/29/2009
Wavves
Wavvves
[Fat Possum]
The crusted over California pop of Wavves (Nathan Williams) has only been around the scene for a little over a year. But, in that time, he's managed to become a blog sensation, releasing a variety of 7" records and singles as well as two full-length albums. That's a pretty big feat considering he's only 22 and recorded that last one at his parents' house. Maybe it's the vintage skateboard photography or the finely distorted pop songs that have become his signature, but Wavves is that perfect sort of thinly veiled pop song. His latest work, Wavvves (note the extra "v"), continues on the same fuzzy/sunny path that first got the skinny-jean clad kids shaking their heads in unison.
After the distorted synth sounds of "Rainbow Everywhere" fade away, Williams kicks into "Beach Demon," setting the stage for the distorted drums and fuzzy guitars that define the album. "To the Dregs" features more of Williams voice, and you can even make out some of what he's singing. "No Hope Kids" is one of the better on the disc, singing about having no car and no money, perhaps perfect for that crop of 20-somethings who are bummed out about the world. "So Bored" is perhaps the best track on the disc. It's not entirely different from the majority of the rest of the songs, but somehow it seems to float a little easier. In fact, if you took away the distortion, it would sound more like a bummed out Beach Boy than an anxty fuzz-rocker.
Though the instrumental interludes aren't particularly fascinating, they do give a welcome break from the overtly distorted and compressed rock songs. Everything considered, it's a simple, distorted mess of a record, which is why it's so great. Who'd want to listen to the same old pop songs again anyways?
Stream: Wavves - So Bored
Radio K presents Wavves with Vampire Hands at the 7th Street Entry on April 5th.
Written by Andrew Zoellner, Radio K volunteer.