Wavves King Of The Beach (Bella Union)
4/5
By: Jen Long
I’m writing this review on the eve of King Of The Beach’s release. It’s also the eve of my 25th birthday and right now, this is making for the perfect listening.
This is an album of two parts; sound and personality, both of which have been receiving attacks and praise in fairly equal measure.
Firstly, King Of The Beach is a departure from the previous Wavves sound. Of course it is. I don’t understand any criticism of Nathan Williams for moving away from his lo-fi bedroom set up. With the financial backing of a label and recently acquired band members it wouldn’t make sense to go back to a garage and fuzz everything up just for the sake of an early DIY necessity.
I find it a welcome progression. In fact, at times I had to stop and check I was still listening to the right album. There’s a real sheen to the record and it truly showcases the hooks and melodies of Williams’ music. Title track ‘King Of The Beach’ bounces out the speakers, begging me to dance, while ‘Post Acid’ turns grunting into a sing-along refrain. And as for ‘Baby Say Goodbye’, it’s basically doo-wop.
What also comes from this studio production is a real uncovering of Wavves’ song writing, and this is when his personality comes in more than usual. Without a wall of distortion to hide behind the lyrics and themes on King Of The Beach are laid out bare. The bratty sneering, the basic rhymes, the continual cursing; it’s all there and it’s obvious, but for me right now this is Wavves’ charm.
The ultimate poster boy for slacker immaturity, Williams embodies what it’s like to be growing older without wanting to, to be bored of acting adult. Writing this I just turned 25. I think that gives me about 3 more years of being able to act like a dick before it’s pathetic. I want to get stupid tattoos just because it’s funny. I want to wear t-shirts with swear words and pictures of cats on. I want to use the word LOL in conversation.
And I want to listen to King of the Beach really fucking loud until it pisses everyone else off.
Artists in this article: Wavves
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