Wavves - Wavvves (2009)

Wavvves is the second album by one-man noise rock army Nathan Williams. Based out of California, Williams made a name for himself as part of the very of-the-moment LA noise scene, playing shows with the likes of No Age, Mika Miko and HEALTH. Since then, Williams and co. have drawn obvious comparisons to fellow lo-fi guitar bands such as Times New Viking, Black Lips and anyone who ever played The Smell in LA. I haven’t actually heard the Wavves eponymous debut album, but I was game enough to give this a shot out of love for noise rock with a melodic edge and all of that shit. Turns out this second Wavves album does indeed take a lot from the current crop of noisy guitar bands, but filters it through Beach Boys (obligatory reference) harmonies and experimental ambient pieces.

After an electro-flavored ambient intro, “Beach Demon” hits you like a sledge hammer to the balls with a crazy-ass bassline, raw guitar shredding, fuzzy harmonies and simple but effective lyrics. “GOING NOWHERE! GOING NOWHERE!” The song establishes the recurrent, very PUNKRAWK lyrical theme of teenage nihilism, setting the tone for noise-punk anthems like “So Bored” and “No Hope Kids”. The former drills its simplistic chorus right into your skull with heavy doses of reverb and a killer Jesus and Mary Chain solo while the latter recalls early-Ramones catchiness with brilliantly-basic lyrics anyone can relate to: “Got no car! Got no money!” It goes without saying that all of these songs were recorded in a cardboard studio and that you can’t even hear the bass under the insanely-clangy guitars, but it’s all part of the charm. Although not as instantly-awesome as the previously mentioned tracks, “To The Dregs” and “California Goths” offer the same kind of simplistic pleasures: anthemic lyrics, 60’s pop harmonies and trashy guitars.

“Weed Demon” is the perfect center-piece here, and the most endearing song of the album. The drummer sits this one out and Williams goes solo with his electric guitar and some backing harmonies. The song is basically comprised of a single riff repeated over and over while Williams does his best Ed Droste impression, but like most of the best tracks from Wavvves, “Weed Demon”’s brilliance comes from its simplicity. Elsewhere, the ambient tracks prove to be a bit flat and often feel like cheap Deerhunter out-takes, but none of them are straight-up offensive or anything. The real problem with this album lies in the last four tracks, which range from very skippable to fucking-unlistenable. Seriously, “Beach Goth” is a total clusterfuck and “Killr Punx, Scary Demons” is pretty much the worst shit I've ever heard. There’s some other filler song I already forgot about and then you’re left with a depressing, anticlimatic closer in “Surf Goths”.

To say this album is front-loaded would be an understatement, considering I have no desire to ever listen to Wavvves’ last part ever again. Unless you pay me with Asian prostitutes or something. Thankfully, a bunch of songs off the first part will absolutely rock your nuts off. Recommended for fans of No Age, early JAMC and the Ramones. Try to avoid the last 4 songs though.

7/10