"Say Goodbye"

Number Twenty Two

Surf rock has fallen out of style recently, and I'm not really sure why. There hasn't been a movement to bring it back, like with old-school punk (OFF! and The Love Triangle, for example) but it's just as fun and interesting a genre.

There is a current surf rock band that I think could bring it back, though: Wavves. Fronted by Nathan Williams and formed in 2008, they've been releasing heavy, old-school surf rock pretty steadily. Their earlier sounds are much less cohesive, with Williams throwing many ideas together and seeing what works. Their 2010 album "King of the Beach" is, in my opinion, their best work. It is light enough to be enjoyable but substantial enough to not be too much easy listening.

The lyrics are what surprise me. They are cynical and biting, with some really depressing lines occasionally. Williams' voice is not for everyone, but his lyrical ideas are pretty great. The mixing, especially on "King of the Beach", is great too. I really enjoy Wavves' output and look forward to whatever they do next.

Fun fact: the band is called Wavves not because of the sound they're going for, but because Nathan Williams is terrified of the ocean. Okay, so it's not really "fun".

Wavves - King of the Beach (Full Album)
Wavves - Post Acid (Video)
Wavves - Afraid of Heights (Full Album)
Wavves - Baby Say Goodbye

Favorite song(s): King of the Beach, Baby Say Goodbye
Related Artists: Cuddles, Monte