When was the last time you saw someone listening to a walkman? You know, the ones with the huge foam headphones that you used to listen to while skating around mall parking lots. I can think of nothing more enjoyable than skating to the elementary school a couple blocks away and throwing up some graffiti while listening to recent blog detonator Wavves‘ semi-self-titled new record, Wavvves, on a walkman. San Diego native Nathan Williams’ fuzzy bedroom surf punk gems will rejuvenate that reckless, fuck-all teenager inside you and inspire such trips.
With a helpful bump from the likes of ABC News, the recent success of similar sounding groups like Vivian Girls and
Unfortunately the record suffers like a speed freak at a funeral, quickly running out of juice and anxiously scrambling for a hook by the time it reaches songs like “Summer Goth 2″ and “Ghost Ramp 4″. The last half of the record is hoisted on its own apathetic petard as it dissolves into the noisy ruminations of a bored kid. This transition seems inevitable though, as Williams’ recklessly jaded lyrics convey the intense monotony and dullness of his life with a drunken swagger throughout the record. On “Get In The Sun” he sings, “I’m just a boy with nothing to do / I’m just a boy with nothing to say” with such disinterest, we know its just a matter of time until he grows tired of these perfect pop gems.
The record, as a whole, is best taken in small doses, and the standout tracks would make marvelous 7-inches that could shine even brighter when not weighed down by the rest of the misguided mess. Trim all that fat away and Wavvves is the ultimate teenage rabble rousing soundtrack that would have accompanied you on the walk to some basement party or while wandering around a vacant warehouse. Dig up your walkman for one last spin with this record, or better yet, just throw “So Bored” on a mix and go drink with you friends in the park with a boom box in tow. An iPod could work in a pinch too.
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