Number 65: King of the Beach by Wavves
The soundtrack to summertime
Release: August 3rd, 2010
Genre: Indie Rock
Favorite Tracks: King of the Beach, Post Acid, Idiot
Where I heard it:
My knowledge of surf culture is incredibly limited, which is embarrassing having grown up in California. The only reference I've had for years were classic surf rock tunes like Dick Dale's Miserlou and the Surfaris' Wipe Out. As I've come to discover, surfers' music tastes have shifted over time towards stronger punk tendencies in the modern age. I would often hear individual songs by Wavves on a surf rock playlist I regularly played over the speaker at my job just last year. It's a funny story how I ended up listening to King of the Beach; I was driving home and saw that one of my favorite groups Sweet Valley (a side project of Wavves' vocalist) had released a new album called King of the Bit. I excitedly turned it on, but realized about five tracks in that some of these songs sounded familiar. It turns out King of the Bit was just a bit-crushed cover of King of the Beach, and I'd heard a handful of the original songs on my work playlist just a few months prior. A bit disappointed, I felt it was necessary to give King of the Beach the proper listening it deserved. I'm thankful I finally gave Wavves a chance, because their brand of music suits my taste like few bands have in recent memory.
Let the sun burn my eyes
Let it burn my back
Let it burn through my thighs
I'll feel wide, wide open
At the beach I'm with Jeans
And it's wide, wide open
At the beach in my dreams
~ King of the Beach
What to expect:
In comparison to their previous two releases, King of the Beach practically sounds like an entirely different version of Wavves. That's because they technically are; Wavves introduced new members Stevie Pope on bass and Billy Hayes on drums in addition to the returning Nathan Williams on vocals and guitar. King of the Beach moves away from the extremely raw production quality Wavves initially began with, instead favoring a mix of pop-punk and psych rock that maintains elements of their earlier lo-fi sound. The album's track list is carefully curated to balance the lively first half with its slower second half, managing to interject a song of contrasting style in each respective half like a musical yin-yang. In keeping with this theme of balance, King of the Beach does a wonderful job of matching the tone of the music with the mood of the lyrics. I really appreciate Wavves' ability to diversify their sound throughout the album, opening up the opportunity for more experimental music that features clean vocal harmonies and synthesized chord progressions comparable to surf rock legends The Beach Boys. Furthermore, King of the Beach reflects plenty of the same adolescent charm in its lyrical nods to the sun-kissed beaches of Los Angeles and wistful love lost to time that made The Beach Boys so appealing to begin with, just with a modern twist. Despite lofty comparisons, it's only more impressive that King of the Beach conserves the humble garage band roots that Wavves is still beloved for.
My hands chained to clouds
My toes are marble stones
Sinking in the sand
I'm stuck in the sky
I'm never coming down
I'm stuck in the ground
I'm never coming out
~ Linus Spacehead
Why it's my favorite:
I actually discovered both Wavves and top 100 album alums Bass Drum of Death through the same playlist. Their close resemblance in style caused me a lot of confusion early on in differentiating the two. Coincidentally, I learned making this list that both groups are signed under the same record label Fat Possum. I didn't realize just how different these two artists were until I listened to King of the Beach. I love the ability this album has in creating imagery through its songwriting. The driving tempos and high intensity of songs like Super Soaker and Post Acid paint a picture of an action-packed day of surfing the waves, while Baseball Cards and Mickey Mouse evoke the feeling of sand through your toes as the tide rolls in. While I prefer the album's heavier offerings, it's the electronic-based sections of King of the Beach that contribute largely towards the immersion of its atmosphere. Although I wouldn't consider it a concept album by conventional means, King of the Beach perfectly captures the essence of the ocean with its unpredictable shifts and playful demeanor that's sure to delight.
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