User Score
8.3

Universal acclaim- based on 45 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 40 out of 45
  2. Negative: 0 out of 45
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  1. Oct 26, 2010
    10
    Simply put: This is a great album. Loved the mix of indie punk and psychedelic influences along with songs about boredom, smoking weed and betrayal. I'm sick I missed these guys at SXSW earlier this year. Loved the snarling "Post-Acid", "Green Eyes" and the hilariously vengeful "Idiot" in particular but they all stand out really.

    I still find myself listening to this album all the time.
    Simply put: This is a great album. Loved the mix of indie punk and psychedelic influences along with songs about boredom, smoking weed and betrayal. I'm sick I missed these guys at SXSW earlier this year. Loved the snarling "Post-Acid", "Green Eyes" and the hilariously vengeful "Idiot" in particular but they all stand out really.

    I still find myself listening to this album all the time. Nathan Williams' snotty, venom drenched lyrics coupled with occasional dream-like melodies set the bar for these guys, but I'm sure they'll easily surpass it.
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  2. Mar 12, 2012
    7
    Simply put, this is a fun listen. The summery surf punk vibes, heart on your sleeve lyrics and catchy hooks add up to make a simple, good-natured album but lacks the depth of a great release.
  3. Jan 29, 2013
    10
    This is one of my favorite albums of all time. There isn't a lot of music like this, and that's why I love it. Wavves nearly perfected this albums, with its different sounds and feelings. Indie meets punk meets surf rock meets lo-fi. My favorite tracks are "green eyes," "Linus Spacehead," and "take on the world." 2 thumbs up from me
  4. Sep 1, 2013
    7
    Bit of a throw-away album, not exactly disposable but only a few riffs and hooks stick in the mind. Incredibly fun and confident but Wavves' potential has not been maxed out yet.
  5. Dec 3, 2015
    8
    It's not perfect, but it's some of the best surf punk released in recent years. It's fuzzy, it's fast, it's loud, it's careless, and it's fun. For a sloppy two-man band, Wavves has their act together to an impressive degree.
  6. Oct 9, 2019
    9
    Wavves' artistic peak as of 2019, no question. The songwriting does well to compliment some stellar hooks and subtle experimentation results in King of the Beach as Wavves' least one dimensional effort. By the end, Williams may have beaten the themes of self-deprecation and unhappiness down to a pulp, but the sequencing of the album never makes it feel overbearing or monotonous.Wavves' artistic peak as of 2019, no question. The songwriting does well to compliment some stellar hooks and subtle experimentation results in King of the Beach as Wavves' least one dimensional effort. By the end, Williams may have beaten the themes of self-deprecation and unhappiness down to a pulp, but the sequencing of the album never makes it feel overbearing or monotonous. Barn-burners like the title track, "Post Acid", and "Super Soaker" are kept primarily in the first half, while more easy going tracks with more depth fill up the second half. "Take On The World" marks the most meta moment in the Wavves' canon, while "Mickey Mouse" sees a surprising moment of Animal Collective influence, circa Strawberry Jam. The moment isn't distracting as Williams' choice of melody and the instrumentation make for one of the more joyous moments on the records. "Green Eyes" is another highlight, as it's the closest Wavves has come to a love song while also without sacrificing what defines them in the first place. In a tight 36 minutes, Wavves craft the definite summer punk album. While the concept is loose and doesn't amount much to anything, each song radiates a warmth through its colorful production and energized performances. Definitely one of the better punk releases of the millennium, if not the decade. Expand
Metascore
72

Generally favorable reviews - based on 30 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 18 out of 30
  2. Negative: 0 out of 30
  1. Dec 20, 2010
    40
    It's half-baked as well, never distinguishing itself from other rock & roll throwbacks.
  2. If the career plan was to go to the lowest of lows before releasing an album of resurrection and real substance, he ought to be applauded for conducting the whole stunt to perfection.
  3. One knock-on effect of going professional is that you can now hear the music clearly and properly, and it turns out that Mr. Williams isn't exactly a Mozart in the songwriting stakes.