King of the Beach - Wavves
King of the Beach Image
Metascore
72 out of 100

Generally favorable reviews - based on 30 Critics What's this?

User Score
8.0 out of 10

Generally favorable reviews- based on 23 Ratings

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  • Summary: Recorded in world-renowned Sweet Tea studios, the experimental musical project started by San Diego-based Nathan Williams leaves laptop production and fuses fuzzy garage-rock with psychedelic pop for the new album.

Critic Reviews

Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 18 out of 30
  2. Mixed: 12 out of 30
  3. Negative: 0 out of 30
  1. Paste Magazine
    91
    The album is saturated with high poly-harmonies, finger-snaps and hand claps, but the Charles Atlas-invoking title communicates Wavves' real agenda--"nyah-nyah" pop sucker-punches, sunny smiles so forced they come off as sneers, intense self-deprecation as psychic body armor.
  2. Rock Sound
    80
    Featuring two members of the late great Jay Reatard's band--the towering garage rawk that defined his sound is tangible with Wavves too but here left to bathe in the sun and taken for a quick dip in the ocean.
  3. Drowned In Sound
    80
    What Wavves has created here is a collection of gleaming pop gems, laced with self-hatred and a keen sense of rebellion.
  4. New Musical Express (NME)
    60
    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.

See all 30 Critic Reviews

User Reviews

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Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 3 out of 3
  2. Mixed: 0 out of 3
  3. Negative: 0 out of 3
  1. flashdelerium
    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… Expand
  2. Spooky787
    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. 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.    … Collapse
  3. wololooo
    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.… Expand

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