Wavvves
by Wavves
Metascore
68

Generally favorable reviews - based on 24 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 16 out of 24
  2. Mixed: 7 out of 24
  3. Negative: 1 out of 24
  1. AllMusic
    60
    His ability to pump out the music is admirable, now he just needs a filter to sift the crap from the gold. If he hones in on his vision, there's spectacular potential. Until then, we'll have to take the bad with the good or self-compile a "greatest-hits of Wavves 2008/2009" mix tape.
  2. Rolling Stone
    60
    The battle between noise and melody veers from scary to hilarious to heroic, and as a metaphor for trying to feel good in trying times, it may hit you close to home.
  3. Tiny Mix Tapes
    50
    I don’t think there’s any doubt Wavvves consistently delivers wonderful ideas, and those keeping a close watch on the West Coast underground will have to continue to include this kid in their daily musings until he actually provides material worth the blog-storm.
  5. Austin Chronicle
    40
    Williams might have something here, but his GarageBand tinkering will only take him so far. Wavvves is a small-dose fix; as a whole, teeth grind.
  6. Mojo
    60
    Low on polish but high on anything-goes exuberence, in Wavves-world The Beach Boys rub shoulders with Half Japanese, The Shaggs with Guided By Voices and Pavement with JFA, all held together with sneaker laces and stickers to create a bedroom-wall collage as scruffy as it is irresistible. [Aug 2009, p.96]
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  7. NOW Magazine
    60
    There’s mountains of potential here, but the initial hype was premature. If he keeps it together long enough for a second album, Williams may deliver on the promise of greatness.
  8. PopMatters
    60
    There’s an energy coursing through this, and records like this, that is undeniable....But there’s also your standard fare. Several of the songs sound the same. There are a couple of atmospheric tunes that add no atmosphere.

User Reviews

All reviews »
User Score
6.6

Generally favorable reviews- based on 26 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 18 out of 26
  2. Mixed: 3 out of 26
  3. Negative: 5 out of 26
  1. BouchetSmith
    Mar 2, 2018
    1
    This review contains spoilers, click full review link to view. I can't believe Pitchfork had the cheek to rate this 8.1 and feature it in their best new albums section. This is terrible, there is so much distortion and fuzz that it drowns everything in noise. Unfortunately, there isn't much real music to begin with, so hiding it behind a wall of noise is probably considered 'artistic' or 'avant-garde' by the all the hipsters who rated this album highly. Most of the reviews for this album are very positive, which is a f*cking joke if you ask me. In the words of Q magazine (the only magazine to give it a **** rating): 'There's a sense that he's trying to pass off a lack of ability as some kind of artistic statement'.
    1.4    … Full Review »
  2. FerelO
    Apr 6, 2009
    9
    Sure its an uneven album and you may visit the next button more often then you'd like. Overall though the highs are dizzingly high and Sure its an uneven album and you may visit the next button more often then you'd like. Overall though the highs are dizzingly high and the production is beautiful.… Full Review »
  3. TonyN
    Mar 22, 2009
    8
    This album is solid. Fuck you, Austin Chronicle!
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