Only year and a half after self-released V, and a little bit more since split-album No Life For Me, a collaboration with Cloud Nothings, Wavves are back. This time, Nathan Williams and his entourage are here with their 6th full length studio album You’re Welcome. It represents their first record since the departure from Warner Bros. I mean, when you are leaving such a huge record label, the stakes are high. It’s not only that you undergo a potential financial risks, but it is also threatening to the outreach of the band’s music. Nonetheless, we got quite a concrete album; nothing less and nothing more than we could have expected from Californian band.
The sound still stands on pop-punk and garage rock postulates. Those are the same sonic tenets they were relying on throughout their career. We could say that’s the sound nurtured by Cloud Nothings, Weezer and Parquet Courts.
The verification of this album we get instantly on the opening track Daisy. The song unfolds the album in fast tempo with guitar riffs and triumphant vocal of Williams. Something similar is to be experienced with Stupid in Love, Animal and Exercise. I mean, the last one totally makes you want to go to the concert and beat the shit out of someone in the dance battle.
Surf-punk noise continues on high-octane No Shade and energetic Dreams of Grandeur, songs that were provoke heaps of thrills on live concerts. The title track contains chill summer vibe. Significant dive into electronic can be heard on Under. It sounds like it dropped from some video game. Come To The Valley wins you over with doo-wop elements from the 50s, while the closing track I Love You is a love ballade on the trace of Beach Boys. The closure is done in unexpected style.
As I have mentioned before, You’re Welcome is not epic album. It does not bring stellar innovation to the table, but it does make you want to jump on the table and dance. I am pretty confident these 35 minutes will make you enjoy yourself, and sometimes, that’s all music is about.
