- Opinion
- 16 Jul 21
The Kings of the Beach have returned with their first album in four years.
Wavves were already a bit of a nostalgic throwback when Nathan William's project broke out back in the days when Pitchfork had underground credibility and Hipster Runoff was still thriving.
They've never really been about reinventing the wheel like Radiohead or Frank Ocean, but the band has continued their knack for writing catchy, fun pop-punk gems with hints of something more.
Those put off by the description of "punk-pop" shouldn't fear, however, as even with the trademark nasal vocals of the genre, there are different influences and sounds on Hideaway that most indie rock fans will enjoy.
'Help Is On The Way', the opener 'Thru Hell' and the Nirvana-esque 'Planting a Garden' are typical Wavves tracks but performed excellently. The group has grown hugely from a solo project on their first few records to a fully fleshed-out band in its own right.
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They even move away from the more typical sounds that most Wavves fans will know and love by offering up an almost country tune on 'The Blame'.
The record may not quite hit the heights of King of the Beach or V before it; however, it's still a fine, compact release that gives you a jolt in your step in the playful parts, and a couple of touching moments during the slower, more intimate tracks.
Listen to Hideaway, the new album from Wavves, below: