An outburst of emotion, rollercoaster love and frantic riffs, Wavves’ You’re Welcome is the perfect introduction to summer. The album has a 12 tracks which encapsulate everything that represents teenage youth at it’s finest. Buckle up, because this is a record that certainly inflicts a sense of unpredictable fun from start to finish.

Kicking things off is ‘Daisy’, a punchy track that is sure to get you moving. The track sets the tone for the rest of the album through a fuzzy sounding rock. When everything kicks in, it provides a level of distortion which makes each note feel like a direct punch in the face. The track’s infectious chorus is definitely one to be singing along to and leaves you craving more. A fantastic start.

The fuzziness behind the entire sound through various distortions is a trend that every track on the album holds and has definitely become a signature style from Wavves. You would think such an effect would become tedious or overused, but it actually adds an immense amount to vocalist Nathan Williams’s tones. This, combined with various guitar solos and sharp drum beats, make the album really jump as each track seems to contain a different quirk that makes it distinctively unique yet still feel part of a collective whole. Similarly, the subtle level of overall variety within the record is surprisingly strong despite the reoccurring muddy tones. Slower numbers such as ‘You’re Welcome’ utilise an incredibly muddy bassline before exploding into a chorus which is just as catchy as the last whereas others such as ‘Animals’ use the intriguing addition of xylophone and an acoustic guitar to keep the summer sounds thriving throughtout.

Wavves seem to be redefining what it means to keep your sound unique, there are times where augmented harmonies hit jarringly in a manner which would usually deter, but when combined with the pulsing beats and distortion, land surprisingly brilliantly. For me, ‘Hollowed Out’ and ‘Under’ take the pinnacle of the record, each stressing a drastically different vibe. ‘Hollowed Out’ is a definite demonstration of utmost creativity, with an almost psychedelic intro and verse which is reminiscent of the likes of Tame Impala bursting into an immensely simple yet powerful, punchy chorus and riff that is sure to get you chanting along. The track’s unpredictable and sporadic nature certainly keeps you on your toes throughout and makes for an interesting listen every time. ‘Under’ however uses the humorous sound of a simple 8-bit synth intro before bursting into the biggest and heaviest chorus of instruments on the entire record. The level of passion and ferocity behind the number is remarkable and definitely holds a sense of uniqueness that keeps the album feeling fresh.

You’re Welcome is the perfect representation of just why so many have fallen in love with the boys in Wavves. Fast, frantic and fun, their relatable themes of love, lust and angst are omnipresent and really reinforce the level of youthful passion behind each track. There is certainly a track to suit nearly every emotion on this album and each catchy chorus is just as strong as the last that was made to be played to a festival sized crowd. I’m sure that some may think Wavves are simply another passing name, but if You’re Welcome is anything to judge by, I am sure they are a band you can expect to still be seeing for an awfully long time to come.
Ben Walker

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