Wavves

One-man San Diego fuzz-punk outfit Wavves' debut full-length on the Woodist label is packed with supremely catchy melodies buried beneath an avalanche of lo-fidelity gunk; the album comes off as both exhilaratingly immediate and utterly tossed off. Wavves, AKA Nathan Williams, is right in step with other lo-fidelity warriors of the late '00s such as Times New Viking, No Age, and Blank Dogs; and the songs on this self-titled release indicate a young artist with clear songwriting chops and a love of simple melodies. Those skills coupled with a very deliberate skate rat vibe make the album an easy sell for young hipster types. Still, regardless of your demographic, don't be surprised if tunes such as "Beach Goth" and "Side Yr On" linger after the proverbial party is over.