Albums of the Year - #3: Wavves - "Afraid of Heights"

Rating: 9.5/10

"We'll all die alone/just the way we live." So sings Wavves frontman Nathan Williams, the millenials'  new poster child for snot-nosed garage punk, on Afraid of Heights opener "Sail to the Sun." On their latest record, Wavves veered off slightly from their lo-fi surf-rock path, adopting a more grunge-influenced sound and putting more effort into production. The result is the group's most polished, most mature, and in truth most enjoyable album to date. Though 2010's King of the Beach had a carefree, adolescent feel, it was somewhat one-dimensional. Afraid of Heights maintains that energy and youthfulness while also at times venturing off and exploring deeper, more complex psychological themes. Sure, there are still fast-paced, quick punk ditties like "Cop" and "Paranoid." But self-loathing tracks like "Beat Me Up" ("That's the reason why/I love the pain/It makes me wanna die") and "Everything Is My Fault" (see title) add a more profound layer to the music of what was once a decidedly straightforward band. 

Of course, Williams sings some if not most of these lyrics with a wry smile. This tongue-in-cheek delivery is to be expected of the singer, and represents the spontaneous, live-in-the-moment attitudes of the band members. This kind of lifestyle can at times be reckless and self-destructive, which is what some of the songs on Afraid of Heights showcase.

Song of the Week: Wavves - "Nine Is God"

 Rating: 7.7/10

There's been a lot of hype and fervor surrounding the release of Grand Theft Auto V, but for those who weren't planning on purchasing the latest installment in the franchise, there was still the excellent soundtrack to look forward to. Though the in-game radio stations host over 240 different tracks, not all of them were including on the soundtrack. Still, The Music of Grand Theft Auto V features original music from the likes of Twin Shadow, A$AP Rocky, Yeasayer, Flying Lotus, and Tyler, the Creator, but the best of the bunch is Wavves's snot-punk slow-burn "Nine is God."

The Nathan Williams-led band released on of 2013's best albums in Afraid of Heights last March, and "Nine is God" fits right in with the mood and sounds of that record. The song is, however, noticeably slower and longer than most of the tracks on Afraid of Heights. With a run-time of nearly five minutes, "Nine Is God" is a somewhat refreshing change of pace for Wavves, who are most well know for their under-three-minute surf rock rushes. On this tune, Williams sounds more cynical than he has in the past. He sings in a lower key than usual for the chorus, while the drums and guitars take a backseat to Stephen Pope's thundering bass line. For the latter half of the song, the instruments roam free in a lethargic breakdown. The song accompanies the game's sunny Los Angeles setting well and yet still has dark undertones also present in GTA V. The song, along with the rest of the soundtrack, are available on iTunes now.