Wavves hater or not, you have to admit that his new album, King of the Beach, is at least a lot of fun. Personally, I think it’s more than that. I might even say it’s a perfect slacker anthem album, and it will be on repeat in my apartment until the weather stops making me want to go to the beach every day. If his recent show at the Knitting Factory is any indication, Wavves’ live show keeps getting tighter and better, though I’m not sure he can carry a space as large as Bowery (his show at the large Brooklyn Bowl was abysmal). The Smith Westerns put out one of my absolute favorite albums of last year, and their tough-as-nails-teen-heartthrob vibe makes for a fun live show. Plus, it’s Total Slacker’s Bowery debut! After months of constant playing, they totally deserve this next step.
