Score: 4/5
Wavves’ “V” proves that brevity is the soul of wit.
Wavves’ 31-minute collection of 11 songs provides high-powered surf-rock music at the perfect length.
The longest song, “Redlead,” is only three minutes and 30 seconds long, and some songs clock in at under two minutes. The short nature of each song does not allow for endless choruses and makes the band get right to the point of each song.
While nearly every song uses the same drum beat, the accompanying guitar makes the album worth listening to. The complexity of the guitar licks and transitions will be familiar to fans of the band and will be fresh to new listeners. Wavves take on the surf-rock genre that cannot be heard anywhere else.
While the lyrics do not hold thought-provoking quips and sayings, the words are solid and non-repetitive.
The lyrics cover deeper topics like losing a job or losing the girl. The more emotional lyrics appear to contradict the upbeat instruments. At the same time, the high-speed drums and guitar make for a more optimistic look on the situations referred to.
“Pony” is the perfect example of how the music’s tempo accents the deeper tone in the lyrics.
The line, “Stupid and pretty, self-assured/I’m hanging around, but it’s not me she’s looking for” is one of the most potentially relatable lines in the album, depending on who’s listening. The line is sung alongside one of the fastest played instruments on the album, which provides for a “life moves fast so don’t linger on the issues holding you back” message.
The first single released, “Way Too Much,” encapsulates how the album gets its message across.
The song tells the story of a person who drinks away his problems. The issue is, the alcohol makes him think even more about the problems he is trying to avoid, making him spiral even more. When people try to talk to him about his problem, he doesn’t want to hear it. He responds to them with, “This conversation’s getting boring/I’ve given up and now I’m on the ground.” The problems overtake him, causing him to literally and mentally fall to the floor.
The album works as a list of songs that someone can sit down and listen to straight through or put on as an atmosphere builder for a relaxed hangout with friends and is worth the listen.
The band’s method of tackling everyday problems, as well as larger issues in life, is an organic and different take on portraying the message.