After shaking the indie world up in 2009 with Wavves and Wavvves, Nathan Williams aka Wavves went through a public meltdown that culminated in a botched live performance in Spain and lots of canceled shows. King of the Beach dropped about a year after, and it redeemed Williams, who makes good on the early promise he showed as a “naïve punk” rocker recording at home. Underground icon Jay Reatard (R.I.P.)’s backing band joined the lineup, and esteemed producer Dennis Herring (Modest Mouse) helped record the 12-tracker in a proper Mississippi studio. The resulting King… is a polished album with surf and psych rock breezing through alongside Williams’ garage punk, and the album hones in on pop sensibilities also; check out tracks like “Take On The World,” “Idiot,” “Super Soaker,” “Green Eyes,” and “Linus Spacehead.” Released by Fat Possum Records.

• music label: Fat Possum Records 2010

reviewed by buffalo fingers 05/2016