From Iceland — Wavves

After a somewhat unnecessary intro begins the most shockingly direct and vital American rock album in years. All playful drums, raw, chunky distortion and flangey, sedated vocals, it blasts through its fourteen tracks with such simple, random energy that the whole album would seem almost improvised, were it not so powerfully propelled into its own unique direction. Opener ‘Loser Year’ and the title track, ‘Wavves’ are particularly endearing, almost anthemic in their simplicity, and easily two of the most put-together indie rock songs of the decade. The album admittedly slows towards the end, wallowing a bit too much in effect-fiddling and such foolery. But let’s not split hairs here: this album kicks brutal amounts of ass and you’d be a fool not to recognise that.