The new EP from Wavves keeps it short, simple and to the point, and so will I. This is the band’s first project since their reinvention on last year’s King of the Beach as a summery slacker pop-punk band, as well as the first release on frontman Nathan Williams’ new label, Ghostramp. Life Sux forgoes the summery vibes of King of the Beach, but keeps up Williams’ apathetic stoner persona as it runs through its 21 minutes of ramshackle punk, piled high with irresistible hooks.
The two stand-outs are found on the end of the A-Side. “I Wanna Meet Dave Grohl” gives the most confident of a vocal performance on any Wavves song. “Nodding Off” is the band at its most pop, and the chorus features a duet with Best Coast lead singer/Williams’ girlfriend Bethany Cosentino. Both songs are ripe with inescapable vocal melodies, and offer more complexity than, say, King of the Beach standout “Post Acid”.
The rest of the album is hit and miss, depending on how much you like Dinosaur Jr. and Nirvana. “Bug” does kick off the disc with a catchy riff, something the band has never really used as a main melody of a song.
Final Verdict: While several songs find Wavves introducing new elements to their sound, the best tracks are when they simply try to improve their formula. Life Sux offers a couple gems to previous fans of Wavves, and gives new listeners a more immediate experience than any of their full-length albums.
