Nathan Williams is better known to the world as Wavves.  Whether or not you are fan of his music you have probably at least heard his name thrown around…be it  fights with other indie rockers, or a melt down on stage at a huge European music festival.  There is no denying that Wavves have released some good music in the past.  Anthems like “So Bored” still resonate in my head, and Williams’ better half Bethany Constentino, aka Best Coast, is covering it (you can see indie rock’s most famous cat in the photo above…yes that is none other than Bethany’s kitty SNACKS! Snacks also appears on the cover of King of the Beach as well as the new Best Coast album.)

Wavves’ new album King of the Beach will be released on August 3rd, 2010 by Fat Possum, and the first single  “Post-Acid” is the same sort of uber catchy beach pop that Wavves have become known for, but most of the fuzzy lo-fi vibe has been shed, Williams vocals have become more pronounced, and his vocal range has increased.  Ohhs and Ahhs have replaced the whops of the early albums, and as far as I’m concerned this new single is going satisfy old and new fans alike…lets face it if there is one thing Williams can do, and do as good if not better than anyone it’s write catchy beach laden surf punk.  Get your taste of the new album right here:

[mp3] Wavves- “Post-Acid”

As expected King of the Beach is packed full of pop tracks like “Post-Acid,” but songs like “Baseball Cards” and “Say Goodbye Baby” are really showing a new side of Williams. “Baseball Cards” goes into almost a psychedelic circus vibe, but as if the circus was set up on a beach. “Say Goodbye Baby” brings as much of a throwback to 50′s or 60′s pop as I think Wavves will ever reach, and the end of the song ventures into a fuzzed out haze of psychedelics and electronics. “Convertible Balloon” is a minimalist whimsical pop jam that almost comes off cute-sy but someone how works, and “Green Eyes” is Wavves interpretation of a rock ballad, and while slightly unconventional in terms of rock ballads it is  really well done including the chorus which really displays Williams’ voice (or the production as it may be). Overall the record comes off more polished, but in the best way possible…I think it’s exactly what needed to happen for Wavves to get me to listen to another one of their records. Whether you used to love this band, hate them, or have a new found fascination I recommend checking it out. Anyone who denies that Williams can make great pop songs isn’t doing him justice.   I’m pleasantly surprised, and it’s still growing on me.

• Pre-order King of the Beach here.

——————————————————————————–
This Thursday is the L Magazine’s Northside Festival Opening Party:

Thursday June 24th, 2010
at the Knitting Factory
Wavves 11pm
Cloud Nothings 10pm
DOM 9pm
Doors at 8pm
$17/$19 day of
buy tickets here

While some people might complain about Nathan Williams live performance the only time I ever saw him he was top notch, and with an album as good as King of the Beach it is totally worth checking out.

It also doesn’t hurt that he is playing with some Great Pumpkin favorites: Cloud Nothings and DOM!

[mp3] Cloud Nothings- “Can’t Stay Awake”

• From Turning On.  buy it on CD here, or LP here.
  

[mp3] DOM- “Living In America”

• From Sun Bronzed Greek Gods.  Buy it here.
  

—————————————————

• more on Wavves can be found here.
• Check out all my write ups(including more mp3s, videos, and reviews) of Cloud Nothings here, and of DOM here.
• More on Northside Fest 2010 here.
  • Northside Fest is a music, art, and film Festival happening in Williamsburg and Greenpoint Brooklyn from June 24-27th.  For a complete schedule clickhere, to buy an all access pass click here.

This past Tuesday Best Coast played to a sold out crowd at the Knitting Factory’s new home in Brooklyn.  This was her second of three New York City appearances with in a week, and I’m really happy that I was able to get tickets in time.

Before I get to Best Coast’s performance I would like to give the Knitting Factory some respect for making their new Brooklyn home a wonderful place to see live music.  It’s not a huge space, even smaller than their former Tribeca home, and is actually pretty intimate .  The staff was friendly, and even included some familiar faces from the former location.  The layout of the venue is logically set up, which is not saying a whole but it seems that is something difficult to do when it comes to venues in this city. Drinks are reasonably priced, and for the person who loves Lost and Best Coast they got to watch Lost in the bar and then head to the back room to see Best Coast kill it.  Pretty much a perfect Tuesday.  Thanks Knitting Factory…I look forward to coming back it was a great first experience.

While klk and Leah were catching Lost in the bar I went into the back room, and got to catch the Bitters set.  Ben Cook is someone who I respect quite a bit.  He is an extremely talented musician, and was responsible for one of my favorite singles (Young Governor’s Virgina Creeper) and EP’s (The Bitter’s Wooden Glove) of last year.  The Bitters’ sound has changed from that initial EP, but Ben, Aerin Fogel, and their live band were really a pleasure to watch.  Aerin is a great front woman, and Ben’s talent as a guitarist just shines.   I’m looking forward to hearing their debut LP on Mexican Summer, but deep in side I know that it won’t live up to the expectations that Wooden Glove has already set.

Next up was Best Coast.  On this tour Bethany and Bobb have Ali Koehler of Vivian Girls fame backing them up.  Last time I saw Best Coast was back during CMJ when they made an appearance at the Group Tightener Records showcase at Monster Island.  At that point Best Coast was just using a drum machine, and Bethany and Bobb were banging out the songs (for a taste of that show check out my videos here), but I feel like with the addition of Ali on drums the band is really coming into their own and the new songs are sounding better than I could have imagined.

For those familiar with Best Coasts’ California fuzz laden recorded pop the live show is something much different, and in my opinion even more special.  When you see Best Coast live there are two things that you notice right away…Bethany’s voice doesn’t stand out on the recordings as much as it should.  Her voice is beautiful, and when you hear her live it almost makes me feel that the recordings are doing her an injustice.  The second thing you notice is how essential Bobb Bruno is to the band.  Most people just  talk about Bethany when they refer to this band (i was guilty of this in the past too), but watching Bobb play is interesting and essential to the band, and live if you keep one of your eyes on him you realize that really quickly.

This show makes me more than excited to hear Best Coast’s to be released full length.  They are already one of my favorite live bands of 2010 (and 2009 for that matter), and the live show just makes me dream of how good their first album can be.  At this point I’m thinking that Best Coast is going to have what I’m refering to as Dum Dum Girls syndrome…where they released a whole bunch of great, yet fuzzed out, recordings….and then when the full length album comes out it totally blows people away. I hope so.  At this point Best Coast seem to dominate hits on the Great Pumpkin being by far the most popular band I post about.  On that note I present these to you Best Coast live at the Knitting Factory Brooklyn:

[mp3] Best Coast- “Something In The Way”

—————————————————

• photo by Rachel Carr via BV
• Buy Best Coast’s EPs here, or here, or here.
• more on Best Coast here.
• more gprecs video here.

Bethany Constentino and Bobb Bruno are bringing Best Coast back to New York City for three shows in the very near future.  Best Coast is a band that I’ve had my eye on for sometime now. They have been getting the press they deserve all over the internet, and even recently NPR has taken notice putting a totally amazing live set recorded by KEXP up on their website.

Constentino and Bruno have released five 7″s, a tape, and the full length LP has been recorded and will see the light of day sometime this year.  While Constentino is drawing comparisons to Liz Phair from some music critics, as far as I’m concerned the handful of songs that Best Coast has put out have moved me much more than Liz Phair’s entire catalog.  While many of the Best Coast releases are currently out of print Art Fag and Post Present Medium are repressing two of these 7″ again in limited quantities.

It is an extremely exciting time for this band from playing in Bloomingdales to 16 year olds birthday parties it seems like they are doing it right, having fun, and staying true to themselves.  As far as girl rock goes these days Best Coast is near the top for me, and if they keep up what they have been doing they probably will be for you too.

Best Coast recently did a stunning rendition of Lesley Gore’s classic 1964 chart topping song “That’s the Way Boys Are.”  Constentino and Bruno add their own signature California sunny fuzz to the track making it completely their own.  I love covers of classic songs.

[mp3] Best Coast- “That’s The Way Boys Are”

While Best Coast releases are scarce right now…you can buy what is available here.

————————————————————–

Listen to Best Coasts fabulous KEXP session for NPR:

[stream] Best Coast live at SXSW 2010

———————————————–

If you know what is good for you you should catch Best Coast on their upcoming US/European tour:

• Thu 04/01/10 @ Bowery Ballroom- New York NY w/Japandroids
• Fri 04/02/10 @ Clementine  (MACRoCK)- Harrisonberg, VA (show at 4:30)
• Sat 04/03/10 @ The Barbery- Philadelphia PA w/Reading Rainbow, Creepoid
• Mon 04/05/10 @ Meat Locker-Montclair NJ
• Tue 04/06/10 @ Knitting Factory – Brooklyn NY w/ The Bitters
• Wed 04/07/10 @ Mercury Lounge- New York NY w/The Bitters
• Sat 04/10/10 @ Chum’s Coffeehouse @ Brandeis University- Waltham MA
• Sun 04/11/10 @ The Crane Room-Medford MA
• Mon 04/12/10 @ The Friendship Cove- Montreal QC w/ No Joy
• Tue 04/13/10 @ The Garrison- Toronto ON w/ Memoryhouse
• Wed 04/14/10 @ Magic Stick- Detroit MI
• Thu 04/15/10 @ Dionysus Disco- Oberlin OH
• Fri 04/16/10 @ Schubas Tavern- Chicago IL w/ Light Pollution
• Sat 04/17/10 @ WIUX Culture Shock- Bloomington IN
• MORE TOUR DATES CAN BE FOUND HERE!

————————————-

More on Best Coast can be found here.

There is still something to be said about releasing a great single, and I’m not just talking about the A side…

The Great Pumpkin favorite 7″s of 2009

10.) Slumberland‘s Searching for the Now Vol. 5 (Liechtenstein split 7″ w/ The Faintest Ideas)

Liechtenstein might be the show that I’m most disappointed that I missed this year, and this 7″ would have made my top ten for “This Must Be Heaven” alone.

[mp3] Liechtenstein- “This Must Be Heaven”

• Buy Searching for the Now Vol. 5 here.
• gprecs posts on Liechtenstein can be found here.

9.) The Mayfair Set- “Already Warm//Desert Fun”

One of many great 7″s released by Captured Tracks in 2009, and the combination of Dum Dum Girls and Blank Dogs. I can’t say that I liked the 12″ as much as the 7″, but I’m hoping this wasn’t their peak…a great 45.

[mp3] The Mayfair Set- “Already Warm”

• Buy it here.
• Mayfair Set’s website.

8.) Kurt Vile- Fall Demons

Released by Skulltones in an extremely limited quantity (375 copies, and 25 test presses).  Almost a proper EP at five songs.  One of many releases by KV that I loved this year.  Thanks to Permanent for saving me a copy.

[mp3] Kurt Vile- “Summer Demons”

• out of print.
• gprecs posts on Kurt Vile can be found here.

7.) Ganglians- “Blood on the Sand// Make it Up”

The second Captured Tracks release to make this list.  I couldn’t have asked for a better follow up to Monster Head Room.

[mp3] Ganglians- “Blood On the Sand”

• Buy it here.
• gprecs posts on Ganglians can be found here.

6.) Best Coast- Make You Mine

The first official release of Group Tightener Records, and a great one at that.  I was able to grab a copy right before it sold out.

[mp3] Best Coast- “Make You Mine”

• out of print.
• gprecs posts on Best Coast can be found here.

5.) Magic Kids- “Hey Boy//Good To Be”

These kids make pop from another time, and Goner Records is very lucky to have them.  Expect big things in 2010.

[mp3] Magic Kids- “Hey Boy”

• buy it here.
• gprecs posts on Magic Kids can be found here.

4.) Real Estate- Suburban Beverage

The record that started it all for both Real Estate and Underwater Peoples Records.  Nice people and good music.

[mp3] Real Estate- “Suburban Beverage”

• out of print.
• buy Real Estate’s self titled LP here (includes almost all of these songs).

3.) Young Governor- “Virginia Creeper// I’m A Mess”

Plastic Idol Records put out this great 45 of punk pop by Ben Cook of Fucked Up.  I don’t know why, but I seem to like everything Cook is involved with except for Fucked Up…at least he has enough projects to keep me busy.

[mp3] Young Governor- “Virginia Creeper [edit]“

• buy it here (this has to be almost sold out).
• gprecs post on Young Governor can be found here.

2.) Julian Lynch // Ducktails split 7″

Julian Lynch and Ducktails are two of my favorite discoveries of 2009, and I can thank Underwater Peoples for this.  Oh yeah, and Julian has to be one of the nicest dudes ever.

[mp3] Ducktails- “Parasailing”

• out of print.
• gprecs posts on Ducktails can be found here.
• gprecs posts on Julian can be found here.

1.) Sic Alps- “L Mansion// Super Lungs My Supergirl”

Another beautiful 7″ put out by Slumberland.  I have to say that I’ve seen Sic Alps, and when I did they were not a band I cared for, but after reading about this 7″ I picked it up and was totally blown away.  I can’t wait to hear what comes out of this band in the future…this is one fucking great 45.

[mp3] Sic Alps- “L Mansions”

• buy it here.
• gprecs posts on Sic Alps can be found here.
  • 2/10/10- sorry I just fixed the link to this song. it was another sic alps track until now.

Thanks for reading…I’m getting behind on these best of posts, and they are a little intimidating to do, but I’m going to keep with it…two more…EPs and LPs.  Bare with me while I deal with this last graduate application and the crazy awfulness that is my job…but more is to come.  thanks again.

Links:

• more Best Of posts can be found here.

Best Coast made one of their very few East Coast appearances last night at the Group Tightener Party in the Monster Island Basement.  Bethany Consentino noted that the shows in New York were Best Coast’s first appearances outside of Southern California.  It was a late night, and by time Alex Bleeker, Fluffy Lumbers, Coasting, and Highlife finished it was already midnight….and the show still had Best Coast, Ducktails, and surprise guest Small Black to go (for links check and mp3s by most of the bands check out the post from yesterday).

When Best Coast took the stage Bethany was very personable and welcoming to the New York crowd, both talking about enjoying being back in the city as well as talking about why she left. Her cohort Bobb Bruno quietly set up his equipment, a large set of pedals and a couple of guitars.  Bethany mentioned that Best Coast now has a drummer…but on this jaunt out to the East Coast they had to bring the mini-discs.

In all honestly I have started going into lo-fi garage pop and/or psych/shit-gaze shows with low expectations. Bands like Eat Skull, Sic Alps, and occasionally Vivian Girls have all been less than exciting live (all of whom records I enjoy).

But when Best Coast started playing I was instantly intrigued.  It was a combination of Bethany’s personality, Bruno’s reserved manner, and the fact not only did the songs sound as they should…they transferred extremely well to the live setting.  I personally find something extremely comforting about the drum machine/mini-disc player, and felt like it suited the night.  Their set was about 35 minutes long, and the heat in Monster Island provided the atmosphere that Best Coast’s music goes best with…hot and sweaty.  The only thing that could have made it better was if the sun was shining down on us generating the heat rather than the lighting and massive amount of bodies in the basement of the island.   Best Coast played to a packed crowded, and seem to be very well received.  When they joked about an encore the crowd even seemed disappointed.  They were charming as a two piece, and were able to stand out among the fuzzy and reverb… I look forward to seeing them as a full band.  The night was well documented as well, you can tell from these videos that there were plenty of cameras present.

Best Coast- “Sun Was High (So Was I)” live at the Group Tightener Party

[mp3] Best Coast- “Sun Was High (So Was I)”

Best Coast- ” So Gone” live at the Group Tightener Party

Best Coast is on a role right now…with two appearances during CMJ (I say during, because the party last night was not an official CMJ event), and a New York Times write up.

Their first 7″ and tape are sold out, but Group Tightener will be releasing the Make You Mine 7″ this month…the packaging was designed by the always wonderful Drew Heffron.  Rumor has it these are going pretty darn fast…and there might even be a repress already in the works.  Get yours before it’s too late.

Pre-Order the Make You Mine 7″ here.

Links:

• more on Best Coast here.
• more on Group Tightener here.
• Group Tightener’s Website, myspace, twitter
• Best Coasts’ myspace, blog, twitter
• more gprecs video here.

This week is CMJ, and while most people are going to things every hour of the day I’m being very selective (shows aren’t conducive to studying)… but one of those things that I will be attending is happening tonight!

Group Tightener Records is having their showcase at Monster Island!

If you don’t know Group Tightener yet…you probably soon will…they are about to release the first Best Coast 7″. Best Coast is the lo-fi pop act of Bethany Cosentino, and has been drawing a lot of attention lately.  Cosentino was formerly a member of Pocahaunted, and has now moved on to make music that is a little more condusive for the laying in the sun.  While I personally have been moving away from the fuzziness something about Best Coast draws me back.

On top of  Best Coast playing I have heard a lot about Highlife (and the one single that has been released is pretty awesome….see below…features Sleepy Doug Shaw of White Magic) as well… and if these two weren’t enough… Alex Bleeker, Fluffy Lumbers and Ducktails will also be performing… and if you have been following the Great Pumpkin this year you know how big of a fan of Ducktails I am.  Group Tightener and Todd P have put together a line up that can’t be beat.

If you are still on the fence about the show hopefully this will help convince you:

[mp3] Best Coast- “Something in the Way”

“Something in the Way” isn’t on the Group Tightener 7″, but you can order that here.

[mp3] Highlife- “F Kenya Rip” (via Transparent)

[mp3] Ducktails- “Pizza Time”

“Pizza Time” is on the out of print Beach Point Pleasant 7″,  but you should really just pick up all the Ducktails stuff here.

[mp3] Fluffy Lumbers- “Cruisers”

“Cruisers” is not on the Weird Hug 7″, but you can buy that here.

[mp3] Alex Bleeker and the Freaks- “Never Goin’ Back” (via Chocolate Bobka)

If you are looking for something to do before the Group Tightener showcase…you should check out Alphabar NYC…it’s a drinking club that meets every other Wednesday.  Tomorrow is Alphabar’s first time in Brooklyn, and I is for Iona.  Drink specials start at 8pm.  Click on the links for more info, and join the facebook group.

Hope to see you there…this should be a great Wednesday!

Links:

• more on Ducktails here.
• more on Alphabar NYC here.
• Buy Ducktails releases here.
• Buy the Best Coast 7″ here.
• Buy Fluffy Lumbers releases here.
• Group Tightener’s website.

UPDATE 10/22/09: Check out videos of Best Coast live from Monster Island here.