Labels: Backwater Records
Review by: Andy Malcolm
This CD genuinely has a “Parental Advisory” sticker on it. I was going to make some joke about whether this happened with MP3s when I remembered that Spotify does actually identify if a song is explicit, presumably so rebellious young teens can stay up all night getting high, laughing at rude songs and watching the most unimaginably horrible pornography that has ever been made. Anyway, whilst War Waves have five songs marked as “Explicit” on Spotify (at least one of them has the word cunt in), they have also made a rather solid album of college rock. I’m not sure what caught my attention on this one, I know nothing about the band, I’ve not read a press release but a quick fire burst of a couple of songs made me put the album aside for further perusal. And whilst it’s nothing mindblowing, it’s certainly very accessible and pleasant. Though my other half just wandered in and said it was “Sub-Morrissey dirge”. Not sure how serious she was being. And one song name checks Gaslight Anthem. I think it sort of reminds me of straightforward college rock things I have gotten mileage from at one point or another, such as the Diggs. And one or two tracks sound quite a bit like Joie de Vivre.
My cynical side says this album is dead cheesy, but my more mellow, sensible and mature side says it’s just decent, easy going indie strumming and certainly doesn’t outstay it’s 37 minutes. I can’t see that this would blow away many readers of this website mind you.