Williams makes Waves with Wavves

Twenty-two-year-old Nathan Williams is more than just an average guy; he is Wavves, a one-man, lo-fi punk band. Since his home-recorded cassette tapes and general turbulence took to its throne in damaged eardrums in 2008, Williams has become the source of much discussion from chatterboxes worldwide.

The San Diegan’s second album Wavvves (Fat Possum Records) is a bizarre collection of mindful ramblings. The music, though not complex, is emphatic enough to create a place in which to get lost. The lyrics, when clear, deliver a hectic middle finger to any sign of a path through this album; it is as close to being lost in some area of unknown woodland as it is possible to get without fearing for your physical safety.

Sanity, however, is something that should be left at the first track, “Rainbow Everywhere,” and only picked up after the last, “Surf Goth.” This is a positively insane album with only one serious drawback: It isn’t long enough. The quick bursts of musical graffiti create a heady haze of classic punk bastardized by low fidelity recording and fuzzy, tone-sucking effects. Still, some manage a trace of melody.

“Weed Demon” ignites images of listening to a Beach Boys record when stoned. It sways along in a fog of harmony before being kicked in by the might of “California Goths.” There are so many contrasts held within the silence at either end of this album that it is unclear whether the surroundings are that of Looney Tunes-Ville or the end of all things.