Music reviews

By Chris Coco

“Crazy For You”

Best Coast

Let 2010 proudly introduce you to California’s Best Coast with the release of their first full-length album, “Crazy For You.”

Best Coast is from Los Angeles with sounds of beach rock from the 1950s-‘70s, another one of those modern lo-fi / power-pop bands.

Vocalist and guitarist Bethany Cosentino was once in the psychedelic dub-sounding band, Pocahuated, which broke up recently after five years.

The opening track to “Crazy For You,” “Boyfriend,” was considered the “best new track” by Pitchfork.

“Crazy for You” sold more than 10,000 in its first two weeks, and also reached the Billboard 200 at No. 36. The album is 30 minutes long, with 13 songs.

I already consider Best Coast my favorite new band of 2010. I like to think of them as modern Beach Boys with a girl singing.

The lyrics to “Boyfriend” are sad but beautifully done and I like finally seeing a girl’s perspective, unlike the mediocre lyrics of No Doubt.

I am kind of in love with Cosentino too. Apparently Bill Murray is a fan, which is cool in my cookbook. Best Coast is a great band that’s worth checking out.

Favorite tracks: “Boyfriend,” “Happy,” “I Want To.”

“King of the Beach”

Wavves

Wavves has gone through a lot in the past year, mostly through member changes and more publicity.

Since the death of the great and late Jay Reatard, the other members of his band have joined Wavves—Billy Hayes and Stephen Pope.

“King of the Beach” has a little less of the lo-fi sound and somewhat more of a Motown sound.

“There was a conscious effort going into this that I didn’t want to make the same record again,” Wavves founder Nathan Williams said.

“It wasn’t overbearing, but I didn’t want to recreate something I’d done. I wanted to make something bigger, something stronger.”

Unlike the previous albums, “King of the Beach” was not recorded on Williams’ laptop but by Dennis Herring, who has recorded the last two Modest Mouse albums.

I’ve been a fan of Wavves for more than a year and have seen them once with huge disappointment. The first album was OK and the second album was good. This new album is solid.

If you disliked Wavves before or thought it was just OK, please check this out and consider changing your mind for the better.

Favorite tracks: “Linus Spacehead,” “Post Acid,” “Take On The World.”