WAVVES - Hideaway LP

Label: Fat Possum

Wavves' 2021 album Hideaway didn't come easy for the long-running SoCal band. After a number of sessions that didn't work out, leaving the group wondering if they were on the right track, they met up with producer Dave Sitek and managed to hit the finish line at last. The resulting album captures the band's bratty grunge punk sound crisply and with minimal fuss.

This album is a return to the bright and glossy sound of V and Afraid of Heights. Wavves are at their best when they keep it simple and don't aim for the back row of the club, and that's what they do here.

Overall, it makes for a very balanced record, almost adult oriented and possibly even commercial, though it doesn't try too hard. That last factor is what truly makes the album a success, since when Wavves do try too hard they tend to fall flat. This easygoing, smooth, and poppy record stands tall next to their finest work and is a nice addition to their catalog and perfect for fans of loud but not too loud, wild but not too wild, modern rock & roll.