Honestly, Brian Wilson would have been more at home in Spirit Club than the Beach Boys. Sure, the Wilson brothers took a darker turn with their music by the time the ’70s hit, but I think their lead songwriting brother would have found solace in the overt emotionalism of the aforementioned trio from California.
Comprised of Wavves’ Nathan Williams, his brother Kyan Williams, and Andrew Caddick, Spirit Club sounds like the most melancholy, cloudy day at the beach—pure bummer-summer surf rock. Their latest, “Fast Ice,” is a wonderfully self conscious addition to their already glum discography, kicking off with the hypothetical, “Tonight if I die, you wouldn’t care…” But the track is more than just self-loathing fetishism; the songwriting is catchy, self-aware and tightly melodic, while the production sounds impeccably clean. This is the best these three musicians have sounded on any track thus far, and I can’t wait to swan dive into their entire new LP.
“Fast Ice” will appear on Spirit Club’s forthcoming record Slouch, which drops October 21 via Nathan Williams’ Ghost Ramp Records, and is the sophomore followup to their eponymous 2015 debut.
Are you guys digging Spirit Club’s bummed out lyrics and surfy vibes? Think they should be Brian Wilson’s backing band as he continues to tour? If you cry while you are surfing, will anyone really be able to tell? Let us know in the comments below and on Twitter.
Image: Jack Wagner
Matt Grosinger is the music editor of Nerdist and cannot wait for Slouch to come out so he can wallow and jam out at the same. damn. time.
