― Sean, Monday, 15 April 2002 00:00 (twenty-one years ago) link
The $64,000 question. ;-) Mostly it's because of the semi-assumption above I vigorously protest, namely that it is instantly catchy dumb pop/rock. WRONG, at least in my ears. His sin is not attempting his approach, his sin lies in doing so and failing miserably.
― Ned Raggett, Monday, 15 April 2002 00:00 (twenty-one years ago) link
― Mark C, Monday, 15 April 2002 00:00 (twenty-one years ago) link
Well, why not?
― Brian MacDonald, Monday, 15 April 2002 00:00 (twenty-one years ago) link
― geeta, Monday, 15 April 2002 00:00 (twenty-one years ago) link
― Kris, Monday, 15 April 2002 00:00 (twenty-one years ago) link
― Ron, Monday, 15 April 2002 00:00 (twenty-one years ago) link
― maura, Tuesday, 16 April 2002 00:00 (twenty-one years ago) link
Yes; I don't think a record has ever made me laugh so much in my life. It feels so good!
― Sean, Tuesday, 16 April 2002 00:00 (twenty-one years ago) link
― maryann, Tuesday, 16 April 2002 00:00 (twenty-one years ago) link
― bc, Tuesday, 16 April 2002 00:00 (twenty-one years ago) link
It seems that not to like WK is apparently a sign of being anti-pop, being anti-dumb fun, being a snob, being humorless, being too serious, being a poor sport, etc. I find all these assumptions wanting.
― Ned Raggett, Tuesday, 16 April 2002 00:00 (twenty-one years ago) link
― bc, Wednesday, 17 April 2002 00:00 (twenty-one years ago) link
― Ned Raggett, Wednesday, 17 April 2002 00:00 (twenty-one years ago) link
You, Ned, don't like Andrew WK because he's unmemorable - this tells me nothing about you except your ears work in v.different ways from mine (which I knew anyway) and that you make a lot of fuss about a property (unmemorableness) that doesn't bother me. In fact it's you who's applying an assumed framework to WK - he is pop therefore he must be catchy. I happen to think he is catchy and pop but more than that I love him for the noises and textures: WK tracks make me think of cross-section pictures of the earth's crust, this vast layer of magma and rock (the guitars) with this tiny pretty layer of trees and grass perfectly balanced on top (the keyboards).
― Tom, Wednesday, 17 April 2002 00:00 (twenty-one years ago) link
― geeta, Wednesday, 17 April 2002 00:00 (twenty-one years ago) link
― di, Wednesday, 17 April 2002 00:00 (twenty-one years ago) link
It's basically a heavy sugary Devo, with a wrestler's voice. And maybe a little Elton John/John Tesh on the piano bits. The whole metal image seems to be a non-clever rue to make Mr. WK to be some sort of rock god, where in fact, I enjoy the music for all the reasons BUT.
― Brian MacDonald, Wednesday, 17 April 2002 00:00 (twenty-one years ago) link
he is pop therefore he must be catchy
*scratches chin* Now this makes me wonder...can it be possible to create something intentionally uncatchy but aimed at a pop audience? Nothing to do with Andrew WK now, more thinking about what pop 'should' be.
― celebrity scoop, Wednesday, 17 April 2002 00:00 (twenty-one years ago) link
― Tracer Hand, Wednesday, 17 April 2002 00:00 (twenty-one years ago) link
Then maybe the answer is WK is the new Vanilla Ice.
― Dan Perry, Wednesday, 17 April 2002 00:00 (twenty-one years ago) link
― Maria, Wednesday, 17 April 2002 00:00 (twenty-one years ago) link
What Tracer said about "not selling out enough" is how I feel about the whole Electroclash thing. I want one of those opportunistic aging club kids to do something totally vulgar and flashy and feelgood--create a new Ru Paul or Deelite--and shoot it into the Top Ten. It's just so classy and blah right now, at least the stuff I've heard.
― Arthur, Wednesday, 17 April 2002 00:00 (twenty-one years ago) link
I adore it unto my bosom. And then cast it from me like a bad taquito.
― Mr Noodles, Wednesday, 17 April 2002 00:00 (twenty-one years ago) link
The future is so bright - at times I feel the need to cover my eyes with my hands for fear of being blinded. But, as quickly as I can cover them, something will tear them away, and I'm forced to momentarily gaze into the explosion. What I see is almost too much to bare - I see the absolute truth. That there is nothing to be afraid of. There is nothing that can hurt me or anyone else. That my place in this room is the same as my place in the universe. That these things are not to be looked down upon, but to be looked up to. And suddenly, all that ever once was is not any more. And all the stuff that I was worried about is no longer upsetting, and all the things that I was afraid of seem safe and warm. The truth has everything inside of it - EVERYTHING. And it is O.K. and it is good.
I will work everyday to feel O.K. To truly feel O.K. is to accept everything as such and that you have a place inside of it all. And that place is a miracle, not something small. We can do so much, so easily, so fast. We have so much power, and so much ability. Human beings are one of the greatest achievements in the history of the world. We are our own achievement. So many people have dedicated their lives to working for our benefit. So many things that we have now came from people before us. We owe to them to make the most of our times now. We can create things of such beauty and magnificent dimensions, and we have the potential to destroy and tear down and deplete as well. This is so simple and so clear. The future holds everything. In my life I want to feel as good as possible and help as many people as I can to feel the same. I want to do everything and I want to help as many people do everything too. Everyone is invited. No one is turned away here. This music is about freedom and this music is much bigger than just me. I don't own it - I couldn't try to keep it all to myself even if I wanted to. It belongs to human beings. It belongs to you. The music is perfect. All it wants is for people to be happy. It doesn't even exist except as a moment of time. The more you believe in it, the stronger it gets and the stronger you get. The music is your best friend, and it will never turn its back on you or let you down. It loves you unconditionally and thinks that you're great. It wants to do whatever it can to make you smile and feel good. You can do no wrong. There is nothing you could ever do or say or feel or think that would make it leave you. It will always be there for you - from the first time that you hear it to the last time before you die. In the morning when you wake up, and right before you go to sleep. And it will visit you in the dark, in your dreams and it will make you're happiest wishes come true, and in your nightmares it will protect you and fight for you and keep you safe. The only thing happening here is acceptance and excitement. This is real and true. It is the truth. I will work everyday, and be patient, and have endurance, so that I can give to others what has been given to me. It is not instant. It will take time, and when I'm dead it will continue on without me. This is not mine alone, and I did not begin it. It was begun when the first baby smiled and it will NEVER END. NO ONE CAN STOP THIS - this is still just the beginning. The start of the beginning. This has never happened before. We have never happened before. You have never happened before. There are new horizons and new frontiers that belong to us. These are our trails to blaze. THIS IS OUR TIME. I LOVE YOU.
------
i have to admit, that makes his schtick exponentially more delightful.
he's due to appear on politically incorrect on april 29th. i am eagerly anticipating this.
― bc, Friday, 19 April 2002 00:00 (twenty-one years ago) link
― geeta, Friday, 19 April 2002 00:00 (twenty-one years ago) link
OK, more seriously, even as an Andrew WK fan I'm not quite sure how you get from that to "Party Til You Puke".
― Tom, Friday, 19 April 2002 00:00 (twenty-one years ago) link
― maura, Friday, 19 April 2002 00:00 (twenty-one years ago) link
VINDICATION!
― Dan Perry, Friday, 19 April 2002 00:00 (twenty-one years ago) link
― Ned Raggett, Friday, 19 April 2002 00:00 (twenty-one years ago) link
― maryann, Friday, 19 April 2002 00:00 (twenty-one years ago) link
So maybe his music is NOT that bad, eh?
― Maria, Friday, 19 April 2002 00:00 (twenty-one years ago) link
― some guy, Tuesday, 9 July 2002 00:00 (twenty-one years ago) link
― Andrew R.J., Wednesday, 24 July 2002 00:00 (twenty-one years ago) link
― gareth, Wednesday, 24 July 2002 00:00 (twenty-one years ago) link
If I came across most people I suspect they'd have a right to complain. Depends on the context, though.
― Ned Raggett, Wednesday, 24 July 2002 00:00 (twenty-one years ago) link
― Dan Perry, Wednesday, 24 July 2002 00:00 (twenty-one years ago) link
Yeah, I am going to damn the torpedoes and make the comparison. This album is very "Ramones-y." This a good thing. A VERY good thing. Songs with little lyrical merit, yet still make you feel good to be alive. Peppy and pointless. This is what I expect from musicians I like. Stay away from "art." Art is rarely good. I don't want to have to think and ponder. I want to bounce around, slam into the concert goer next to me, wind up bloody, and go home feeling snazzy.
The last time I felt this good about music was at the final Ramones show, and listening to his album, I get the same feeling. It's a very good thing. And that's what music's really all about, isn't it? Making you feel something. Good, bad, whatever. It's all good.
Kevin Buffington made some very good points in his review (http://www.culturedose.com/review.php?rid=10002497), and I'm not saying he's wrong. Do the songs sound alike? Yes. Is there a recurring theme here? Quite. Do they blend together? Of course they do. Will these songs change the world as we know it? Probably not, but all I'm saying is that this isn't necessarily a bad thing.
Agreed, I won't call this metal. I'm almost afraid to call it Punk, but it definitely doesn't fit any of the other genres. I can't really call it rock, since I'm not feeling the need to airguitar. What I WANT to do is to violently slam my 270 pounds into someone, watch them "ooof!," turn around and do the same thing to me.
Loud guitars, screaming madman, no solos, AND keyboards on occasion, this album has everything I could hope for. No, he's not reinventing the wheel, he's not worried about difficult chord progressions (barre chord central, folks, have I made the Ramones comparison? By George, I think I did!), but he is having a blast doing it and I'm having a blast listening to it. Over and over and over again.
The songs are all pretty upbeat, a quick tempo with a driving beat. No, there's not much of an edge. Is a good portion of each song a repetitive chorus? Yes. Again, not a bad thing. The Ramones' "Beat On The Brat" is a perfect example. And while they seem to go by fast, the average song is about 3 minutes. This is the only flaw in my opinion. 12 tracks, yet the album only lasts 35 minutes. I want more, dammit.
Songs of note include "Ready To Die," a very peppy happy song about killing you (with cheerful keyboards, no less. OK, so maybe art isn't dead on this album.) and "I Love NYC," which would make a decent anthem, and is sure to get tons of airplay, after all, not doing so would mean that the terrorists win. We can't have that, no sirree bob.
In conclusion, I highly recommend this piece of auditory magic. If you're tired of being spoon fed the latest crap MTV hands out, and really want to feel good about music again, this album will do it for you. I'm going to end this now. My cats need to learn how to mosh with the big boys. Pray for them.
-Kevin Carlson
― Shell, Saturday, 30 November 2002 11:15 (twenty-one years ago) link
Huh, I assumed the revive would be this, which has been doing the rounds.
Andrew W.K. is a Libertarian "Classical Liberal" who believes in American Exceptionalism & a "big fan of Breitbart". He was a regular on Fox News show 'Red Eye' for years w/ his friend Gavin McInnes (Proud Boys) & even had his own radio show on Glenn Beck’s TheBlaze radio network— Heresy Labs (@heresysquad) October 10, 2018
― Andrew Farrell, Saturday, 10 October 2020 08:36 (three years ago) link
I hadn't seen any of that before. Most of the people and organisations mentioned I don't really know, but I get that they're unsavoury associations. Is the consensus that there is something to it all?
― brain (krakow), Saturday, 10 October 2020 10:49 (three years ago) link
AWK seems to have deleted the tweet that I posted above. I feel less enamoured by the mystery in the cold light of day and guess that the (supposed) 1998 diary is something created to help promote new music coming soon.
― brain (krakow), Saturday, 10 October 2020 11:27 (three years ago) link
Honestly, I don't see a lot there beyond "Andrew W K isn't that bright or politically involved" - the only thing that bothers me is the quote about him loving Breitbart, and the source of it is - an article on Breitbart.There's what seems to be an informed rebuttal here: https://www.reddit.com/r/AndrewWK/comments/9mvw92/andrew_wk_has_long_extensive_ties_to_rightwing/e7i30hz/
― Andrew Farrell, Saturday, 10 October 2020 13:57 (three years ago) link
Yeah AWK is about as apolitical as it gets
― frogbs, Saturday, 10 October 2020 13:59 (three years ago) link
yeah, weak tea guilt by association shit. he's about as guilty as Damien from Fucked Up in that case.
― it bangs for thee (Simon H.), Saturday, 10 October 2020 14:01 (three years ago) link
That's all good to read, thanks.
― brain (krakow), Saturday, 10 October 2020 16:50 (three years ago) link
I feel less enamoured by the mystery in the cold light of day
I love that he still finds it fun to generate intricate layers of confusing backstory and then publish disinformation about the stuff he's put so much effort into.
Thanks for that rebuttal link, AF.
― Covidiots from UHF (sic), Saturday, 10 October 2020 19:36 (three years ago) link
uhh what
https://www.instagram.com/katdenningsss/
― frogbs, Thursday, 6 May 2021 01:45 (two years ago) link
jenny4twntyThe shower drain must be a nightmare
― Andrew Farrell, Thursday, 6 May 2021 09:56 (two years ago) link
Speak of the... devil?https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mj8C7hKpBNA
― vcrash, Thursday, 6 May 2021 14:56 (two years ago) link
this new album's gonna be pretty heavy huh
― frogbs, Thursday, 6 May 2021 15:53 (two years ago) link
Wow this song rules
Incredible album title + cover art combo too
― intern at pepe le pew research (Simon H.), Thursday, 6 May 2021 16:05 (two years ago) link
that track is a snooze im sure his fans from his Glen Beck network show will dig tho
― kurt schwitterz, Thursday, 6 May 2021 16:19 (two years ago) link
I've never been an AWK fan, but the video has a Matthew Barney-ish feel that I'm into. The song's...fine, but nothing without the visuals.
― but also fuck you (unperson), Thursday, 6 May 2021 16:44 (two years ago) link
The "Babalon" video is quite something as well.
― intern at pepe le pew research (Simon H.), Thursday, 6 May 2021 16:53 (two years ago) link
OK, just watched "Babalon" and that is legitimately great (song and video). If he'd sounded like this all along I'd have been a fan 20 years ago.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oI8y36733ag
― but also fuck you (unperson), Thursday, 6 May 2021 17:11 (two years ago) link
apparently an entire journal of his from 1998-2000 leaked online
https://awkshare.com/files/7d756f81-e197-4711-9101-fd042ca3d17b
feels wrong to be reading this but it's pretty fascinating, hundreds of pages not only detailing the entire Andrew WK persona but also a man at war with himself. seems to explore the whole "use actors for the first few years/make it seem like everyone else is doing the work" idea. at some point he lays out his first 9 albums, #5 being "The Devil's on Your Side" and #6 being "The Party Gods"
obviously a good chance this was all made in the last couple of months but still, pretty crazy shit here
― frogbs, Tuesday, 11 May 2021 17:48 (two years ago) link
"i'm in heaven" is so good
― mellon collie and the infinite bradness (BradNelson), Tuesday, 11 May 2021 21:44 (two years ago) link
xp "leaked"
― Deicide at Chuck E. Cheese (PBKR), Wednesday, 12 May 2021 00:20 (two years ago) link