Andrew W.K.: Close Calls With Brick Walls
4 Comments Delivered by TakeoffZebra on 28 August 2007 at 4:03 PM.
If anyone were to ask me what artist I am currently most interested in and excited about, I would without a doubt say Andrew W.K. Not just because he churns out uber-party anthems, or because he was really friendly when I met him at Warped Tour a few years ago, but also because of his pure philosophy on life and mysterious sense of identity. Today marks the belated release of his third full length, "Close Calls With Brick Walls", here in America as a special limited edition double colored vinyl package that includes 5 unreleased bonus tracks, a full color booklet, new photos and special artwork. The album contains some of Andrew's head-bangingly familiar rock songs like "Not Going To Bed" and "You Will Remember Tonight", but throws several curveballs into the mix by including abstract sound collages such as "Close Calls With Bal Harbour", instrumental piano interludes, and experimental sound structures like in "I Came For You". This showcases an evolution of Andrew's from the metaphorical Carrot Top of music into a real creative force, and hopefully foreshadows his future success in creating innovative and inspiring albums.It's unfortunate that the less party-driven sound of the new album is probably to blame for the one year time period between Asian and American release dates, but Your Friend, Andrew W.K. is much more than just a hard partier. In fact, he's what I'd like to call a modern renaissance man. Mr. W.K.'s résumé includes an advice show on MTV2, appearances on Late Night With Conan O'Brien, Last Call With Carson Daly, Kathy Griffin: My Life On The D-List, Aqua Teen Hunger Force, a feature in the New York Times, a judging position in the New York City US Air Guitar Regional Championships, performing and producing positions in the avant-garde music collective, To Live And Shave In L.A., a spot on the live line-up for Current 93, drumming for Boredoms' 77 Drummers project, 3 studio albums, a live DVD, several solo piano performances, conductor of open discussion lectures, and countless other random tasks. His to-do list is equally as impressive, as it includes recording 3 studio albums, titled "Young Lord", "The Carrier", and "Eberwhite", an untitled UK EP, an untitled solo piano album (!) and a contribution to the 53rd edition of Visionaire, creating a TV show on New York City Public Access, writing a book, openning a multipurpose venue in lower Manhattan and partying hard. Honestly, it would be hard not be interested in this man's career.
If you are already a fan of Andrew W.K.'s, "Close Calls With Brick Walls" has just the right amount of his signature anthemic rock to satisfy expectations, but includes enough inspired and reputation alterring material to attract plenty of new listeners as well. Here is one of the US release's 5 bonus tracks, an energetic drum machined rocker entitled "Big Party". Hmm, I wonder why it was chosen for the American release...
Andrew W.K.- "Big Party" [Removed]
Also, today is Pipe's birthday, so be sure to congratulate him on all of his hard work and wish him a happy bloody anniversary. As he would say, cheers.
Labels: andrew w.k.
I love you.
<3
Glad you dig it.
I do too!
Absolutely incredible album - will hopefully one day be heralded as an all-time classic, and will eclipse all those silly overfamiliar titles we always see in the Q/Mojo/NME Top 100 Albums charts.