Andrew W.K.You're Not Alone

Bee & El/Sony Music
2 March, 2018
7
Rock and Roll All Nite

Welcome listener, once again, to an Andrew W.K. LP. In truth, it’s been a while. A little under nine years.

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Andrew W.K.’s work can tend to resist lofty analysis. His messages are simple, direct. If they catch your ear they’re potent. To those outside of the feelgood phenomena, they’re utterly head scratching. Andrew W.K. may stray in fantasy and grandeur, but his true pull is the fact he’s entirely earnest. His belief in music is very real. Also, he likes to party.

Andrew’s metallicized pop arrives blasting and completely over the top. Littered with melodic hooks, Music is Worth Living For sets the tone. Again, it’s one of maximalism. Ever Again begins the chronicle. Andrew, as always, is hitting his head against life’s obstacles and overcoming. Clad in angelic white he’s extending a helping hand to you too.

The Feeling of Being Alive spins into motivational sermon. Andrew W.K. continues to espouse his party philosophy. Here he breaks down that feeling. The sensation of existence. “Life is very intense, but this doesn’t mean it’s bad, understanding this is what partying is all about,” Andrew W.K. imparts.

Part of Andrew W.K’s success is operating unbeholden to rock clichés. But by the very nature of this ethos, he’s by no means prohibited from using them.

With Andrew W.K. laying it out like Gene Simmons, Party Mindset feels evocative of KissRock and Roll All Nite. Andrew is more than adept at doing the bone-headed rock thing, but he’s equally capable of turning out an occasionally sly lyric. Give Up On You triumphantly continues this vaunt into arena rockin’ theatricality. Part of Andrew W.K’s success is operating unbeholden to rock clichés. But by the very nature of this ethos, he’s by no means prohibited from using them.

Total Freedom revivifies the rock ballad, while Beyond Oblivion wallows into grandiose instrumentals. You’re Not Alone closes while crashing headlong into full-blown operatics.

You’re Not Alone is easy to dismiss. It’s cheesy, silly, ham-fistedly goofball and over-the-top. A rock album colliding self-help audiobook. But to level any critical indictment at Andrew W.K. would be simply placing another inevitable pitfall in the life-affirming struggle of his existence.

STANDOUT TRACKS: Music is Worth Living For, You’re Not Alone, The Party Never Dies
STICK THIS NEXT TO: Kiss, Foo Fighters, Tony Robins




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