I think we all know what one create/studies here...
(correct answer: parties)
Photo taken at Artists and Models 2008
In the fall of 2003 I was beginning my junior year of college, working hard, playing hard, and was thoroughly confused about my romance life and my life direction in general. It was a fun but stressful time. I had lauded the first Andrew W.K. record ("I Get Wet") as a tribute/satire/tribute-again to everything over-the-top about rock and, legitimately, the ultimate party starter. Though the joke was basically over, I was anticipating the followup. Turns out "The Wolf" really wasn't anything that spectacular, or even as timely as his first. But there was something special about the video for the first (only?) single "Never Let Down." I found myself going to mtv.com and watching this video at the beginning of every day. Sometimes I'd revisit it in the afternoon. This went on for weeks. It was just out of irony, right? It was building up to some punchline where the music major was writing about Stravinsky while playing 3-chord power pop. ...right? I think it may have started that way, but looking back I think it was more than a joke or a guilty pleasure. I actually appreciated the simple affirmation howled above those even equally simple riffs. At the time, of course, I was far too cool to be admit being lifted by something so adolescent. But even today, it's hard not to believe him when he says "I'm a friend by your side / You're never gonna be alone" the way only he can. As we used to say: WWAWKD? Party. And sometimes in life that's exactly what you need.
Labels: accurate history, music, musing, P.A.R.T.Y.T.I.M.E., secrets, things you learn outside of class
posted by Jack @ 2:41 PM
1 comments
1 Comments:
I agree that when "The Wolf" first came out, I was kind of disappointed. However, in more recent times, I've developed an appreciation for the album. It's less of a "party" album and more about "triumph" - not to say these are concept albums, but rather they encompass the notions of "party" and "triumph." AWK is a persona, like Ziggy Stardust, and this character embodies these concepts and he makes serious albums about his passions - even if we find these passions to be ridiculous.
As far as his song writing abilities are concerned, the classical training he had shows up in songs like "Long Live The Party," "I Love Music" and, your favorite, "Never Let Down" with key changes, tempo changes... they are almost like mini-symphonies with distinct movements. Or maybe more like operas - loud, overly obnoxious operas. Actually, listening to "The Wolf" now makes me think of The Red Army choir singing songs for the Motherland to inspire the Soviet people (the end of "Long Live The Party" especially).
I've moved beyond the head-banging ridiculousness of the earlier AWK "I Get Wet" days and can only listen to the album when I'm working out or doing something with intensity (like "man-sobbing") and I don't mean to make it sound like I listen to "The Wolf" that often (maybe once a year) but having developed a sense for classical music over these last couple of years, hearing these hints of it in AWK's music has allowed me to develop a greater appreciation for "The Wolf."
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