Andrew W.k. - You're not alone - Album review

When the annals of early 21st century music are written, I hope that Andrew W.K. is remembered for more than just his 2001 debut “I Get Wet”. While his debut remains his best-selling work and contains his biggest hits like, Party Hard, It’s Time to Party, I think, taken on its own, is only part of the Andrew W.K. story, and the perhaps the least significant part of it at that. I’ll admit it. I slept on Andrew W.K. during his first few releases—I Get Wet and The Wolf. Even though I was still a teenager when I Get Wet was released, and it was firmly marketed at my demographic, I thought that it was too much shtick at the time. Andrew W.K.’s love of partying seemed like more of an affectation or caricature than a genuine personality. And, I think one of the main reasons I have come to admire AWK as one of the greatest rock musicians of this era is because he won me over not by coming closer to my ideal of what constitutes a great rock artist, but rather by never deviating from that persona he laid out seventeen years ago. He has merely refined and perfected his Party philosophy. The Power of Positive Partying. And finding an artist with the strength and resolve to maintain thematic consistency while continuing to grow and improve is a rare thing in this world. I became an AWK fan when a double album consisting of his third album—Close Calls with Brick Walls, along with a full album of outtakes and rarities—Mother of Mankind showed up on my streaming service in 2010. Andrew W.K. was beset by some sort of contractual record company thing that prevented the release and promotion of his third album in the states and the release was in Japan only. So, the music was made in ’06 and not released in America until 2010. But, when I saw the album in the new releases I said, “Oh, the Party Hard guy has a new album, let’s check it out.” And, I must say, I was absolutely blown away. I don’t really care what the critics have to say about anything the Close Calls/Mother of Mankind dual disc is one of my favorite rock albums of all time. Up there with Night at the Opera and Leviathan and Dark Side of the Moon and Quebec and Odessey and Oracle and all my other favorites. If you ever read interviews with Andrew WK, you’ll realize that he is a genuinely thoughtful dude. And, in the 10+ years between recording proper studio albums, he spent some time traveling the country doing spoken word concerts extolling his Power of Positive Partying philosophy. I have the news article from when he came to Denver. In it he says, “Try to imagine that you’re the strongest, most noble, most thoughtful, most compassionate, intelligent person in the world and then pretend to be that person. Speak from that place.” At face value this sentiment is a lot like his music. Extraordinarily simple on its face, with more depth once you peel back the layers. Which brings me to the new album, You’re Not Alone. For a first studio album in 10+ years, I can’t give it high enough praise. In many ways, it picks up where Close Calls with Brick Walls lets off. The musical exploration and brilliance is still there. The bombastic, over the top production still sells the messages of positivity. But, this album, more than any of the previous brings to the forefront the fact partying is a dichotomous thing. Andrew W.K. admits time and time again that hardships and uncertainty are part of life and facing them is also part of life. He encourages everyone not to defeat their demons, but rather to embrace them as part of life and party with them. I heard a recent interview with AWK where he said that people often say that music is their way of expressing what is inside themselves. He said that that is not true with him. He is filled, like everyone else, with anxieties, fears, sadness and everything else that is part of the human condition. And his goal with his music is not to express those emotions, but rather to make positive uplifting music that would help him if he was ever in those vulnerable moments. And, by doing so, he helps so many who embrace his positive message and get on board with his music. Having the self-awareness and the courage to admit this is a rare thing in an artist. So, I give his new album, You’re Not Alone, my full throated endorsement. And in terms of ratings I give it five out of five parties. It will be one of the partiest albums of the decade, if not the partiest. And that’s all I have to say about that.