Andrew W.K. - "You're Not Alone"

Andrew W.K. ladies and gentlemen!  Modern Hard Rock legend, motivational speaker, king of the party and all around nice guy.  I've seen this guy in more than a few shitty bars in my time, including one where my chubby ass jumped up on stage and gave em' a hug.  Obviously, he's always been a sort of guilty pleasure of mine.  Andrew's 2001 debut "I Get Wet' is a cult classic in every way.  Fueled by massive singles like "Party Hard" and "She Is Beautiful", this was the jolt of all-out fun that Rock music needed in 2001.  The riffs were gigantic, the performances were electric, and I couldn't say no to so much of this album.  Andrew Followed that up with 2003's "The Wolf" a much more hit and miss project.  The first half of this album showed Andrew getting a little more personal with us on tracks like "Tear it Up", which on paper sounds not so bad.  But the majority of those tracks were just so incredibly boring.  On the other hand, it was his more straightforward and energetic tracks like "Your Rules" and "Never Let Down" that really stuck with me over time.  Then we have 2006's "Close Calls With Brick Walls", which on a lot of levels is seriously a hard one to dissect.  I mean, this has some of Andrew's catchiest tracks on here, like the anthemic "You Will Remember Tonight" and "I Want To See you Go Wild".  There are a handful of really great tracks here.  But there are also countless interludes that go nowhere and an overall theme that's really hard to place.  Overall I really couldn't get into this album.  Now, over the years Andrew has been putting out a few tracks albums here and there, some weird experiments and covers albums as well.  But it's been seemingly forever since we got a true blue Andrew W.K. album.  But with these new singles, I'll be honest I think Andrew may be onto something.  Let's chat people!

(A personal favorite of mine!)

This album starts off with “The Power of Partying”, and it’s a pretty straightforward intro for Andrew with glistening production, epic feel and the repeated “PARTY, PARTY, PARTY”.  But as repetitive and straightforward as this is, I have to say this certainly does get me in the mood for the rest of this album.  And yea, this is short, but it’s also epic as hell and totally over the top.  Obviously, there’s not too much to talk about, but as an intro, I’m into this.  On the other hand “Music Is Worth Living For”, this track is much more determined, leaving the whimsical feel of this album’s intro in the dust for a much more pummeling Hard Rock riff.  Is this beefy and muscular “bro” music, well that’s debatable.  But I love just how over-the-top and ridiculous this one is.  Between Andrew’s very forward thinking verses and the very BIG instrumental, this really does bring in a sense of positivity that’s really missing right now in Rock music.  The instrumentals may not be as sweaty and energetic as they once were, but this is seriously a great rock tune.  And I can’t help but freak out and scream as soon as the chorus comes in.  I haven’t heard Andrew singing with this much passion or purpose in years, not to mention, he is having an absolute blast.  Then we have “Ever Again”, with it’s “WHOA’s” at the intro that I feel like usually would be a disaster.  But Andrew pulls it off, and this seriously ends up being anthemic and punchy right off the bat.  I love the hulking riff that’s just so much beefier than the last tune.  While the track before this was much more focused on being this grand, epic statement, this one is the balls out rock tune that we all wanted to hear from Andrew. Now, to be honest, this is the sort of personal track that Andrew SHOULD be going for.  He went for a lot of these sound on his “The Wolf” and “Close Calls…” albums, but nothing there had this much energy and passion, or lasting power for that matter.  This one could easily become a live staple for Andrew.  “I Don’t Know Anything” on the other hand seems a little bit flabby for Andrew.  While yes, this has a lot of the same energy, this instrumental is so much less muscular and intense.  And while Andrew does seem to be in much more of a wild mindset as well, he does seem a little unfocused. But outside of that, this is just OK.  I love the addition of Piano, which is something that’s always drawn me to Andrew’s music.  At the end of the day, this one is solid, but it took a LONG time to grow on me and isn’t nearly as instantaneous as the last few tunes.  I do like the Punk energy and the more upbeat riffs, I just wish this was more focused. 

    Now, as this album rolls onward we get tracks like “The Feeling of Being Alive”, and to be honest this is what I’m always worried about when it comes to Andrew.  His spoken word pieces and positive vibes are needed in Rock music, and he does a lot of great things.  But this isn’t the time or the place.  And I know what you’re thinking, this is a one minute interlude, it can’t be that bad.  But it really sort of is, especially when you take into consideration how much of the flow this messes up.  Then we get “Party Mindset”, which is a slower tune, which in the past have been mighty suspect in Andrew’s music.  But to be honest, this actually doesn’t sound bad at all.  It’s got a nice, sweeping groove to it, and I love Andrew’s very passionate performance here.  Now, let’s chat about these lyrics.  Andrew has become sort of the butt of a joke in Music for being on the one-dimensional side and clinging so hard to his “I Get Wet” glory days.  And for years, I could totally understand that.  But with tracks like “Party Mindset”, I actually think that Andrew has tons to offer.  It’s sort of biographical in parts, but once again this is easily more memorable than anything on “The Wolf”.  For a much slower, chugging tune from the master of the party, this works just fine.  Then we have moments like “The Party Never Dies”, that is so ridiculously grand and epic that you would feel like these were “I Get Wet” leftovers.  Yea, it’s THAT good.  I love just how gigantic some of these instrumentals are, and I honestly can’t remember the last time I heard Andrew W.K. giving his all as far as a performance goes.  I wouldn’t say any of these tunes are perfect, not by a longshot.  But for Andrew’s music, I haven’t heard this sort of incredible energy in a long time.  It’s anthemic, it’s cleanly produced, and still has a ton of bite to it.  But then we have tracks like “Give Up on You”, which sadly come off just so goofy.  Not only that, I but I feel like Andrew can’t in his right mind expect us to take this seriously.  There’s a lot of really great things about this album, mostly in the way he’s finally figured out how to combine his usual positive vibes with his Party Rock.  But moments like “Give Up On You” are just too cheesy for me.  And no, all the Glam-Rock inspired Guitar solos can’t save you, Andrew, I’m sorry.

    Ironically, everything about that last track that didn’t work, works wonders on “Keep On Going”.  Once again, Andrew certainly has his motivational speaker hat on.  But this time, on the other hand, it really seems like once again he’s found a way to translate that energy wonderfully.  I love the bouncy instrumental which is a little different for him. But Andrew’s performance remains just as dynamic and wild, and seriously intense.  And while yes, this is incredibly cheesy and I can assure you, not for everyone, I’m totally into this.  But then we get another spoken word number, “Your Darkest Moments”, which once again Andrew, this is all great.  And it may really touch some people.  But for me, it just really messes up the flow of this all.  But if we keep getting tracks from Andrew in return like “The Devil’s on Your Side”, I have to say it may be worth it.  I love just how grandiose and explosive this track is.  The quiet verses here battling against the gigantic and anthem chorus is simply thrilling, and Andrew did say we want a thrilling life a few minutes ago.  It’s intense and emotional and really goes so well with the themes of this album.  One thing I have to commend Andrew on is just how cinematic this project is.  I mean, this is almost Glam Rock influenced, but with just how BIG the performances continue to be, it all works so well.  “Break The Curse” is up next, and I continue to be shocked at just how many of the slow tunes here work out nicely.  Once again, this track really works for Andrew.   It’s beefy and heavy, with almost some Sludge Metal elements.  Do I have any idea of what Andrew’s going on about for half of this track?  Absolutely not.  But he makes you freakin’ believe it and feel it.  Between these intense passages and the gigantic synths that continue to be so epic, “Break The Curse” rules.  Is this the intense Party tune we’ve all been clambering for?  Not really.  But man, this is passionate and intense.  Not to mention, all of these ridiculous elements like the backing singers and the muscular guitar solos matched up with Andrew’s usually anthemic chorus makes this one work so well.  This goes without saying, but instrumentally and conceptually this is Andrew’s biggest project to date.

    “Total Freedom” returns to the much lighter and whimsical sound we got a whiff of earlier.  I don’t mind that at all, but I’m not nearly as into Andrew’s performance here.  I feel like 90% of this album I’ve been so enamored by Andrew’s emotional performances.  But this one feels like Andrew just needed a few minutes added to the album and slapped this one together.  Now, I’m totally fine with the soaring chorus, I actually think it’s one of the strongest of the album.  Overall, “Total Freedom” has potential, I love the epic drums and the way this one keeps building.  I just really wish Andrew’s verses were better here. “Beyond Oblivion” once again makes me worry for a split second when I realize it’s a slow one.  But once again I have to give it to Andrew.   I’m actually totally interested in this very slow paced intro that I feel like can just explode at any minute.  And what do you know, this actually has some of the biggest tension and more exciting moments of the entire album.  The synths are gigantic and explosive, and the orchestrations are absolutely stunning, I would honestly love to hear more of that in the future.  But what’s incredible is that this entire track is an instrumental, and doesn’t need Andrew’s emotional performances to sell it.  It’s great just the way it is and really pumps me up.  But Andrew, why couldn’t you somehow tie in “Confusion and Clarity” with the last track, or any other track for that matter.  Once again this is a totally nice Motivational speech, and he’s got real talent with this.  But once again, this absolutely breaks up the album way too much.  Thankfully, Andrew ends off this album with a very classic sound for him with “You’re Not Alone”.  With plenty of big guitars and an emotional performance from Andrew, this one is a great finale.  The piano’s are anthemic, this atmosphere is gigantic, and Andrew’s performance is easily one his most soaring and emotional here.  And while this may also be one of the most straightforward tunes here, let’s be real, as a finale this just seems right. Andrew came back in a big way on this album, and I honestly am really curious to see what he does next.

Rating: 7.9/10


Give A Listen To: “Music Is Worth Living For”, “Ever Again”, “The Party Never Dies”, “The Devil’s On Your Side”


Genre: Hard Rock / Glam Rock / Heavy Metal


Overall Thoughts:  For anyone whose ever thought that Andrew W.K. has gotten a little bit one-note in his older age, myself included, this is a real wake-up call.  While this may not have the intense energy and rebellious feel of some of his classic work, neither is it as consistent.  But this is easily his most ambitious project to date.  Andrew has done the impossible, and found a really great medium of his usual Party centered tunes while being able to add in tracks that incorporate his talents as a motivational speaker.  Sometimes this does come off a little cheesy, especially on his spoken word interludes.  But the majority of this album is just such a punchy, energetic, heavy Rock album that brings in a sense of positivity that you quite frankly don't hear enough of in Rock.  Not to mention, instrumentally this is vastly outside of Andrew's usual box, bringing in glamorous production and gigantic orchestrations.  This may not be perfect or as fun as Andrew's cult classic "I Get Wet".   But if this is Andrew WK heading towards the future, I'm game.