His music, always a music of extremes, is relentlessly upbeat and celebratory, while also exploring contradiction and confusion. A follow-up the Andrew WK's 2009 Gundam album. At the same time, there’s something different here; an unapologetic positivity that was always under the surface, but this time manifests itself in every form it can think of, a direction highlighted by the bold creative choice to have Andrew deliver three small motivational speeches throughout the album. Bereft of freestyle ivory plonks, You’re Not Alone captures WK doing what he does best: that utterly distinctive fusion of metal riffs, Springsteen bombast, pristine ABBA hooks and choruses bigger than Hercules’ biceps. This count excludes the cover albums The Japan Covers and Gundam Rock. © 2020 CBS Interactive Inc. All rights reserved. Brand new album from rock god, party guru and motivational speaker Andrew WK, his first album in 9 years.. His first release in nine years is the brand new album You’re Not Alone, for which he recorded a bunch of powerful songs. It also includes spoken word passages that relate to the musician’s work as a motivational speaker. The lure of the party, it seems, is stronger than ever. Complete your Andrew W.K. ... His confidence is unassailable and contagious. Andrew W.K. "And I bet you never thought you'd live to see the day / Where we could play with joy and laughter," he growls gloriously on "Music Is Worth Living For." record - high octane, full throttle rock 'n' roll powered by buoyant, infectious, and triumphant melodies. 's past output, going all the way back to his breakthrough debut, I Get Wet, in 2001. The berserk, nihilistic energy that made Andrew W.K.’s name is gone. that the album suffers from "plodding, overlong tracks". In addition to a pack of his best songs since I Get Wet, he brings with him a trio of spoken-word interludes that further expand on his philosophy, and as stupid as that might sound on paper--and even on first listen--it makes sense in the world of Andrew W.K. This is the album equivalent of "with great power comes great. Watch the video below. A cross between arena rock and a motivational speech, You're Not Alone is filled with catchy songs and sheer positivity. Everything those familiar with Andrew’s body of work would expect is present here. commissioned them to paint the cover of You're Not Alone, which depicts the fist-pumping, party-centric singer in a pensive yet heroic pose on an eerie suburban street. It's chanted robotically throughout the album's opening track "The Power of Partying," a palate-cleansing burst of symphonic euphoria reminiscent of Europe's "The Final Countdown." You’re Not Alone is Andrew W.K.’s fifth studio album. Reviews and Tracks", "Andrew W.K. Where that album is a favorite of mine for its more opaque lyrics and challenge to what many consider to be the Andrew WK “thing”, this album is a favorite of mine for its more direct approach: after an appropriately built-up instrumental introduction, Music is Worth Living For kicks the door off the hinges and loudly announces its arrival. An all around wonderfully ear and spirit pleasuring album that instantly become a rock classic. - "You're Not Alone". This is absolutely one of the best albums I have ever heard in my entire life. Bereft of freestyle ivory plonks, You’re Not Alone captures WK doing what he does best: that utterly distinctive fusion of metal riffs, Springsteen bombast, pristine … I'll admit, this album didn't initially grab me. It was released on March 2, 2018 through Sony Music. So yes, clearly, I was ecstatic when Andrew WK announced his first studio album in 10 years, titled You’re Not Alone. Sort of. For all its departures, this album is probably the closest thing to what Andrew WK is – to what the man, or the music, or whatever you want to call it represents – that exists. Details New Album You're Not Alone", "Andrew W.K. is being sincere as his sounds and lyrics are so big and bold (and sometimes seem ridiculous)...the spoken word tracks say he is genuine...its refreshing and uplifting to hear the sincerity. "The Devil's On Your Side" is an infectious, bombastic exercise in classic-rock craftsmanship, and it's complemented by "Beyond Oblivion," whose tender, piano-tinkling intro erupts into a monumental, melancholy instrumental. Your destiny. – 'You're Not Alone' Review", "Andrew WK Chart History (Top Hard Rock Albums)", "Andrew WK Chart History (Top Rock Albums)", https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=You%27re_Not_Alone_(Andrew_W.K._album)&oldid=978225342, Short description is different from Wikidata, Wikipedia articles with style issues from October 2018, Album articles lacking alt text for covers, Wikipedia articles with style issues from January 2020, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License, This page was last edited on 13 September 2020, at 17:15. 14 If it seems a little blown out of proportion, the music on You're Not Alone will cure you of that notion. Andrew W.K. From there, the galloping, synth-spiked hard rock of "Music Is Worth Living For" imagines a team-up between "Jump"-era Van Halen and "Howling at the Moon"-era Ramones. And on "Total Freedom," he forges a polished dynamism, veering from soft, melodic passages to cosmic bliss. It was released … Make your dreams. You’re Not Alone continues W.K.’s trademark style of party rock and features positive, life-affirming lyrics. This count excludes the cover albums The Japan Covers and Gundam Rock. [24 Feb 2018, p.51], Andrew WK's most lucid slab of party politics since his 2001 debut I Get Wet ditches the improv piano to embrace the 39-year-ld's steroid-enhanced take on cutie-pop. The one-two wallop of "Party Mindset" and "The Party Never Dies" hits up power balladry and anthemic abandon with equal aplomb, while "Keep On Going" is like Queen karaoke, all stadium-sized sing-alongs and adrenalized riffs. Label: Music On Vinyl - MOVLP2222,RED MUSIC (4) - MOVLP2222 • Format: Vinyl LP, Album Purple LightVinyl LP, ... Andrew W.K. [4], You're Not Alone is characterized by dramatic rock songs that feature distorted guitars, pianos, synthesizers, and multi-tracked vocals. collection. returns to the party, scarred but smarter", "Andrew W.K. Sometimes it's hard to tell if Andrew W.K. And do what must be done. I'll admit, this. It took 12 years, but thanks to You're Not Alone, that day has finally arrived. Though much of the music is fast and energetic, the album also contains slower-paced songs and ballads, exhibiting greater musical dynamism than previous intensively upbeat Andrew W.K. Torres Describes Harrowing 48 Hours Trying to Return Home, The Viral Countdown: The Race to React to COVID-19, The Cost of Coronavirus: How Young Guv Ended Up Stranded, The Killers Double Down on Arena Rock With. My obvious predisposition to like this album aside, I thought it would be an excellent album to review, because it also makes excellent jumping in point. extolls his personal philosophies toward self-confidence, seeing the good side to the bad moments in life, and thinking positively. Club described the album as "a pack of his best songs", commenting, "As always, Andrew W.K. said of the album: "I'm going for the sound of pure, unadulterated power; every emotion, every thought, every experience, every sensation, every fear, every joy, every clarity, every confusion, every up, every down... all extruded and concentrated into one thick syrup of super life-force feeling, and then psychically amplified by the celebratory spirit of glorious partying. Naturally, the first word uttered on You're Not Alone is "party." Andrew W.K. went on a speaking tour with stops in all 50 US states, called The Power Of Partying which is also the title of the first track of the album. The video follows the visuals for “Ever Again” and “Music Is Worth Living For” from the California rocker’s seventh album. This count excludes the cover albums The Japan Covers and Gundam Rock. A lifelong fan of the fantasy artwork of Boris Vallejo and Julie Bell, W.K. Songs that are almost punk-like in their simplicity, but surprisingly clever. In other words, I am not an Andrew WK fan so much as I am an Andrew WK ambassador. View credits, reviews, tracks and shop for the 2018 Purple Light Vinyl release of You're Not Alone on Discogs. But who wants anything else from Andrew W.K. just created a mosh pit inducing masterpiece for the masses. A fantastical voyage of motivational mayhem. If the music wasn’t enough to boldly announce what this album is about, the chorus makes it irrevocably clear: “Music makes life worth living/music is worth living for/a higher power that I hear tonight/music makes me feel so high”. That is, after all, his brand. One of my favourites of the year. This is the album equivalent of "with great power comes great responsibility". [Apr 2018, p.37]. Absolutely joy-filled, buoyant, hopeful, epic - even Queen-like. "The Feeling of Being Alive" is a spoken-word interlude that encourages the listener to embrace rather than suppress their feelings of inadequacy or unease; it's delivered in such earnestness, there's no question of ironic intent. He’s currently on a North American tour; check out the full dates here. Andrew W.K. Wherein previous albums were bombastic in production and musicality, they dealt with their subject matter in broader strokes, as in the case of 2006 release Close Calls With Brick Walls. Andrew W.K is as energetic as ever in his new video for “You’re Not Alone,” the title-track off this year’s full-length album. has never been known to skimp on anything — except maybe angst. A fantastical voyage of motivational mayhem. On You're Not Alone, Andrew W.K. The piano is the foundation on which this party house is built, and his trademark, musically-shouted vocals and powerful drums virtually grab you by the neck and insist – nay, demand that you headbang. Party on my friends! This is the first new full-length studio release for the hard rock artist in nine years. Thank you for this great gift of music! 's greatest tricks is how well he cloaks great songwriting beneath his larger-than-life presence. Andrew W.K is as energetic as ever in his new video for “You’re Not Alone,” the title-track off this year’s full-length album.The visual, directed by Jon Danovic, finds W.K. Some parts might seem a bit corny, but I would say that it is corny in a good way. [1], The album also contains three spoken-word tracks, in which Andrew W.K. [1], In a press release, Andrew W.K. Some albums teeter off by the second half, but here the second half is just as strong as the first. It'll lift your spirits, it'll get you pumped and it'll make you dance. Lyrics. Thematically, if previous Andrew WK albums have felt like having entire kegs shotgunned in your face, this one is like being syphon-fed after-dinner brandies. From there, the intensity doesn't let up. You're Not Alone isn't a far cry from W.K. You're Not Alone is the fifth studio album by American musician Andrew W.K., released on March 2, 2018 through Sony Music. But contextually speaking, there's something profound and even poignant about his maniacal refusal to let darkness overcome him — or anyone else within earshot of his booming music. Often, interlude tracks can feel like filler, but that's not the case here. [9], "Andrew W.K. told Stereogum in a statement.