Andrew W.K. is still the metal ABBA.
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In honor of the new MOG, I thought I'd write a post about Andrew W.K., since I am in a gushing phase over his body of work. After writing a paragraph or so, I thought that I might as well check to see if I've done this before. Lo and behold, 17 months ago, I wrote almost the exact same post I was just about to embark upon. My final sentence: "Perhaps, Mr. W.K., I've misjudged you all this time." Now I'm sure of it. I Get Wet and certain hits from The Wolf ("The Song," "Totally Stupid") get maximum rotation from me lately. Reading interviews with him from the beginning I should've known even then he was leading up to even greater things, but I guess I just wasn't prepared to put him on my radar yet.But I've been obsessed mostly with tracks that never fully bloomed for me even when I was fanatical at first about Close Calls with Brick Walls - the South Korean bonus tracks "Can You Dance with Me," "I Want Your Face" (admittedly, that one was a favorite from the start), "This Is My World" and "Let's Go on a Date." These are his most ABBA-like creations, in that here the pop instinct overwhelms him. The man's far too charming. And now that I have a record player, I've purchased the double LP version of Close Calls which features an entire side of songs that aren't available otherwise. I only truly love one of those songs, entitled "We're Not Gunna Get Old." Please, listen to it here. Be captivated. It is epic. It is a five-minute grin.For some classic and neglected AWK, I've utilized the new MOG functionality (which I've been having a blast with, by the way) to embed a Rhapsody link to "Totally Stupid" from The Wolf, and the song "I Get Wet" from the same album is in my "Songs You Should Be Listening To" widget right now. I would suggest a listen to Close Calls with Brick Walls, as it is the perfect gateway to his work for a tastemaking pop fan who doesn't get it yet, but unfortunately you'll have to track it down by means other than Rhapsody, since it's only available on import or domestic vinyl. Shouldn't be too tough.p.s. In other news, Weasel Walter's Flying Luttenbachers project is, according to Weasel, as dead as Ike Turner. Sad, in a way, but I can't imagine he's quit making music, and the last FL record was a solo effort anyway. I still haven't heard it. Could be list-making material.
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