Tag: Andrew WK
0 ANDREW W.K. Unveils Packaging and Track Listing for “I GET WET” Special 10th Anniversary Deluxe Edition On Double Gatefold LP & Double CD Coming August 28th, 2012 via Century Media
Andrew W.K. has unveiled the first look of his upcoming “I Get Wet” special 10th anniversary deluxe edition. Shown above, this exclusive re-issue will be available as double gatefold LP edition and as a 2-CD edition, both available through Century Media on August 28th, 2012. At first, the front cover of the anniversary edition appears to be the same “bloody nose” photograph from the original release. However, upon closer examination, fans will notice the cover is actually a photo-realistic oil painting by artist, Gonzalo Garcia. The packaging includes many more tricks and treats, including extensive liner notes and dozens of never before seen photos from throughout W.K.’s career, including rare shots from the recording of the “I Get Wet” album.
Originally released in 2002 by Island/Def Jam and Universal, the “I Get Wet” album was W.K.’s full-length debut and urgent rally-cry to the world. It unleashed anthems like, “Party Hard”, “She Is Beautiful”, and “I Love NYC” to an enthralled and sometimes enraged audience, helping secure the #1 spot on the Billboard “Heat Seekers” chart. W.K.’s sound as, Alternative Press proclaimed, “smashes up pop melodies, metal riffs and industrial beats with a hammer…”
Also to be included in the deluxe anniversary edition is a second disc/LP featuring a generous helping of never-before-heard live recordings, alternate mixes, early versions of the album’s songs, and other previously unreleased material. For the first time ever, Andrew and his team recorded their live concerts using a special custom-designed technology with the aim of recreating the sound inside Andrew’s own ear-canals while he performs on stage. They constructed a unique microphone enclosure disguised to look like a piece of monitor equipment which contained a specially manufactured audio system, designed to replicate Andrew’s skull. The resulting audio is raw, chaotic, and full of live energy. There will also be a limited number of autographed deluxe editions of the album, each containing a very special “SOMETHING” directly from Andrew’s private collection – everything from a lock of his hair to a world tour airplane ticket stub. The full track-listing appears below.
Earlier this year Andrew W.K. celebrated with the “I Get Wet – Ten Year Anniversary Tour” playing the entire album front to back with his full band. The tour hit the United States, Canada, Europe, Japan, and Australia, as sold-out audiences partied with Andrew harder than ever before. On the tour, fans were treated to W.K. shredding on his own custom-made Pizza Guitar by the ESP Guitar company! Pitchfork TV recently featured the guitar and W.K. playing it through a double-stack of amplifiers at a Ray’s Pizza parlor in Times Square (viewable here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GvuQTo3jbcA&feature=player_embedded)
Also on the horizon is W.K.’s speaking panel titled, “What Would Pinkie Pie Do?” taking place at Canterlot Gardens in Ohio. Canterlot Gardens is the premiere My Little Pony fan convention scheduled for this September.
I GET WET DELUXE RE-ISSUE EDITION TRACK LISTING:
DISC 1 (“I Get Wet” – The Original Album):
1. It’s Time To Party
2. Party Hard
3. Girls Own Love
4. Ready To Die
5. Take It Off
6. I Love NYC
7. She Is Beautiful
8. Party Til You Puke
9. Fun Night
10. Got To Do It
11. I Get Wet
12. Don’t Stop Living In The Red
DISC 2 (The Bonus Tracks):
1. It’s Time To Party (Live)
2. It’s Time To Party (1999 Version)
3. Party Hard (Live)
4. Party Hard (1999 Version)
5. Girls Own Love (Live)
6. Girls Own Love (1999 Version)
7. Ready To Die (Live)
8. Take It Off (Live)
9. I Love NYC (Live)
10. She Is Beautiful (Live)
11. She Is Beautiful (1999 Version)
12. Party Til You Puke (Live)
13. It Just Got Hotter (Sundogs Version)
14. Got To Do It (Keyboards Version)
15. I Get Wet (Live)
16. Don’t Stop Living In The Red (1999 Version)
More info: www.AndrewWK.com
0 CENTURY MEDIA RECORDS Reissues ANDREW W.K’s ‘I Get Wet’ Album to Celebrate the 10-Year Anniversary of Its Release
A decade ago, pop-metal party icon, ANDREW W.K., released his renowned debut album, I Get Wet. In honor of the album’s 10-year anniversary, ANDREW W.K. has joined forces with CENTURY MEDIA RECORDS for a special re-issue edition to be released on July 17, 2012.
With Andrew being a huge metal fan himself and a huge fan of Century Media in particular, both parties were more than ecstatic when the opportunity arose to pair up for this special release. Andrew explains, “Even after all these years, I clearly remember the first day I heard the band Mayhem’s album, “De Mysteriis Dom Sathanas”. Its dark psychedelic sensations made me realize I had found a new destiny – and had found the greatest music ever made. When I turned that seminal Mayhem album over and looked at the fine-print on the back cover, I saw a bold and clear stamp bearing the name CENTURY MEDIA. Another wave of destiny washed over me and a new dream was born: that I, Andrew W.K., would somehow be part of this great label’s story of musical power and glory. This fantastic company was not only willing to be an active player in the most crucial and illuminating of the arts (aka music), but also was willing to submit themselves to the same higher calling which motivated their most dedicated and influential artists. It gives me great pride and pleasure to confirm that CENTURY MEDIA is the destined home for our special edition of ‘I GET WET’. It also gives me proof that dreams not only come true, but that they make dreams into real power. Never in a million zillion years would I have imagined that the black wizards would use their cosmic keys to create a time for my humble musical dreams. The moon may be frozen, but its cold light is brighter than ever. Let my album’s release and all our collective efforts help shine an even brighter light on all of humanity, and to further prove that the manifestation is not just underway; it is complete.”
Century Media Records Director of Marketing, Matt Polen, adds, “When we heard Andrew W.K. was looking for a partner for this release, we jumped at the chance team up. I think I speak for the whole company when I say it’s a dream for us to work with him.”
I Get Wet features hit songs that helped make ANDREW W.K. the household name that he is today. The album includes party anthems, “Party Hard”, “Party Til You Puke” and “She Is Beautiful”. This special reissue will include not only the full-length original album, but also a second disc featuring a generous helping of never-before-heard live recordings, early demo versions, alternate mixes and other previously unreleased material. There will also be a limited number of autographed deluxe editions each containing a very special “SOMETHING” directly from Andrew’s private collection – including everything from a lock of his hair to a world tour airplane ticket stub. In addition to the special CD release, I Get Wet will also be reissued as a special double gate-fold vinyl LP.ANDREW W.K. is currently headlining his highly successful 2012 world tour. And in honor of the 10-year anniversary of the I Get Wet album, his full band is performing the entire track-listing live, from front to back, at every show.
In between dates of the “I Get Wet” tour, Andrew also found time to make a lasting impression at the 2012 South By Southwest (SXSW) festival in Austin, Texas. On top of hosting and leading a number of panels, his band played a several official SXSW showcases and day parties, including a headlining slot at the extravagant Century Media Records / CVLT Nation / Stumptown Coffee Rosters day party. Sufficed to say, everyone partied very hard and definitely all got wet.
For more information on ANDREW W.K., please visit:
http://www.andrewwk.com
http://www.facebook.com/andrewwk
http://www.twitter.com/andrewwk
http://www.centurymedia.com
0 ‘Close Calls With Brick Walls’ – Released by STEEV MIKE – Hits Stores For First Time in the U.S. on February 23, 2010
After three years of loyal patience, ANDREW W.K. fans can finally experience the ‘lost’ third album from the established party rocker. Previously released in Japan and Korea in 2006, CLOSE CALLS WITH BRICK WALLS will officially become available in the United States on February 23, 2010, being released by STEEV MIKE, as a special two album package (the original CLOSE CALLS WITH BRICK WALLS on one disc, and an additional CD called MOTHER OF MANKIND, containing rare and unreleased material). After the recent release of 55 CADILLAC – a compilation of improvised solo piano compositions – CLOSE CALLS WITH BRICK WALLS and MOTHER OF MANKIND deliver the slamming, inspirational music for which Andrew W.K. is loved, coupled with new sounds and feelings rarely associated with his traditional work.
Close Calls With Brick Walls was recorded in multiple sessions throughout 2004 and 2005, using the full Andrew W.K. touring band for the first time. With a full instrumental band, the new album includes exciting new performances, styles, and rhythms. The lyrics are more complex although still very playful, and Andrew’s voice has grown into something much more distinct and expressive.
The roots of the album and the changes it signals lie in the story behind the unorthodox path Andrew took to fame and, specifically, the dramatic contrast between his early years as part of a free-spirited music scene in his hometown of Ann Arbor, Michigan and the transformation in attitude and image and personality that came about after he had assumed the role of Andrew W.K..
The trademark white t-shirt and jeans he wore in public was also adopted in order to help create an easily-identifiable image. And it worked. Audiences embraced Andrew W.K. as the long-haired, straight-talking, everyman rock icon who oozed positivity and made his fans feel that not only was it OK to be different but that it was OK to be yourself and not feel embarrassed about being awkward or unusual.
In one sense, Close Calls With Brick Walls is the sound of Andrew W.K. reclaiming and embracing aspects of his personality and his music that were obscured and closed off to him by the process of generating an image and a persona that could be sold to the public. The cover of the album even suggests as much. It features an image of Andrew W.K. standing, arms crossed and dressed in his trademark white tee-shirt, in front of a brick wall that is painted a shade of indigo so dark it appears to be swallowing all the light around it. There’s a gleam in his eye and a broad smile pasted across his face. But, oddly, he doesn’t look as if he’s having fun. The entire package seems to pose a conundrum.
Since the initial 2006 release of Close Calls, Andrew’s career has certainly moved in all sorts of surprising directions. He did a lot of things that were unexpected, yet offered little in the way of explanation for behavior that, on one level, seemed quite natural and, on another, entirely unnatural. Instead of promoting and touring the album in the U.S., he went on a lecture tour as an inspirational new-age motivational speaker. He cut his hair. It grew back. He stepped out of his dirty whites and into a tailored suit to model for gentleman’s magazines like Esquire and V-Man, he produced a Grammy-nominated album for reggae artist, Lee ‘Scratch’ Perry, opened a night club in New York (Santos Party House) and became the host of the Cartoon Network game show, Destroy Build Destroy. He recorded a solo piano album and went on tour with a classical string quartet.
And so the story comes full circle. The world catches up with Andrew W.K. and, in return, he releases Close Calls With Brick Walls, the album that the world was almost denied from hearing by forces beyond his control. But rather than crash into walls that barred his way to make that happen, he broke them down brick by brick and then stepped on through to the other side. And where he goes from here… who knows?
For more information visit http://www.andrewwk.com/.
