A savior for my generation, finally (?)

March 25, 2002 5:28 PM

A savior for my generation, finally (?) ANDREW W K = grunge - whining + innocence + rocking out something frightening + lust for life + humour + lots and lots of energy. Also keep in mind that I hate popular music. I think he's incredibly cool, and by incredibly cool I mean totally sweet. Anyway, my take is insignificant - what do you people think of this kid?? The cure for the Linkin' Park disease? The aural Creed ointment??
posted by Settle (62 comments total)

Upon rereading the thread header, it would seem that I am lame. So forget that. Let's just all be thankful that this album happened.
posted by Settle at 5:34 PM on March 25, 2002

No Bro...
posted by SweetJesus at 5:41 PM on March 25, 2002

PLEASE??
posted by Settle at 5:49 PM on March 25, 2002

No Bro...
posted by SweetJesus at 5:52 PM on March 25, 2002

come on...you're sweet, and by sweet I mean totally cool
gimme a break here. do you know how tired of apathetic crap I am??
any break from that is cool, and by cool I mean totally sweet.
posted by Settle at 5:55 PM on March 25, 2002

That album cover is just really messed up.
posted by ph00dz at 5:57 PM on March 25, 2002

it is totally sweet, yeah. listen to the songs...
I donno maybe I'm just sensitized by the fact that after not watching TV for 2 months I came home and saw a video by "Adema" or something.
posted by Settle at 6:00 PM on March 25, 2002

I love the titles of his songs.

"It's Time To Party"
"Party Hard"
"Party Till You Puke"

And what's with the face-covered-in-blood thing? That's gross.

I'm not sure if you're serious about this guy, but I'll just say that it's way too much Power Pop Punk for my tastes. I still think Jack Johnson and Dave Matthews Band are by far the best music out right now.

Speaking of upcoming artists, Howie Day just got signed. Acoustic male singer-songwriters are the next big thing, and I'll welcome the day it squashes the current pop-mania. You heard it here.
posted by tomorama at 6:03 PM on March 25, 2002

how edgy! yawn.
posted by mcsweetie at 6:03 PM on March 25, 2002

YOU DON'T GET IT
IT ISN'T EDGY AT ALL
IT IS HILARIOUS AND FUN FOR ALL PEOPLE
[sfx:coughing, sputtering]
posted by Settle at 6:05 PM on March 25, 2002

I think this guy likes to party.
posted by fresh-n-minty at 6:05 PM on March 25, 2002

Saw his first video, just thought... "Hey Look... another kid rock." But than again, it may be because I'm a cynical indy rocker who thinks it will take someone who sings about more than just how much he likes to party to change things...
posted by drezdn at 6:11 PM on March 25, 2002

...it's way too much Power Pop Punk for my tastes.

Tom, the stuff I heard on that site bears absolutely zero connection to what could concievably called Power Pop or Punk. It just sounds like some very confused record execs idea of what's hot, right now. I honestly am not sure whether settle is kidding or not.

PS: for some really good "Power Pop Punk" check out this crew, some audio on this page. Consider it a sorbet to cleanse your palate. Aman with the good taste to like Bela Fleck, should dig it.
posted by jonmc at 6:15 PM on March 25, 2002

ha ha ha ha ha
I'm...not ...really ..kidding...you see...he's very low brow and pop, and stupid etc, but very refreshing and quite good. The important part is his popularity, that the people who like him justify his goodnosity, and that it is nice to see someone that cool become popular.

LET US GET A PARTY STARTED

posted by Settle at 6:20 PM on March 25, 2002

methinks Andrew WK is this month's Ryan Adams, who was last month's White Stripes who was last month's The Strokes who was...
posted by mcsweetie at 6:22 PM on March 25, 2002

Well, to me really fast 3 chord songs with party/angry lyrics = power pop punk. Forgive me if I'm mixing genres, but I'm really not up on that kind of stuff any more. When I was 15 I started listening to DMB, and I don't think I've spun any of my punk rock discs ever since.

And yes, Bela Fleck is awesome. Ben Harper is also an awesome musician, he's been sitting in with Jack Johnson a lot lately, and guests on his album. Hopefull the two will be together next time Jack comes east.
posted by tomorama at 6:22 PM on March 25, 2002

Oh lord, The Strokes. Everyone I know think's they're great; am I the only person who realizes how terrible they actually are?
posted by tomorama at 6:23 PM on March 25, 2002

terrible, because...?

i plan on waiting a couple of years before i buy any Strokes albums; by then the hype will have died down.
posted by moz at 6:26 PM on March 25, 2002

The strokes sucked **** (nuts). All the comparisons to the stooges were ridiculous. Pretentious pop crap. Andrew WK is unpretentious pop crap - a world of difference.
posted by Settle at 6:26 PM on March 25, 2002

Power Punk....like the Dead Kennedys, the Ramones, or maybe even some Black Flag?
posted by patrickje at 6:32 PM on March 25, 2002

People, people! It's called "metal". Just without all that rapping and gratutious turntablism and leftover angst.

Perhaps you're thinking "this isn't metal, it's too melodic, and there are cheesy drum machines and synths and stuff in it". And perhaps you'd have a point, especially if you're one of those Death To False Metal types. But to me, if it involves a really intense, bellowing hessian dude, it's metal.
posted by monosyllabic at 6:35 PM on March 25, 2002

It's neither punk nor metal, my brothers, it's merely bad. Didn't wanna be so harsh, but there ya have it.
posted by jonmc at 6:41 PM on March 25, 2002

although i liked all the heavy drums and massive guitars, it appeard that dave grohl, the singer, didnt know what to do with his feet.

a wimpier danzig, but happier.
posted by tsarfan at 6:56 PM on March 25, 2002

Mullet.
posted by elvissinatra at 7:01 PM on March 25, 2002

methinks Andrew WK is this month's Ryan Adams, who was last month's White Stripes who was last month's The Strokes who was...

But the difference between Andrew WK and The White Stripes or Ryan Adams was that the later two spent a decent period of time touring the underground playing shows without the giant spotlight of media attention being cast on them... Andrew WK however doesn't have that same earned credibility in my mind...

I've said it before, I'll say it again, the thing that disappoints me about all the attention being focused on the White Stripes was that their previous album was better (De Stijl), IMHO...

As for the Strokes, if you went in expecting the Stooges you were certain to be disappointed, Some songs sound like poppier Velvet Underground, some like a slowed down version of the drags, etc... But the stuff was still enjoyable...

If you're looking for something like the Stooges, check out 1 track on the Black Rebel Motorcycle Club CD (the song with punk in the title)...
posted by drezdn at 7:05 PM on March 25, 2002

methinks Andrew WK is this month's Ryan Adams, who was last month's White Stripes who was last month's The Strokes who was...

But the difference between Andrew WK and The White Stripes or Ryan Adams was that the later two spent a decent period of time touring the underground playing shows without the giant spotlight of media attention being cast on them... Andrew WK however doesn't have that same earned credibility in my mind...

I've said it before, I'll say it again, the thing that disappoints me about all the attention being focused on the White Stripes was that their previous album was better (De Stijl), IMHO...

As for the Strokes, if you went in expecting the Stooges you were certain to be disappointed, Some songs sound like poppier Velvet Underground, some like a slowed down version of the drags, etc... But the stuff was still enjoyable...

If you're looking for something like the Stooges, check out 1 track on the Black Rebel Motorcycle Club CD (the song with punk in the title)...
posted by drezdn at 7:06 PM on March 25, 2002

if andrew wk is the saviour then i'll stay in hell thanks

dig deeper, perhaps look who's holding the spoon they're jamming into our pop mouths everyday


this is btw my most ridiculous post, i'm aware of that.
posted by mrben at 7:06 PM on March 25, 2002

tomorama : i feel your pain, bro.

the strokes are just most disappointing, boring band ever. the white stripes are at least somewhat interesting (to a point).

and ryan adams is just a egomaniacial little dick
posted by cheaily at 7:07 PM on March 25, 2002

The fact he has the former drummer of Obituary touring with him does not make him cool. (Not even to people who know obscure stuff like that.)

Also, I remind you that Linkin Park is no disease.

At any rate, this is not a site where we should be wasting valuable time debating what music is good. (Said argument has no end.) Music is subjective, end of story. That said, I don't like Andrew WK, but I don't care if others think differently.
posted by Dark Messiah at 7:10 PM on March 25, 2002

just to clear the record, no diss to the white stripes. has anyone else seen the video for "I Fell in Love With a Girl?" it's the best damn thing I've ever seen, ever!

to other fellows: lotsa disses.
posted by mcsweetie at 7:11 PM on March 25, 2002

I think that Jack Johnson opened for Ben Harper on previous tours, actually, tomorama.

And I'd say a touch of "aye" to the Dave Matthews comment, if it wasn't for the acute vomituousness of Everyday. DMB went from being my favourite Top 40 band to one that I can no longer recommend.

If only you were right that singer-songwriters were going to rise up and quash teenpop and nu-metal. Unfortunately, though, it ain't gonna happen, and the best ones are too avant garde (or intelligent) in their approach to gain broad (mass) appeal. Cases in point: Songs:Ohia, Pedro the Lion, Cat Power, Damien Jurado, Julie Doiron, Mark Hollis. I suppose we Canadians should be thankful for the growing legitimacy of Hayden and Sarah Harmer, while the Brits should thank their lucky stars that a bloke like Damon Gough (Badly Drawn Boy) can get played on the radio.
posted by Marquis at 7:16 PM on March 25, 2002

I think that Jack Johnson opened for Ben Harper on previous tours, actually, tomorama.

He has. But Ben also guests on Flake, plays with Jack a lot and recently sat in with the band on Leno.

...if it wasn't for the acute vomituousness of Everyday. DMB went from being my favourite Top 40 band to one that I can no longer recommend.

Everyday was a stunt to boost sales and get the pop crowd into good music. It's a gateway album, kinda like marijuana as a gateway drug :P Seriously though, central intelligence points to a new DMB album on June 25th, but whenever it comes out, it's going to rock. It has the single Where Are You Going from the new Adam Sandler movie, as well as a good amount of songs from the long-lost and much-acclaimed "Lillywhite Sessions" (which were scrapped in favor or Everyday and later leaked onto the net).
posted by tomorama at 7:28 PM on March 25, 2002

mcsweetie-roger that, man. that video(and most of their music) is excellent. And Meg White is a mega-babe, as an added bonus.
posted by jonmc at 7:32 PM on March 25, 2002

mcsweetie-roger that, man. that video(and most of their music) is excellent. And Meg White is a mega-babe, as an added bonus.

Yeah, she really shows a lot of lego in that video too.
posted by rodii at 7:39 PM on March 25, 2002

Wow. I don't have realplayer installed, but this stuff must be pretty wretched to get the DMB people and the Black Flag people talking.

Boy, I hate Dave Matthews Band. "Hike up your skirt a little more?" Eww.

But the band I really wish would make it really really big right now is And You Will Know Us By the Trail of Dead -- their new record "Soruce Tags and Codes" is so cool it hurts. I feel it in my heart.
posted by josh at 7:54 PM on March 25, 2002

for those of y'all that ain't seen it yet:

The White Stripes - Fell In Love With A Girl
posted by mcsweetie at 7:59 PM on March 25, 2002

This is a link to the Quicktime version of Fell In Love With a Girl. (Lots of interesting promotional media elsewhere at Boardsmag: videos, adverts, and some short films and animation).
posted by maudlin at 8:10 PM on March 25, 2002

Dead Leaves on the Dirty Ground by White Stripes has been my favorite song for a month
posted by ejoey at 8:52 PM on March 25, 2002

Settle's social observations for March 25: Popular music makes people argue

Next hypothesis: cleavage

Also, I don't really love Andrew WK, but I love the fact that he wears a digital watch.
posted by Settle at 8:55 PM on March 25, 2002

I think anyone who listens to this and calls it pop crap is probably missing out on a joke...

Then again maybe I'm thinking it's a joke and it's serious...

It seems to me from snagging some mp3's that Andrew WK is almost blending metal and top 40 "dance" music, and ripping on both of them...

In fact, it sorta reminds me a little bit of some old KMFDM stuff.. not so much in sound but in concept.. KMFDM has taken pop and smashed it into metal for a long time now (since the late 80's, actually).

Anyway, unless I'm just a) a hopeful idealist, or b) on crack - I'm pretty positive this guy is making a huge joke of the state of pop and metal, and packaging it in a pretty funny and listenable form..

Bottom line: I'm enjoying this. I can't tell if it's because I'm laughing/smiling, or because of the guilty pleasure of liking something so contrived and pop-filled.. but I'm enjoying it either way and that's probably all that should matter :-)
posted by twiggy at 9:14 PM on March 25, 2002

Andrew WK is Metallica and EMF's red-headed stepchild. That said, I would much rather listen to Andrew WK than Creed any day.
posted by whatevrnvrmind at 9:35 PM on March 25, 2002

I think he's incredibly cool, and by incredibly cool I mean totally sweet.

then

Also, I don't really love Andrew WK, but I love the fact that he wears a digital watch.

What Settle, b/c it got trashed here you reneg on your opinion of someone? Stick to your guns, bro.

OH, and josh. And you will know us is probably going to get big soon, seing the whole major label release, and you hear their name popping up in places they hadn't been before recently. Fortunately, I get to see them on thursday one last time before the shows explode (and they are amazing live).
posted by Ufez Jones at 10:39 PM on March 25, 2002

and they are amazing live

if by "amazing" you mean they fight a lot and break their equipment. yawn. call me underwhelmed.
posted by Marquis at 10:42 PM on March 25, 2002

one must admit that while the white stripes are on their ascent to becoming tragically popular they're still a damn good time. i remeber when cake "hit it big" there was a whole backlash towards them. but again, cake's a fun band. you people take your music far too seriously.

raise your hand if you have a radiohead cd.

*raises own hand*

how could you?! they're popular. shame on you!

cut it with all this "i liked them before they got big" horseshit. save for the prefab pop mob and some other folks every band out there has busted their ass to bring people music they enjoy. from time to time they may divert their energies in a new direction [see: metalica being played on an "alternative" radio station.] and you may not like them anymore. but for god's sakes, if you like a band that makes it big - or bigger than the local scene - and you happen to own their stuff don't disown them. that snobbish elitist state of mind is what's keeping music in stagnation.

of course that's just my opinion, i could be wrong...

[i concur with josh, and you will know us by the trail of dead is quite good. worth a listen if you don't mind opening your ears...]
posted by boogah at 12:18 AM on March 26, 2002

Seeing the Strokes so royally dissed (when I went to see them they were God-like - Meg and Jack White were in the crowd watching, for goodness sake) makes me want to jump in with my two-penneth'worth, but surely... surely, surely, surely on such a highbrow forum as MeFi we are passed the stage of 'my taste in music is inherently better than yours' phase?
Err... no, is the simple answer. Andrew WK is a joke, and not a very funny one. He should be force fed swarfega until he promises never to make another record ever again. He ought to have his lips sewn up and his fingers cut off. Gimme the White Stripes, the Strokes and the Hives any day. They are better simply because I say they are. :)
posted by RokkitNite at 4:21 AM on March 26, 2002

I think he should seek medical treatment
posted by Outlawyr at 6:16 AM on March 26, 2002

These "I'm tragically hip and I detest all mainstream music because if it's popular it must be bad" one-upsmanship threads are a daily thing now. What is especially tiresome is having everyone tell everyone else that their taste in music sucks. As if there is one person who can arbitrate what is and what isn't good. And of course, mainstream/popular always equals bad/sucks. I think we need a thread where everyone confesses that they own or have lusted after a cd cut by someone who can sell out a stadium in under 12 hours. Come on, it'll be cathartic. We'll all hug and cry afterwards.

We already know that jonmc likes Dolly Parton, and I thought it was pretty cool of him to admit it.

I know we'll never get Settle to admit that there's even one little ditty by Creed that he finds somewhat palatable (although he has in the past shown some good diversity and I don't like Creed either so I can't fault him too much ;), but most of you must like some mainstream or even bad (yes, as in DuranDuran or Nsync or SpiceGirls bad) stuff. Come clean. Especially with the bad stuff. Heh.
posted by iconomy at 6:39 AM on March 26, 2002

god, even when metafilter gets all contrarian about music it isn't at all fun.

andrew wk is a welcome presence on today's popular rock scene because:

- he would never be caught dead on makeoutclub, whining about how girls 'just don't get him' while treating them like shit

- you don't know whether his parents are divorced or not

- he has managed, somehow, to make the keyboard LEGIT—back in the day, the mere thought of using it would send you to the last half-hour of headbangers' ball and doom you to being loved only by the girls

etc etc etc.

(elsewhere on the buzz meter: white stripes: rock, strokes: rot, swearing at dashboard confessionalists who ate the world: TRIPLE ROT, ryan adams: rot. ed harcourt? RULE.)
posted by maura at 6:40 AM on March 26, 2002

i like enya :) and i don't think she's bad AT ALL!
posted by kliuless at 7:54 AM on March 26, 2002

Andrew WK is fucking clownshoes. Glad to see other people out there are enjoying Jack Johnson. I saw him at IOTA (a hole in the wall) in Arlington last fall and he is the real deal.
posted by uftheory at 8:10 AM on March 26, 2002

The first time I saw the Andrew WK video, I said to my wife - "Look, this is what Tenacious D are making fun of!"

Of course, I would have loved this 15 years ago.
posted by Jart at 8:30 AM on March 26, 2002

Rock has a new Hero.
posted by solistrato at 8:58 AM on March 26, 2002

Surely this is the most elaborate internet hoax... ever.
posted by Vek at 9:11 AM on March 26, 2002

Anyway, my take is insignificant

Yep.
posted by Kafkaesque at 9:41 AM on March 26, 2002

cut it with all this "i liked them before they got big" horseshit.

I haven't seen any of that in this thread so far.
posted by mcsweetie at 9:48 AM on March 26, 2002

Wow, icononomy, nice to know someones leafing thru the archives. Although it's a bit unnerving to see that I've managed to mention Dolly four times in my MeFi career. Her security people probably have me down as a potential stalker, now. There goes my free pass to Dollywood. *sniff*
Perhaps Twitty City will have me...
posted by jonmc at 10:38 AM on March 26, 2002

mcsweetie: general midnight ranting fueled by too much rum. i happened to wander off on a tangent with a bullwhip in search of a dead horse, and for that i apologize. i have seen it before - perhaps not here - but the elitist attitude just grates.

oh, and while i got the mic: big up to brooklyn...

but that has nothing to do with anything
posted by boogah at 11:10 AM on March 26, 2002

s'all good!

in other news, am I the only one thats noticed how cool VH1 has gotten lately? it used to be adult contemporary hell but nowdays it's a quite pleasurable alternative to MTV, as they actually acknowledge that there were bands around before Nirvana.
posted by mcsweetie at 11:30 AM on March 26, 2002

nice to know someones leafing thru the archives

What archives? I print out all of your comments and keep them in a fire-proof folder under my pillow.

Ok I'm kidding. It's just hard to forget when someone around here admits to liking Dolly Parton ;) I likes it.

I've been liking vh1 for a while now too, mcs, and would love to write some of the irreverant comments for that news scroller thing they do in the morning (that is vh1, isn't it?). I think they show a lot of refreshing diversity. Plus no TRL, so yes .....s'all good!
posted by iconomy at 11:59 AM on March 26, 2002

i know. vh1 seems to be getting better. then again that could just mean we're getting older. please don't let that be the reason.

even tho i'm okay with vh1 i'm still kinda bitter at them about the whole "rock & roll jepoardy" fiasco i went thru. i got a call back on a tryout right around the time that survivor hit big so my final tryout of r&rj was postponed because jeff probst had other duties to fulfill. the producer was positive i'd be on the show because i'd scored all but 2 of the questions on a roughly 50 question test right and they said i was personable enough. damn that jeff probst and his career...
posted by boogah at 11:59 AM on March 26, 2002

1. Pay attention: "The new face of VH1." It is better. Sting sucks ever since he left the police, VH1 finally figured it out.
2. Andrew WK is not a kid. The guy has to be nearly 40 years old along with the rest of his bandmates. A band that thinks they're hard that sings pop songs isn't going to save anything. Remember hair metal? Yes it's still funny, and the video makes me laugh, but I think they're serious and that scares me.
3. The Strokes are good but too rehashed to save anything either. But at least they have good influences and are good looking. The guy's name is Julian Casablancas for christ sakes. Now that's a lead singer name.
4. ...And You Will Know Us By The Trail Of Dead is on the verge of having the power to save rock. They're probably the next over hyped rock band of the month, but I think they could actually do it. There is no argument with them, they just rock. Their new video is premiering on MTV2 this week.
Actually come to think of it, why does anything have to be saved. I can go to shows at bars for 7 bucks and see amazing bands simply because millions of kids are stupid enough (and don't look hard enough) to drop 70 bucks on a ticket to see Dave Matthews. If it wasn't for bad music lots of people would like good music and then I couldn't stand in the front row any more. So who cares?
posted by mikeyb at 1:04 PM on March 27, 2002

the onion likes to party :)
posted by kliuless at 4:09 PM on March 28, 2002