When I first saw the album cover for Andrew W.K.’s 2001 debut album I Get Wet, I was both mortified and intrigued. The cover is an image of W.K. with long, greasy black hair plastered to his face, and blood gushing from his nose, over his mouth, and down his neck. It’s quite graphic, and quite memorable. The controversial cover makes another appearance on the 10th anniversary release of the album that started it all.
Andrew W.K.’s mantra is all about having fun, enjoying oneself, and exploring possibilities. Through his music, he demonstrates his enthusiasm and passion for getting down and getting loud. This one, folks, is the prime album for doing just that.
The new release of I Get Wet contains two discs (or sides, if you’re into that sort of thing). The first is the original album, digitally remastered, while the second disc is bonus content featuring live recordings and early demos. If you’re at all familiar with Andrew’s live performances, you should be very excited.
The digital remastering of the original album is well done. It’s not intrusive, and nothing of value is lost in the transition. The sound is fuller, and it seems as though it’s significantly more balanced, which is a big departure from how albums were being created back in the early 2000′s. By far my favorite track on the album is still “Ready to Die”.
The bonus content is where the real party starts. The live versions of “Party Hard”, “Girls Own Love”, and “I Get Wet” show just how W.K. gets the crowd riled up at his concerts and gets the blood pumping. This would be my workout music, if I did such a thing.
The CD copy can be had for around $12.00, while the more hardcore fans may want to pick up the vinyl edition for around $27.00.
