Close Calls With Brick Walls/Mother of Mankind

Andrew W.K. | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (March 23, 2010)
• Original Release Date: 2010
• Number of Discs: 2
• Label: Steev Mike
• ASIN: B0032BCJBM
• In-Print Editions: MP3 Music
• Average Customer Review: 3.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (11 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #136,585 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Track Listings

Disc: 1

1. I Came For You

2. Close Calls With Bal Harbour

3. Not Going To Bed

4. You Will Remember Tonight

5. Pushing Drugs

6. Hand On The Place

7. One Brother

8. Las Vegas, Nevada

9. Dr. Dumont

10. I Want To See You Go Wild

See all 18 tracks on this disc

Disc: 2

1. We Party (You Shout)

2. High Five

3. Let's Go On A Date

4. We Got A Groove

5. Sarah Notto

6. I'm A Vagabond

7. I've Got Know Fear

8. Big Party

9. Who Knows?

10. Coming Bad

See all 21 tracks on this disc

Editorial Reviews

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 on March 23rd, 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 / 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 goofy.

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Andrew WK continues to impress March 26, 2010

By Skyler Loomis

Format:Audio CD|Amazon Verified Purchase

As a huge fan of all of his previous work I was slightly concerned when I began listening to Close Calls With Brick Walls. It starts as something very un-Andrew WK like. I was skeptical at first, but soon Not Going to Bed begins and you know that he has not lost the ability to party at all. The rest of the album showcases a more mature and more musically diverse sound then one would immediately expect.

Disk Two, titled Mother Of Mankind is an odd mix of sounds that range from classic AWK party music to semi-psychedelic rock. There is even some stuff that sounds, to me, straight out of the 1980s. I found it to grow on me extremely quickly. More than once I felt I was going to dislike a song, but by the end I felt like I understood why it existed and why I am glad to have heard it.

A long time fan may find themselves disappointed at first because it is not as simple as "I Get Wet" but I highly recommend everyone give it a chance, because it is hard to no find something that appeals to you in this awesome collection.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars the Lost Party... March 26, 2010

By J. Sweet

Format:Audio CD|Amazon Verified Purchase

When "Close Calls with Brick Walls" was released in 2006, being such a big fan and not being able to have the album was out of the question. I ended up importing it for about $35 and I was so psyched to listen and I was not disappointed at all. Far from it, actually. "I Get Wet" and "The Wolf" are among my favorite albums, CCWBW shows alot of growth and progression that Andrew has gone through as an artist, while still maintaining the energy and partynessity we love about him. There are alot of solid, AWK style, energetic, crazy good songs like "Not Going To Bed", "You Will Remember Tonight" and "I Want To See You Go Wild" and alot of songs that are alot different, but still VERY good songs. And there is actually alot of singing on this album. There is also alot of very nice piano work worked into most of the songs, especially "The Moving Room" (which also has Andrew singing as well).

But since I already imported this cd in 2006, the main reason I bought this box set is for the rare/unreleased collection "Mother of Mankind". I was able to find a few of these songs a while back in the AWK archives to listen to, but there are a TON of great, rare and improved songs here. Listening to this album is like finding lost AWK treasure. There are some really excellent songs on this album and there is alot of variety, fast songs, some softer ballad-type songs, some songs with singing, some songs with screaming, some with crazy guitar solos, songs with lots of piano, even songs with ACOUSTIC GUITAR...great album.

If you are a friend (fan) of Andrew W.K, this is a must buy. Also if you ever have an opportunity to meet him, catch a lecture or piano show, he can turn a piano recital into a party. Also, he's one of the nicest guys you will ever meet.

5 of 7 people found the following review helpful

3.0 out of 5 stars An Unfulfilling Collection March 29, 2010

By MookieTheKid

Format:Audio CD

Andrew WK's first record, I Get Wet, ranks among my all-time favorites, and I have eagerly greeted each new outing. Putting aside his valiant efforts at performance art at NYU, his piano album, some other jazz material, and his television show Break Stuff, Duct Tape Stuff, Break Stuff, I am mostly in it for the music, and have long hoped for more in the vein of I Get Wet.

The Wolf was a solid, if un-ambitious, follow-up to I Get Wet, but it was good enough for me. I held off on buying the third record, Close Calls With Brick Walls, at the import price in 2006, settling to listen to the stream on the AWK web page and waiting for an American release. From that first listen in 2006 the record did not make much of an impression, but Mr. WK had still earned the benefit of the doubt. The dual Close Calls / Mother of Mankind seemed to be my reward for waiting. Sadly, I find the third album a poor imitation of the fun, rocking, free-spirited sound that started with I Get Wet and has steadily degenerated with each new album. Worse, it seems derivative, both refusing to break new ground and failing to encapsulate the brilliance of I Get Wet.

Mother of Mankind promises b-sides and rarities over a ten year period. The early material delivers a similar tone to AWK's first album (and his excellent EPs) but reminds one that b-sides are not often hidden gems, just songs that were properly left out. I am not sure what qualifies as a rarity any more as I assume most of this stuff was not found in an Egyptian tomb, but it packs little punch other than as a curiosity to the most staunch AWK historian (even in that case I am not sure how many spins I will ever give to the disc).

I like Andrew WK. I really do. I have been drawn to everything the guy has done based on his effusive persona and the gem that is I Get Wet, but the disappointments are mounting up. If you like I Get Wet and find it to be as superior to his other material as I do, you may want to steer clear of this set. I'd recommend you take that money and track down AWK's EPs.