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 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (9 customer reviews)
• Amazon Bestsellers Rank: #31,392 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description

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.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

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

By	Skyler Loomis (Howell, MI) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Close Calls With Brick Walls/Mother of Mankind (Audio CD)

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.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

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

By	J. Sweet "JiM<bO" (Leesburg, Va) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Close Calls With Brick Walls/Mother of Mankind (Audio CD)

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.

5.0 out of 5 stars A+, STEEV MIKE, and a fake Andrew W.K.?, July 3, 2010

By	Juliana - See all my reviews

This review is from: Close Calls With Brick Walls/Mother of Mankind (Audio CD)

This music is perfect for when you want to listen to some sort of music, but cant decide, or really have no desire to listen to whatever is in your car. Though Close Calls with Brick Walls was only released overseas previously, I was introduced to it before hand, and I loved it. As for Mother of Mankind, a few of the songs make me wish he didn't try to experiment with hip hop. Otherwise, this album is also, wonderful, but definitely not my favorite. AS FOR STEEV MIKE: Steev Mike is a group of people who wished to keep their names anonymous on the record label, and helped him create this awesome music. Thats all 'Steev Mike' is, if people didn't look into his interviews. Just like every other musician, Andrew W.K. looked for help with the production and build of his album. AS FOR ANDREW W.K. SUPPOSEDLY BEING 'FAKE': Andrew W.K. said twice, that he 'is not Andrew W.K.'. People who didn't understand what he was getting at, accuse him of being a completely different human being. A man who looks, and somehow sounds JUST LIKE the other Andrew W.K.. However, this has been explained through numerous interviews of his, that this was also another Steev Mike miscommunication. What he meant by "I'm not Andrew W.K.", was that he had help with creating his music. He's not the only person who helped to create Andrew W.K.. Once again, like any musician, he had help from others to produce an album. If Andrew W.K. was a made up person, I'd think it's a coincidence that his birth certificate said back then, and says now, Andrew Wilkes-Krier.