Andrew W.K. I Get Wet

Andrew W.K. had a mission – to dirty up rock & roll, literally and figuratively. And while that may seem a sizeable task for one man to shoulder, consider that the Michigan-reared screamer devoted the whole of his 2001 debut album I Get Wet to ecstatic celebration of the id. It's a hell of an idea, and it brought W.K. the fawning adoration of the British press who, after enduring years of ambient art-rock inspired by paranoia about technology, rushed to embrace W.K.‘s credo that everyone should party till they puke.

W.K. stays on theme throughout I Get Wet's 12 frenetic tracks – song titles like the aforementioned "Puke," "It's Time to Party," "Party Hard," and "Fun Night" pretty much make the point. But W.K.‘s more-is-more approach holds true of the music too – it's cheesy new wave meets spiky metal but delivered with such self-conscious force that it's almost bubblegum. Think of the gargantuan riffs of "Detroit Rock City" smeared with Flock of Seagulls-style synth while some manic propagandist hollers himself hoarse over top.

I Get Wet has one setting – loud – but not since the Stooges has unmitigated hedonism, and just plain headbanging, seemed like a plan. Mighty members of the three-finger devil salute fraternity, your soundtrack has arrived once again!