Review Summary: Jazz Hard
It's been five long years since legendary partier Andrew WK released his last album, the considerably darker and heavier God Is Partying, in 2021. During promotion for that album, though, he suddenly withdrew from public life, cancelling all shows with no explanation. Now, equally as sudden and with no statement, AWK has re-appeared with a surprise release, Temptation to Exist.
If you thought God Is Partying was a significant shift in sound for Andrew WK, then nothing will prepare you for what Temptation to Exist has in store. All the rock elements are gone and instead you're presented with an atmospheric jazz-noir journey right from the crooning sax of "Michael's Theme", with all instruments performed by AWK himself. His talent and versatility shines through as the album transitions seamlessly from one movement to another, as if acting as a soundtrack to a film that doesn't yet exist.
It might take a few listens for people (such as myself) to click with it who are unfamiliar with jazz, but repeat listens reveal extra flourishes and textures that show the amount of care Andrew WK put into this album. It's well worth checking out. Will there be more of this to come? Will Andrew WK surprise us with another twist in an already bizarre music career? Only time will tell.
Bite-size review originally published on Tumblr: https://www.tumblr.com/lamortdelamusique/827355027843825664/andrew-wk-temptation-to-exist-bite-size-review
