View source for I Get Wet

{{short description|Album by Andrew W.K.}}
{{Infobox album
| name       = I Get Wet
| type       = studio
| artist     = [[Andrew W.K.]]
| cover      = Andrewwet.jpeg
| alt        =
| released   = November 13, 2001
| recorded   = 2000–2001
| venue      =
| studio     =
| genre      = {{hlist|[[Wikipedia:Hard rock|Hard Rock]]|[[Wikipedia:heavy metal music|heavy metal]]<ref name="avclub"/>|[[Wikipedia:punk rock|punk rock]]<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.questia.com/read/1G1-79736198 |title=CD Reviews: Rock and Pop |work=[[Birmingham Post]] |date=November 3, 2001 |access-date=September 23, 2015 |last=Cowen |first=Andrew}}</ref>}}
| length     = 35:32
| label      = [[Wikipedia:Island Records|Island]]
| producer   = {{hlist|Andrew W.K.|[[Wikipedia:John Fields (producer)|John Fields]]|Scott Humphrey|TSD|Frank Vierti}}
| prev_title = [[Party Til You Puke]]
| prev_year  = 2000
| next_title = [[The Wolf (Andrew W.K. album)|The Wolf]]
| next_year  = 2003
| misc       = {{Singles
 | name        = I Get Wet
 | type        = studio
 | single1     = [[Party Hard]]
 | single1date = October 29, 2001
 | single2     = [[She Is Beautiful]]
 | single2date = February 19, 2002
 | single3     = We Want Fun
 | single3date = December 2002
 | single4     = Fun Night
 | single4date = 2003
}}
}}

'''''I Get Wet''''' is the debut studio album by American musician [[Andrew W.K.]] It is noted for its controversial artwork as well as its hit singles "[[Party Hard]]" and "[[She Is Beautiful]]".

==Recording==

===Production===
''I Get Wet'' was recorded while Andrew W.K. was living in [[Wikipedia:New York City|New York City]]. The album was recorded with many layers of [[Wikipedia:overdubbing|overdubbing]], in order to make the album "sound as party as we could make it sound," and for the "sound of the songs to be like one instrument" instead of a collection of individual musicians.<ref name="2012 Pitchfork Interview"/> In July 2001, Andrew & Jimmy Coup traveled to Minneapolis, MN to record with [[Wikipedia:John Fields (record producer)|John Fields]] @ SubJersey Studio. In August, the 3 traveled to Sherman Oaks, CA to mix the record with Mike Shipley @ Record One.

===Influences===
One inspiration for the album was Andrew W.K's enjoyment of intense, major-key music, something he attributed to his musical childhood experiences with the piano.<ref name="2012 Pitchfork Interview"/>

Another inspiration for ''I Get Wet'' was the charity single "[[Wikipedia:We Are the World|We Are the World]]" by [[Wikipedia:USA for Africa|USA for Africa]]. Andrew W.K. was impressed with how all the artists on the song were singing all at once, something he described as a "powerful sound, like an orchestra." In turn, Andrew W.K. wanted to create music that sounded like that.<ref name="2012 Pitchfork Interview">{{cite web |url=https://pitchfork.com/features/interviews/8905-andrew-wk/ |title=Interviews: Andrew W.K. |work=[[Wikipedia:Pitchfork (website)|Pitchfork]] |date=September 5, 2012 |access-date=September 5, 2012 |last=Cohen |first=Ian}}</ref>

===Artwork===
''I Get Wet'' is known for its highly recognizable cover art shot by famed art photographer [[Wikipedia:Roe Ethridge|Roe Ethridge]]: a photo of a wet-haired Andrew W.K. with a large stream of [[Wikipedia:Nosebleed|blood running from his nose]], down his chin and onto his throat.  This cover art caused a controversy in [[Wikipedia:Europe|Europe]], as it was seen to represent [[Wikipedia:cocaine|cocaine]] abuse and violence.<ref>{{cite news |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090820213124/http://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/music/features/blame-it-on-the-piano-lessons-659432.html |archive-date=August 20, 2009 |title=Blame it on the piano lessons |date=February 3, 2002 |work=[[Wikipedia:The Independent|The Independent]] |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/music/features/blame-it-on-the-piano-lessons-659432.html |access-date=August 28, 2014}}</ref> To achieve the effect, W.K. initially said that he struck himself in the face with a piece of a cinder block during the photo shoot but later explained that it did not lead to enough blood flow. Consequently, he supplemented his own blood with some of an animal which he got from a butcher's shop.<ref>{{cite journal |last=Worley |first=Gail |url=http://www.ink19.com/issues/march2002/interviews/andrewWK.html |title=Andrew W.K |work=Ink 19 |access-date=November 2, 2012}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ysQssewTeT8|title=Andrew W.K. - Wikipedia: Fact or Fiction?|access-date=December 14, 2020|via=[[Wikipedia:YouTube|YouTube]]}}</ref>

==Release history==
The album went to #1 on ''[[Wikipedia:Billboard magazine|Billboard]]'''s [[Wikipedia:Top Heatseekers|Top Heatseekers]] chart. The songs "Party Hard" and "She Is Beautiful" were released as singles. The opening track, "It's Time to Party", was featured in an [[Wikipedia:Advertising|advertisement]] for [[Wikipedia:Hotwire.com|Hotwire.com]], a [[Wikipedia:Coors Brewing Company|Coors]] spot and an [[Wikipedia:Expedia|Expedia]] ad. "Fun Night" can be heard in the 2003 film ''[[Old School (film)|Old School]]''. The track, "Don't Stop Living in the Red" was featured in an ad for [[Wikipedia:Target Corporation|Target]]. "I Love NYC" is frequently played at [[Wikipedia:New York Rangers|New York Rangers]] games. "Ready to Die" is used in the ''[[Wikipedia:Hitman (franchise)|Hitman]]'' game series, as well as the trailer for the game ''[[Rage (video game)#Sequel|Rage 2]]''.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.hardcoregamer.com/2018/05/13/get-ready-to-die-in-leaked-rage-2-advertisement/299106/|title=Get Ready to Die in Leaked Rage 2 Advertisement|last=Steve|first=Hannley|date=2018-05-13|website=Hardcore Gamer|language=en-US|access-date=2018-06-17}}</ref>

On August 28, 2012, a deluxe reissue of ''I Get Wet'' was released. The reissue contained previously unheard recordings, demos, live tracks, and alternate mixes. A limited number of autographed deluxe editions contained a lock of Andrew's hair, a piece of his white jeans, or an autographed plane ticket from his 2012 world tour.<ref name=reissue>{{cite web |url=http://andrewwk.com/news/order-i-get-wet-cd-and-vinyl |title=Order I Get Wet CD & Vinyl |publisher=AndrewWK.com |access-date=September 6, 2012}}</ref>

==Critical reception==
{{album ratings
| MC = 64/100<ref name=Metacritic/>
| rev1 = [[Wikipedia:AllMusic|AllMusic]]
| rev1Score = {{Rating|5|5}}<ref name=allmusic>{{cite web |url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/i-get-wet-mw0000219058 |title=I Get Wet – Andrew W.K. |publisher=[[Wikipedia:AllMusic|AllMusic]] |access-date=September 4, 2020 |last=Phares |first=Heather}}</ref>
| rev2 = ''[[Wikipedia:Alternative Press (magazine)|Alternative Press]]''
| rev2Score = 8/10<ref>{{cite journal |title=Andrew W.K.: I Get Wet |work=[[Wikipedia:Alternative Press (magazine)|Alternative Press]] |issue=165 |date=April 2002 |page=65}}</ref>
| rev3 = ''[[Wikipedia:Blender (magazine)|Blender]]''
| rev3Score = {{Rating|3|5}}<ref>{{cite journal |url=http://www.blender.com/reviews/review_822.html |title=Andrew W.K.: I Get Wet |work=[[Wikipedia:Blender (magazine)|Blender]] |issue=6 |date=April–May 2002 |access-date=July 6, 2016 |last=Harris |first=John |author-link=John Harris (critic) |page=112 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20040614103032/http://www.blender.com/reviews/review_822.html |archive-date=June 14, 2004 |url-status=dead}}</ref>
| rev4 = ''[[Wikipedia:Entertainment Weekly|Entertainment Weekly]]''
| rev4Score = B+<ref name=EW>{{cite journal |url=https://www.ew.com/article/2002/03/18/i-get-wet |title=I Get Wet |work=[[Wikipedia:Entertainment Weekly|Entertainment Weekly]] |date=March 18, 2002 |access-date=November 2, 2012 |last=Browne |first=David |author-link=David Browne (journalist) |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150715200531/http://www.ew.com/article/2002/03/18/i-get-wet |archive-date=July 15, 2015 |url-status=dead}}</ref>
| rev5 = ''[[Wikipedia:The Guardian|The Guardian]]''
| rev5Score = {{Rating|3|5}}<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2001/nov/02/shopping.artsfeatures3 |title=Party on, dudes |work=[[Wikipedia:The Guardian|The Guardian]] |date=November 2, 2001 |access-date=February 13, 2016 |last=Sullivan |first=Caroline}}</ref>
| rev6 = ''[[Wikipedia:NME|NME]]''
| rev6Score = 8/10<ref name=NME>{{cite journal |url=https://www.nme.com/reviews/andrew-wk/5779 |title=Andrew WK : I Get Wet |work=[[Wikipedia:NME|NME]] |date=October 30, 2001 |access-date=November 2, 2012 |last=Oldham |first=Jason |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304004036/http://www.nme.com/reviews/andrew-wk/5779 |archive-date=March 4, 2016 |url-status=dead}}</ref>
| rev7 = ''[[Wikipedia:Pitchfork (website)|Pitchfork]]''
| rev7Score = 0.6/10 {{small|(2002)}}<ref name=PitchforkRev/><br />8.6/10 {{small|(2012)}}<ref name=PitchforkRev2/>
| rev8 = ''[[Wikipedia:Q (magazine)|Q]]''
| rev8Score = {{Rating|4|5}}<ref>{{cite journal |title=Andrew W.K.: I Get Wet |work=[[Wikipedia:Q (magazine)|Q]] |issue=185 |date=December 2001 |page=128}}</ref>
| rev9 = ''[[Wikipedia:Rolling Stone|Rolling Stone]]''
| rev9Score = {{Rating|4|5}}<ref name=RS>{{cite journal |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/reviews/album/119765/review/5945263/igetwet |title=I Get Wet: Andrew W.K. |work=[[Wikipedia:Rolling Stone|Rolling Stone]] |date=April 11, 2002 |access-date=November 2, 2012 |last=Sheffield |first=Rob |author-link=Rob Sheffield |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080821031624/http://www.rollingstone.com/reviews/album/119765/review/5945263/igetwet |archive-date=August 21, 2008 |url-status=dead}}</ref>
| rev10 = ''[[Wikipedia:The Village Voice|The Village Voice]]''
| rev10Score= A−<ref name=Christgau>{{cite news |url=http://www.robertchristgau.com/xg/cg/cgv203-03.php |title=Consumer Guide: The Prelude |work=[[Wikipedia:The Village Voice|The Village Voice]] |date=February 11, 2003 |access-date=November 2, 2012 |last=Christgau |first=Robert |author-link=Robert Christgau}}</ref>
}}
''I Get Wet'' provoked sharp critical reaction when it was initially released, with ''[[Wikipedia:Pitchfork (website)|Pitchfork]]''{{'}}s Ian Cohen retrospectively writing that "critics of Andrew W.K. were often branded as the fun police and his fans considered fools or incurable ironists."<ref name=PitchforkRev2/> On the review aggregate site [[Wikipedia:Metacritic|Metacritic]], the album holds a score of 64 out of 100, indicating "generally favorable reviews".<ref name=Metacritic>{{cite web |url=https://www.metacritic.com/music/i-get-wet/andrew-wk |title=Reviews for I Get Wet by Andrew W.K. |publisher=[[Wikipedia:Metacritic|Metacritic]] |access-date=June 21, 2011}}</ref> Stephen Thompson of ''[[Wikipedia:The A.V. Club|The A.V. Club]]'' described ''I Get Wet'' as "more fabulously entertaining the louder it's played" and added that "if it wipes out a generation of hard-rock crybabies along the way, fans will owe him a debt of gratitude that can never be repaid."<ref name=avclub>{{cite web |url=https://www.avclub.com/articles/andrew-wk-i-get-wet,22081/ |title=Andrew W.K.: I Get Wet |work=[[Wikipedia:The A.V. Club|The A.V. Club]] |date=March 29, 2002 |access-date=November 2, 2012 |last=Thompson |first=Stephen}}</ref> [[Wikipedia:Rob Sheffield|Rob Sheffield]] of ''[[Wikipedia:Rolling Stone|Rolling Stone]]'' also gave the album a positive review, stating that "there's no denying the over-the-top whomp of his music, the loudest and funniest metal you've heard in ages."<ref name=RS/> [[Wikipedia:David Browne (journalist)|David Browne]], writing in ''[[Wikipedia:Entertainment Weekly|Entertainment Weekly]]'', noted that W.K. "must know how ridiculous this all sounds, but he attacks the material with such fervor that you almost believe he means every word."<ref name=EW/> [[Wikipedia:AllMusic|AllMusic]]'s Heather Phares noted that while the album "has a certain sameness due to the frenetic beat that drives nearly every track, it's the perfect complement to W.K.'s party-centric vision", praising it as "refreshingly simple and cleverly stupid."<ref name=allmusic/>

Adrien Begrand of ''[[Wikipedia:PopMatters|PopMatters]]'' gave the album a mixed review, writing "At its best, WK’s music is a refreshing blast of skanky air on the current stale music scene, but at its worst, it’s disappointingly monotonous, unoriginal, and very, very dumb."<ref name=popmatters>{{cite web |url=https://www.popmatters.com/pm/review/andrewwk-igetwet/ |title=Andrew WK: I Get Wet |work=[[Wikipedia:PopMatters|PopMatters]] |date=March 25, 2002 |access-date=November 2, 2012 |last=Begrand |first=Adrien}}</ref> Evan Chakroff of ''[[Wikipedia:Stylus Magazine|Stylus Magazine]]'' called it a "worthless piece of rock-product, 35 minutes of glossy, overproduced tripe", but concluded that "once these songs have pounded their way into your head, you can’t help but pay attention" and "if this is a joke, it's a brilliant one."<ref name=Stylus>{{cite web |url=http://www.stylusmagazine.com/reviews/andrew-wk/i-get-wet.htm |title=Andrew W.K. – I Get Wet – Review |work=[[Wikipedia:Stylus Magazine|Stylus Magazine]] |date=September 1, 2003 |access-date=May 10, 2015 |last=Chakroff |first=Evan |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160305014211/http://www.stylusmagazine.com/reviews/andrew-wk/i-get-wet.htm |archive-date=March 5, 2016}}</ref> Ryan Schreiber of ''Pitchfork'' panned the album as being "about as empty as rock music gets, right down to the tinny, digitally processed tonebank noise that passes for 'guitars.'"<ref name=PitchforkRev>{{cite web |url=https://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/184-i-get-wet/ |title=Andrew W. K.: I Get Wet |work=[[Wikipedia:Pitchfork (website)|Pitchfork]] |date=July 7, 2002 |access-date=June 21, 2011 |last=Schreiber |first=Ryan}}</ref>

===Legacy===
''[[Wikipedia: Q (magazine)|Q]]'' listed ''I Get Wet'' as one of the best 50 albums of 2001.<ref>{{cite journal |title=The Best 50 Albums of 2001 |work=[[Wikipedia: Q (magazine)|Q]] |issue=185 |date=December 2001 |pages=60–65}}</ref> ''[[Wikipedia:NME|NME]]'' included ''I Get Wet'' in their retrospective list of the best albums of 2001.<ref>{{cite journal |url=https://www.nme.com/photos/a-decade-of-music-50-best-albums-of-2001/157503#42#lq8dY2HkkvUJgClc.99 |title=A Decade Of Music – 50 Best Albums Of 2001 |work=[[Wikipedia:NME|NME]] |date=November 4, 2009 |access-date=April 29, 2015}}</ref> [[Wikipedia: Rhapsody (online music service)|Rhapsody]] ranked the album at number two on its "Rock's Best Albums of the Decade" list.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://blog.rhapsody.com/2009/11/rockdecade.html |title=Rock's Best Albums of the Decade |publisher=[[Rhapsody (online music service)|Rhapsody]] |date=November 8, 2009 |access-date=January 12, 2010 |last=Farrar |first=Justin |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091108000844/http://blog.rhapsody.com/2009/11/rockdecade.html |archive-date=November 8, 2009}}</ref> Despite initially panning the album, ''Pitchfork'' placed ''I Get Wet'' at number 144 on their list of top 200 albums of the 2000s.<ref name=Top200Albums>{{cite web |url=https://pitchfork.com/features/staff-lists/7707-the-top-200-albums-of-the-2000s-150-101/ |title=The Top 200 Albums of the 2000s: 200-151 |work=[[Wikipedia: Pitchfork (website)|Pitchfork]] |date=September 28, 2009 |access-date=October 1, 2009 |author=''Pitchfork'' staff}}</ref> Ian  Cohen of ''Pitchfork'' acknowledged his review of the album's 2012 reissue, which received a "Best New Reissue" designation, as the website's "biggest statistical [[Wikipedia:mea culpa|mea culpa]] ever", writing that "whether you consider these songs to be brilliant, brilliantly dumb, or just dumb, ''I Get Wet'' is necessarily simple".<ref name=PitchforkRev2>{{cite web |url=https://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/16836-i-get-wet/ |title=Andrew W. K.: I Get Wet |work=[[Wikipedia:Pitchfork (website)|Pitchfork]] |date=August 31, 2012 |access-date=August 31, 2012 |last=Cohen |first=Ian}}</ref>

Andrew W.K. reflected on the album's initial reaction in a 2012 interview, saying: 
{{cquote|Everything is always going through changes in terms of attitudes or mood, but it does seem like partying is a more common theme in music and culture [now]; colorful attitudes and excitement and positivity are more embraced. I remember trying to make a band the first time around [..] people didn't like that there were keyboards in the music. They said it sounded too corporate. They also didn't like that it had this four-on-the-floor club beat. But it's interesting because now the club/dance beat is in lots and lots of songs. I was very happy with how things have come around.<ref name="2012 Pitchfork Interview"/>}}

===References===
The song "Ready to Die" is referenced in the [[Wikipedia:Zombie Apocalypse|Zombie Apocalypse]] novel "Islands of Rage & Hope" by [[Wikipedia: John Ringo|John Ringo]]. The song is played on loudspeakers by the Marines prior to their assault on a [[Wikipedia:zombie|zombie]] infected beach. The leader of the assault is singing along as they attack the zombies.

==Track listing==
All songs composed and written by Andrew W.K.

#"It's Time to Party"&nbsp;– 1:30
#"[[Party Hard]]"&nbsp;– 3:04
#"Girls Own Love"&nbsp;– 3:13
#"Ready to Die"&nbsp;– 2:54
#"Take It Off"&nbsp;– 3:10
#"I Love NYC"&nbsp;– 3:11
#"[[She Is Beautiful]]"&nbsp;– 3:33
#"[[Party til You Puke]]"&nbsp;– 2:34
#"Fun Night"&nbsp;– 3:23
#"Got to Do It"&nbsp;– 3:55
#"I Get Wet"&nbsp;– 3:23
#"Don't Stop Living in the Red"&nbsp;– 1:42

;Japanese edition bonus tracks
#<li value="13">"We Want Fun"&nbsp;– 4:21
#"Make Sex"&nbsp;– 0:46

==Personnel==
Credits adapted from the album's liner notes.<ref>{{cite AV media notes|year=2001|title=I Get Wet|others=[[Andrew W.K.]]|publisher=[[Wikipedia:Island Records|Island Records]]|id=314-586-588-1|type=CD liner notes}}</ref>

'''Primary musicians'''
*[[Andrew W.K.]]&nbsp;– [[Wikipedia:singing|vocals]], [[Wikipedia:musical composition|composition]], [[Wikipedia:synthesizer|synthesizer]], [[Wikipedia:bass guitar|bass guitar]], [[Wikipedia:record producer|production]]
*Jimmy Coup&nbsp;– guitar, vocals (sweet heat)
*Erik Payne&nbsp;– guitar
*[[Wikipedia:Donald Tardy|Donald Tardy]]&nbsp;– [[Wikipedia:drum kit|drums]]
*Gregg Roberts&nbsp;– [[Wikipedia:bass guitar|bass guitar]]
*Frank Werner&nbsp;– guitar

'''Additional personnel'''
{{div col|colwidth=30em}}
*Tony Allen&nbsp;– guitar, assistant [[Wikipedia:audio engineer|engineering]]
*Dan Burns&nbsp;– assistant engineering
*Jeff Burns&nbsp;– engineering
*[[Wikipedia:Chris Chaney|Chris Chaney]]&nbsp;– bass guitar
*Cory Churko&nbsp;– digital editing, [[Wikipedia:programming (music)|programming]]
*Mike David&nbsp;– bass guitar
*[[Wikipedia:Roe Ethridge]]&nbsp;– photography
*[[Wikipedia:John Fields (record producer)|John Fields]] – production, engineering
*Tom Gordon&nbsp;– sound effects
*Frank Gryner&nbsp;– engineering
*Scott Humphrey&nbsp;– production
*Roger Lian&nbsp;– digital editing, programming
*Tony Miller&nbsp;– programming
*[[Wikipedia:Gary Novak]]&nbsp;– additional drums
*Mike Shipley&nbsp;– [[Wikipedia:audio mixing|mixing]]
*F.T. Thomas&nbsp;– guitar
*Robert C. Thompson&nbsp;– engineering
* [[Wikipedia:Dave Collins (audio engineer)|Dave Collins]] - mastering
*TSD&nbsp;– production
*Frank Vierti&nbsp;– [[Wikipedia:piano|piano]], [[Wikipedia:keyboard instrument|keyboards]], production
*Bobby Warner&nbsp;– engineering
*K. Williams&nbsp;– art direction
*Lloyd "Gitsy" Willis&nbsp;– sound effects
*[[Wikipedia:Phil X|Phil X]]&nbsp;– guitar
{{div col end}}

==Charts==
{| class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center"
|-
! scope="col"| Chart (2002)
! scope="col"| Peak<br />position
|-
{{album chart|Finland|32|artist=Andrew W.K.|album=I Get Wet|accessdate=July 9, 2015|rowheader=true}}
|-
{{album chart|Sweden|59|artist=Andrew W.K.|album=I Get Wet|accessdate=July 9, 2015|rowheader=true}}
|-
{{album chart|UK|71|artist=Andrew W.K.|accessdate=July 9, 2015|rowheader=true}}
|-
{{album chart|Billboard200|84|artist=Andrew W.K.|accessdate=July 9, 2015|rowheader=true}}
|-
|}

==References==
{{reflist|2}}

{{Andrew W.K.}}

{{Authority control}}

[[Category:2001 debut albums]]
[[Category:Island Records albums]]
[[Category:Andrew W.K. albums]]