55 Cadillac

Yesterday I read this review, written by Josie Clowney, of Andrew W. K.'s new album 55 Cadillac. My first thought was being really intrigued that A.W.K. recorded a solo piano album. I never have listened to his music beyond the popular songs of his that I've heard on the radio, and it surprised me that he could play piano or anything really. It seemed to me that his only instruments were his energy and personality.

My next thought concerning this review was, "Wow, this reviewer totally dismisses the music as crap." I listened to the sample song, and I was pretty impressed by the competency of A.W.K.'s playing and his melodic and harmonic sense. Sure, it might c0me from standard musical pedagogy from when he was a kid, but nonetheless I couldn't sit at a piano and improvise such pleasant and joyous music.

I tracked down the album online and listened to it. I won't say that it's the most interesting or beautiful music I've heard this year, but I also would not consider it worthless throw-away music. At many points I find the music to be genuinely good, exciting, and uplifting. Sometimes he has musical ideas that don't thrill me, but they are never so bad that I'd dismiss the whole album. And as for its hackneyed quality that Clowney talks about, it didn't bother me too much. It reminded me of Moondog's album H'art Songs, particularly the latter album's beautiful songs "High on a Rocky Ledge" and "Do Your Thing." It also reminds me of the Kudo's album Light that I've talked about on this blog.

I did agree with Clowney's sentiment about the album being a display of A.W.K. making music for the joy it brings him. However, I don't know if the album needs to be thought of as a statement, as an attempt by A.W.K. to "say something" to cynical adults. Maybe he does feel that way, who knows? On his YouTube promo for the album, A.W.K. says, "I really want the listeners to feel like they are in the car with me and that I'm playing piano just for them. Inside the car, together, that feeling is 55 Cadillac." So it seems more like a genuine attempt to make a touching and evocative album rather than a statement about the value of music acknowledged by its creator to be bad. Because I don't think he'd consider this music bad.

Another thing about the album is that there's a running theme of cars and Cadillacs. While I don't have much of an appreciation for cars, I find it very touching that he incorporates his love of cars into the album. Actually, this summer was the first time I've ever understood the appeal of old cars. My housemate is a huge drag racing fan, and he took me to a drag race at the Brainerd International Raceway on the 4th of July. There I saw an old 70's Monte Carlo.

I thought this was a beautiful car, and in a way I identified with it. It's very long, and I'm very tall. It has a round bulge over its back wheels, and I've got pretty big round thighs. I now think that if ever I am interested in getting a nice old car, it's going to be an early 70's Monte Carlo.

Before this experience this summer, I never would have paid old cars much attention. In fact, I'd probably be judgmental of their owners because I saw no value in the hobby and only dumb manliness on display. But now, in a way, I can understand A.W.K.'s love for cars and why it's a very personal thing for him to incorporate into this album.

A lot of what Clowney says is insightful, and her review contextualized the album in a way that got me thinking. I guess in the end Clowney sees 55 Cadillac as bad music with a noble purpose. The fact that she finds the music to be obviously bad is pretty much what drives her analysis of the album's meaning. I, on the other hand, don't agree that the music is that bad. In fact, I think much of the music is good.

I see 55 Cadillac as something made by A.W.K. to capture and share some of the things that give him joy, and it's an album that gives me joy.