Andrew WK: The Wolf

Reviewed by REBECCA BARRY

Herald rating: * *

Three years ago Andrew WK made a name as the bogan who bashed himself in the nose with a brick for his cover art. The piano-laced metal of I Get Wet was equally reckless, moronically upbeat and delivered without an ounce of subtlety. On tour here he hammered the keys so hard he broke a finger.

WK is just as keen to incite a party on his follow-up, which is layered to the hilt with stadium-rock synths. It's all well and good fun for a while, particularly his idea of romance: "I do what I want and I want you" on Really in Love, the low-cerebral Make Sex and the fact the original album title was Blow Your Bone.

But you get the impression he doesn't toil over his compositions for long, grabbing a couple of Meatloaf chord progressions (Never Let Down), jumping jack guitar riffs (Long Live the Party) and some sweaty, Def Leppard-style choruses (Tear It Up).

You'll need a lie-down.
(Island Records)