The Wolf
by Andrew W.K.
  • Record Label: Island
  • Release Date: Sep 9, 2003
User Score
7.9

Generally favorable reviews- based on 28 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 20 out of 28
  2. Mixed: 4 out of 28
  3. Negative: 4 out of 28

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  1. IanG
    Jan 8, 2004
    6
    Oh dear. I really didn't want to have to do this. I guess asking for a follow-up that lived up to the brilliance of 'I Get Wet' was too much to ask. Slowing the tempo and trying but failing to seriousize the lyrics just didn't work out IMO. 'Your Rules' is the stand-out, and 'Free Jumps' is a bit alright as well, but as for the rest I didn't Oh dear. I really didn't want to have to do this. I guess asking for a follow-up that lived up to the brilliance of 'I Get Wet' was too much to ask. Slowing the tempo and trying but failing to seriousize the lyrics just didn't work out IMO. 'Your Rules' is the stand-out, and 'Free Jumps' is a bit alright as well, but as for the rest I didn't bother ripping it. In particular 'Make Sex' is appalling and 'Never Stop The Party' more cringeworthy than anything on 'I Get Wet'. 'Totally Stupid' is a mess as well.… Expand
  2. MattT
    Sep 24, 2003
    6
    Well, granted, it WAS too much to ask for Andrew to come up with something as glorious as I Get Wet a second time, it's just hard to accept that he swung THIS far in the other direction. That's not to say that this is a bad CD; aside from "Tear It Up" and "Make Sex," two rather painful mistakes, the songs are all quite good. The problem is that they're just somewhat more Well, granted, it WAS too much to ask for Andrew to come up with something as glorious as I Get Wet a second time, it's just hard to accept that he swung THIS far in the other direction. That's not to say that this is a bad CD; aside from "Tear It Up" and "Make Sex," two rather painful mistakes, the songs are all quite good. The problem is that they're just somewhat more indulgent and less effective than those on "I Get Wet." So if you became enamored with "I Get Wet" as I did, don't expect the same sort of consistency. After all, it isn't the slightly slower tempo that drags this album down (Never Let Down and Really In Love are pretty good. I mean how can you not like a lyric like "I do what I want/And I want you"?), Anderw's songwriting knack just escaped him temporarily. But go ahead and get this album anyway. After you hear "Totally Stupid" and "I Love Music," it'll start to grow on you.… Expand
  3. Screenager
    Apr 23, 2013
    5
    The songs are longer and lack the cheesiness that made I Get Wet so joyous. AWK played all the instruments himself so the music itself sounds bland and unimpressive. The album has a better concept albeit a reverse of the previous album (searching for the meaning of life through party for this album). I was disappointed with this album and would give it a miss unless you want to hear theThe songs are longer and lack the cheesiness that made I Get Wet so joyous. AWK played all the instruments himself so the music itself sounds bland and unimpressive. The album has a better concept albeit a reverse of the previous album (searching for the meaning of life through party for this album). I was disappointed with this album and would give it a miss unless you want to hear the work of a man that has let the steroids get to his head.… Expand

Awards & Rankings

81
#81 Most Discussed Album of 2003
99
#99 Most Shared Album of 2003

Critic Reviews

All reviews »
Metascore
78

Generally favorable reviews - based on 14 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 13 out of 14
  2. Mixed: 1 out of 14
  3. Negative: 0 out of 14
  1. Playlouder
    80
    So yeah, he's moved on a little but no, he hasn't gone soft on our perilously-leaping arses, and his personal holy trinity still seems to be the deeply unfashionable but unironically ace Van Halen, Meat Loaf and Billy Idol.
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  2. Entertainment Weekly
    83
    Just because W.K. has found his soft center lyrically, it doesn't mean the music has lost any of its hard core. [12 Sep 2003, p.150]
  3. Spin
    75
    The Wolf works best as a concept album about never surrendering the night when you got your first real six-string at the five-and-dime and were tryin' to break free. [Oct 2003, p.108]
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